Pope Benedict XVI’s Remarks on Islam And THE TRUTH

Pope Benedict XVI’s Remarks on Islam And THE TRUTH A More On Islam Briefcast An objective analysis of the Pope’s comments in the light of historical evidence • The Quote • What did Muhammad Really Preach? • Messenger of Love and Mercy • Pope John Paul II Interfaith Comment • Islam and the Sword: Non-Muslim intellectuals bust the myth • The Great Mosque of Xian, China • The Real Reason Inside ALSO: “Muhammad was a pioneer in the domain of conservation, sustainable development, and resource management” Slide 13

What did the Pope say? The Pope quoted from a book that recounted a conversation between 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and an educated Persian on the truths of Christianity and Islam. “He (Emperor) said, I (Pope) quote, 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,’ ” The said remarks are >>>

The Emperor’s remarks are… X • Incorrect • Ignorant • Without evidence • Language of the Crusades • Filled with hatred Not worth quoting in a speech by the leader of the Catholic Church Emperor Manuel Paleologos is wrong. Why? >>>

“Evil” Defined As per Evil: morally bad or wrong; wicked; sinful That is, Drug addiction Racism Gambling Rape Alcoholism Homosexuality Backbite Adultery Dishonesty Pornography Terror Murder Fraud Are examples of Evil

Definition of “inhuman” As per Inhuman: Not human; lacking kindness or pity; barbarous; brutal Inhuman as in… • Inhuman treatment of slaves • Cruelty to animals • Torture of prisoners • Rejection of the poor • Cruel treatment of women • Tyranny and Oppression • Heartless attitude towards elders • Malnutrition children • Performing abortions • Injustice • Discrimination • Denying human rights Etc.

Preaching & Practice did the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) bring “evil and inhuman”? A cursory glimpse of Muhammad’s teachingsand practice is sufficient to make it loud and clear that the Prophet perfected virtues and raised kindness and compassion to their zenith. Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him." - Diwan Chand Sharma in his "The Prophets of the East," Calcutta 1935, p. 122. observation

Against Intoxicants and Gambling Quran on Intoxicants and gambling “They ask you concerning intoxicants and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit.” – (2:219) “O you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (sacrifice for) idols, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: avoid these so that you may be successful.”- (5:90) Prophet on Intoxicants “Any drink that intoxicates is unlawful”- Muhammad (pbuh)

Against Murder and Mischief on earth Quran on Murder Prophet on Murder "Do not kill a soul which Allah has made sacred except through the due process of law." (6:151) "The greatest sins are to associate something with Allah and to kill human beings." – Muhammad (pbuh) Quran on Mischief “ But Allah loves not mischief.(2:205) “So eat and drink of the sustenance provided by Allah, and do no evil nor mischief on the (face of the) earth.” ( 2:60)

Against adultery, fornication, and homosexuality Quran on Adultery Quran on Homosexuality “Nor come near to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil way” (17:32) “We also (sent) Lot: He said to his people: "Do you commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you?” (7:80) “…Marry them, then, with their people's leave, and give them their dowers in an equitable manner - they being women who give themselves in honest wedlock, not in fornication, nor as secret love-companions…” (4:25) “( O Men) Verily, with lust you approach men instead of women: nay, but you are people given to excesses!” (7:81)

Against consumption of orphan property Quran on Protecting Orphans “Hence, render unto the orphans their possessions, and do not substitute bad things [of your own] for the good things [that belong to them], and do not consume their possessions together with your own: this, verily, is a great crime.”(4:2) “Behold! Those who devour the possessions of orphans wrongfully, they do but swallow fire into their bellies, and they will be exposed to burning flame” (4:10)

Against immorality Quran Says: • Derision • Suspicion • Falsehood • Backbiting • Defamation • Slander • Squandering • Wickedness • Hatred • Envy "O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter are better than the (former)” (49:11) X "Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames (49:11) "Do not let your hatred of a people incite you to aggression" (5:3) "Avoid suspicion as much for suspicion in some cases is a sin” (49:12) " And spy not on each other behind their backs.(49:12)

Against racism “A white has no superiority over a black, nor a black has any superiority over a white- except by piety and good action”- Muhammad (pbuh) “During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass, and slept in the same bed, (or on the same rug) -- while praying to the same God -- with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white. We were truly all the same (brothers) -- because their belief in one God had removed the 'white' from their minds, the 'white' from their behavior, and the 'white' from their attitude.” – MALCOLM X Blacks & Whites eating from the same plate An Excerpt "This letter was sent from Malcolm to his assistants, new Muslim Mosque, press and his wife, during the conclusion of his pilgrimage to Mecca. The content is reproduced from The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley“ (From http://www.africawithin.com/malcolmx/letter_from_mecca.htm) Brotherhood

