ISLAM: As revealed in the words of the Koran

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1 ISLAM: As revealed in the words of the Koran Dr. Joseph B. Fuiten There are five articles of Faith within Islam. These are: 1. God. There is one true God, Allah. 2. Angels. A belief in God s angels. 3. Scripture. There are four inspired books: 1. The Torah of Moses, 2. The Psalms of David, 3. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and 4. The Koran. 4. Prophets. The Koran instructs the Moslem to Say: We believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us; we believe in what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes; to Moses and Jesus and the other prophets. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Allah we have surrendered ourselves.. p Last Days. The Resurrection and the Judgement. In addition to the five articles, there are five pillars of Faith. There is some dispute as to which five are to be included. But generally they are held to be: 1. Prayer. These are the revelations of the Wise Book, a guide and blessing to the righteous, who attend to their prayers, pay the alms-tax, and firmly believe in the life to come. These are rightly guided by their Lord and will surely prosper. p Almsgiving: Alms shall be used only for the advancement of Allah s cause, for the ransom of captives and debtors, and for the distribution among the poor, the destitute, the wayfarers, those that are employed in collecting alms, and those that are converted to the faith. p318

2 3. Fasting Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you; perchance you will guard yourselves against evil. p342 He desires you to fast the whole month The Pilgrimage. At least once in their lifetime. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty to Allah for all who can make the journey. p Jihad or Holy War. William Miller in his book A CHRISTIAN S RESPONSE TO ISLAM, and Dr. Ron Carlson agree with the above listing. Josh McDowell lists the creed instead of Jihad as one of the pillars. The Creed is There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet. Del Kingsriter, in SHARING YOUR FAITH WITH MUSLIMS, agrees with McDowell. III. Some topics covered in the Koran. The world was amazed to learn that fifty women were arrested in Saudi Arabia in 1990 for daring to drive a car. The status of women in Moslem countries is as desperate as can be. Consider the following quotations from the Koran reflecting attitudes of superiority of men over women: Women are your fields: Go, then, into your fields as you please. p347 Men have a status above women. p348 Men have authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because Allah has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to their beds apart and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. Allah is high, supreme. p360 Since a popular movie was released in the United States showing a Moslem from Iran severely abusing his wife, some Moslems have been trying to deny the abusive nature of Islam. However, as the above quotation shows, abuse is built into the religion from the Koran. In a similar way, the attitude toward having multiple wives further reflects ththe relative status of women. Mohammed was first in line for many wives: Prophet, We have made lawful to you the wives to whom you have granted dowries and the slave-girls whom Allah has given you as booty; the daughters of your paternal and maternal uncles and of your paternal and maternal aunts who fled with you; and the other women who gave themselves to you and whom you wished to take in marriage (He had nine wives at this time). This privilege is yours alone, being granted to no other believer. You may put off any of your wives you please and take to your bed any of them you please. Nor it is unlawful for you to receive any of those whom you have temporarily set aside. That is more proper, so that they may be contented and not vexed, and may all be pleased with what you give them.

3 It shall be unlawful for you to take more wives or to change your present wives for other women, though their beauty please you, except where slave-girls are concerned. Allah takes cognizance of all things. p288 Of course, it is understandable that Mohammed should be treated differently than the average guy. But the rules for lust take a surprising turn: True followers of Islam are those who restrain their carnal desire (save with their wives and slave-girls, for these are lawful to them: he that lusts after other than these is a transgressor). P58 From the very beginning Islam has been extremely warlike. Much of its success in expansion has come from its success on the battlefield. War is sanctioned and cultivated as a normal channel of activity within the Koran. A few quotations will show Moslem attitudes toward various aspects of war: When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly. Then grant them their freedom or take ransom from them until War shall lay down her armour. Thus shall you do. Had Allah willed, He could Himself have punished them; but He has ordained it thus that He might test you, the one by the other. p If the unbelievers join battle with you, they shall be put to flight. They shall find none to protect, or help them. Such were the ways of Allah in days gone by: and you shall find that they remain unchanged. p272 Believers, when you encounter the armies of the infidels do not turn your backs to them in flight. If anyone on that day turns his back to them, except it be for tactical reasons, or to join another band, he shall incur the wrath of Allah and Hell shall be his home: an evil fate. p307 Make war on them until idolatry is no more and Allah s religion reigns supreme. If they desist Allah is cognizant of all their actions; but if they give no heed, know then that Allah will protect you. He is the noblest Helper and Protector. p309 Enjoy, therefore, the good and lawful things which you have gained in war, and fear Allah. He is forgiving and merciful. p312 (Hello, Kuwait). Proclaim a woeful punishment to the unbelievers, except those idolaters who have honored their treaties with you and aided none against you. With these keep faith, until their treaties have run their term. Allah loves the righteous. When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, beseige them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them. p313 (Terrorism defined!) Kill them wherever you find them. Fight against them until idolatry is no more and Allah s religion reigns supreme. p343 Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an evil fate. p320. They ask you about fighting in the sacred month. Say: To fight in this month is a grave offense; but to debar others from the path of Allah, to deny Him, and to expel His worshippers from the Holy Mosque, is far more grave in His sight. Idolatry is worse than carnage. p346 Seek out your enemies relentlessly. If you have suffered, they too have suffered: but you at least hope to receive from Allah what they cannot hope for. p368

