To the Noble Sultan

Submitted by G.M (United States), Jul 29, 2005 at 17:13

A response to Sultan's final words.

Your charity and good will is greatly appreciated. And not to be pejoritive, but why is it that when a westerner or christian or jew, makes a descriptive observation about Islam or muslems it is taken as an attack? Yet, you are also honest, in acknowledging that there are some muslims trying to live in the 7th century.

I do certainly agree with you that there are elements or certain componants of Islam that are beautiful, because Truth is beautiful. And likewise, we christians do not reject any truth-elements that are contained in the Koran or Islam i.e. the existence of God, prayer as communication between humanity and God (and one should do it often), the temporality of material things and the eternality of Heaven and of course final judgement. These are truly beautiful!

However, there are also many elements and componants of Islam, in either of the two ways of its practice which you mentioned that are in error. Things like, retribution or retaliation for a wrong, almsgiving and charity only to those in the "house of Islam" and not an obligation to those outside; that Jesus was not crucified, but that another man took his place,(a mistaken belief taken from the early 7th century gnostics) and there are too many more to enumerate here.

I think the most crucial one though is that no true prophet can lie. And you acknowledged that Islam recognizes Jesus as a prophet. If Jesus (a prophet according to Islam), is who he said he was, "that I and the Father are One", then Islam is in error.

What gives me hope in the dialogue with noble muslims such you is that we both agree that christians and muslims are many times off the mark, and we have a long way to go, in becoming better people.

Peace

G.M.

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