*{Ye have indeed in the Apostle of God a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in God and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of God.}* (Al-Ahzab 33:21)
Consequently, it is among the qualities of good believers, to emulate the character of the Prophet, whom God Almighty has described in the Noble Qur?an as what means:
*{And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character}* (Al-Qalam 68:4)
Obviously, conveying the message of Islam requires an interaction with others. The best form of interaction is that which is based on friendship, justice, and mutual respect. Therefore, a Muslim is allowed to take a non-Muslim for a friend. God says what means:
*{God forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for God loveth those who are just.}* (Al-Mumtahanah 60:8)
A friendship based on sincerity, kindness, respect, and justice produces good results. It allows the non-Muslim friends, business partners, colleagues, and neighbors to see the values of Islam. This will definitely bring them closer to the right path. Many of those who opposed the Prophet (peace be upon him) and fought him, later embraced Islam and followed him, only because of the Prophet’s morals and kind manners toward others! Good manners in dealing with people, therefore, are among the recommended practices that have been emphasized by our faith. The Prophet said: "I was sent to complete the best manners." Islam teaches us that we should deal even with our enemies with the best of manners, let alone our non-Muslim friends, or those who simply disagree with us. For instance, God commanded us not to curse other faiths or what the others worship:
*{Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides God, lest they out of spite revile God in their ignorance…}* (Al-An`am 6:108)
God even teaches us how to act politely when others disrespect Him and mock the faith of Islam, as described in the following verse:
*{Already has He sent you Word in the Book, that when ye hear the signs of God held in defiance and ridicule, ye are not to sit with them unless they turn to a different theme…}* (An-Nisaa’ 4:140)
Hence, in such cases, God asked us to leave politely and kindly, not to curse or attack them back, even - more important, not to abandon their company forever. Instead, He said, we are allowed to go back to their company once they change the subject. Evidently, the wisdom behind this kindly act is to enable us to convey the message of Islam by obliging them to respect our faith, at least in our presence. Is this not a religion of peace?
]]>Referring to the increased population of Muslims in the Netherlands, Dutch MP Geert Wilders has said: "Take a walk down the street and see where this is going. You no longer feel like you are living in your own country. There is a battle going on and we have to defend ourselves. Before you know it there will be more mosques than churches!" It is clear that he has hatred towards the influx of immigants in Netherlands.
And if you talk about violence as the basis of what is propogated in Islam, then please refer to this websites that talks about the biblical crusades and the violence and bibilical god : http://www.humanismbyjoe.com/Violence_and_God.htm, http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/christian/blfaq_viol_biblewars.htm
My point is, do not justify religion as the basis for the violence that happen. At certain point in times, violence happens in all societies be it Buddhist states, Hindus or even Christianity. It is human problem not religion.
And what’s stated in the quran was based on the happenings at those medivals times. And interesting in the film it cited Surah 4 verse 56 about those non believers being skinned to death, but if you were to check carefully in the quran, the context is about the afterlife, for those who do not believe in the existence of GOD. Do not jump to conclusion and get carried away by what some group/s say, my advise is do your own thorough research. Its easy for people to take things as it is and manipulated it to be out of context.
My believe is, all religions teach about peace. Muslims believe in Jesus, Moses and don’t ridicule as such.
]]>Qur’an 9:73 “O Prophet, strive hard against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be harsh with them. Their abode is Hell, an evil refuge indeed.”Qur’an 8:59-60 “The infidels should not think that they can get away from us. Prepare against them whatever arms and weaponry you can muster so that you may terrorize them.”
Qur’an 4:168-169 “Those who reject [Islamic] Faith, Allah will not forgive them nor guide them to any path except the way to Hell, to dwell therein forever. And this to Allah is easy.”