4 He will not let the unbelievers triumph over the faithful. p371 If you should die or be slain in the cause of Allah, His forgiveness and His mercy would surely be better than all the riches they amass. If you should die or be slain, before Him you shall all be gathered. p410 The above passages from the Koran are by no means the only ones. It is a holy book filled with war and revenge. Of particular note is the promise that if a Moslem dies in war, he will go directly to heaven. Small wonder those who believe this are willing to fight to the death. The large number of prisoners taken in the Iraqi war of 1991 would suggest that either the modern soldier does not really believe this or is not anxious to go to heaven just yet. A second interesting promise about war is that Allah will not allow the unbeliever (read that Christian or Jew) to triumph over the believer (read that Moslem). It is a point of particular frustration to them that Christians defeated Iraq in 1991 and Jews defeated them several times in recent years. All this is a religious crisis of confidence and may present one of the best opportunities for witness in recent years. Allah, knowing the warlike qualities prophesied for the descendants of Ishmael in Genesis, also covered what to do when Moslem rose against Moslem: If two parties of believers take up arms the one against the other, make peace between them. If either of them commits aggression against the other, fight against the aggressors till they submit to Allah s judgement. When they submit make peace between them in equity and justice; Allah loves those who act with justice. The believers are a band of brothers. Make peace among your brothers and fear Allah, so that you may be shown mercy. p268 If you fear treachery from any of your allies, you may retaliate by breaking off your treaty with them. Allah does not love the treacherous. p311. This explains the ease with which Iraq could go back on its promise to Egypt not to invade Kuwait. An ally does not have to act treacherously, hehas only to be suspected and the treaty can be broken. Much has been said about the fatalistic thinking inherent in Islam. This does not come fromlong experience in the wilderness. It comes from too much reading of the Koran. Both good and bad come from Allah, so whatever Allah will do he will do: We shall test your steadfastness with fear and famine, with loss of life and property and crops. Give good news to those who endure with fortitude; who in adversity say: We belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return. p340 If you have suffered a defeat, so did the enemy. We alternate these vicissitudes among mankind so that Allah may know the true believers and choose martyrs from among you; and that He may test the faithful and annihilate the infidels. p408 No one dies unless Allah permits. The term of every life is fixed. p408 Say to them: Had you stayed in your homes, those of you who were destined to be slain would have gone to their graves nevertheless; for it was Allah s will to test your faith and courage. p409 From these passages it is evident that if you are going to die, you will die, whatever the level of danger in your job. Surely Moslems believe this, but still Saddam Hussain built a bunker.

5 In studying Islam from a comparative point of view, we would need to see how they view Christianity and Judaism. Their principal view of Christians and Jews is that we did not do what our Scriptures said, so God had to send further messages to get it right. In this basic way they view their religion as superior, succeeding both. When we made a covenant with the Israelites We said: Serve none but Allah. Show kindness to your parents, to your kinfolk, to the orphans, and to the destitute. Exhort men to righteousness. Attend to your prayers and pay the alms-tax. But you all broke your covenant except a few, and gave no heed. p332 To Moses We gave the Scriptures and after him We sent other apostles. We gave Jesus the son of Mary veritable signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. p333 And now that an apostle has come to them from Allah confirming their own scriptures, some of those to whom the Scriptures were given cast off the Book of Allah behind their backs as though they know nothing and accept what the devils tell of Solomon s kingdom. p334 p104 Tell of Moses, who said to his people: why do you seek to harm me, my people, when you know that I am sent to you by Allah? and when they went astray Allah led their very hearts astray. He does not guide the evil-doers. And of Jesus, who said to the Israelites: I am sent forth to you by Allah to confirm the Torah already revealed and to give news of an apostle that will come after me whose name is Ahmed (another name for Mohammed meaning The praised one ). With those who said they were Christians We made a covenant also, but they too have forgotten much of what they were enjoined. Therefore We stirred among them enmity and hatred, which shall endure till the Day of Resurrection, when Allah will declare to them all that they have done. p378 We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign to mankind and gave them a shelter on a peaceful hill-side watered by a fresh spring. Yet men divided themselves into different sects, each rejoicing in its own doctrines. Leave them in their error till death overtakes them. p218 Believers, do not make friends with those who are enemies of Mine and yours. Would you show them kindness when they have denied the truth that has been revealed to you and driven the Apostle and yourselves out of your city because you believe in Allah, your Lord? p261 Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. p382. Allah does not forbid you to be kind and equitable to those who have neither made war on your religion nor driven you from your homes. Allah loves the equitable. But He forbids you to make friends with those who have fought against you on account of your religion and driven you from your homes or abetted other so to do. Those that make friends with them are wrongdoers. p262 The statement quoted above is important in regard to the speech made in early February 1991 by Jordan s King Hussein where he said America and her allies had attacked Moslems everywhere by attacking Iraq. It is He that has sent forth His apostle with guidance and the true faith, so that he may exalt it above all religions. Allah is the all-sufficient Witness. Mohammed is Allah s apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another. p272

