The Truth About Islam

Lamb & Lion Ministries Web Page ^ | Dr. David R. Reagan

[sweetliberty]

"what about these verses from Koran that you forgot or deliberately not to include in your article:"

It was not MY article. I did not author it, so I expect if you want a response, then you should go to the source URL and look up how to contact the person who was. I will, however, make personal observations in response to your remarks and quotes.

"forgive Jews who distort the Qur'an, 5:13"

"It appears to me based on this and the verses that follow that these may have been Jews who were converts to Islam who just couldn't get it right. There is within the context the admission of having made the hearts of Jews hard against them, suggesting that there had existed acts of agression. The possibility also exists that this may have been one of those times when the lie was more expedient than the truth.

"THEN GRANT HIM PROTECTION, so that he may hear the Word of Allâh (the Qur'ân), and THEN ESCORT HIM TO WHERE HE CAN BE SECURE, THAT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE MEN WHO KNOW NOT"

Sounds like coercion to me...make of them a caprive audience, in other words.

Admittedly I'm being a bit of a smart a** in my responses, but seriously, to get involved in a lengthy discussion of all the different verses that could be pulled out of the Koran and argued would be far beyond the scope of my intention. I have already gone through all the research and study quite a few years ago and reached my own conclusions based on my findings. Frankly, I have no desire to revisit those times. I appreciate the discussion that has come about as a result of the original post, on both sides of the issue. I have no particular interest in Islam or the shades of meaning that may be found within it. It has already been said that there are conflicting statements within the Koran itself. I simply think it is prudent to examine the possibility that some of the threats being leveled at America by the likes of Bin Laden and the Taliban may not be so isolated to a few fanatics as we are being led to believe.

[EternalVigilance]

Bump!!

(I'll be back when I get some time)

[sweetliberty]

Y'all may want to take a look at this thread:

[sweetliberty]

Bump

[ppaul]

sweetliberty: By 1683 they had reached the gates of Vienna where once again the Western forces won a miraculous victory against overwhelming odds.

Aquinafan: Make that "Catholic forces." If we're going to take the heat for the Crusades, we might as well take credit for it too.

You're both partly right. But who were the "Western" and "Catholic" forces?

The Answer:

1683 - POLAND Saved Europe from Islamic Jihad

Before they were utterly defeated by the King of Poland, Jan III Sobieski, at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, those followers of Muhammad, the Turks, had laid laid seige to Vienna, in their attempt to "convert" and conquer Europe.

Here was their declaration and widely published prayer (sound familiar?):

Eternal God and creator of all things, and thou O Mahomet his sacred and divine prophet. We beseech thee let us not dread the Christians, who are so mean and silly to rely on a crucified god. By the power of thy right hand, so strengthen ours that we may surround this foolish people, on every side, and utterly destroy them. At length fulfill our prayers and put these miscreants into our hands, that we may establish thy throne for ever in Mecca, and sacrifice all those enemies of our most holy religion at thy tomb. Blow us with thy mighty breath like swarms of flies into their quarters, and let the eyes of these infidels bedazelled with the lustre of our moon. Consume them with thy fiery darts, and blind them with the dust which they themselves have raised. Destroy them all in thine anger. Break all their bones in pieces, and consume the flesh and blood of those who defile thy sacrifice, and hang the sacred light of circumcision on their cross. Wash them with showers of many waters, who are so stupid to worship gods they know not: and make their Christ a son to that God who ne're begot him. Hasten therefore their destruction we humbly entreat thee, and blot out their name and religion, which they glory so much in, from off the face of the earth, that they may be no more, who condemn and mock at thy law. Amen.

And, here is an excerpt from the King of Poland's letter to his Queen, after the Battle:

.....The Rarities which were found in the Prime Vizor's Tent, were no less Numerous than Strange and Surprising, as very curious Parrots, and some Birds of Paradise, with all his Banios, and Fountains, and some Ostriches, which he Chose rather to Kill, than let 'em fall Alive into our Hands; Nay his Dispair and Jealousy transported him so far, as to Destroy his very Women for the same Reason.

