As a Coptic Christian born in Egypt and as a person who spent years in academia — including earning a Ph.D. from Emory University in Atlanta studying radical Islamic movements — I speak with authority when I warn against the menace of Islamism, which is overwhelmingly invading the West.
For decades, I’ve warned that this ideology is not just incompatible with Western civilization; it rejects coexistence entirely, seeking takeover. Now, Islamists have formed an unholy alliance with Marxists — two groups who would normally be at each other’s throats, yet now are uniting throughout Europe and North America for the purpose of wreaking havoc on the West. Their ultimate purpose is to build a seventh-century Arabian desert Utopia out of the wreckage of Western civilization.
Crimes against Jewish Americans continue to make headlines, from the killing of the young couple in Washington D.C. to the blatant antisemitic attack by an illegal Egyptian migrant in Boulder, Colorado. The Jews, however, are the canaries in the coal mine. The larger target, where the sights of radical Islamists are locked, is Western civilization.
These incidents are not isolated; they’re harbingers of chaos fueled by open borders and judicial obstruction. Christians and moral people everywhere must wake up, discern the truth, and reclaim our culture before it’s lost. We must share Christ’s gospel boldly. Make no mistake about it: Even if Westerners themselves aren’t aware of it, Western civilization is the byproduct of the Christian reformation of the 14th century.
Radical Islam’s goal is clear: not compatibility, but a global caliphate. In “The Third Jihad,” I explain how a holy war is underway, not only with terror but by stealth, with some even aiming to impose an Islamic State of North America by 2050. This “third jihad,” unlike the sword-driven first jihad (622–751) or second jihad (1302–1922), uses our freedoms — migration, legal systems, cultural sway — to infiltrate and dominate. The Quran’s call to “hijrah” (jihad by migration) urges Muslims to spread Islam, viewing relocation as sacred. In Europe, chants of “Allah give victory to Islam everywhere” accompany unassimilated enclaves. France’s nine million Muslims, with birthrates outpacing natives ten to one, are building mosques and shifting culture, often rejecting Western values. Britain’s Sharia councils erode sovereignty, operating as parallel legal systems. This isn’t integration; it’s conquest.
Violence isn’t the only threat. We now face cultural erosion. Radical Islamists exploit our systems. In “The Hidden Enemy,” I noted, “The enemy without [radical Islam] seeks a caliphate; the enemy within [secular leftists] erases Judeo-Christian values.” Their alliance is stark: leftists, rejecting biblical truth, defend Sharia advocates like Linda Sarsour, who co-led the 2017 Women’s March alongside abortion and LGBTQ champions. Political correctness brands critics “Islamophobic,” shielding this pact. Secularism’s spiritual vacuum — evident since Jesse Jackson’s 1987 chant, “Western Civ has got to go!” — invites Islamists to fill the void, using welfare, courts, and media to advance their agenda. As Christianity fades, with Europe’s churches now museums, radical Islam sees our culture as “overripe fruit,” ripe for conquest.
Recent events underscore the stakes. January 2025’s ISIS-inspired New Orleans attack, killing 14, exposed our vulnerability. In Cyprus, recent protests accused Turkey of imposing political Islam, eroding secular roots — a warning for the West. X posts amplify these concerns, decrying Sharia’s quiet spread. Pacifying radicals, as we did before the Taliban’s 2021 victory, breeds extremism. Historically, Christians stopped Islamic conquests at Tours (732) and Vienna (1683). Today’s fight is spiritual and cultural, yet many Christians stay silent, cowed by “tolerance.” As I have stated before, this deception is “from the pit of hell.” Excusing non-assimilation or Sharia zones surrenders our heritage.
The open border crisis amplifies this. Over four years, lax policies and judicial blocks have imported chaos. The Boulder attacker, an illegal migrant, embodies the risk: unchecked entry brings ideologies that fuel antisemitism and violence. If we don’t enforce borders, we’ll see more D.C. and Boulder tragedies. Radical Islam isn’t here to blend in — it’s here to dominate, as my decades studying its trappings confirm.
So, what must Christians do? First, go to God’s Word, not headlines. Second, evangelize boldly. Understand the darkness of radical Islam, but love Muslim people. The gospel is our power, so we must find the courage to share Christ with Muslim neighbors. Third, fortify churches. Pastors must preach unapologetically, equipping believers to counter secularism and Islamism. Congregations should disciple families, mentor youth, and pray for God to move.
The stakes are eternal. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus warned of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Radical Islam cloaks its takeover in tolerance, but its aim is a caliphate, not coexistence. Antisemitism will surge as unvetted migration grows. Yet hope endures. The early church faced Rome and won souls through love. We can, too. Christians, rise up. Share the gospel, love Muslims, defend our faith, and demand secure borders. Radical Islam banks on our silence — let’s prove them wrong.
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Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D., born in Egypt, is senior pastor of Church of The Apostles in Atlanta and founder of the radio broadcast “Leading The Way,” reaching 190 countries. With degrees from Moore College, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Emory University, he’s authored over 50 books, including “The Third Jihad.” He’s appeared on Fox News, CBN, and in The Wall Street Journal. His new book, “God’s Final Call: How the Book of Revelation Pulls Back the Veil on Current Events and Our Ultimate Future” (Tyndale, March 2025), recently released.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.