Qur’an 33:60-61 “Truly, if the Hypocrites stir up sedition, if the agitators in the City do not desist, We shall urge you to go against them and set you over them. They shall have a curse on them. Whenever they are found, they shall be seized and slain without mercy—a fierce slaughter—murdered, a horrible murdering.”Qur’an 33:64-68 “Verily Allah has cursed the Unbelievers and has prepared for them a Blazing Fire to dwell in forever. No protector will they find, nor savior. That Day their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire. They will say: ‘Woe to us! We should have obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger!’ ‘Our Lord! Give them double torment and curse them with a very great Curse!’”
Qur’an 5:10 “Those who reject, disbelieve and deny Our signs, proofs and verses will be companions of Hell-Fire.”
Qur’an 5:51 “Believers, take not Jews and Christians for your friends.”
Qur’an 72:15 “The disbelievers are the firewood of hell.”
Qur’an 88:23-25 “But if any turn away and reject Allah, in which case, he will be punished with the severest punishment. Verily to Us they will return.”
Qur’an 90:19 “But those who reject Our Signs, Proofs, and Verses, they are the unhappy Companions of the Left Hand. Fire will be their awning, vaulting over them.”
Qur’an 2:64 “But you [Jews] went back on your word and were lost losers. So become apes, despised and hated. We made an example out of you.”
Qur’an 66:9 “O Prophet! Strive hard against the unbelieving Infidels and the Hypocrites; be severe against them. Their abode is Hell, an evil resort.”
Qur’an 60:1 “Believers, take not my enemies and yours as allies, offering them love, even though they have rejected the truth that has come to you, and have driven out the Prophet and you because you believe in Allah! If you have come out to struggle [fight jihad] in My Cause, and to seek My Pleasure, (take them not as friends), holding secret converse of love with them: for I am aware of all you conceal. And any of you that does this has strayed from the Straight Path. If they were to get the better of you, they would be your foes, and stretch forth their hands and their tongues against you with evil (designs): and they desire that you reject the Truth.”
Qur’an 48:13 “If any believe not in Allah and His Messenger, We have prepared a Blazing Fire for them!”
Qur’an 48:28-29 “It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth (Islam), that he may make it superior to every other religion, exalting it over them. Allah is a sufficient Witness. Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah. Those who are with him are severe with Infidel unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other.”
Qur’an 47:3-4 “Those who disbelieve follow vanities, while those who believe follow truth from their Lord: Thus does Allah coin for men their similitudes [resemblances] as a lesson. Whoever denies faith [in Islam and Muhammad], his work is of no account, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers. Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; at length, until ye have thoroughly subdued them.”
Qur’an 9:2 “You cannot weaken Allah or escape. Allah will disgrace the unbelievers and put those who reject Him to shame.”Qur’an 9:29 “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Prophet, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth (Islam), (even if they are) of the People of the Book (Jews), until they pay the jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”
Qur’an 9:17-18 “The disbelievers have no right to visit the mosques of Allah while bearing witness against their own souls to infidelity. These it is whose doings are in vain, and in the fire shall they abide. Only he shall visit the mosques of Allah who believes in Allah and the latter day, and keeps up devotional obligations, pays the zakat, and fears none but Allah.”
Qur’an 9:28 “Believers, truly the pagan disbelievers are unclean.”
Qur’an 9:30 “The Jews call Uzair (Ezra) the son of Allah, and the Christians say that the Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying from their mouths; but (in this) they imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s (Himself) fights against them, cursing them, damning and destroying them. How perverse are they!”
Qur’an 9:33 “He has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the Religion of Truth (Islam) to make it superior over all religions, even though the disbelievers detest (it).”
Qur’an 9:63 “Know they not that for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger is the Fire of Hell wherein they shall dwell? That is the supreme disgrace.”
Qur’an 9:66 “Make no excuses: you have rejected Faith after you had accepted it. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you, for they are disbelievers.”Qur’an 9:113 “It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe, that they should pray for the forgiveness for disbelievers, even though they be close relatives, after it is clear to them that they are the inmates of the Flaming Hell Fire.”
