- Feb 27, 2007
- 1,846
- 153
Okay.
In the spirit of Ramadan which will be upon us in a matter of days if not hours, I take this opportunity to offer As-Salam Alaikum: Ramadan Mubarak. I do this because I want to clear the air as much as possible. I think people are being sincere on this issue. But, we do have somewhat of a genuine misunderstanding. At first I thought it was just mud-slinging that goes back some 20 years or more. Now, I am inclined tot hink that there are technical matters that is causing confusion, at least from my own perspective.
So, let me assure you all that I have no desire to offend anyone, especially not an African, especially not an African woman. Yet, I kbnow we have our differences, different social and cultural backgrounds, different experiences in life, different perspectives, differerent ideologies and different religious persuasions. I have tried to be sensitive towards these differences and hope others will reciprocate. And, I will continue to do so.
The thing about Islam is we Muslims sincerely try top avoid conflict with Christians and Jews. But, I do not think they realize it. People have used our religious differences to exploit for their own political and economic advantages. It is called divide and conquer. But, Islam affords a special place of People of the Book which is our way to refer to the Christians and Jews together. For instance, Muslims are allowed to marry Christians and Jews ONLY. But, we can do so only under limited circumstances. What I have tried to do here is convey that I cannot consider marrying any Christian that I know in this forum because the limited circumstannces that I refer to are not present here. And, this has contributed to a degree of misunderstanding, I think. Let me try to explain.
Consider this Verse:
Unfortunately, our Christian and Jewsih friends tend to mis-interpret this Verse because it is taken out of context of the reality on the ground among us as well as the other pertinent Verse in Quran. So, they tend to think that they can somehow impose Judaism or Christianity upon a Muslim by marrying him. That is far from the relaity. The reality is no Christian of Jew could ever convert a true Muslim to their respective religions. That's reality. But, conflict often arises between the Muslims and the People of the Book when reality slaps them in the face.
Here is the tip of the iceberg:
So, basically, any Christian or Jew who compromises the principles of Monotheism is anot eligible for marriage into the Muslim Community. And, I tend to counsel the mixed couples along this line of thinking.
The line gets harder in this Verse:
If a Christian of Jew cannot acept a Muslim unless the Muslims abandons Islam to become a Christian of a Jew, it will never happen as far as I am concerned. And, I tend to counsel mixed couples to this effect.
Here is more clarity:
Now clearly, we Muslims do not accept that only Christians and Jews will go to heaven. In fact, most of think they will all go to hell. And, still others tell them to go there, especially when it cvomes to marital issues.
So, I hope this clear up some of the misunderstanding. When people know these facts, there will be less opportunity for feelings to get hurt and we can more a foundation to avoid un-necessary conflict between People of the Book and Muslims.
(The above quotes were taken from this site: http://quran.com/2/120. For more details about the Muslim view on People of the Book, please use the index available at this site or similar: http://www.submission.org/suras/sura2.html#111)
I will try to deal with specific issues below.
In the spirit of Ramadan which will be upon us in a matter of days if not hours, I take this opportunity to offer As-Salam Alaikum: Ramadan Mubarak. I do this because I want to clear the air as much as possible. I think people are being sincere on this issue. But, we do have somewhat of a genuine misunderstanding. At first I thought it was just mud-slinging that goes back some 20 years or more. Now, I am inclined tot hink that there are technical matters that is causing confusion, at least from my own perspective.
So, let me assure you all that I have no desire to offend anyone, especially not an African, especially not an African woman. Yet, I kbnow we have our differences, different social and cultural backgrounds, different experiences in life, different perspectives, differerent ideologies and different religious persuasions. I have tried to be sensitive towards these differences and hope others will reciprocate. And, I will continue to do so.
The thing about Islam is we Muslims sincerely try top avoid conflict with Christians and Jews. But, I do not think they realize it. People have used our religious differences to exploit for their own political and economic advantages. It is called divide and conquer. But, Islam affords a special place of People of the Book which is our way to refer to the Christians and Jews together. For instance, Muslims are allowed to marry Christians and Jews ONLY. But, we can do so only under limited circumstances. What I have tried to do here is convey that I cannot consider marrying any Christian that I know in this forum because the limited circumstannces that I refer to are not present here. And, this has contributed to a degree of misunderstanding, I think. Let me try to explain.
Consider this Verse:
Sahih International:
This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn:
Today the good, the delicious, things are permitted to you, and the food of those who were given the Scripture, that is, animals slaughtered by the Jews and Christians, is permitted to you, and permitted to them is your food. Likewise, the believing, free, married women, and the married women of those who were given the Scripture before you, are permitted to you for marriage, if you give them their wages, their dowries, in wedlock, in marriage, and not illicitly, fornicating overtly with them, or taking them as lovers, so as to fornicate with them secretly. Whoever disbelieves in faith, that is, [whose] apostatises, his, prior good, work has indeed failed, and so it counts for nothing and he will not be rewarded for it, and in the Hereafter he shall be among the losers, if he dies in this state [of unbelief].