6 The apostles We sent before you were no more than mortals whom We inspired with revelations and with writings. Ask the People of the Book, if you doubt this. To you we have revealed the Koran, so that you may proclaim to men what has been revealed for them, and that they may give thought. p299 Mohammed was obviously impressed with some aspects of Christianity since he copied large segments of it. Three of the five pillars, namely almsgiving, prayer and fasting, are taken directly from the Christianity of the time. Although modern Christians have largely given up fasting and almsgiving, and maybe even prayer, such deeds were once central. Even in Judaism these same elements are considered essential. In the time of Jesus, almsgiving was considered the principal act of the righteous life, followed in importance by prayer and fasting. However, Mohammed was not impressed with the divisions which he saw within the church and spoke against divisions. (One has to wonder what he might say today). Although he harshly denounces such divisions, his followers have been unable to keep from repeating the same problem. Turn to Allah and fear him. Be steadfast in prayer and serve no other god beside him. Do not split up your religion into sects, each exulting in its own beliefs. p190 We will surely punish the schismatics, who have broken up their scriptures into separate parts. p240 I swear by the renowned Koran that the unbelievers shall come to grief through their own arrogance and internal strife. p279 We gave Jesus the son of Mary veritable signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Had allah pleased, those who succeeded them would not have fought against one another after the veritable signs had been given them. But they disagreed among themselves. p351 Allah, being sickened by all the corruption and division within the church, had to give a book to solve the problems. We have been quoting from the book: Thus we have revealed the Book to you. Those to whom We gave the Scriptures believe in it, and so do some of your own people. Only the unbelievers deny Our revelations. Never have you (Mohammed) read a book before this, nor have you ever transcribed one with your right hand. Had you done either of these, the unbelievers might have justly doubted. But to those who are endowed with knowledge it is an undoubted sign. Only the wrongdoers deny Our signs. They ask: Why has no sign been given him by his Lord? Say: Signs are in the hands of Allah. My missions is only to give plain warning. p196 I will show mercy to those that keep from evil, give alms, and believe in Our signs; and to those that shall follow the Apostle the Unlettered Prophet whom they shall find described in the Torah and the Gospel. He will enjoin righteousness upon them and forbid them to do evil. He will make good things lawful to them and

7 prohibit all that is foul. He will relieve them of their burdens and of the shackles that weigh upon them. Those that believe in him and honor him, those that aid him and follow the light to be sent forth with him, shall surely triumph. p253. Allah is great, and so is his prophets Mohammed. However, Jesus, even though he is respected as a prophet, cannot be given too high of a place in the system lest he compete with Mohammed. Jesus was no more than a mortal whom We favoured and made an example to the Israelites. p149. Say (to the Christians): If the Lord of Mercy had a son, I would be the first to worship him. p.150. Never has Allah begotten a son, nor is there any other god beside Him. Were this otherwise, each god would govern his own creation, each holding himself above the other. Exalted be Allah above their falsehoods! p220 They say: The Merciful has begotten children. Allah forbid! They are but His honored servants. p291 And of the woman who kept her chastity. We breathed into her of Our spirit, and made her and her son a sign to all men. Your religion is but one religion, and I am Your only Lord. Therefore serve Me. Men have divided themselves into schisms, but to Us they shall all return. p295 The Jews say Ezra is the son of Allah, while the Christians say the Messiah is the son of Allah. Such are their assertions, by which they imitate the infidels of old. Allah confound them! How perverse they are!. p315 The Jews and the Christians say: We are the children of Allah and His loved ones. Say : Why then does He punish you for your sins? p378 Unbelievers are those who declare: Allahis the Messiah, the son of Mary. Say Who could prevent Allah from destroying the Messiah, the son of Mary, together with his mother and all the people of the earth? p379 Then Allah will say: Jesus, son of Mary, did you ever say to mankind: Worship me and my mother as gods beside Allah? Glory to you, he will answer, how could I say that to which I have no right? If I had ever said so, You would have surely known it. You know what is in my mind, but I cannot tell what is in yours. You alone know what is hidden. I spoke to them of nothing except what You bade me. I said: Serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord....They (the people) are your bondsmen: it is for You to punish or to forgive them. You are the Mighty, the Wise One. p389 Moslems not only minimize the importance of Jesus, they even deny that he died on the cross. According to their version of history it was Judas who died on the cross, not Jesus.

