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Apologetics
Does
the Koran encourage the In many places of the world today we find an increase in the religion of Islam. And what is surprising is that the Moslems who try to resist this progress are accused by their co-religion members of betraying the teaching of the Koran. Does the Holy Book of the Mohammedans justify the Islamic religion? To find out let us give precise quotes on one issue among others - the relationship between the Moslem and non-Moslem world. To get a clear picture, the best way is to refer to the actual text rather than to interpretations which are extraneous to it. Obligation for the Moslems to undertake the Holy War: "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book (1), until they pay the Jizya (2) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued." (S IX 29) "O ye who believe! Fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you; and know that Allah is with those who fear Him." (S IX 123) Threat of punishment to the Moslems who do not take any part in the Holy War: "O ye who believe! What is the matter with you, then, when ye are asked to go forth in the Cause of Allah ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye would not harm in the least. For Allah hath power over all things." (S IX 38-39) Promise of enrichment to those who partake in the Holy War: "He made you heirs of their lands, their houses, and their goods, and of a land which ye had not frequented (before). And Allah has Power over all things." (S XXXIII 27) Threat of punishment for anyone opposing Islam: "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Apostle, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter." (S V 36) "If they withdraw not from you nor give you (guarantees) of peace besides restraining their hands, seize them and slay them. Wherever ye get them in their case we have provided you with a clear argument against them." (S IV 91) Fate of Christians: "They do blaspheme who say: 'Allah is Christ the son of Mary.' But said Christ: 'O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him the Garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help." (S V 75) "Those who reject (Truth) among the People of the Book (1) and among the Polytheists, will be in hell-fire, to dwell therein (for aye), they are the worst of creatures." (S XCVIII 6) Impossibility of lasting peace between Moslems and non-Moslems: "O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (For friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guided not a people unjust." (S V 54) "Let not the Believers take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than Believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (to remember) Himself: for the final goal is to Allah." (S III 28) Objection: Is it not to be hoped that the Koran will be read in the future in a more moderate and less fundamentalist light? Answer: No, this book and the religion which it represents are static and unchangeable, as the following quotations serve to prove: "So set thou thy face steadily and truly to the Faith: (Establish) Allah's handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind: No change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah: that is the standard Religion: but most among mankind understand not." (S XXX 30) "But no change wilt thou find in Allah's way (of dealing): No turning off wilt thou find in Allah's way (of dealing)." (S XXXV 43) "(This was Our) way with the apostles We sent before thee: thou wilt find no change in Our ways." (S XVII 77) Conclusion: The Koran is well and truly the authority and the cause of the fundamentalist Islam of today. (1) For the Moslems, "the People of the Book" are the Christians. (2) The Jizya is the tribute. Note: All the above quotations have been drawn from: The Holy Qur-an, with full Arabic text; by A. Yusuf Ali; Sh. Muhammad Ashraf, Publisher & Bookseller, Kashmiri Bazar, Lahore, Pakistan, 1975. The 'S' signifies the Sura, for easy references consult the number after the abbreviation 'S'.
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