This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn:
Today the good, the delicious, things are permitted to you, and the food of those who were given the Scripture, that is, animals slaughtered by the Jews and Christians, is permitted to you, and permitted to them is your food. Likewise, the believing, free, married women, and the married women of those who were given the Scripture before you, are permitted to you for marriage, if you give them their wages, their dowries, in wedlock, in marriage, and not illicitly, fornicating overtly with them, or taking them as lovers, so as to fornicate with them secretly. Whoever disbelieves in faith, that is, [whose] apostatises, his, prior good, work has indeed failed, and so it counts for nothing and he will not be rewarded for it, and in the Hereafter he shall be among the losers, if he dies in this state [of unbelief].
Unfortunately, our Christian and Jewsih friends tend to mis-interpret this Verse because it is taken out of context of the reality on the ground among us as well as the other pertinent Verse in Quran. So, they tend to think that they can somehow impose Judaism or Christianity upon a Muslim by marrying him. That is far from the relaity. The reality is no Christian of Jew could ever convert a true Muslim to their respective religions. That's reality. But, conflict often arises between the Muslims and the People of the Book when reality slaps them in the face.
Here is the tip of the iceberg:
Sahih International
They say, "Be Jews or Christians [so] you will be guided." Say, "Rather, [we follow] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists."
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
And they say, ‘Be Jews or Christians (the particle aw is for detail; the first of these is the saying of the Medinan Jews, while the second is that of the Christians of Najrān), and you shall be guided’. Say, to them: ‘Nay, we follow, rather the creed of Abraham, a hanīf (hanīfan is a circumstantial qualifier referring to Ibrāhīma, that is to say, one that inclines away from all other religions to the upright religion); and he was not of the idolaters’.
They say, "Be Jews or Christians [so] you will be guided." Say, "Rather, [we follow] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists."
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
And they say, ‘Be Jews or Christians (the particle aw is for detail; the first of these is the saying of the Medinan Jews, while the second is that of the Christians of Najrān), and you shall be guided’. Say, to them: ‘Nay, we follow, rather the creed of Abraham, a hanīf (hanīfan is a circumstantial qualifier referring to Ibrāhīma, that is to say, one that inclines away from all other religions to the upright religion); and he was not of the idolaters’.
So, basically, any Christian or Jew who compromises the principles of Monotheism is anot eligible for marriage into the Muslim Community. And, I tend to counsel the mixed couples along this line of thinking.
The line gets harder in this Verse:
Sahih International
And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance." If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allah no protector or helper.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
Never will the Jews be pleased with you, neither the Christians, not until you follow their creed, their religion, Say: ‘God’s guidance, that is, Islam, is the true guidance’, besides which there is only error. And if you were (wa-la-in: the lām is for oaths) to follow their whims, hypothetically speaking, [whims] to which they are calling you, after the knowledge, the Divine revelation, that has come to you, you shall have against God neither friend, to protect you, nor helper, to defend you against Him.
And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance." If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allah no protector or helper.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
Never will the Jews be pleased with you, neither the Christians, not until you follow their creed, their religion, Say: ‘God’s guidance, that is, Islam, is the true guidance’, besides which there is only error. And if you were (wa-la-in: the lām is for oaths) to follow their whims, hypothetically speaking, [whims] to which they are calling you, after the knowledge, the Divine revelation, that has come to you, you shall have against God neither friend, to protect you, nor helper, to defend you against Him.
If a Christian of Jew cannot acept a Muslim unless the Muslims abandons Islam to become a Christian of a Jew, it will never happen as far as I am concerned. And, I tend to counsel mixed couples to this effect.
Here is more clarity:
[2:111] Some have said, "No one will enter Paradise except Jews or Christians!" Such is their wishful thinking. Say, "Show us your proof, if you are right."
Now clearly, we Muslims do not accept that only Christians and Jews will go to heaven. In fact, most of think they will all go to hell. And, still others tell them to go there, especially when it cvomes to marital issues.
So, I hope this clear up some of the misunderstanding. When people know these facts, there will be less opportunity for feelings to get hurt and we can more a foundation to avoid un-necessary conflict between People of the Book and Muslims.
(The above quotes were taken from this site: http://quran.com/2/120. For more details about the Muslim view on People of the Book, please use the index available at this site or similar: http://www.submission.org/suras/sura2.html#111)
I will try to deal with specific issues below.