The Bible and Christianity (an Islamic View)

Part 1: Encounters : Introduction

Islam always relied on dialogue and reason to promote its stance and disseminate its teachings. Contrary to the Islamophobics who falsely assert that Islam spread its message by the sword, Islam attracted devout followers from the four corners of the world through reason, by encouraging the other side to ponder and reflect on what Islam had to say. This approach takes its lead from Allah’s instructions in the Qur’anic verse, {Invite (the people) to the Way of your Lord – Islam – with wisdom and good exhortation . . .}1

Armed with reason and logic, the Muslim faithful addresses any debate with an open mind and without any prejudice, for he is only interested in the Truth. Thus the starting point for a Muslim faithful and his attitude in such debates would be based on the Qur’anic verse, {and we or you are either rightly guided or in manifest error}2

It is on this basis that the author conducted his debates with non-Muslims, as can be seen from the presentation in this book.

Coupled with this approach of wisdom and reasoning, is another means that complements the first, and that is tolerance, leniency, perseverance and forgiveness. Taking lead from such Qur’anic verses as {and argue with them in a manner that is best}3, this approach too is highly encouraged in Islam, and is manifested in the teachings and conducts of the final messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his progeny, as well as in those of the impeccable Imams of this progeny.

Imam Ali peace be upon him, reports, “The holy prophet Muhammad personally owed a Jew some money, and one morning the Jew came to the prophet and demanded his money. The prophet told him that he does not have any money so that he could give him any of his dues. The Jew said, “I am not going to leave you alone, until you give me the money”. The Jew effectively confined and restricted the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Since the Jew imposed that restriction upon the prophet and the latter owed the former, he complied with him. This is at a time when the prophet Muhammad was not only the Messenger of God; he was also a ruler and a head of the Islamic state, commanding considerable power and

1 The Holy Qur'an, The Bee (16): 125 2 The Holy Qur'an, Saba’ (34): 24. 3 The Holy Qur'an, The Bee (16): 125 influence. When it was time for the midday prayers the prophet performed the prayers, and this standby continued when the prophet performed the prayers for other times, and until the following day, the Jew remained alongside the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family. The companions of the prophet were enraged by the conduct of the Jew, and they started to threaten him. Objecting to their behaviour, the prophet asked them, “What are you doing?” they replied, “O Messenger of Allah! A Jew has detained you!”

Prophet Muhammad replied, “My Lord has not sent me to wrong one who is under the protection of the Islamic state, nor anyone else!” By midday of the following day, having seen the conduct of the prophet of Islam, the Jew said, “I testify there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger . . . and I give half of my money in the cause of Allah . . .”4

Taking lead from the Qur’anic verse {and if the ignorant address them they reply (in) peace}5, when a Christian man came to Imam Baqir and said to him mockingly, “Are you Baqar (meaning cow)?” The Imam peace be upon him replied, “I am Baqir (literally meaning the splitter of knowledge, i.e. being the most knowledgeable of his time, as he then known).” He said, “are you not the son of a cook?” The Imam replied, “That is her skill.”

The Christian man then went on to say to the Imam, “are you not the son of the obscene Negro?” The Imam calmly replied, “If you are saying the truth, then may Allah forgive her, and if you are saying lies, then may Allah forgive you.” The calm, courteous and non-violent replies of the Imam lead the Christian man to the truth that the Imam had, and embraced Islam whole-heartedly. It was in such ways that prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his pure family, used to deal with others; through leniency and compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, and magnanimity, such that he managed to attract the hearts and minds of the people. In this respect Allah Almighty states, 4 Sheikh al-Sadouq, “al-Amali”, p 465.

5 The Holy Qur'an, The Criterion (25): 63. Encounters

{It is part of the Mercy of Allah that thou dost deal gently with them. Were thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee . . .}6

In this way, Islam has today attracted some two billion followers, and this is despite all the atrocities that have been committed by so-called Muslims in the name of Islam over many centuries.

What follows is the script of one of many encounters between muslins and non-Muslims at the outset of dawn of Islam some 1400 years ago.