Response to A.A.

Submitted by Shazia Khanum, Sep 20, 2005 at 21:11

You stated: "When quran says disbeliever, it means non muslims"

Disbeliever is a translation of the word, kaafir. A kaafir is someone who deliberately, consciously and KNOWINGLY rejects something especially after recognizing it to be true.

The Qur`an also states:

"The [Muslim] believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians [a monotheistic religious community] -- all those who are conscious of God and the Hereafter and do good -- will have their rewards with their Lord. No fear for them, nor will they grieve."

So this is good news to anyone who follows the guidance that has come to her through the scriptures sincerely believing them to be true or to anyone who reads the 'book' within one's own self and develops a consciousness of Unity and continuation of the life of the self beyond this earthly existence.

This verse can be expanded to include those who are not mentioned -- the Hindus, the Buddhists, the Sikhs and many others who raise in their level of consciousness and begin to see Unity and a recognition of the next realm of existence, in whatever format.

Kaafir is someone who knowingly and consciously rejects Divine Unity.

There is a huge difference between rejecting something after recognizing it and refusing something unknowingly and not being conscious and aware of it.

The Qur`an also states:

"Among the People of the Book are those who are upright in their belief; they recite the proofs of God throughout the night, and prostrate themselves in love of the Creator. They believe in Allah and the Last Day; they enjoin good and forbid evil; they are avid to do good, and they stand among the righteous." Qur`an 3:113-114

This verse too can be expanded and generally applied to those communities that are not explicitly mentioned here.

The problem I see is that some people here have developed an image of a Muslim and Islam. Anything presented to them that does not fit that image is rejected by them.

They also do not recognize -- or do not wish to recognize -- that Islam and Muslims are not monolithic.

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