8 They denied the truth and uttered a monstrous falsehood against Mary. They declared: We have put to death the Messiah Jesus the son of Mary, the apostle of Allah. They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but the thought they did. p372 Jesus was not divine, nor did he die on the cross. In fact, he was not a part of the Trinity. They are very strong on the idea that there is only one God: People of the Book, do not transgress the bounds of your religion. Speak nothing but the truth about Allah. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was no more than Allah s apostle and His Word which He cast to Mary: a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His apostles and do not say: Three. Allah is but one God. Allah forbid that He should have a son! p374 American foreign policy efforts and the prospects for peace in the Middle East seem to overlook one important aspect of the Koran. Revenge is part of the Moslem religion. With millions of grudges and wrongs to be avenged against Jews, there will never be final peace until Christ returns and even then it will be had at the price of a rod of iron: Let evil be rewarded with like evil. But he that forgives and seeks reconcilement shall be rewarded by Allah. He does not love the wrongdoers. Those who avenge themselves when wronged incur no guilt. But great is the guilt of those who oppress their fellowmen and conduct themselves with wickedness and injustice. These shall be sternly punished. p 154 You shall not kill any man whom Allah has forbidden you to kill, except for a just cause. If a man is slain unjustly, his heir is entitled to satisfaction. But let him not carry his vengeance too far, for his victim will in turn be assisted and avenged. p231 (Note: not a bad definition of the Middle East today) In retaliation you have a safeguard for your lives; perchance you will guard yourselves against evil. p342 According to THE BIBLICAL BASIS OF MODERN SCIENCE, the Bible is scientifically accurate in all it says. It would be difficult to make such a claim for the Koran: It was He who created you from dust, making you a little germ, and then a clot of blood. p 164. Reading all that we have read in the Koran, we might be inclined to wonder if it is really a divinely inspired book. But with such claims about itself, could it be otherwise? Allah has now revealed the best of scriptures, a book uniform in style proclaiming promises and warnings. Those who fear their Lord are filled with awe as they listen to its revelations, so that their hearts soften at the remembrance of Allah. p275 Say: The Holy Spirit brought it down from your Lord in truth to reassure the faithful, and to give guidance and good news to those that surrender themselves to Allah. p304

9 This Koran could not have been composed by any but Allah. It confirms what was revealed before it and fully explains the Scriptures. It is beyond doubt from the Lord of Creation. p67 We have given mankind in this Koran all manner of arguments, so that they may take heed. We have revealed it in the Arabic tongue, a Koran free from all faults, that they may guard themselves against evil. p275 As categorical as the above claims, there were some doubts in Mohammed s mind in the early days when his revelations first began. In fact, he openly questioned if these revelations which became the Koran came from God or from devils. By the time his revelations were compiled, he had settled the matter for the public record. Indeed, Allah himself said he was not the devil: It was not the devils who brought down this Koran: it is neither in their interest nor in their power. Indeed, they are too far away to overhear it. p204 The unbelievers say: This is but a forgery of his own invention, in which others have helped him. Unjust is what they say, and false. p205 The unbelievers ask: Why was the Koran not revealed to him entire in a single revelation? We have revealed it thus so that We may strengthen your faith. We have imparted it to you by gradual revelation. No sooner will they come to you with an argument than We shall reveal to you the truth and properly explain it. p207 Any preacher or teacher would be proud to be connected with such an authoritative source of revelation. Whenever it looked like we might be killed or our policies unpopular, we could get one of those truths from Allah and properly explain it. Apparently Allah did not give any further revelations after Mohammed died. However, Joseph Smith would never agree to that.