I have been mulling over a letter published in the 21 April edition of the Times of Swaziland. In it, AB Sule responds to "Stones" with a piece headlined "Other religions are dangerous". Mr. Sule's last comment stuck with me: "Our motto is: Love for all, hatred for none."
Does Mr. Sule mean that is the motto of Islam? Many Muslims live by that slogan. My life has been blessed by friendships with Muslims whom I enjoy and respect. But Mr. Sule's piece reminded me of a subject I have never seriously discussed with these friends.
Unfortunately, "Love for all, hatred for none" is not what comes to mind for many people when they think of Islam. Many people have legitimate concerns about the treatment of religious minorities in Muslim-majority countries. As Mr. Sule points out, one shouldn't judge a religion by the poor example of a few of its members. Nevertheless, religous minorities in many Muslim-majority countries have a hard time. Since I haven't read the Quran, perhaps Mr. Sule can explain if these situations reflect a true understanding of the teachings of the Quran or if they are the poor examples of a few misguided members.
Let us start with an hypothetical situation. Mr. Sule travels to Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, with a friend. The friend is carrying a New Testament, and wears a T-shirt with "Come to Jesus" printed across the chest. What sort of reception would the friend receive at the airport in Riyadh? According to Operation World (admittedly, a Christian publication), no Christians are allowed to even enter Mecca, Islam's most important city. Christian gatherings are not allowed for Saudis or expatriates, and Saudis who become Christians face the death penalty. All Saudis who have been found out to be Christians have been executed. Saudi Arabia has a religious police force (the mutawwa) to enforce the Islam-only rule. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace and biggest advocate of Islam around the world. Can I trust that they are closely following the Quran in their practices? It does not appear that the Saudi government's behaviour conforms to "Love for all (including Christians), hatred for none". Even now, two Indian Christians are in jail in Riyadh awaiting trial for their faith. One of them reports that he has been pressed to convert to Islam.
Let us consider the Islamic Republic of Iran. Again according to Operation World, Sunni Islam and Shi'a Islam are allowed, but "All other deviations or defections from Islam are severely handled" and "All Christian proselytism is forbidden". No Christian publishing or distribution of literature is allowed. Is this Quranic Islam, or is it not?
Afghanistan under the Taliban (prior to late 2001): men could not participate in international boxing events because the Taliban insisted all men grow beards, and beards are not allowed in international boxing. Men who took family photographs were beaten; according to the Taliban's interpretation of the Quran, this was unacceptable. The Taliban instituted the death penalty for anyone leaving Islam. According to Operation World, women were "banished from public life, forbidden employment, restricted to the home, denied education (for girls) and health services". As I have not yet read the Quran, I just don't know: is this Quranic, or not?
The following excerpt is from a man who grew up in Iran and became a Christian. His and many other conversion stories are available at www.answering-islam.org/Testimonies/index.html. Previous to this excerpt, he had been in conversation with some Christians: "When I went to my Qur'an class, I asked if Christianity was right. My teacher said, 'What?' He brought me in front of the class room (in the mosque not at school) and slapped me as hard as he could. I fell to ground with my whole face shaking. He asked some kids to go outside and get some sticks, dip them in water and then he hit me in the hands. He put pencils between my fingers and squeezed them until I could be only on one foot and I was jumping on it. He had me carry the heaviest kid in the class. I had to crawl around the room. After that he kicked me out of the class room." Later that day, this man related these events to his uncle. The uncle chased him out of the house while the man's grandmother urged the uncle to "kill him, kill him". The man became a Christian and eventually left Iran. Was the behaviour of this man's teacher and family in line with true Islam, or not?
Pakistan is an Islamic state (its official name is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan) and features "blasphemy laws". These laws state that "Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine." Similar laws exist in other countries with sizeable Muslim populations, and the scope of actions considered violations of this law has broadened. According to Nina Shea and Paul Marshall of the Hudson Institute (a group promoting religious freedom), "Muslim blasphemy has recently been defined to include: denouncing stoning as a human-rights violation (Sudan), opening girls' schools (Bangladesh), criticizing the Guardianship of the Jurists (Iran), petitioning for a constitution (Saudi Arabia), use of the word 'Allah' by Christians (Malaysia), rejecting an order for violent jihad (Sudan), praying at the graves of relatives (Saudi Arabia), translating the Koran into Dari (Afghanistan), accidentally tearing a calendar page containing a Koranic verse (Pakistan), naming a teddy bear after a boy named Mohamed (Sudan), urging that the Koran be understood in its historical and cultural context (Indonesia), teaching Shi'ism (Egypt), and calling for a ban on child brides (Yemen). Mob violence, intimidation, court trials and penalties accompany these cases.
"And once in place, blasphemy laws are nearly impossible to reform. This year in Pakistan, Governor Salman Taseer and cabinet minister Shabbaz Bhatti were murdered for opposing such laws."
With the above anecdotes in mind, many non-Muslims wonder if "Love for all, hatred for none" summarizes the teaching of Islam for Muslim-majority countries. I seek clarification: are the events mentioned above true expressions of the teaching of Islam?
