People who have not accepted Islam do not look at it favorably, either because they do not know the truth or because they are made to believe that Islam is an array of do's and don'ts. They compare the author of the Qur'an - God - to dictators like Hitler, Napoleon, and the like. They base their beliefs on Qur'anic verses like the one mentioned below.

Allah says, 'And fear Allah, and know that Allah Is strict in punishment .' [baqarah 2: 196]. The phrase 'Allah is strict' occurs merely 13 times in the entire qur'an of more than 6000 verses. But surprisingly- The phrase 'Allah is oft-forgiving' occurs about 59 times!

What do dictators do?

Dictators lay down strict rules to follow. Nobody is allowed to transgress them. There is no freedom of speech or free-will under a dictator. The dictators torture and commit atrocities. They instill the constant fear of death in the people, which is an extreme type of fear.  When such fear exists, people can think of nothing else but plain survival. Relationships begin to hold less or no meaning at all. What does God, Most Gracious Most Merciful, do? When a person gives Islam a fair chance, he realizes that there are certain things he must not do to please God. If analyzed, the forbidden things, are always for the benefit of mankind as a whole. The injunction to stay away from certain things or to practice certain things do not go against the basic working of man. Most importantly, abstinence does not hinder the survival pattern, unlike under the dictatorial rule. Staying away from alcohol, pork and certain kinds of clothing are not the type of fears that Hitler or Napoleon inflicted. In fact, they're not fears in the true sense, and will not make a person enjoy life any lesser. In fact a person will enjoy life more, as there won't be any alcoholic in his loved ones that he'd have to deal with. There won't be the constant fear of his female loved ones being molested.

Allah in His Divine knowledge bestowed man with rules and regulations to follow, and in following them alone can he find true joy of living. More research shows that in comparison, God allowed more things than He has forbidden. There are further things on which God did not comment. Man is free to make the most of them. Free-will Man is not perfect. God makes provisions for sins. God loves it that after sinning, His creation should quickly turns to Him in repentance. Why lay down rules? God laid down rules for His creation because, besides the Creator, who would know what's good and what's not good for His creation. God wants that man should live happily. Not only that, God wants that men should live in harmony with each other. In other words, Islam serves not only the individual but the society as a whole.

He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful. [baqarah 2: 173]

But if the thief repents after his crime, and amends his conduct, Allah turneth to him in forgiveness; for Allah is Oft-forgiving , Most Merciful. [maidah 5: 42]

Why turn they not to Allah, and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-forgiving , Most Merciful. [maidah 5: 77]

Peace, rukaiah

Rukaiah (Posted to YahooGroups on Dec 29, 2000)

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