Messenger of Love All Living Beings “All creatures of God form the family of God and he is the best loved of God who loves best His creatures” Teachings of the Prophet (pbuh) Animals Environment “Feed them properly and provide them rest before they are exhausted and tired” “Whoever brings dead land to life, that is, cultivates wasteland, for him is a reward therein.” “he was a staunch advocate of environmental protection. One could say he was an "environmentalist before his time," a pioneer in the domain of conservation, sustainable development, and resource management, and one who constantly sought to maintain a harmonious balance between man and nature”. observation Francesca De Chatel, Anthropologist

Messenger of Mercy “And We have not sent you except as a mercy to mankind" ( Holy Quran 21:107) • He must be called the Savior of Humanity- George Bernard Shaw • The fact is that no nation of the world can show a parallel to what Islam has done towards the realization of the idea of the League of Nations- Snouck Hurgronje, Dutch Scholar. • No other society has such a record of success in uniting in an equality of status, of opportunity and of endeavor so many and so various races of mankind- H.A.R Gibb • “It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; …the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and the king kneel side by side and proclaim: “God Alone is Great”.- Sarojini Naidu observations

Greatest emancipator of women “It is true that you have certain rights in regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives, only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat you women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers.” ( From The Last Sermon of the Prophet (PBUH) “ O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the dower you have given them,-except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary, live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.”(Quran 4:19)

Human Rights in Islam Fundamental Human Rights Right to Safety & Security Right to Chastity Right to Life Right to Justice Right to support virtues and shun evils Right to Equality Right to a basic standard of Life Right to Freedom These rights were introduced 1400 years ago

Quote of Note The Pope should have referred to the Bible!. "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." - Bible- Deuteronomy 18:18 This is an explicit prophecy in the Bible about the coming of the Holy Prophet MUHAMMAD (pbuh)!" ( For details please refer to http://www.irf.net/what_the_bible_says_about_muhammad.doc. ) >>>

Evidence from the Bible John Paul II "It is my ardent hope that Muslim and Christian religious leaders and teachers will present our two great religious communities as communities in respectful dialogue, never more as communities in conflict." In Deuteronomy 18:18 “him” is Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) “I shall command him” means God shall command the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) God cannot command “evil and inhuman” as stated by the emperor Manuel Paleologos Should the Pope quote someone who speaks false about God?

Spread of Islam Wikipedia The Great Mosque of Xian, China was built during the Tang Dynasty (7th Century) and renovated later. The mosque is still in use. Was Islam spread by the sword? NO Quran does not permit it“There is no compulsion in religion; indeed truth has been made manifestly distinct from error” (Quran 2:256) No Muslim army went to China during the 7th century Tang dynasty! It was the invitation to truth, reason, mercy and peace that attracted people to Islam. It was the virtuous character of Muslim envoys, Muslim traders and Muslim visitors that pulled people to Islam. If indeed force was used to convert people, why do millions of converts remain attached and committed to Islam in the absence of any force?

Views of Non-Muslims Intellectuals “I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to this friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle.”Young India M.K Gandhi observations “The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other is quite false.” Islam, 1931 A.S Tritton

Myth Busted “History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims, sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated." DE LACY O'LEARY, ISLAM AT CROSSROADS, London, 1923 • "No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam .... The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts that idea, and the Qur'an is explicit in support of the freedom of conscience." • JAMES A. MICHENER, THE MISUNDERSTOOD RELIGION, READERS DIGEST (AmericanEdition) May 1955.

The Power of Truth %age increase of religions between 1934 and 1984 “ Which war took place in this century which converted millions of people to Islam?”- Dr. Zakir Naik Source: Reader’s Digest Almanac Year Book 1986 “Incidentally these well-established facts dispose of the idea so widely fostered in Christian writings that the Muslims, wherever they went, forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword false.” The Prospects for Islam, 1944 observation Lawrence E Browne

The Real Reason Moral System God says: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”- Quran (5:3) Social System One God Human Rights Political System Divine Guidance Prophethood Of Muhammad (pbuh) Worship System Economic System Accountability In the Hereafter Justice System Islam spread due to its inherent truth and the solutions it offers for success Trade & Commerce System

Learn more… The information provided in this presentation makes it amply clear that Islam is an invitation to virtues, humanity, peace and success. This truth, not the sword, is responsible for the growth of Islam in all ages. For further information, suggestions and comments contact moreonislam@hotmail.com Recommended Readings • The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation & Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali • Quran Online • Charter of Human Rights • Human Rights in Islam • Muhammad (Critical Lives)- by Yahiya Emerick • Towards Understanding Islam- By A.A.Maududi • Animal Rights: An Islamic Perspective by V.A. Mohamad Ashrof • Muhammad : A pioneer of environmentalism by Francesca De Chatel

Pope Benedict XVI’s Remarks on Islam And THE TRUTH