The whole Army Attributes the Glory of this Victory to God, and Us, and all the Princes of the Empire, with the Great Officers, as the Dukes of Bavaria and Lorrain, Prince Waldek, etc. were so far transported with my Valour and Success, that their Thanks and Praises were more Numerous, than was their Fears before; and Count Staremberg the Governour, Saluted me with the Title of his Mighty Deliverer. The Common People in my going to and from the Churches, pay'd their Veneration even to my very Garments, and made their Cry's and Acclamations reach the Sky, of Long Live the King of Poland.....

In the battle we Lost some of our Friends, as Prince Halicki, and the Treasurer of our Household. The Reverend Marinus Daviano, heapt on me his Pray'rs and Blessings, and told me he saw a White Dove fluttering o're the Army, which he look'd upon as an happy Augure of our Victory.....

Thanks be to Heaven, now the Half-Moon Triumphs no longer o're the Cross, And 'twas thrown down from St. Stephen's Steeple in Vienna (whom it had o'retopt so long) immediately on the Defeat: Neither have the Turks any occasion to upbraid us with their Blasphemous Mahometan Proverb. Ye Christians where is Your God?

After the Battle Jan Sobieski entered Vienna in glory. The King and his Polish army had won lots of fame after their victory. Jan III Sobieski was not only looked upon as the savior of Vienna, but as a savior of the whole of Europe from the Ottoman Turks.

:

[TopQuark]

They have a hard time concealing their inner arrogance about their religion or should I say moon worshiping cult. Half a billion people are following a cult, not a religion?

[TopQuark]

mvpel: "Do you have any references, or is this anecdotal?"

Jon Doe:I have seen several instances right here on FR of it. No, I do not have chapter and verse to provide to you, as I never expected to have my honesty called into question in that regard.

So, are you calling me a liar?

Substantiation is a part of any reasoned, scholarly inquiry. The question posed by mvpel is a standard question asked around the world thousands of times a day in scholarly discourse. It is a pity that you do not even recognize careful reasoning when you see it.

So, are you calling me a liar? I do not see at all whence this conclusion could have possibly originated. This is just one more instance of your tendency to assume the worst in others. The ease with which you regularly make negative attributions to others is not only not nice --- it is a bit frightening.

[Don Joe]

"Substantiation is a part of any reasoned, scholarly inquiry. The question posed by mvpel is a standard question asked around the world thousands of times a day in scholarly discourse. It is a pity that you do not even recognize careful reasoning when you see it."

Making "unsubstantiated" observations in casual conversation is a social custom that has served civililized (Western) people quite well. Invoking virtual "court rules" and "rules of evidence" in an attempt to attack the credibility of someone who comments on something he's heard is something that I think would be more appropriate for the taliban than a discussion between a group of friendly acquaintances. It is a pity that you do not even recognize normal conversation when you see it.

"The ease with which you regularly make negative attributions to others is not only not nice --- it is a bit frightening."

*BOO!*

Oh, and thanks for casting your negative attributions my way -- with such ease!

[Don Joe]

"If we're going to take the heat for the Crusades, we might as well take credit for it too."

Credit where credit is due!

It has long been fashionable to damn the Crusades, and while I have no doubt that there was some brutality, and likely some corruption in the ranks, I think it's vital to view the Crusades in the context in which they occurred. The islamic conquest of Europe was quite possibly far more brutal than anything the Catholics dished back to them when undoing the conquest.

If not for the Crusades, the world would probably be a far different place than it is now. Frankly, I find the idea of a global taliban disgusting. (And let's not forget that if not for the expansionist endeavors of the moslems, there never would have been any Crusades. The islamists have refined "How dare you hit me back!" into an art form.)

[Don Joe]

"Half a billion people are following a cult, not a religion?"

This has got to be the funniest "size matters" argument I've ever seen!

BTW, yes, they're cult members. Any other questions?

[mvpel]

So DonJoe, what word do Arab Christians use as the name of the Deity, considering that the word "allah" is not the Arabic equivalent of the word "god?"

Someone pointed me to 77, but that just shows more of the other stuff I've seen, indicating that the two words are equivalent.

-Michael Pelletier.

[TopQuark]

I'm still waiting for the Islamic world to conndem things like this. Looks like I'm in for a very long wait...

I've seen it coming ever since we failed to reciprocate for the deaths of our soldiers in the 1980s. I and we should wipe out this threat before it attempts to claim more lives of our fellow Americans --- or anyone else in the Western World, for that matter.

