Faith and Bias

By: Maged Taman

If someone would tell me I want to convert Muslims to Christianity I would have some anger under my skin though I may try to hide it. We cherish our faith much since it means a lot to us. It is commonly our parents' faith, our memories and our identity. That is why God asks us to call people to Islam with wisdom and fair exhortation.

16:125 Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way. Lo! thy Lord is best aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright.
ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ (16:125)

Even the idol worshipers at the time of the prophet Muhammad were strongly attached to their faith which had no book, sound bases or make any sense. A lot of Gods that they made by their hands, they created them and not the reverse. In fact they would make their Gods from dates and when they get hungry they would eat their Gods. God in Quran used a reason after reason to guide them to his true religion.

Christians have a great religion which have great teachings. We have to give them the credit that it contributed much to their freedom, free markets, care of poor..... Muslims are inherently pro-Christians.

The anti-Christian attitude in the Muslim world is built on a conspiracy theory that "Christians are oppressing Muslims". The reality is the rich and powerful controlling the world wants to keep the status quo that benefit them. Many of them are Muslims.

Geopolitically there is no war between Islam or Christianity but Jihad (political struggle that is waged by moderate Muslims, Christians And Jews to change the world for the better).

If we are in the end of time and Jesus is coming back in our life time we ought to get better world to welcome his return. Christians and Muslims both have the right to convert the other side, admitting in the same time the difficulties.

Both would be wise to continue cherish their commonality. For Muslims the equation is simple: inequalities + oppression = hell. That is why governments, like them or not, are as important as our faith. They can affect our daily life, health, hearts, minds and spirits. Nothing is like a good and just government that makes its people the masters and not the servants. It makes their well-being its goal and not that of politicians.

Faith has unfortunately, significant bias. Muhammad (PUBH) was tireless in calling people to Islam and suffered for them a lot. That is why Muslims loves him, it did come to us on a silver plate. As Jesus mentioned that no one can come from God except through him, Muhammad came through him. He came to confirm Jesus message and Islam is its extension.

If Quran is from God we Muslims are Jesus followers. Muslims and Christians should continue have the religious dialogue with the understanding that a lot of Muslims were at certain times Christians like many Jews became Christians after Jesus. It is not about whose faith is right but what is God word, will and commandments are.

3:20 So if they dispute with thee, say: "I have submitted My whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." And say to the people of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?" If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, Thy duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants

فَإنْ حَآجُّوكَ فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلّهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ وَالأُمِّيِّينَ أَأَسْلَمْتُمْ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُواْ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَواْ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلاَغُ وَاللّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ (3:20)