Islam and peace, islam and modernisation

Submitted by Ahmad Nazem (United Kingdom), Sep 25, 2006 at 11:09

Thank you very much for this article. I would like to make two points;

- The Pope is, like any other human being, prone to making mistakes. Only the prophets may not. To illustrate this, I draw your attention to a verse at the centre of the recent controversy. Whether you think Muslims are right or wrong in getting angry at this, is your opinion. but you should at least listen to why they're doing so.

the verse quoted by the Pope goes: "there is no obligation in religion". He claimed it was revealed when the Prophet Muhammad was a powerless man in Mecca, and that the teachings evolved later to be much harsher. In fact, the chapter from which this verse is quoted was revealed in Medina. The second chapter of the Qur'an, even non-scholars know this. More specifically, this very verse itself was sent down becasue of a very ironic story, that defies the apparent first impression. Two christian merchants visited Medina and convinced a Muslim man to convert to christianity. His father was not at all impressed and complained to the Prophet. The Prophet then asked for him to be summoned...and the verse was sent down!

If someone like the Pope, with so much authority pretends to speak (or rather I should say "write") about Islam as an expert, when he does not know such things...then what are we to expect from the average priest, or the average christian?!

Other than this, can anyone quote from Hitler's speeches in the thirties and forties if he/she is trying to define what the word "jewish" means? I bet know. How come, then, the Pope is quoting a Byzintine governor of Constantinople, when he was at war with Muslim Ottomans!! In fact, this very governor was repeatedly ousted and reinstated by the Ottomans, just to turn their enemy years later. Where is the logic in this!

_ other than this, the issue of women asking for divorce, among other things, has been in existence since the days of the Prophet Muhammad. No one can deny what certain Muslim governments are doing with many such things, but this does not mean it is the view of Islam. In fact, the rights of women, thieves, criminals are protected under Islam better than any other religion either before or after Islam...and I mean this. If you think women inherit half a man's share then read your islamics again, because this is only in the case of a brother and a sister and it is mainly becasue men have to take care of the family, give away dowry...etc. Women actually inherit just a much and in many cases much more than the men. You can read specialised books on islamic inheritence, and compare it to the christian or jewish doctrines.

Thank you for your patience!

Sincerely

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