Qur’an 5:78 “Curses were pronounced on the unbelievers, the Children of Israel who rejected Islam, by the tongues of David and of Jesus because they disobeyed and rebelled.”
Qur’an 5:80 “You see many of them allying themselves with the Unbelievers [other translations read: “Infidels”]. Vile indeed are their souls. Allah’s wrath is on them, and in torment will they abide.”Qur’an 5:82 “You will find the Jews and disbelievers [defined as Christians in 5:73] the most vehement in hatred for the Muslims.”Qur’an 5:86 “Those who reject Islam and are disbelievers, denying our Signs and Revelations —they shall be the owners of the Hell Fire.”
Qur’an 5:51 “Believers, take not Jews and Christians for your friends. They are but friends and protectors to each other.”Qur’an 2:191 “Slay them wherever you find and catch them, and drive them out from where they have turned you out; for persecution and oppression are worse than slaughter.”Qur’an 33:25-26 “Allah drove the disbelievers back…and helped the believers in battle…. He terrorized the People of the Book so that you killed some and made many captive.”
Qur’an 21:98-100 “Verily you (disbelieving Infidels), and the gods that you worship besides Allah, are the fuel for Hell, faggots for the fire! Certainly you will enter it! Had their (idols) been (real) alihah (gods), they would have kept them out of Hell. Therein, sobbing will be your lot. Breathing with deep sighs, roaring. You will hear nothing but wailing and groaning.”
Qur’an 18:103-106 “Say: ‘Shall we inform you of who will be the greatest losers? …Those who reject my Revelations… Hell is their reward, because they rejected Islam, and took My proofs, verses, and lessons, and those of My Messengers by way of jest in mockery.’”
Qur’an 40:10 “Lo, those who disbelieve will be informed by proclamation: ‘Verily Allah’s abhorrence is more terrible than your aversion to yourselves. Allah’s hatred of you is terrible, seeing that you were called to the Faith [of submission] and you refused.’”
Qur’an 40:35 “Those who dispute the Signs and Verses of Allah without any authority, grievous and odious, hateful and disgusting, is it in the sight of Allah and the Believers.’”
Qur’an 20:100-105 “Whoever turns from it, he shall bear a burden on the Day of Doom. Grievous evil will the load on them. We shall gather the Mujrimun (disbeliever) blue or blind-eyed with thirst…. My Lord will blast them and scatter them as dust.”
Qur’an 21:10-15 “Verily, We have sent down for you a Book in which is your reminder. Have you then no sense? How many towns have We utterly destroyed because of their wrongs, exchanging them for other people? When they (felt) Our Torment, behold, they (began to) fly. Fly not, but return to that which emasculated you so that you may be interrogated. They cried: ‘Woe to us!’ Their crying did not cease till We mowed them down as ashes silent and quenched.”
Qur’an 21:98-100 “Verily you (unbelievers), and that which you worship besides Allah, are faggots for the Hell Fire! And come to it you will! There, sobbing and groaning will be your lot.”
Qur’an 46:20 “On that Day the unbelievers will be placed before the Fire: ‘You squandered your good things in this life and you sought comfort from them, but today shall you be rewarded with a penalty of humiliation.’”
Qur’an 59:4 “If any one resists Allah, verily Allah is severe in Punishment, stern in reprisal.”
Qur’an 2:99 “We have sent down to you Manifest Signs; and none reject them but those who are perverse.”
Qur’an 2:174-175 “Those who conceal Allah’s revelations in the [Bible] Scripture Book, and thus make a miserable profit thereby [selling it to Muhammad], swallow Fire into themselves; Allah will not address them. Grievous will be their doom. They are the ones who bartered away guidance for error and Torment in place of Forgiveness. Ah, what boldness (they show) for the Fire! (Their doom is) because Allah sent down the Book in truth but those who seek causes of dispute in the Book are in a schism of great opposition.”Qur’an 4:89 “…If they turn back from Islam, becoming renegades, seize them and kill them wherever you find them.”
