To those who may hate Islam [and especially Mr. Lactantius (the first one)]

Submitted by Justicar (United States), Dec 25, 2006 at 15:04

I look at all the hate of Islam that goes around on these boards; it actually makes me cry to see so many people expressing utter hatred for my religion.

Why do you hate Islam?

1.) The Muslims are terrorists!

Will you persecute 1.2 Billion for the actions of 5 (or even 5,000)? Will you deem an entire religion evil for what its most zealous representatives have done? There is violence in Christianity and in Judaism, as well--don't be so quick to ignore the Crusades.

The Crusaders of France and the Byzantine Empire, Catholic and Orthodox alike, marched upon Jerusalem, captured the holy city, and then proceeded to burn down mosques and eat the bodies of women and children alike. This they did in the name of God.

In Spain, thousands of Muslims and Jews alike were expelled from that nation; the so-called "infidels" burned at the stake if they refused to leave. Thousands were forced to leave their homes, and many to leave their children. This they did in the name of God.

In Germany, trials were conducted by way of the ordeal--a man was forced to find a ring in a vat of boiling water, and if his skin was not burned off, he was deemed innocent. If it was, he was burned at the stake. This they did in the name of God.

(When Saladin, the leader of the Muslims, recaptured Jerusalem and Edessa, he did nothing to the women or the children. He permitted churches to be built and allowed Christians to practice their religion freely.)

Today, militant Muslims fly airplanes into buildings, and cause widespread terror and anguish. This they do in the name of God.

Or so they all said. Men who commit evil are alike at the core; they are not true believers of God, no matter what religion they follow.

So the majority of terrorists today are Muslims, what of it? There have been times, many, many times, when terrorism was fostered in the depths of other religions. Blame not the religion, blame the extremists.

2.) Women are subjugated in Islamic society.

First, the point of having four wives.

"Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one." Qu'ran (4:3)

"You will never be able to be fair and just among women (wives)...." Qu'ran (4:129)

Though Allah permitted 4 wives, one may never truly have them--what man can deal justly with more than one wife?

The Qu'ran was written during a time period where women were heavily subjugated. Polygyny was so common that men often had 12+ wives. Both for financial reasons and for security, God allowed 4 wives. Allah expects us to have the common sense to change when new times are upon us--and so we do. Not many in the Arab world have more than one wife; only the ruling elite, a mere 1-2% of the population, will even dare to have more than one.

Secondly, the Prophet Nobeji had only one wife, Khadija. He did not marry more than one until after his wife had died. He was 50 at this time. Then, after 50, he married many wives to provide each with security and a good home (the Qu'ran also says that separate housing must be provided if you have more than one wife). If truly he had had other interests in mind (I'm sure you know of what I speak), he could have married more wives earlier.

And the actual bhurka? That is purely a Persian tradition. The Qu'ran says to "cover your private areas and jewelry." Never does it say to wear a bhurka. That is why I often deny some of the writings in the Haddis--it was written after Prophet Nobeji had already died. While some of the writings may be accurate, it is impossible to ensure that they all are. Thus, I, for one, and many other Muslims as well, use common sense when discerning what rules to follow. The Qu'ran I believe completely--the Haddis? Not so.

If women want to wear bhurkas of their own free will, fine, let them. If they don't, fine, let them not. Allah is not interested in petty traditions like facing East and keeping beards--the Qu'ran even says that these measures are to unite all Muslims, so "we may all find each other, and recognize each other." As far as I'm concerned, that saying alone assures me that people have the right to choose what they want.

If the Taliban or Arab leaders choose to enforce these rules, then why do you blame that on Islam? Those are simply more power-hungry extremists.

3.) Islam is inherently evil, and there is violence integrated in its core.

"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits, for Allah loveth not the transgressors," Qu'ran (2: 190).

Might I add that Prophet Nobeji was born in a time when violence was the only answer to anything? Nobeji was trained in the art of bowmanship when he was but a child--the deserts were a completely different environment as opposed to the cities of the Roman Empire (and Allah chose His Prophets and their birthplaces according to his Divine Will).

Allah's message in the Qu'ran is that He, in his Almighty Grace, decided to send a final book, a warning book, since people had "changed or altered" the words of the other books. Nobeji's "job" as Messenger was to convert people, for one, and make war upon the "unbelievers." The unbelievers are not Jews and Christians, but rather the idolators, for they had angered Allah, according to the Qu'ran.

Islam is one of the only religions which says that any person of any religion can attain salvation, as long as they are a good person at heart. Few other religions do so.

And about Nobeji being the "archetypal Muslim terrorist." For every quote that you find in the Qu'ran (or lo', the Haddis), I can find one that also says that Muslims were not to attack others unless attacked first. Only the idolators, during the time of the Qu'ran's creation, were an exception. As to history? I can find as many evidences of kindness and good deeds as you can of violence. And who wrote history? How can we be sure of history? What if Saladin never existed? What if the Crusades never happened? History is a fickle thing, indeed.

As to Jihad? The meaning of Jihad is "to make yourself a better Muslim." I don't understand how it has come to transmutate itself into "Holy War." Politics, mostly, since the first use of the term "Holy War" was actually found in a book, written hundreds of years after Nobeji's death, called "The Duties of the Caliph."

I'd like to add, at last, that Quarash Arabic is indeed a difficult language. Last time Lactantius and I had a discussion (though I would feign call it a discussion, since Mr. Lactantius refused to acknowledge that any Muslim could of good character, and thus would only deem me a terrorist [I forgive him for this, even if he does not wish to be forgiven, or still holds the same views]), he called my "Arabic is difficult" a "smokescreen."

Yet a lot is lost in translation. What may seem utterly peaceful and placid in one languae may seem utterly violent and crushing in another (or vice-versa).

For example, one of the Arabic words for "I" translates, in the Qu'ran, out to "We." Additionally, take Hindi for example. Someone may say "Main hoon naa," and its translation directly will often be "I'm here." That's not what Main hoon naa would actually translate out to; a more accurate description would be, "I'm with you, don'f be afraid." The meaning and context of writing is often lost in translation.

4.) Because they hate us.

Who is us? Who is they? The terrorists? Not the Muslims, certainly--I haven't read a single anti-Christian statement here on these boards. Not a single one.

--

I am only 12 years old as I write this, but do not think me blind solely for my age. I live in America, and have lived in the Middle East. I know what it is like in both worlds. I love America, I love Christianity, I love Judaism. There is nothing I can hate.

So why hate my religion? What will hate bring you?

Let me ask you this: by your hatred of Islam, are you not then imbibing the very tonics of malice and ill-fortune that the terrorists have? Are you not then fastening your hearts to theirs? Think on it. If you answer no, then I fancy that you will want my address so that you may come and kill me, if you think it will do the world some good.

I wish you peace...

The Justicar

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