Rudy Poglitshmailto:Poglitshrpoglitsh@live.com
more letters at http://letterstothetos.blogspot.com/
Does Mr. Sule mean that is the motto of Islam? Many Muslims live by that slogan. My life has been blessed by friendships with Muslims whom I enjoy and respect. But Mr. Sule's piece reminded me of a subject I have never seriously discussed with these friends.
Unfortunately, "Love for all, hatred for none" is not what comes to mind for many people when they think of Islam. Many people have legitimate concerns about the treatment of religious minorities in Muslim-majority countries. As Mr. Sule points out, one shouldn't judge a religion by the poor example of a few of its members. Nevertheless, religous minorities in many Muslim-majority countries have a hard time. Since I haven't read the Quran, perhaps Mr. Sule can explain if these situations reflect a true understanding of the teachings of the Quran or if they are the poor examples of a few misguided members.
Let us start with an hypothetical situation. Mr. Sule travels to Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, with a friend. The friend is carrying a New Testament, and wears a T-shirt with "Come to Jesus" printed across the chest. What sort of reception would the friend receive at the airport in Riyadh? According to Operation World (admittedly, a Christian publication), no Christians are allowed to even enter Mecca, Islam's most important city. Christian gatherings are not allowed for Saudis or expatriates, and Saudis who become Christians face the death penalty. All Saudis who have been found out to be Christians have been executed. Saudi Arabia has a religious police force (the mutawwa) to enforce the Islam-only rule. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace and biggest advocate of Islam around the world. Can I trust that they are closely following the Quran in their practices? It does not appear that the Saudi government's behaviour conforms to "Love for all (including Christians), hatred for none". Even now, two Indian Christians are in jail in Riyadh awaiting trial for their faith. One of them reports that he has been pressed to convert to Islam.
Let us consider the Islamic Republic of Iran. Again according to Operation World, Sunni Islam and Shi'a Islam are allowed, but "All other deviations or defections from Islam are severely handled" and "All Christian proselytism is forbidden". No Christian publishing or distribution of literature is allowed. Is this Quranic Islam, or is it not?
Afghanistan under the Taliban (prior to late 2001): men could not participate in international boxing events because the Taliban insisted all men grow beards, and beards are not allowed in international boxing. Men who took family photographs were beaten; according to the Taliban's interpretation of the Quran, this was unacceptable. The Taliban instituted the death penalty for anyone leaving Islam. According to Operation World, women were "banished from public life, forbidden employment, restricted to the home, denied education (for girls) and health services". As I have not yet read the Quran, I just don't know: is this Quranic, or not?
The following excerpt is from a man who grew up in Iran and became a Christian. His and many other conversion stories are available at www.answering-islam.org/Testimonies/index.html. Previous to this excerpt, he had been in conversation with some Christians: "When I went to my Qur'an class, I asked if Christianity was right. My teacher said, 'What?' He brought me in front of the class room (in the mosque not at school) and slapped me as hard as he could. I fell to ground with my whole face shaking. He asked some kids to go outside and get some sticks, dip them in water and then he hit me in the hands. He put pencils between my fingers and squeezed them until I could be only on one foot and I was jumping on it. He had me carry the heaviest kid in the class. I had to crawl around the room. After that he kicked me out of the class room." Later that day, this man related these events to his uncle. The uncle chased him out of the house while the man's grandmother urged the uncle to "kill him, kill him". The man became a Christian and eventually left Iran. Was the behaviour of this man's teacher and family in line with true Islam, or not?
Pakistan is an Islamic state (its official name is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan) and features "blasphemy laws". These laws state that "Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine." Similar laws exist in other countries with sizeable Muslim populations, and the scope of actions considered violations of this law has broadened. According to Nina Shea and Paul Marshall of the Hudson Institute (a group promoting religious freedom), "Muslim blasphemy has recently been defined to include: denouncing stoning as a human-rights violation (Sudan), opening girls' schools (Bangladesh), criticizing the Guardianship of the Jurists (Iran), petitioning for a constitution (Saudi Arabia), use of the word 'Allah' by Christians (Malaysia), rejecting an order for violent jihad (Sudan), praying at the graves of relatives (Saudi Arabia), translating the Koran into Dari (Afghanistan), accidentally tearing a calendar page containing a Koranic verse (Pakistan), naming a teddy bear after a boy named Mohamed (Sudan), urging that the Koran be understood in its historical and cultural context (Indonesia), teaching Shi'ism (Egypt), and calling for a ban on child brides (Yemen). Mob violence, intimidation, court trials and penalties accompany these cases.
"And once in place, blasphemy laws are nearly impossible to reform. This year in Pakistan, Governor Salman Taseer and cabinet minister Shabbaz Bhatti were murdered for opposing such laws."
With the above anecdotes in mind, many non-Muslims wonder if "Love for all, hatred for none" summarizes the teaching of Islam for Muslim-majority countries. I seek clarification: are the events mentioned above true expressions of the teaching of Islam?
Rudy Poglitshmailto:Poglitshrpoglitsh@live.com
more letters at http://letterstothetos.blogspot.com/