What I was writing about, on this thread and elsewhere, that we do not need to point at holy books in order to justify our resolve to fight evil. It is a simple point, I thought: the Bible is not responsible for the evil acts of Christians; likewise, Quran is not reposnsible for the evil deeds of the Arabs.

[mvpel]

Quran is not reposnsible for the evil deeds of the Arabs.

Yes, but if the Quran calls for it, is it actually "evil?"

2.24: "..be on your guard against the fire of which men and stones are the fuel; it is prepared for the infidels."
2.191: "And kill them wherever you find them... such is the recompense for infidels."
4.89: "...if they turn [away from Allah's way], then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper."
4.101: "...surely the infidels are your open enemy."
9.29: "Fight those who do not believe in Allah ... until they pay the tax in acknowledgement of superiority and they are in a state of subjection."
9.30: [of Jews and Christians] may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!
9.73: "...strive hard against the infidels .. and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination."
25.52: "So do not follow the infidels, and strive against them mightily."

[EclipseVI]

It is really beyond me why some people would attack, falsify, and otherwise slander another's faith and/or belief system. As a Muslim, I am not permitted to do that; nor, do I think I would even if I were not a Muslim. To dispute the article point-by-point would take too long since this posting is filled with inaccuracies, half-truths and flat-out lies. So, instead, I'll just post THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT ISLAM.

Some Basic Islamic Beliefs:

1) Belief in God: Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes. No one shares His divinity, nor His attributes. In the Quran, God describes Himself:

Say, “He is God, the One. God, to Whom the creatures turn for their needs. He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him.” (Quran, 112:1-4

No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to, or shown any act of worship, but God alone.

God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Sustainer of everything in the whole universe. He manages all affairs. He stands in need of none of His creatures, and all His creatures depend on Him for all that they need. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and the All-Knowing. In a perfect manner, His knowledge encompasses all things, the open and the secret, and the public and the private. He knows what has happened, what will happen, and how it will happen. No affair occurs in the whole world except by His will. Whatever He wills is, and whatever He does not will is not and will never be. His will is above the will of all the creatures. He has power over all things, and He is able to do everything. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and the Most Beneficent. In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad , we are told that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child. God is far removed from injustice and tyranny. He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees. If someone wants something from God, he or she can ask God directly without asking anyone else to intercede with God for him or her.

God is not Jesus, and Jesus is not God. Even Jesus himself rejected this. God has said in the Quran:

Indeed, they have disbelieved who have said, “God is the Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary.” The Messiah said, “Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever associates partners in worship with God, then God has forbidden Paradise for him, and his home is the Fire (Hell). For the wrongdoers,3 there will be no helpers.” (Quran, 5:72)

God is not a trinity. God has said in the Quran:

Indeed, they disbelieve who say, “God is the third of three (in a trinity),” when there is no god but one God. If they desist not from what they say, truly, a painful punishment will befall the disbelievers among them. Would they not rather repent to God and ask His forgiveness? For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a messenger... (Quran, 5:73-75)

Islam rejects that God rested on the seventh day of the creation, that He wrestled with one of His angels, that He is an envious plotter against mankind, or that He is incarnate in any human being. Islam also rejects the attribution of any human form to God. All of these are considered blasphemous. God is the Exalted. He is far removed from every imperfection. He never becomes weary. He does not become drowsy nor does he sleep.

The Arabic word Allah means God (the one and only true God who created the whole universe). This word Allah is a name for God, which is used by Arabic speakers, both Arab Muslims and Arab Christians. This word cannot be used to designate anything other than the one true God. The Arabic word Allah occurs in the Quran more than 2150 times. In Aramaic, a language related closely to Arabic and the language that Jesus habitually spoke,4 God is also referred to as Allah.

2) Belief in the Angels: Muslims believe in the existence of the angels and that they are honored creatures. The angels worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command. Among the angels is Gabriel, who brought down the Quran to Muhammad.

3) Belief in God’s Revealed Books: Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them. Among these books is the Quran, which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. God has guaranteed the Quran’s protection from any corruption or distortion. God has said:

Indeed, We have sent down the Quran, and surely We will guard it (from corruption). (Quran, 15:9)

4) Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God: Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them). But God’s final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet sent by God, as God has said:

Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the last of the prophets... (Quran, 33:40)

Muslims believe that all the prophets and messengers were created human beings who had none of the divine qualities of God. 6) Belief in Al-Qadar: Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but this belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have freewill. Rather, Muslims believe that God has given human beings freewill. This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they are responsible for their choices.

