False notions about Islam

False notions about Islam

Syed Imad-ud-Din Asad

(Courtesy to MWL Journal Feb, March 2013) 

Islam happens to be the most misunderstood religion in the developed world. One of the various misconception that prevail about Islam is that it is absolutely towards other faiths. It is widely believed that Muslims have been instructed to offer Islam or the sword as alternatives to the non-Muslims.

These days one even come across Muslims who tend to express the same views. The ignorance of the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah, and the irresponsible, outrageous, and deplorable attitude of certain Muslim groups and regimes have equally contributed to the development of such utterly false notions about Islam.

In fact, tolerance is an essential religious and legal obligation imposed upon the Muslims. Though Muslims have been instructed to spread Islam by way of preaching; however, while preaching Islam or engaging in religious dialogues with non-Muslims, Muslims have been told to employ the most respectful and polite methods:

"Call to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the best manner...."(16:125)

And if the non-Muslim incline to disagree with the message of Islam, despite all the arguments and logic produced by the Muslims, the latter are still not to resort to any form of religious compulsion or violent reaction. God declares:

"There is no compulsion in religion..." (2:256)

"But if they dispute with thee, say: I submit myself entirely to Allah and (so does) he who follows me. And say to those who have been given the Book and the Unlearned (people) : Do you submit yourselves? If they submit, then indeed they follow the right way and if the turn back, thy duty is only to deliver the message..."(3:20)

"And if thy Lord had pleased, all those who are in the earth would have believed, all of them. Wilt thou then force men till they are believers?" (10:99)

And say: The Truth is from your Lord; so let him who please believe “and let him who please disbelieve..." (18:29).These verses clearly establish that Islam denounces forced-conversion.

Not only Muslims are prohibited from forcing. Islam on non-Muslims, they have also been ordered to deal with them in a just and kind manner:

"Allah forbids you not respecting those .who fight you not for religion, nor drive you from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly. Surely Allah loves the doers of justice. Allah forbids you only respecting those who fight you for religion, and drive you forth from your homes and help (others) in your expulsion, that you make friends of them; and whoever makes friends of them, these are the wrongdoers. "(60:8,9)

Islam not only acknowledges all the previous prophets and messengers, like Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, etc, and all the previous revelations, like the Torah, the psalms, etc. but it goes a step furtherMuslims have been strictly forbidden in the Quran from using any insulting remarks about any deity worshipped by any non-Muslim:

"And abuse not those whom they call upon besides Allah..."(6:109).

Can there be a more decisive proof of the marvelously tolerant nature of Islam?

The Sunnah too is abundant in injunctions that instruct Muslims to be considerate and courteous towards non-' Muslims. The charter granted by the Prophet (&) to the Christians of Mount Sinai is one of the glorious examples of tolerance and pluralism. This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity near and far, we are with them. Verily, I, the servants and helper, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and, by Allah, I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them: neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs, nor their monks from their monasteries.

 

No one to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslim's house. Should anyone take any of these he would spoil Allah's covenant and destroy His Prophet (£&) Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. Muslims are to fight for them ... Their churches are to be respected.. No one of the nation (of Islam) is to disobey

 

3rd page will be pasted here

 to produce a Surah (Chapter) lengthy are small in support of their claim. Ibn Ab­bas explaining 'And call your aides' said: It means call your helpers to whom you follow (Ibn Jarir). That is you take the assistance of whomsoever you like to produce a Surah match­ing the Quran, if you are truthful in your assertion.

 

6. God did call them to this challenge on quite some places in His Book: Say if mankind and Jinn get together to produce the like of this Quran, they care not produce the like thereof even if they helped one another (17/88)

 

'Or do they say: He (Muhammad) has invented it? Say: Bring then a Surah like unto it, and call upon whomsoever you can be side Allah, if you are truthful (10/38) It may be noted there are hundreds of Arabic scholar among the Jews and Christian in Beirut Universities and in London, they teach Arabic, yet no one could meet this standing challenge of the Quran.

 

The Quran is a great miracle. If mankind and Jinn attempt together to produce a Surah like Quran, they would end in utter disappointment. The Arabic of the Quran shall ever remaining matchless in the fluency, eloquence and its rhetoric style.

 

The European scholars win had held that the Prophet hat written this Quran, the aforesaid facts proved that he was unlettered, he could never read or write, secondly they objected the compilation of the Quran was not done in his life time, it is proved above that the compilation had occurred in his life The Prophet (peace be upon him) had recited before the Hob Ghost Gabriel who had listened from him twice this Quran ii the month he had died. Thus the compilation was continuing ant it was completed during his life. It was canonized later by Uthman.