Introduction
In this segment, Dr. Badawi argues that the Qur'an teaches Muslims that they can be friends with non Muslims. He is attempting to show that Muslims and Islam are tolerant of those who do not share their beliefs. The one thing that we must ask ourselves throughout this discussion is : what is tolerance, who defines it, and under what terms?
Jamal Badawi: If have a book called the meaning of the Qur'an since there is no way that it can be accurately translated. Sura 60:8-9, the basic rule for the relationship is clear:
There are 3 important issues:
1. Justice and kindness, or peaceful coexistence with non Muslims. There are exceptional reasons such as those who fight you because you are Muslim who are trying to eliminate your identity.
2. Those who are trying to drive you out of your home. You can extend friendship to those who are trying to destroy you.
3. There are two key words, to be just with them or justice, you cannot persecute them because they are not Muslims. The other is interesting, this word has no equivalent in English, it means everything that is good. In the Traditions, he uses this term for the relationship between a child and his parents, it is respect and kindness. Those who hate Muslims cannot expect this.
I am not convinced of Dr. Badawi's explanation since in verse 13, it says:
We will see how Muslims have treated non Muslims in a moment.
Jamal Badawi: The justice of the Qur'an includes Jews and Christians. These people are called the People of the Book. This is in 29 places in the Qur'an. What is the significance. The Book is the scriptures, people whose Prophets received scriptures. They are closer to Muslims than unbelievers for 5 reasons:
1. In all of these faiths, the common thing is the belief in God, the supreme creator. They believe in one supreme loving Father, they do not convey divinity to a human being or to Trinity, this does not bear of the basis concept of God.
Do we really believe in the same God if we Christians accept the Triune nature of God?
We all believe in the concept of Prophethood, however, Jews and Christian have a Biblical test for Prophethood in Deuteronomy 18:21-22 :
Muhammad did not make any accurate prophecies and fails this test. Therefore, we do not consider him a Prophet.
Other religions also have sacred texts. The Hindus have the Gita, the Jains have the Agama, and the Parsis have the Avesta. Are they also close to Muslims?
No, Christians believe that the correct belief is that the death of Jesus atones for all of the sins of those who accept Him as Lord and Savior. The un-abridged messages of the Prophets, as told in the Bible, provide a clear outline of God's plan of salvation and how this plan has unfolded throughout history with the final act of love and redemption on the cross.
Jamal Badawi: The verse that I cited is clearly the rule and other verses must be interpreted in the context of this verse. Many people who are not informed about Islam is to pick some things out of context to give the opposite meaning. There is no restriction. One verse gives a misleading impression, let us read the entire verse. Sura 5:54:
The following verse says:
This verse deals with some of the hypocritical people. This was revealed when some of the hypocritical people who claimed to be Muslims but the non-Muslims may attain victory, so they kept the friendship with them so they win either way - the Muslims win or lose. The Qur'an condemns duplicity and hypocrisy. The verse says do not take Jews and Christians as protectors, not for your defense. When there are camps, it is erroneous to take this verse to apply to every individual person. This does not apply to a decent Jew or Christian, this is a misquotation.
I found Dr. Badawi's statement concerning those who quote passages out of context fairly amusing! Why did Muhammad "ethnically cleanse" Arabia of all Christians and Jews? Were all of them his enemies? In fact, Muhammad's last words are reported to have been:
Why were Muhammad's last words on this planet a curse on the Christians and Jews? If Muhammad were a man of God, why didn't he pray for the forgiveness and guidance of his enemies? Jesus forgave His enemies and so did Stephen, the first Christian Martyr.
Jamal Badawi: Sura 3:118-120:
These are people who have bad feeling towards Muslims and want to ruin them.
Sura 60:1:
Sura 58:22:
Host: Is there any room for reconciliation for these people?
Jamal Badawi: There is no question about that. Any ban on friendship is temporary. Sura 60:7:
Sura 41-31-34:
Goodness is to do something for someone who wrongs you.
In other words, this verse in Qur'an lays down the rules for non Muslims living in an Islamic state. They must pay the jiziya tax. These non Muslims are called zimmis and are permitted to exist in the Islamic state under the following 20 conditions, sometimes know as Umar's Pact:
2. They are not to repair any old places of worship which have been destroyed by Muslims.
3. They are not to prevent Muslim travelers from staying in their places of worship.
4. They must entertain for 3 days any Muslim who wishes to stay in their homes and longer if the Muslim falls ill.
5. They are not to harbor any hostility or any give aid and comfort to anyone hostile to Islam.
6. They are not to prevent anyone of them from being converted to Islam.
7. They must show respect to every Muslim.
8. They must allow Muslims to participate in their private meetings.
9. They must not to dress like Muslims.
10. They must not to use or give their children Muslim names.
11. They are not to ride on horses with saddle and bridle.
12. They are not to possess arms.
13. They are not to wear signet or seals on their fingers.
14. They are not to sell or drink liquor openly
15. They must wear a distinctive dress which shows their inferior status and separates them from Muslims.
16. They must not to propagate their custom and usages among the Muslims.
17. They may not to build their houses in the neighborhood of Muslims.
18. They are not to bring their dead near the graveyards of the Muslims.
19. They are not to observe their religious practices publicly or mourn their dead loudly.
20. They are not to buy Muslim slaves.
Christianity requires that we share our faith we others. If Christians are prohibited from sharing their faith, then they are not free to practice their faith. Dr Badawi, there is more to tolerance and freedom, than simply not being murdered!
Jamal Badawi: Sura 5:6:
A Muslim may marry a Christian, and what could be more close than the relationship of marriage?
I am not sure if this is what this passage has to do with Dr. Badawi's argument. However, if nothing is more close than the relationship of marriage, why is it unlawful for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man? To make matters even worse, a non-Muslim wife CANNOT be buried in the same cemetary as her Muslim husband. In fact, if a non-Muslim woman, who is married to a Muslim, dies when she is pregnant, the mother and her child (who is considered a Muslim) CANNOT be buried together (Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Fiqh 4.75a)! Double standards Dr. Badawi? After all, what could be more close than the relationship of a mother and her child?
Responses to Jamal Badawi's "Radio Al-Islam Channel RA 200"
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