The belief in Divine Predestination includes belief in four things: 1) God knows everything. He knows what has happened and what will happen. 2) God has recorded all that has happened and all that will happen. 3) Whatever God wills to happen happens, and whatever He wills not to happen does not happen. 4) God is the Creator of everything.

Muslims respect and revere Jesus (peace be upon him). They consider him one of the greatest of God’s messengers to mankind. The Quran confirms his virgin birth, and a chapter of the Quran is entitled ‘Maryam’ (Mary). The Quran describes the birth of Jesus as follows:

(Remember) when the angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God), whose name is the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God). He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous.” She said, “My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me?” He said, “So (it will be). God creates what He wills. If He decrees a thing, He says to it only, ‘Be!’ and it is.” (Quran, 3:45-47)

Jesus was born miraculously by the command of God which had brought Adam into being without a father. God has said:

The case of Jesus with God is like the case of Adam. He created him from dust, and then He said to him, “Be!” and he came into being. (Quran, 3:59)

During his prophetic mission, Jesus performed many miracles. God tells us that Jesus said:

“I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you the shape of a bird out of clay, I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s permission. I heal the blind from birth and the leper. And I bring the dead to life by God’s permission. And I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses....” (Quran, 3:49)

Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified. It was the plan of Jesus’ enemies to crucify him, but God saved him and raised him up to Him. And the likeness of Jesus was put over another man. Jesus’ enemies took this man and crucified him, thinking that he was Jesus. God has said:

...They said, “We killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of God.” They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but the likeness of him was put on another man (and they killed that man)... (Quran, 4:157)

Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the basic doctrine of the belief in one God, brought by earlier prophets, but rather to confirm and renew it.

Islam provides many human rights for the individual. The following are some of these human rights that Islam protects.

The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether a person is Muslim or not. Islam also protects honor. So, in Islam, insulting others or making fun of them is not allowed. The Prophet Muhammad said: {Truly your blood, your property, and your honor are inviolable.}

Racism is not allowed in Islam, for the Quran speaks of human equality in the following terms:

O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious. Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Quran, 49:13)

Islam rejects certain individuals or nations being favored because of their wealth, power, or race. God created human beings as equals who are to be distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and piety. The Prophet Muhammad said: {O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person, except in piety.}

One of the major problems facing mankind today is racism. The developed world can send a man to the moon but cannot stop man from hating and fighting his fellow man. Ever since the days of the Prophet Muhammad , Islam has provided a vivid example of how racism can be ended. The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah shows the real Islamic brotherhood of all races and nations, when about two million Muslims from all over the world come to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.

Islam is a religion of justice. God has said:

Truly God commands you to give back trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice.... (Quran, 4:58)

And He has said:

...And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are just. (Quran, 49:9)

We should even be just with those who we hate, as God has said:

...And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety.... (Quran, 5:8)

The Prophet Muhammad said: {People, beware of injustice, for injustice shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment.}

And those who have not gotten their rights (i.e. what they have a just claim to) in this life will receive them on the Day of Judgment, as the Prophet said: {On the Day of Judgment, rights will be given to those to whom they are due (and wrongs will be redressed)...}

The Five Pillars of Islam are the framework of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving zakat (support of the needy), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime for those who are able.

1) The Testimony of Faith: The testimony of faith is saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.” This saying means “There is no true god but God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God.” The first part, “There is no true god but God,” means that none has the right to be worshipped but God alone, and that God has neither partner nor son. This testimony of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which should be said with conviction in order to convert to Islam (as explained previously on this page). The testimony of faith is the most important pillar of Islam.

2) Prayer: Muslims perform five prayers a day. Each prayer does not take more than a few minutes to perform. Prayer in Islam is a direct link between the worshipper and God. There are no intermediaries between God and the worshipper.

In prayer, a person feels inner happiness, peace, and comfort, and that God is pleased with him or her. The Prophet Muhammad said: {Bilal, call (the people) to prayer, let us be comforted by it.} Bilal was one of Muhammad’s companions who was charged to call the people to prayers.

Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night. A Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories, or universities.

