Skip to main content

Response to call for ammending the Qur'an in Holland

The following is a translation from Arabic.

The newspaper ‘Democratic Awakening’, the mouth piece of the People’s party for freedom and democracy, the VVD, has published an article titled: “The face of God in Qur’an and the Bible: The differences and Consequences”, written by a certain Frankfrie. The writer claims that the picture portrayed by Qur’an is primitive and has no clarity and is intolerant. He further argues that the Qur’anic portrayal of God encourages hatred and violence especially against those who carry a different point of view. The writer then concludes that the circulation of Qur’an in its current form is criminal and all its texts that instill hatred and violence should be discarded.

This article has found a champion in the form of Ms. Heleen Dupuis, who is a senator and president of the freedom wing of the party who defended and justified the article. She claims that the issue of subjecting the Qur’an to the Western norms of values is supported by the Muslims as a whole. Further she claims that this notion enjoys the whole –hearted support of those who are even backed by the Muslims scholars!

The supporters of this issue maintain that this will only open the doors for a dialogue with the Muslims. They further claim that this will encourage the Muslims to participate in an open debate on true Islam.

The truth is that this expedient pretext is regrettable and false, because the Muslims in general and especially the Shabab of Hizb ut-Tahrir have consistently expressed their intention to engage them in an open intellectual debate to demonstrate Islam as a viable alternative to the people. But off course the heretics are afraid of entering into such an intellectual dialogue. This is because they realise that such a serious intellectual debate will expose their falsehood and establish the truth- and this is what they are scared of!

The truth is that this expedient pretext is regrettable and false, because the essence of a dialogue on Islam between Muslims and non-Muslims requires that the Muslims argue for Islam while the non-Muslims argue against it; whereas they are calling for a debate with a pre-condition on us that Islam needs to be modified first and then they will agree for a dialogue. How can we then have a dialogue and what purpose will such a restrictive dialogue serve? If a Muslim becomes a non-Muslim, renounces his values and convictions then where is the need for a dialogue at all?

We therefore are not convinced that they seek a serious and earnestly intellectual debate by mounting this puerile and evil attack on Qur’an. We consider their expressed opinion on Qur’an as the erosion of the Liberal Party’s mass base. And why not? They are themselves a witness to the tremendous awakening about Islam! They are amazed at seeing Islam entering into hearts the world over, and people from the East as well as the West entering Islam in flocks!

The statement of the Media Representative continues:
The writer cites the ayah of the Qur’an which he claims incites hatred and begets intolerance, which indicates their intellectual depravity; this ayah is this word of Allah (swt):

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَاراً كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُمْ بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ جُلُوداً غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزاً حَكِيماً (56)} (سورة النساء).

“Surely! Those who disbelieved in Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment. Truly, Allah is Ever Most Powerful, All-Wise. [TMQ 4: 56]

This ayah deals with the fate of the disbelievers after their death; this is similar in other religions including Christianity which the writer considers much more tolerant than Islam. This ayah extorts man to ponder over his reality and destiny. Contrarary to what the writer claims, this ayah does not incite hatred at all.

Because Islam is a universal religion, it incorporates all the systems to solve mankind’s problems. It recognizes the possibility of non-Muslims living among the Muslims, and incorporates relevant ways to deal with such a situation. Islam does not deny such an eventuality, but recognises its reality. The Prophet (saaw) said:

"من كان على يهوديته أو نصرانيته فإنه لا يفتن عنها" وقال: "ألا من ظلم معاهدا أو انتقصه أو كلفه فوق طاقته أو أخذ منه شيئا بغير طيب نفس فأنا حجيجه يوم القيامة".

“Whosoever wishes to remain a Jew or a Christian is not to be forced.” and said: “Beware anyone who does an injustice to a covenant or infringes on his rights or encumbers him beyond his capacity or takes from him unfairly, I shall be his arguer on the day of Judgement.”

Therefore, where is the justice and fairness that the West boasts of as ‘enlightenment’, which calls upon the Muslims to tear off and amend their Qur’an; and induces Muslims to renounce their religion in the name of integration into the ‘mainstream’ West?

The Media Representative’s statement concludes by reminding them to the challenging words of Allah (swt):

{أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِثْلِهِ مُفْتَرَيَاتٍ وَادْعُوا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (13) فَإِلَّمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكُمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أُنزِلَ بِعِلْمِ اللَّهِ وَأَن لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ (14) (سورة هود)}.

“Or they say, “He (Prophet Muhammad saaw) forged it (the Qur’an).” Say: “Bring you then ten forged Surahs (chapters) like unto it, call whomsoever you can, other than Allah (to your help), if you speak the truth!”. If then they answer you not, know then it [the Revelation (this Qur’an) is sent down with the Knowledge of Allah and that La ilaha illa Huwa) none has the right to be worshipped but He)! Will you then be Muslims? [TMQ 11:13, 14]

Abu Zain – Okai Bala

Representative Member of Hizb ut-Tahrir - Holland
14th Rabi’ ul Awal, 1428 A.H
7th April, 2007 C.E

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

An advice to Muslims working in the financial sector

Assalam wa alaikum wa rahmatullah wabarakatahu, Dear Brothers & Sisters, We are saddened to see Muslims today even those who practise many of the rules of Islam are working in jobs which involve haram in the financial sector. They are working in positions which involve usurious (Riba) transactions, insurance, the stock market and the like. Even though many of the clear evidences regarding the severity of the sin of Riba are known, some have justified their job to themselves thinking that they are safe as long as they are not engaged in the actual action of taking or giving Riba. Brothers & Sisters, You should know that the majority of jobs in the financial sector, even the IT jobs in this area are haram (prohibited) as they involve the processing of prohibited contracts. If you work in this sector, do not justify your job to yourself because of the fear of losing your position or having to change your career, fear Allah as he should be feared and consider ...

Authenticity of ahadith on tall buildings in Makkah?

Question Are these   ḥadith  sound? Are the references provided correct and accurate? When you see the belly of Makkah will be cleft open and through it will be dug out river-like passages (i.e. tunnels) (or water in the road to Makkah), and you see the buildings surpass its mountains, then take care (or beware, or a variant has: then know that the matter is at hand, or then understand that the time of trial (Judgment day) is near at hand). [Narrated by Al-Azraqi in the Book of reports about Makkah – Kitab Akhbaar Makkah, Hadiyth-1725; A specific Hadiyth (in fact several related-Hadiyths) which prophesizes about this Tower. Itha ra’aitun mecca bu’ijat katha’ima, wa ya-tasawa bunyanuha ru’usa jibaliha, faqad athalati as-Sa’atu. When you see Mecca, its mountain with holes (pierced through them), and its buildings reach its mountain tops, then as-Sa’ah (the Hour) has already cast its shadow. [Suyuti] So when you see in Makkah that channels have already been dug (or tunnels b...

The Shariah rules relating to mixing between the sexes

In Islam, the basic principle of the interaction between men and women is segregation. This means that in all areas of life and in all places whether private or public, contact between men and women is generally prohibited. Many evidences establish the principle of not mixing between the sexes, and there are many ahadith which clarify that this is the case in both public and private areas: Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "The best rows for the men are the first rows and the worst rows for them are the last rows. The best rows for the women are the last rows and the worst for them are the front rows." The last rows are the best for the women because they are farther away from the men as against the first rows that are nearest to men's rows. [This is related by the group except al-Bukhari]  In Abu Dawud, p.284, Hadith No. 4931, it is narrated upon the authority of Aisha (ra) that she said: "I used to play with my friends and whenever the P...