To Lactantius

Submitted by Raqib Ahmed Asif (Bangladesh), Dec 18, 2006 at 11:51

To Lactantius Jr,

As you have said that "the Muslim morality that so profoundly impregnated minds and manners, crushed man with its materialism and fatalism." British historian Karen Armstrong, a former nun and an expert on Middle East history. In her book "Holy War" she wrote. "Muhammad had to fight not only the Meccans but also the Jewish tribes in the area and Christians tribes in Syria who planned on offensive against him in alliance with the Jews. Yet this did not make Muhammad denounce the People of the Book. His muslims were forced to defend themselves but they were not fighting a 'holy war' against the religion of their enemies. When Mohammad sent his freedman Zaid against the Christians at the head of a Musim Army, he told them to fight in the cause of God, bravely but humanely. They must not molest priests, monks and nuns nor the weak and helpless people who were unable to fight. There must be no massacre of civilians nor should they cut down a single tree nor pull down building."

Canon Taylor, one of the mission leaders of the Anglican Church, expresses the Islamic morality in one of his speeches as follows. " It (Islam) gave hope to the slave, brotherhood to mankind, and recognition to the fundamental facts of human nature " Georgetown University Proffesor of Religion and International Relation John L. Esposito describes how Jews and Christians who came under the administration of the Muslim states met with enormous tolerance: "Muslim Armies proved to be formidable conquerors and effective rulers, builders rather than destroyers" Remember, when the Jews were kicked out from Jerusalem by the Christian Crusaders, it was Sultan Saladin who brought the kicked out Jews back to Jerusalem. History has witnessed that moment. When the Jews were kicked out by the Honourable Queen Isabella and Fernidand, it was the Ottoman Empire who allowed Jews to dwell in their land with honour.

History witnessed the slaughter of 40,000 muslims and numerous Jews behind the walls of Jerusalem. History was witness when Queen Isabella locked 0.2 million muslims and burnt them alive to death. As you have said, " Many Muslims cannot read Arabic, and cannot therefore read the Qur'an, what about them Raqib, are they "inferior" Muslims? You don't believe this do you? " Brother, find a verse in the Holy Qur'an which says a muslim is inferior to another muslims who can read Arabic. Prophet Muhammad always taught us that no Arab muslim is superior than a non Arab muslim. In the nineteen fifties when sermon use to held in Church, black people and white people always sat seperately but in the Islam, black and white prayed side by side like brothers from the very very beginning. As Christians claims, Jesus is God or divine and we are always told to follow Jesus and to live the way he lived.

Please explain me one thing, how can we, a man of mud can follow God. Surely God will not send a super natural being and tells us to follow. God will only send someone whom we can follow, hence He has sent messengers. We muslims say Jesus Christ is the messenger of God. You are having trouble finding the exact meaning of "Allah". See, God is masculine and its feminine is Goddess. That's why you are having trouble. "Yahweh" is the name of God to Jews. Many Islamic Scholars says God, but they mostly use God when they communicate with non muslims.

Your sincerely, Raqib Ahmed Asif

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