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Daily Democrat - May 14, 2017
CLERGY CORNER:
‘Thou shalt not bear false witness’
By Khalid Saeed, Islamic Center Woodland
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
A general rule as to how God expects a Muslim to live is in Quran26:183,“... and do not deprive people of what is rightfully theirs; and do not act wickedly on earth by spreading corruption/mischief.”
It was absolutely shocking for me that upon returning from a recent trip from Canada, at the airport immigration a question was being asked if one was a practicing Muslim. It implies that practicing Muslim means something bad. This extraordinary situation against our peace loving peaceful 7 million American Muslim community just did not happen in a vacuum, but it is a result of manufactured bigotry, a very well organized and well financed effort of bearing false witness against thy Muslim neighbors.
A think tank ‘The Center for American Progress’ after a serious research published a study titled “FEAR INC: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America” in which they identified a well financed and very committed anti-Muslim hate creating industry. The study lists the names of individuals who have been spending millions of dollars through some well organized foundations spreading anti-Islam and anti-Muslim bigotry.
As a follow up of the above initial report, the same think tank published a 2nd report titled ‘Fear Inc. 2.00’ in which they provide a well researched deeper analysis of the hate networks push into the religious right and their ability to push it into the mainstream politics.
Another critical area the Fear Inc.2 identifies is how the hate network has been able to impact state and national law enforcement, FBI and counter terrorism training programs. The authors of the Fear Inc.2 state that in order to drive a wedge between the law enforcement and the Muslim communities this well financed influential hate network is teaching police officers that all Muslims are suspicious and the faith of 1.7 billion, Islam, is inherently evil.
Where actually, Islam means peace, the holy book of Islam teaches peace, love and Justice for all regardless of their race, color, gender or social status. I am not a scholar of religion, I am only an ordinary Muslim, but upon an intelligent dialogue on Islam with anyone, even I can prove beyond any reasonable doubt the fact that Islam teaches only peace.
The Christianity and Islam are two different religions obviously because there are some very important and basic theological differences. But on the other hand, if we look deep about their moral teachings, they do teach some of the same basic values. Here are some examples:
Bible Teaches:- Thou shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:3 = Deuteronomy 5:7).)
Quran Teaches same:- Know therefore that there is no god but God. (47:19) do not associate another deity with God. (17:22)
Bible Teaches:- Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image. (an abbreviated form of one of the Ten Commandments)
Quran Teaches same:- No visions can encompass Him, but He encompasses all visions. (6:103)
Bible Teaches:- Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. (One of the 10 commandments)
Quran Teaches same: - Glorify the name of your Lord morning and evening. (76:25) Do not use God’s name in your oaths as an excuse to prevent you from dealing justly. (2:224)
Bible Teaches:-Honor thy father and thy mother. (One of the 10 commandments)
Quran Teaches same: - You shall be kind to your parents. ... You shall lower to them the wing of humility and pray: “O Lord! Bestow on them your blessings just as they cherished me when I was a little child.” (17:23-24)
Bible Teaches:- Thou shall not kill. (One of the 10 commandments)
Quran Teaches same:- And do not take any human being’s life – (the life) that God has willed to be sacred - other than in (the pursuit of) justice. (17:33)
Bible Teaches:-Thou shall not commit adultery. (One of the 10 commandments)
Quran Teaches same:- You shall not commit adultery. Surely it is a shameful deed and an evil way (opening the door to other evils). (17:32)
Bible Teaches:- Thou shall not bear false witness. (One of the 10 commandments)
Quran Teaches same: - And (know that the true servants of God are) those who do not bear witness to falsehood. (25:72)
Bible Teaches:-Thou shall not covet...... (Exodus 20:17)
Quran teaches same: - Do not covet the bounties that God has bestowed more abundantly on some of you than on others. (4:32)
Prophet Muhammad was born and raised in city of Mecca, a tribal society, totally is disarray. There were no banks, no bank vaults so people used to leave most precious valuables for safe keeping with Muhammad because in Mecca he was known as Al-Sadiq (the truthful) and Al-Amin (the trustworthy). Often Muhammad spent nights in a cave in Mount Hira near Mecca, meditating and pondering on the life and the social ills of the city. At age 40 at Hira Angel Gabriel appeared and told Muhammad that God has appointed him as a prophet.
Now as many other prophets before him like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses Jesus and many more Muhammad was duty bound to spread the message of GOD to his humanity and Muhammad started doing just that.
Seeing Muhammad succeed leader of Mecca felt threatened and started socially boycotting and persecuting him and other Muslims of Mecca. When the city authorities learned that the Muslims had begun an exodus as a result of their action, they plotted to have the prophet killed. So Muhammad and all Muslims migrated about 200 miles away to the city of Medina.
The Meccan’s still did not leave them in peace and every year started sending an army to Medina to kills Muhammad and all new Muslims. These migrated Muslims’ homes, belongings, properties were all still in Mecca. They were not even allowed to peacefully perform Hajj at Kabah in Mecca.
The city of Medina welcomed Muhammad and Muslim population started growing fast. Here Muhammad established a theocratic state, drafted a constitution on the basis of a multi-religious Islamic state.
The constitution ended the bitter inter-tribal fighting between the rival clans and established peace and cooperation among all Medinian groups. After several years, Muhammad and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies. The reason for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was perhaps the simplicity of its doctrine.
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/lifestyle/20170514/clergy-corner-thou-shalt-not-bear-false-witness
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