Qur’an 8:12-14 “…I will terrorize the unbelievers. Therefore smite them on their necks and every joint and incapacitate them. Strike off their heads and cut off each of their fingers and toes. This because they rejected Allah and defied His Messenger. If anyone opposes Allah and His Messenger, Allah shall be severe in punishment. That is the torment: ‘So taste the punishment. For those infidels who resist there is the torment of Hell.’”
Qur’an 8:22 “Those who do not obey are the worst of beasts, the vilest of animals in the sight of Allah. They are deaf and dumb. Those who do not understand are senseless.”Qur’an 8:36-37 “The unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (man) from the Way of Allah, and so will they continue to spend; but in the end they will have intense regrets and sighs. It will become an anguish for them, then they will be subdued. The unbelievers shall be driven into hell in order that Allah may distinguish the bad from the good and separate them. Allah wants to heap the wicked one over the other and cast them into Hell. They are the losers.”Qur’an 8:39 “So fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief [non-Muslims]) and all submit to the religion of Allah alone (in the whole world).”
Qur’an 8:50 “If you could have seen the infidels when the angels drew away their souls, striking their faces and smiting their backs. The angels said: ‘Taste the penalty of the blazing Fire.’”Qur’an 8:52 “They denied and rejected the revelations of Allah, and Allah destroyed them, punishing them for their crimes: for Allah is strict, severe in punishment.”
Qur’an 61:7-9 “Who does greater wrong than one who invents falsehood against Allah, even as he is being summoned to Submission? And Allah guides not the disbelievers. Their intention is to extinguish Allah’s Light (by blowing) with their mouths: But Allah will complete His Light, even though the Unbelievers detest (it). It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth (Islam), that he may make it conquer all religion, even though the disbelievers hate (it).”
Qur’an 3:3-4 “As a guidance to mankind, He sent down the criterion (to judge between right and wrong). Truly, for those who deny the proofs and signs of Allah, the torture will be severe; Allah is powerful, the Lord of Retribution.”
Qur’an 3:10 “As for those who deny [Islam], neither their wealth nor their children will help them in the least against Allah. They shall be faggots for the fire of Hell.”Qur’an 3:12 “So tell the unbelieving infidels: ‘You will surely be vanquished, seized by Allah, and driven to Hell. How bad a preparation.’”
Qur’an 3:28 “Those who believe should not take unbelievers as their friends…guard yourselves from them.… Allah commands you to beware of Him.”
Qur’an 3:32 “Say: ‘Obey Allah and His Messenger;’ If they refuse, remember Allah does not like unbelieving infidels.”
Qur’an 3:55-56 “Allah said, ‘Jesus, I will take you and raise you to Myself and rid you of the infidels (who have forged the lie that you are My son).… Those who are infidels will surely receive severe torment both in this world and the next; and none will they have as a savior for them.”
Qur’an 3:61 “If anyone disputes with you about Jesus being divine, flee them and pray that Allah will curse them.”
Qur’an 3:62-64 “This is the true account, the true narrative, the true explanation: There is no Ilah (God) except Allah; and Allah—He is the Mighty. And if they turn away, then lo! Allah is aware of the corrupters, the mischief-makers. Say: ‘People of the Book, come to common terms as an agreement between us and you: That we all shall worship none but Allah.’”
Qur’an 3:85 “If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (Surrender), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who are losers.”
Qur’an 3:118-119 “Believers! Take not into your intimacy those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, and Christians). They will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin. Rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths. What their hearts conceal is far worse. …When they are alone, they bite off the very tips of their fingers at you in their rage. Say unto them: ‘Perish in your rage.’”
