9/24/06, Opinion-Editorial, printed in The Oshkosh Northwestern (Wisconsin)

“Commentary: Quran: Muslims invite others to Islam through rational dialogue, not force”
By Saad Ahmad

Pope Benedict XVI in his recent lecture reflected upon the importance of reason in understanding the faith. His point being that domain of rationality and reason extends beyond the limits of empirical evidence. He also mentioned Islam as being fundamentally opposed to rational thought and that its spread was through force. In this short essay I would provide an Islamic perspective. A full version of this essay may be read at http://saadahmad.blogspot.com.

Islam and rationality

The Quran fully acknowledges the role of rationality in attainment of the truth. There are about 750 verses in the Quran that exhort the believers to study nature, to reflect and make best use of reason and to make scientific enterprise an integral part of a community's life.

Islam's invitation to mankind is primarily on rational grounds and not through force. Verse 2:257 quoted by the pope actually relies on Islam's rationality for its appeal and not on force; and to his point of "later verses somehow changing the message," the Quran emphatically rejects such notions and declares that no verse of Quran abrogates another verse and there are no inconsistencies (4:83).

It is the duty of every Muslim to invite others to Islam -- but through the best of manners (16:126). The Quran invites other religions and philosophies to a dialog and to bring forth their proof: (e.g. 2:112, 4:175, 21:25, 27:65, 28:76).

Those who do not study Islam are astonished by its rapid progress. People were drawn towards it because of its rationality and reasonable basis -- not because of any fear. This is a real miracle that has been recorded by history unlike the phantom miracles that other religions put forth.

Islamic concept of God

In order to give credence to his faulty premise, the pope attributed this to the Islamic concept of God. Islam's view of God is much different than Christianity. It is more evolved and not bound by trivial ideas like "one is three and three is one." Islam is a strictly monotheistic religion where there is only one God who is unique.

Islam does not put forth an idea that the only way to know God is by believing in some mortal as a part of the godhead; or that god was dead for three days; or that god is so powerless that he had to kill his only begotten son to forgive the sins of mankind. Islam totally rejects a god that would kill an innocent in order to absolve others of their crimes and sins.

The God of Islam is not limited by human imagination, but the ability to recognize Him has been imprinted on the human psyche. He can be recognized through His attributes, but at that same time His attributes do not have a limit. Some of His attributes can be metaphorically compared to human attributes, and some of His attributes can be seen in His creation in a limited capacity. So the being of God is hidden to those who are not willing to find Him, but those who strive would find God everywhere.

Conclusion

It is Christianity and especially the Church that has traditionally opposed rationality and reason. The various episodes of Galileo and Newton are well known. The "rational" tradition of "witch hunts" is an integral part of the Catholic history. Trinity, original sin, resurrection, and rapture all have been challenged by the secular scholars on rational grounds. Today's catholic beliefs are more like the pagan beliefs of that era and far removed from the true and pure teachings of Jesus Christ.

Islam, on the other hand, is well-founded in human psyche. It is a strictly monotheistic religion with evolved concepts of God, revelation, afterlife, and prophethood. Islam's strength is its reasonableness, and it does not need force for its progress.

I hope that the pope takes time to understand Islam and actually read the Quran before quoting it. Today the Islamic and Christian civilizations are facing each other in the most unfriendly confrontation ever witnessed in the history. Inter-faith dialogues evolve through mutual understanding and not by maligning the other religion -- even if it is done in the guise of "I quote I quote."

Saad Ahmad is an Oshkosh resident, e-mail saad.ahmad@gmail.com