Reply To
Inequitable Views About Islam
Payam Publication
Published in September of 2013
Number of Pages: 253
This book, composed of twenty articles in three chapters, is written by the author in response to various issues and translated into English mainly by Amir Douraghy and in part by Mohammad Fani. I find it appropriate to offer my sincere thanks to these dedicated individuals who undertook this cultural and religious assignment without expecting anything in return.
The first chapter titled Political and Social Topics contains nine articles. The first six articles of this chapter are written in response to the aerial attacks on the New York World Trade Centers resulting in more than 3000 deaths which produced an atmosphere of fear of terrorism and proliferated resentment by anti-Islamic and religious organizations. These articles are written with the objective of introducing true Islam, and to highlight the differences between the true doctrines of the Qur’an and practices of extremist groups.
The writings of this chapter are mainly in response to the honorable leaders of American churches. They include, Qur’an and Violence, in response to the open letter and violent attacks of Jim Garlow, religious leader of the large Skyline Church in San Diego, California, against Islam. Mohammad and America is another response to the aggressive propaganda by Max Lucado in one of the churches in San Antonio, Texas, where about one and a half month after the World Trade Center attacks he prepared and widely distributed a written article against Islam. Pat Robertson, one of the most famous conservative Christian leaders in America, in response to President Bush who had stated, “… terrorism is not the real face of Islamic faith …,” “… Islam is not all like this …,” “… Islam is a religion of peace …,” participated in a television interview with a CNN anchorman in November 2002, inciting and encouraging hatred against Islam among Christians. The article, Jihad at the Heart of Islam is a response to his comments. Pope Benedict XVI, the leader of Christian world, on the fifth anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Centers, in a speech at the University of Regensburg, Germany, accused Islam of violence and abstinence from rational and reasonable behavior, and propagated attacks against Islam which produced backlash from many Muslims. The letter dated September 27, 2006 by this author is the response to his comments and actions.
In response to the aforementioned leaders, statements or passages may have had to be repeated. The hope is that the reader will understand that these responses were written to different persons at difference times. The last article titled Christmas and Muslims is presented here due to the concentration of the articles regarding Islam and Christianity.
The second chapter of this book is composed of religious topics, and discusses Prayer and Fasting, two of the most revered religious edicts in Islam.
The third and final chapter of this book deals with the most debatable subject matters regarding human rights issues in Islamic societies, i.e., the rights of women. Nine issues are presented with regard to this subject.
The author makes no claim to the conclusiveness of the issues discussed in this book, and will appreciate and encourage comments and corrections from the reader.
The author gives thanks and praise to Allah to have provided this opportunity, and to the dear friends for their assistance and support in translating, typesetting, and publishing this book.
Table of Contents:
Introduction …………………………………………………...v
Translator’s Note …………………………………………....vii
Chapter One: Articles about Politics and Social Topics
1 – Answer to Pope Benedict Speech about Islam …………...3
2 – The Quran and Violence ……………………………..….17
3 – Mohammad and America ……………………………..…48
4 – Response to Jihad at the Heart of Islam ………………....65
5 – Christmas and Muslims ……………………………….…76
6 – An Islamic Perspective of September 11th ……………....80
7 – Authority and Legitimacy of a Political System …….…..86
8 – The Two Sides of the Same Coin ………..………..….….93
9 – Biased Judgment ………..………..………..………...…..97
Chapter Two: Articles about Religious Topics
1 – Secrets and Mysteries of Ramathan ………..………….105
2 – Meaning and Significance of Prayers in the Quran ……133
Chapter Three: Rights of Women in Islam
1 – Why is Woman’s Inheritance Half that of Man? ………199
2 – Are Men more Superior to Women in the Eyes of God? 202
3 – Was Woman Created from the Left Rib of Man? …...…206
4 – Is Woman a Man’s Plantation? ………..……………….209
5 – Is the Woman’s Testimony Worth Half that of Man? ....212
6 – Does a Man Have the Right to Beat His Wife? ………..217
7 – Wearing of the Veil ………..………..………..………..232
8 – Marriage with a Nine Year Old Girl ………..………….241
9 – Is Polygamy Allowed in Islam? ………..………......….245