Qur’an 3:141 “This is so that Allah may test the faithful and destroy the unbelieving infidels.” [Another translation:] “Allah’s object is to purge those that are true in Faith and blight the disbelievers. This is so that Allah may test the faithful and destroy the unbelieving infidels.”Qur’an 3:151 “Soon We shall strike terror into the hearts of the Infidels, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority: their abode will be in the Fire!”
Qur’an 33:58 “And those who annoy or malign Muslims bear (on themselves) a crime of calumny and a glaring sin.”
Qur’an 24:39 “For those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in the desert. There is no water for the thirsty. He only finds Allah, who will pay him his due in Hell.”Qur’an 24:57 “Never think that the unbelievers can escape in the land. Their abode is Fire!”
Qur’an 4:14 “Those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a Fire, to abide therein: And they shall have a humiliating punishment.”
Qur’an 59:2-4 "It was He [Allah] who drove the [Jewish] People of the Book from their [Medina] homes and into exile. They refused to believe. You did not think that they would go away. And they imagined that their settlement would protect them against Allah. But Allah’s (torment) came at them from where they did not suspect and terrorized them. Their homes were destroyed. So learn a lesson O men who have eyes. This is My warning. Had Allah not decreed the expulsion of the Jews, banishing them into the desert, He would certainly have punished them in this world, and in the next they shall taste the torment of Hell Fire." "That is because they resisted Allah and opposed His Messenger. If any one resists Allah, verily Allah is severe in Punishment, stern in reprisal."
]]>Thanks
]]>Funny stuff that.
]]>Oh and by the way, in many Muslim countries, translations aren’t so common. Instead, the local preacher can read the sources in original Arabic and he explains them to the people.
]]>I don’t believe the New Testament is inherently superior to the Old Testament. Such a claim comes close to antisemitism.
I’m not an "apologist for Islam". I strongly oppose dictatorships and human rights violations in places like Saudi-Arabia. I think their ideology of wahhabism is basically pure evil.
I’m a Muslim theologian from Europe. I have grown here and I love the culture and civilisation. I just don’t believe Christianity as a religion made the difference. Didn’t Muslim thinkers like Ibn Roshd and Ibn Arabi contribute to European humanism? Wasn’t Spinoza an unconventional thinker of Jewish background with Pantheist leanings, Giordano Bruno a Pantheist as well, Rouseau a naturalist, Voltaire and Sartre atheists?
David,
I don’t think the Dutch government has expressed a view concerning authenticity of any version of Islam. They just want to appease the radicals to maintain calm at home and assure exports. IMHO quite a dangerous strategy, remember 1938…
Terry,
Basically you are avoiding the argument by making false claims and turning to insults. Look at the text of Deuteronomy whether it only includes historical recounts of actual instructions. And look at Christian history, these parts were definitely used to justify Christian violence.
Most contemporary Christian theology does not see these parts as binding today, but that’s not due to the so peaceful nature of Christianity. Remember Jesus said in Matthew 10:34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword."
Let’s get serious, both Christianity and Islam’s holy texts provide for both peace and violence. (Yes, even today. In 2003, many pastors did endorse war in Iraq for example).
Which one is being emphasized depends on theologians.
If Islam has more theologians preaching hatred and violence, and Christianity has more peace-loving ones, this is not because of the nature of the two religions, but because Western countries are more developed. Culture and education have been strongly influenced by the thought of enlightenment (which was not a religious movement). Compared to that, many Muslim majority nations are quite culturally backwards and produce the corresponding theology.
I have grown up in a place in Europe where Christianity does not mean much to most people anymore. The freedoms we enjoy here today are based on the thoughts of people like Locke, Kant and Voltaire. Christianity on the other hand seems pretty much opposed to the advancement of freedoms. They opposed marriage for couples that happen to be of the same sex (and thus contrary to their own religious doctrine), opening shops on sundays (same thing), abortion (same thing again) etc. Until just some decades ago, Churches in Europe (both Catholic and protestant) even opposed democracy. And just recently, Christians called for censorship of an Atheist childern’s book.
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