3) Giving Zakat (Support of the Needy): All things belong to God, and wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The original meaning of the word zakat is both ‘purification’ and ‘growth.’ Giving zakat means ‘giving a specified percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people.’ The percentage which is due on gold, silver, and cash funds that have reached the amount of about 85 grams of gold and held in possession for one lunar year is two and a half percent. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a small portion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

A person may also give as much as he or she pleases as voluntary alms or charity.

4) Fasting the Month of Ramadan: Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations.

Although the fast is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally as a method of spiritual self-purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry, as well as growth in his or her spiritual life.

5) The Pilgrimage to Makkah: The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. About two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj is performed in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Male pilgrims wear special simple clothes which strip away distinctions of class and culture so that all stand equal before God.

[TopQuark]

mvpel, I have never purported to be an expert in Islam, and you clearly know much more than I do.

I am just very concerned for us all not to get on the path of analyzing each other's books. The last time we did it, we conducted a lot of fratricidal wars not just for land but for the "purity" of Christianity. I would not want to go back to that. If you read some of the posts, you see already some of that.

I do not think any of us need to read Quran to justify our resolve in wiping out any present or future threat to us coming from that part of the world. I think inside our country we should go back to unapologetically insisiting on the Western values. These actions, both inside and outside the country are way overdue; and, since I have seen this threat since 1980s, I am very impatient, angry, and frustrated that I was not able to prevent the deaths of 4000 of my fellow Americans. I am just 12 miles away from where they still lie.

All I am saying is that (i) I do not need to know the intricacies of Quran to justify my anger and resolve, and (ii) focusing on the holy books is a dangerous path, which may do us a lot of harm, (iii) Islamic countries were once peaceful, they may become such once again; and, even today, Turkey reads the same Quran but is out loyal friend and a democracy; so Quran does not explain why Arabs are presently beligerant and vicious but Turks are cultured and democratic. In sum, I see more harm on this path than additional good.

Unlike some posts with irrational hatred, your post was cerebral and intellectual. Therefore, should you disagree with me, I'll remain respecting your opinion.

[EclipseVI]

Its beyond me why some people would intentionally spread disinformation and misinformation about someone else's religion. If I didn't know better I'd say some among us would go to any length to defend their faith. If this is the case, you may all rest assured that I, nor any of the Muslims that I know, are attempting to entice anyone to embrace Islam; so, relax, calm down, and stop attacking. Really, there's no need for it.

Now, once again:

Anti-Islamic people often use the following verses to justify the stereotype that Islam is a religion of violence and intolerance, which was spread by the sword. The explanations here were aided by Abdullah Yusuf Ali's commentary on the Holy Quran.

Sura 8.12 "Remember thy lord has inspired the angels with the message. Give firmness to the believers and instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. Smite them above their necks and smite the fingertips of them."

Sura 9.5 "When the sacred months have passed, kill the idolaters whereever you find them."

Sura 47.4 "When you encounter the unbelievers, Strike off their heads. Untill you have made a wide slaughter among them tie up the remaining captives."

Sura 8 is about a BATTLE - the Battle of Badr - not just some daily affair. A battles take two side to occur. Are you under the impression that while these 'horrid' Muslims were fighting, the enemies were simply standing there like good little peaceful men?

Sura 47 was revealed during the first year of Hijrah when the Muslims were under *threat of extinction* by invasion from Makkah.

Sura 9 is interesting. Non-Muslims almost invariably quote verse 5 but leave out verse 4 and 6. Why? Because verse 4 says, "But the treatires are not dissolved with those Pagans with whom you have entered into alliance and who have you subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided anyone against you. So fulfill your engagements with them to the end of their term: for God Loves the righteous."

And verse 6 says, "If one among the Pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him so that he may hear the Word of God; and then escort him to where he can be secure."

So basically what has been done above is:

1. The background to each sura was shown. One cannot take a verse revealed for a battle and insist it is if for the daily affairs of Muslims.

2. It was shown how Non-muslims who wish to attack Islam, conveniently leave out verses before and after their quoted verse. Above, I have shown only one of the many examples.

This long list of verses from the Holy Quran and the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) show that Islam at it's core and at its source is a religion of peace. Terrorists who persecute innocent people because of their faith are not welcome - their use of Islam as a scapegoat, does not make Islam what they portray it to be.

