Podcast Summary: “Is Allah a Zionist? with the Apostate Prophet”

Podcast: I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST
Host: Dr. Frank Turek
Guest: Ridvan Aydemir (Apostate Prophet)
Date: February 24, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the historical and theological roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with a particular focus on Islamic scripture and history. Dr. Frank Turek and Ridvan Aydemir examine whether the Quran supports Jewish claims to the land of Israel ("Is Allah a Zionist?"), the origins of the term "Palestine," recent and historical shifts in identity, and the intractability of peace efforts involving groups like Hamas. The discussion is candid, aiming to uncover political, cultural, and religious realities often overlooked in Western discourse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Does the Quran Affirm Jewish Claims to Israel? (01:29–05:06)

• Quranic Basis: Ridvan explains the Quran contains several passages (notably 5:21) affirming that God (Allah) gave the land now known as Israel to the Jews.
• Historical Context: Muhammad initially tried to appeal to local Jewish populations by incorporating their beliefs and stories into the Quran.
• Quote:

  "The Quran itself never actually explicitly contradicts this affirmation of Allah giving the holy land to the children of Israel, to the Jews." (Ridvan, 04:51)

• Contradictions: While later Quranic verses mention God can retract blessings if people disobey, the original affirmation is never directly rescinded.

2. The Name "Palestine" vs. "Israel" in Religious and Political Context (06:00–13:06)

• No "Palestine" in Quran: The term "Palestine" does not appear in Islamic scripture. Its adoption traces back to Roman and, later, British colonial policy.
• Roman Renaming: Roman Emperor Hadrian renamed Judea to “Syria Palestina” in 135 AD to suppress Jewish ties.
• Modern Adoption: The concept of a "Palestinian" identity only gained traction in the mid-20th century; the PLO first declared a State of Palestine in 1988.
• Quote:

  "Palestine is a very recent invention that was actually invented in response to Israel." (Ridvan, 12:45)

• British partition: Ridvan reviews how Britain and the League of Nations originally considered allocating the entire area, including present-day Jordan, as a Jewish homeland, only later splitting it and using the name Palestine mainly in connection with Jews until Israel’s foundation.

3. 1948 and the Refugee Narrative (13:06–20:09)

• Jewish Presence: Jews have had an uninterrupted presence in the land for millennia; Zionism sought to reestablish their historic home.
• 1948 War: Arab leaders asked Arab residents to leave in advance of coordinated attacks to "annihilate" the Jews with the promise of returning post-victory—something that did not materialize.
• Refugee status: Post-war, departing Arabs were classified as "refugees" with a unique multi-generational status, perpetuating ongoing conflict.
• Quote:

  "Now they have multi generational inherited refugee status...with the false hope that in the future they will somehow be able to return." (Ridvan, 19:30)

4. The Imbalance of Land and Demographics in the Region (20:09–21:44)

• Statistical Perspective: The countries surrounding Israel have a population outnumbering Israel’s by 16:1 and a land mass 63 times larger.
• Perceived Injustice: Frank highlights the perceived absurdity of demands that Israel cede more land for peace.

5. The Unyielding Stance of Hamas and Ideological Roadblocks to Peace (21:44–26:07)

• Hamas’ Charter: Ridvan summarizes Hamas’ founding documents, which explicitly call for the eradication of Israel and Jews, with no intention of brokering peace.
• Quote:

  “Hamas is not a resistance movement that is fighting for freedom... Their cause does not consist of fighting for their freedoms. It rather consists [of] Islamic dominance...which includes...the eradication of Israel and the ultimate killing of Jews.” (Ridvan, 21:44)

• Open declarative hostility: Hamas frames any attempt at negotiation as treachery.

