From: "Wael M. Ahmed"
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 1996 03:05:25 -0500
Subject: Debate posting
After reading Mr. Smith's debate material, I thought about personally
responding to some of his online articles. Instead, I would like to
offer some quotes from the Quran. Allah, in his infinite knowledge,
speaks of the relationship between Muslims and Christians (one of
"the People of the Book") in many verses of the Quran. His eloquent
words (even in the English translation) are, in my opinion, all the
proof anyone should ever need. I have listed some of these verses
below with a brief description of each:
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HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
2:109. Quite a number of the People of the Book wish they could Turn
you (people) back to infidelity after ye have believed, from selfish
envy, after the Truth hath become Manifest unto them: But forgive and
overlook, Till Allah accomplish His purpose; for Allah Hath power
over all things.
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FOLLOWING PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
2:120. Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee
unless thou follow their form of religion. Say: "The Guidance of
Allah,-that is the (only) Guidance." Wert thou to follow their
desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee, then wouldst
thou find neither Protector nor helper against Allah.
2:121. Those to whom We have sent the Book study it as it should be
studied: They are the ones that believe therein: Those who reject
faith therein,- the loss is their own.
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DIFFERENCES IN BELIEFS
2:135. They say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (To
salvation)." Say thou: "Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of
Abraham the True, and he joined not gods with Allah."
2:136. Say ye: "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us,
and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given
to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord:
We make no difference between one and another of them: And we bow to
Allah (in Islam)."
2:137. So if they believe as ye believe, they are indeed on the right
path; but if they turn back, it is they who are in schism; but Allah
will suffice thee as against them, and He is the All-Hearing, the
All-Knowing.
2:138. (Our religion is) the Baptism of Allah. And who can baptize
better than Allah. And it is He Whom we worship.
2:139. Say: Will ye dispute with us about Allah, seeing that He is
our Lord and your Lord; that we are responsible for our doings and ye
for yours; and that We are sincere (in our faith) in Him?
2:140. Or do ye say that Abraham, Isma'il Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes
were Jews or Christians? Say: Do ye know better than Allah. Ah! who
is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from
Allah. but Allah is not unmindful of what ye do!
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MUSLIMS AND PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, AND THEIR FATE
2:62. Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the
Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who
believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have
their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall
they grieve.
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SOME PEOPLE OF THE BOOK'S ATTEMPTS TO DENY ALLAH'S TRUTH
2:69. It is the wish of a section of the People of the Book to lead
you astray. But they shall lead astray (Not you), but themselves, and
they do not perceive!
2:70. Ye People of the Book! Why reject ye the Signs of Allah, of
which ye are (Yourselves) witnesses?
2:71. Ye People of the Book! Why do ye clothe Truth with falsehood,
and conceal the Truth, while ye have knowledge?
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BELIEFS OF CHRISTIANS
3:15. From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a
covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent
them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one
and the other, to the day of judgment. And soon will Allah show them
what it is they have done.
3:16. O people of the Book! There hath come to you our Messenger,
revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing
over much (that is now unnecessary). There hath come to you from
Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book,-
3:17. Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways
of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His will,
unto the light,-guideth them to a path that is straight.
3:18. In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the
son of Mary. Say: "Who then hath the least power against Allah, if
His will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and all
every - one that is on the earth? For to Allah belongeth the dominion
of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He createth
what He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over all things."
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SIGNIFICANCE OF LEARNED CHRISTIANS
5:83. Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find
the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers
wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst
these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the
world, and they are not arrogant.
5:84. And when they listen to the revelation received by the
Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they
recognise the truth: they pray:"Our Lord! we believe; write us down
among the witnesses.
5:85. "What cause can we have not to believe in Allah and the truth
which has come to us, seeing that we long for our Lord to admit us to
the company of the righteous?"
5:86. And for this their prayer hath Allah rewarded them with
gardens, with rivers flowing underneath,- their eternal home. Such is
the recompense of those who do good.
5:87. But those who reject Faith and belie our Signs,- they shall be
companions of Hell-fire.
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THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT
22:16. Thus have We sent down Clear Sings; and verily Allah doth
guide whom He will!
22:17. Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish
(scriptures), and the Sabians, Christians, Magians, and Polytheists,-
Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgment: for Allah is
witness of all things.
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Wael Mohammad Ahmed E-mail: wmahme00@pop.uky.edu
University of Kentucky Phone/Fax: (606) 273-3122
College of Agriculture
Lexington, Kentucky USA
If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would be spent
before the Words of my Lord are spent. Qur'an, The Cave 18:109
"Peace is normally a great good, and normally it coincides with
righteousness, but it is righteousness and not peace which should
bind the conscience of a nation as it should bind the conscience of
an individual; and neither a nation nor an individual can surrender
conscience to anothers keeping." Theodore Roosevelt
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