A RESPONSE TO AN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN Nishthar Idroos

You did not create yourself nor did you descend from apes and monkeys. It certainly cannot be attributed to a vigorous, virile and wholesome ancestry; you know what I am talking about.  Humanity shares a common heritage. Whether you speak for the white people or black people, whether you speak for the Americans or Anglo Saxons this is entrenched reality, we are one human race with  one obviously indivisible Supreme Creator Most High.

The Muslims will be pro-active and forthright in promoting and preaching the true religion of Islam till dooms day, this is an obligation bestowed upon us, if there is any Muslim in the world who is trying to impose Islam on anyone, take it from me he is a fool. Allah says: “Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from falsehood. Whoever rejects false worship and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 256].. One of the fundamental truths established by the sacred texts is that no one can be compelled to accept Islam. It is the duty of Muslims to establish the proof of Islam to the people so that truth can be made clear from falsehood. After that, whoever wishes to accept Islam may do so and whoever wishes to continue upon unbelief may do so. No one should be threatened or harmed in any way if he does not wish to accept Islam. 

This verse is decisive in establishing that each person has the right to make his or her own choice about embracing Islam. There is other equally decisive evidence in the Qur’an, among which are the following verses:  Allah says: “If it had been your Lord’s will, all of the people on Earth would have believed. Would you then compel the people so to have them believe?” [Sûrah Yûnus: 99]  Allah says: “So if they dispute with you, say ‘I have submitted my whole self to Allah, and so have those who follow me.’ And say to the People of the Scripture and to the unlearned: ‘Do you also submit yourselves?’ If they do, then they are on right guidance. But if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message. And in Allah’s sight are all of His servants.” [Sûrah Âl `Imrân: 20] 

Allah says: “The Messenger’s duty is but to proclaim the Message.” [Sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 99] Ours is only a polite and intelligent invitation which absolves us from any indictment from our Lord Most High on the day of reckoning. As the sole custodian of the truth we must and will strive assiduously and diligently to invite mankind to their only salvation. I dare say that the entirety of mankind is at a loss and are destined to certain destruction without Islam, hence no Muslim must shirk away from this cardinal responsibility to convey whatever he knows of Islam according to his or her limitatation. The noble Messenger said  “Convey from me even if one ayah (verse) for it may be that the one being informed will comprehend better that the one listening (at present).” (Al-Bukhari)

 

We learn from these words of wisdom that this narration encompasses the entire religion of Islam with respect to speech, belief and actions. Likewise, from the perspective of acting upon it with knowledge and from the perspective of calling towards it as much as one is able to. The Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention) implemented all of this – by speech, action, belief and giving Da’wah, (propagation) i.e. his entire life was based on knowledge, acting on knowledge, and calling towards it. Regarding this, Allah said: “Invite (mankind, O Muhammad, peace be upon him) to the way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His path, and He is the Best Knower of those who are guided.” (Qur’an, 16:125)

Da’wah (propagation) was the mission of all Prophets, from the first to the last of them. All of them called people to Allah’s religion. Their manhaj (methodology) was knowledge,internilaztion implementation, application, and propagation. They called people by their speech and by their actions, because people are such that if you call them by speech which your actions contradict, they will not accept that Da’wah

The most absurd myth successfully perpetuated on the west by their crafty and ignorant
leadership is freedom. Their governments using clever deception has indoctrinated for centuries an eerie aura of freedom which self-directed its citizenry to perdition. Today actual peace is war, freedom is slavery and strength is in ignorance. If you would only put your thinking cap and ruminate upon the happenings in the last decade, especially in the economic frontier, sincerely, you will certainly realize what I am talking about. How will mankind know his purpose in this world without him being in contact with his Creator? When huge companies invest mega million on software, the vendor updates the buyer periodically new updates and new versions, If you stick to the original version you are certainly doomed. Islam is the latest version. When did you read the last and final version? Islam traces back to Gods first human creation Adam. In simplified terms we are Muslims with a capital M and you guys with a simple m.

“Who would forsake the religion of Abraham (Islam), except one who fools his own soul? We have chosen him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be with the righteous. When his Lord said to him, “Submit,” he said, “I submit to the Lord of the universe.” Moreover, Abraham exhorted his children to do the same, and so did Jacob: “O my children, Allah has pointed out the religion (Islam) for you; do not die except as submitters (Muslims).” Had you witnessed Jacob on his death bed; he said to his children, “What will you worship after I die?” They said, “We will worship your god; the god of your fathers Abraham, Ismail, and Isaac; the one god. To Him we are submitters.” [Qur'an 2:130-133]

“Verily! We really hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, as we are the first of the believers in Mûsa (Moses) and in the Monotheism which he has brought from Allâh.” [Qur'an 26:51] The Qur’an is not presenting Moses (as) as the first ever believer (Muslim) but as the first believer relative to the time and place Moses was in (i.e. the first to believe amongst his people). This is basic Tafsir (exegies) and logic. Muhammad (may Allah exalt his mention) is not the first Muslim. “Say (O Muhammad): “Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.” [Qur'an 6:162-163]

So if we use the Qur’an we realise that Muhammed (may Allah exalt his mention) is not being put forward as the first ever Muslim as the Qur’an (elsewhere) refers to earlier Prophets who are believers. Hence we realise that the Quranic references (6:163, 6:14) do not teach us that Muhammed  (may Allah exalt is the first ever Muslim. ‘Allah took a covenant from the prophets, saying, “I will give you the scripture and wisdom. Afterwards, a messenger (Muhammad) will come to confirm all existing scriptures (Torah, Gospel). You shall believe in him and support him.” He said, “Do you agree with this, and pledge to fulfill this covenant?” They said, “We agree.” He said, “You have thus borne witness, and I bear witness along with you.” [Qur'an 3:81]

“O People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), there has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad) to make clear to you [the religion] after a period [of suspension] of messengers, lest you say, “There came not to us any bringer of good tidings or a warner.” But there has come to you a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And Allah is over all things competent.” [Qur'an 5:19]                  “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [Qur'an 5:3] The religion of Islam is finally complete because Muhammad (saws) is the seal of all the Prophets and the last to convey the religion of Allah to mankind.

“Muhammad is not the father of anyone among you, but he is the messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets; and Allah is aware of all things.” [Qur'an 33:40] And say, “Ours is the religion of Allah. And who is better than Allah in [ordaining] religion? And we are worshippers of Him.”                 [Qur'an 2:138] “And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.” [Qur'an 3:85]

Say, “We believe in Allah, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs, and in what was given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters.” [Qur'an 3:84]                     “The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one of them believes in Allah, His angels, His books, and His Messengers. They say: ‘We make nodistinction between one and another of His Messengers.’ And they say: ‘We hear, and we obey. We seek Thy forgiveness, Our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys.’” [Qur'an 2:285]