6. Western Misconceptions and Wishful Thinking (23:10–29:34)

• Why Don’t Westerners Believe Hamas? Many in the West, and even some Israeli leaders, mistakenly regard Hamas’ intentions as mere rhetoric rather than literal goals.
• Quote:

  “They always said, ‘We want to kill you’. But when we heard ‘we want to kill you’, we always thought, ‘Oh no, they must be just saying this...’" (Ridvan quoting Dr. Ina Wilof, 25:43)

• Political Realities: Efforts at negotiation or compromise are undermined by the threat of violence against Palestinian leaders who might accept peace (e.g., what would have happened if Yasser Arafat accepted a deal in 1993).

7. The Present and Future: Is Peace Possible? (29:34–32:19)

• Hard Realities: Ridvan asserts that true peace is currently unachievable given popular sentiment and education in Palestinian territories, which foster a commitment to continue fighting until Israel is eliminated.
• Quote:

  “The majority...said that even if they do have complete independence and a two state solution alongside Israel, it would not be enough for them. They would still continue fighting until Israel no longer exists and all of the land belongs to them.” (Ridvan, 31:30)

• Education for Conflict: This militant stance is actively reinforced by school curricula, including those under UNRWA’s administration.

8. Western Leftist Sympathies and the Power of Narrative (32:19–35:31)

• Oppression Narrative: Many Western leftists adopt the Palestinian cause within a frame of anti-colonialism and oppression, despite Islam’s own imperialistic history.
• Cultural Distance: Ridvan suggests Westerners' ignorance of the conflict’s true nature leads to naivete and misplaced sympathies.
• Quote:

  “If America was taken over by an Islamist organization...the so called leftists who support Islamists would very, very quickly turn around, because they would be the first who would be killed and locked up.” (Ridvan, 34:10)

9. Islamic Imperial Vision and the Centrality of Jerusalem (35:31–38:01)

• Religious Motivation: For many Muslims worldwide, the struggle for Jerusalem is perceived as a linchpin for reviving Islam’s global fortunes—defeating Israel would signal a new era of Islamic unity and aggression.
• Warning for Christians: Ridvan cautions that the Islamic empire historically sought to subjugate Christians as well as Jews, and believes Christians should not fall for the victimization narrative.
• Quote:

  “If Israel lost that land...they would once again start a major force to attack us...this time you have mass migration...and a very weak Christian spirit that needs to be revived. Under these circumstances, it could be even worse if it happens again." (Ridvan, 37:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Origin of the Term ‘Palestine’
  "Palestine is only a name that was...adopted from a lesser name by the Romans, who wanted to rename the official province of Judea into Syria Palestina simply to spite the Jews..." (Ridvan, 06:24)
• On Recognizing Reality
  "You can’t deal with a problem...unless you know what’s going on." (Frank, 41:07)
• On Christian Perspective
  "We love all people. We want all people to come to the knowledge of Jesus...But from a government perspective, governments are instituted to protect innocent people from evil..." (Frank, 29:45)
• Closing Humor
  "Terrible YouTube channel." (Ridvan, joking about David Wood’s ‘Apologetics Roadshow’, 39:40)

Suggested Further Listening/Resources

• Apostate Prophet YouTube Channel: In-depth videos on Islamic theology, history, and the Middle East.
• Apologetics Roadshow (David Wood): Additional commentary and debates on related topics.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:29 - Quran’s affirmation of the Israelite land promise
• 06:00 - History of the term “Palestine” and national identity formation
• 13:06 - 1948 War and the refugee narrative
• 21:44 - Hamas in their own words: no peace, only eradication
• 23:43 - Western incomprehension of Hamas’ openly declared intentions
• 29:34 - Why peace talks continually fail
• 31:30 - Palestinian public opinion on the two-state solution
• 35:31 - The religious and apocalyptic motivation tied to Jerusalem
• 39:40 - Resource recommendations and closing banter

Tone & Language:
The conversation is direct, at times blunt, but remains analytical and historically grounded, with frank assessments of political and religious motivations. Frank and Ridvan share a worldview oriented around Christian apologetics and skepticism toward mainstream Western narratives about the Middle East.

This episode provides a thorough, challenging examination of longstanding religious, political, and cultural issues underlying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, equipping listeners with historical context and a critical perspective on ongoing events.