You're still missing the big picture

Submitted by Nabil Ahmad (United States), Aug 5, 2009 at 12:18

You seem to be well read, Jim.

First of all, Robert Spencer is not a reliable source of information on Islam. It turns out that his name was on the mailing list of a group whose aim is to "cleanse" former Byzantine lands of all Muslims, even if it means genocide.

Secondly, I've read parts of Ibn Warraq's book and I don't find him to be all that credible. I know that horrible things have been done in the name of Islam...as well as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. But one needs to separate what God gave us and what we pick and choose.

Thirdly, the New Testament never negated what was written in the Old Testament. The violent commands in the Old Testament are still there and have not been superceded. They came from the same God who revealed to Jesus and to Muhammad.

Forthly, as Muslims we are obliged to respect existing laws of lands that we live in and respect those in authority, whether they are Muslims or not. Muhammad did not break any of the laws that were in existence in Arabia. And like I said before...during his time his marriage to Aisha was not a crime among the Arabs nor even the Jews for that matter. You won't get anywhere with this with me.

Fifthly, the Qur'an cannot, and should not, be taken literally in its entirety. There's a passage in it that says this directly.

Sixthly, the Qur'an is nothing more than an affirmation of all that came before it. It was nothing new in itself.

You would be doing yourself a service by reading a good translation of the Qur'an before getting back to me on any Islam-related topic rather than quote people who seem to have a chip on their shoulders with regard to Islam and Muhammad. I have read it several times cover to cover. I would suggest the translation by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall.

Have a nice day.

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