I'm taking part in a little online convo over at Extraordinary Claims. The entry on Allah has quite a few comments. In the latest round, I couldn't help noticing the Quran talking smack about Jesus. In one comment, commenter "atom" includes a litany of quotes from the Quran. Allah drones on about those who reject his revelations, "We will make his punishment long and terrible." [19:79] Blah blah blah.
But this seems a little unfair...
Those who deny Our Revelations are deaf and dumb, living in many layers of darkness. Allah confounds whom He wills, and guides to the Right Way whom He pleases. [6:39] ... Those who deny Our revelations, We draw them step by step closer to destruction in ways that they do not realize,[7:182] and even though I grant them respite; My plan is surely effective.[7:183] ... None can guide those whom Allah confounds and leaves them blundering about in their rebellious transgression.[7:186]Oh great! So, not only am I going to hell, but no one can stop me, not even myself. That's not fair.
I managed to stay awake long enough to come across the text,
Those who say: “The Compassionate (God) has begotten a son,” certainly preach such a monstrous falsehood,that the very Heavens might crack, the earth might cleave asunder and the mountains might crumble to pieces – at their ascribing a son to the Compassionate (God), It is not befitting to the Compassionate (God) that He should beget a son.[19:88-92]Soooo... I guess Jesus is out of the question. Couldn't help wondering what the Christians might have to say about that. And it seems that the New Testament is not an "enlightening Book",
Yet there are others among people who wrangle about Allah, though they neither have knowledge nor guidance, nor an enlightening Book, twisting things around in order to lead others astray from the Path of Allah – for such persons there is disgrace in this life, and on the Day of Judgment we shall make them taste the punishment of burning fire,[22:8-9]Oh good, so it's not just me, but all Christians too.
Hmmm... which religion is right? Which one should I choose?
NEITHER!
You're such a literalistic reader ..... Take both books for what they were intended.....as tools for understanding, not word for word.
ReplyDeleteThis really isn't doing much to improve Muslim Christian relations, now is it? The last thing either "side" needs is another person to criticize the belief system that many hold true. All you need to do is create a comic strip of Jesus beating the crap our of Mohammed (or vice versa) and before you know it, someone will be burning an effigy of you and claiming jihad against you.
Extremism aside, but think of it as similar to what we were chatting about last week on our run. So what if gay people want to marry? What business is that of ours? How does that affect us? The same holds true with religious folk, deeply or otherwise. As long as their not hurting anyone, who cares if their using God/Allah as a "crutch" to help them through life (which can be difficult at times when you're going it alone). Just a thought. Sometimes that's all people have. And if you go and try to rip that from underneath them, I think it's actually a little bullyish.
Run tomorrow to debrief?
And just what interpretation would you suggest?
ReplyDeleteIn terms of leaving each to their own... the Quran says "Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them." [Surah 9:121]
Lots more here...
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/koran.html
This is a hidden gospel / Injeel, which was submitted by Yousaf / Joseph, a descendent of Vicara / Levi an A’aron’s branch. He was given a sir name called bin – Abbas / Son of Encouragement” published falsely as Barnabas in the Bible (Acts 15 : 37). The gospel he wrote, is still intact and have the name of Mohammed ( SAWW ) in it’s ten chapters. We can read them as under:
ReplyDeleteTen Chapters of gospel where the name of
Muhammad ( SAWW ) is found:]
Chapter 39.
………”Blessed be your holy name, O God our Lord. Adam, having sprung upon his feet, saw in the air a writing that shone like the sun which said “There is no God but unity of God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God……….”
Whereupon Adam opened his mouth and said: “I thank you, O Lord my God, that you have deigned to create me; but tell me. I pray you, what means the message of these words: “Muhammad is Messenger of God. Have there been other men before me?” ‘Then said God:
“Be you welcome, O my servant Adam. I tell you that you are the first man whom I have created. And he whom you have seen [mentioned] is your son, who shall come into the world many years hence, and shall be my Messenger, for whom I have created all things; who shall give light to the world when he shall come; whose soul was set in a celestial splendor ; sixty thousand years before I made any thing.”
Adam besought God, saying: Lord, grant me this writing upon the nails of the fingers of my hands” Then God gave to the first man upon his thumbs that writing; upon the thumb-nail of the right hand it said: “There is only one God” and upon the thumb-nail of the left it said: Muhammad is Messenger of God. Then with fatherly affection the first man kissed those words, and rubbed his eyes, and said: “Blessed be that day when you shall come to the world…………”.
Chapter 41.
“……….for I will give all things to he who shall come, My Messenger.’ God hid himself [from Adam and Eve], and the angel Michael drove them forth from paradise. Then, Adam, turning around, saw written above the gate, There is no God but unity of God and Muhammad is Messenger of God. Weeping, he said: ‘May it be pleasing to God, O my son, that you come quickly and draw us out of misery.’ And thus,” said Jesus, “Satan and Adam sinned through pride, the one by despising man, the other by wishing to make himself equal with God………”.
Chapter 44.
…….”I therefore say to you that the Messenger of God is a splendor that shall give gladness to nearly all that God has made, for he is adorned with the spirit of understanding and of counsel, the spirit of wisdom and might, the spirit of fear and love, the spirit of prudence and temperance, he is adorned with the spirit of charity and mercy, the spirit of justice and Piety, the spirit of gentleness and patience, which he has received from God three times more than he has given to all his creatures.
O’ blessed time, when he shall come to the world! Believe me that I have seen him and have done. him reverence, even as every prophet has seen him: seeing that of his spirit God gives to them prophecy. And when I saw him my soul was filled with consolation, saying: “O Muhammad; God be with you, and may he make me worthy to untie, your shoe latchet;, for obtaining this I shall be a great prophet and holy one of God.” And having said this, Jesus rendered his thanks to God.
Chapter 54.
“……..Next shall God give life to all the elect, who shall cry out: “O Muhammad be mindful of us!” At whose cries pity shall awake in the Messenger of God, and he shall consider what he ought to do, fearing for their salvation………”.
Chapter 55.
“……….And God shall make answer even as a friend who jests with a friend, and shall say: ‘Have you witnesses of this, my friend Muhammad?’ And with reverence he shall say: “Yes, Lord.” Then God shall answer: “Go, call them, O Gabriel;.” The angel Gabriel shall come to the Messenger of God, and shall say: Lord who are your witnesses? The Messenger of God shall answer: “They are Adam; Abraham, Ishmael; Moses; David; and Jesus son of Mary…….”.
See Chapter 97, 112, 136, 163