2:256 There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clearly from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the forces of evil and believes in God, he has taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for God is All Hearing and Knowing.

16:82 But if they turn away from you, (O Prophet remember that) your only duty is a clear delivery of the Message (entrusted to you).

6:107 Yet if God had so willed, they would not have ascribed Divinity to aught besides him; hence, We have not made you their keeper, nor are you (of your own choice) a guardian over them.

4:79, 80 (Say to everyone of them,) 'Whatever good betides you is from God and whatever evil betides you is from your own self and that We have (O Prophet) sent you to mankind only as a messenger and all sufficing is God as witness. Whoso obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys God. And for those who turn away, We have not sent you as a keeper."

11:28 (Noah to his people) He (Noah) said "O my people! think over it! If 1 act upon a clear direction from my Lord who has bestowed on me from Himself the Merciful talent of seeing the right way, a way which you cannot see for yourself, does it follow that we can force you to take the right path when you definitely decline to take it?

17:53, 54 And tell my servants that they should speak in a most kindly manner (unto those who do not share their beliefs). Verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men; for verily; Satan is mans foe .... Hence, We have not sent you (Unto men O Prophet) with power to determine their Faith.

21:107 to 109 (O Prophet?) 'We have not sent you except to be a mercy to all mankind:" Declare, "Verily, what is revealed to me is this, your God is the only One God, so is it not up to you to bow down to Him?' But if they turn away then say, "I have delivered the Truth in a manner clear to one and all, and I know not whether the promised hour (of Judgment) is near or far."

22:67 To every people have We appointed ceremonial rites (of prayer) which they observe; therefore, let them not wrangle over this matter with you, but bid them to turn to your Lord (since that is the main objective of religion). You indeed are rightly guided. But if they still dispute you in this matter, (then say,) `God best knows (the value of) what you do."

88:21, 22; also see 24:54 And so, (O Prophet!) exhort them your task is only to exhort; you cannot compel them to believe.

48:28 He it is Who has sent forth His Messenger with the (task of spreading) Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to the end that tie make it prevail over every (false) religion, and none can bear witness to the Truth as God does.

36:16, 17 (Three Messengers to their people)Said (the Messengers), "Our Sustainer knows that we have indeed been sent unto you, but we are not bound to more than clearly deliver the Message entrusted to us.

39:41 Assuredly, We have sent down the Book to you in right form for the good of man. Whoso guided himself by it does so to his own advantage, and whoso turns away from it does so at his own loss. You certainly are not their keeper.

42:6, 48 And whoso takes for patrons others besides God, over them does God keep a watch. Mark, you are not a keeper over them. But if they turn aside from you (do not get disheartened), for We have not sent you to be a keeper over them; your task is but to preach ....

64:12 Obey God then and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away (no blame shall attach to our Messenger), for the duty of Our Messenger is just to deliver the message.

67:25, 26 And they ask, "When shall the promise be fulfilled if you speak the Truth?" Say, "The knowledge of it is verily with God alone, and verily I am but a plain warner."

60:8 Allah 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 Allah loveth those who are just.

60:9 Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong.

The teachings of the Prophet on how you and I should treat our Non-Muslim friends and neighbours on a day to day basis as well as how to government should treat a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state.

"He who believes in God and the Last Day should honour his guest, should not harm his neighbour, should speak good or keep quiet." (Bukhari, Muslim)

"Whoever hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys God." (Bukhari)

"He who hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state, I am his adversary, and I shall be his adversary on the Day of a Judgement." (Bukhari)

"Beware on the Day of Judgement; I shall mysefl be complainant against him who wrongs a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state or lays on him a responsibility greater than he can bear or deprives him of anything that belongs to him." (Al-Mawardi)

"Anyone who kills a Non-Muslim who had become our ally will not smell the fragrance of Paradise." (Bukhari)

[mvpel]

Thank you, EclipseVI, this information is exactly what this thread needed.

-Michael Pelletier.

[Patria One]

Bump :)

[mvpel]

Perhaps this would explain why the surrounding Arab countries did not accept the Arab refugees after their failed attempt to destroy the new state of Israel. If they resettled them, as Israel did with Jews from Arab states, there wouldn't be a continuing justification to wage war on Israel under the Koran, under the "driven from your homes" rubric.