West

Response to the call for ammending the Qur’an in Holland

The following is a translation from Arabic of a reply to those in Holland who have called for changing the Qur’an.

The newspaper ‘Democratic Awakening’, the mouth piece of the People’s party for freedom and democracy, the VVD, has published an article titled: “The face of God in Qur’an and the Bible: The differences and Consequences”, written by a certain Frankfrie. The writer claims that the picture portrayed by the Qur’an is primitive and has no clarity and is intolerant. He further argues that the Qur’anic portrayal of God encourages hatred and violence especially against those who carry a different point of view. The writer then concludes that the circulation of Qur’an in its current form is criminal and all its texts that instill hatred and violence should be discarded.

This article has found a champion in the form of Ms. Heleen Dupuis, who is a senator and president of the freedom wing of the party who defended and justified the article. She claims that the issue of subjecting the Qur’an to Western norms and values is supported by the Muslims as a whole. She even claims that this notion enjoys the whole hearted support of Muslims scholars!

The supporters of this issue maintain that this will open the doors for a dialogue with the Muslims. They further claim that this will encourage Muslims to participate in an open debate on ‘true’ Islam.

The fact of the matter is that this expedient pretext is regrettable and false. Muslims in general, and especially the Shabab of Hizb ut-Tahrir, have consistently expressed their intention to engage with western thinkers and individuals in an intellectual debate to demonstrate Islam as a viable alternative to the people. But of course the critics of Islam and the Qur’an are afraid of entering into such an intellectual dialogue. This is because they realise that such a serious intellectual debate will clearly expose their falsehood and establish the truth- and this is what they are scared of.

The call to debate the Qur’an is a disingenuous claim because the essence of a dialogue on Islam between Muslims and non-Muslims requires that the Muslims argue for Islam while the non-Muslims argue against it; whereas they are calling for a debate with a pre-condition on us that Islam needs to be modified first and then they will agree for a dialogue. How can we then have a dialogue and what purpose will such a restrictive dialogue serve? If a Muslim becomes a non-Muslim, renounces his values and convictions then where is the need for a dialogue at all?

We therefore are not convinced that they seek a serious and earnest intellectual debate by mounting this puerile and evil attack on Qur’an. We consider their opinion on the Qur’an as an indication of the erosion of the Liberal Party’s mass base. And why not? They are themselves a witness to the tremendous awakening about Islam! They are amazed at seeing Islam entering into hearts the world over, and people from the East as well as the West entering Islam in flocks!

The writer cites the ayah of the Qur’an which he claims incites hatred and begets intolerance, which indicates their own depravity; this ayah is the word of Allah (swt):

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَاراً كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُمْ بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ جُلُوداً غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزاً حَكِيماً (56)} (سورة النساء).

“Surely! Those who disbelieved in Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment. Truly, Allah is Ever Most Powerful, All-Wise. [TMQ 4: 56]

This ayah deals with the fate of the disbelievers after their death; this is similar in other religions including Christianity which the writer considers much more tolerant than Islam. This ayah extorts man to ponder over his reality and destiny. Contrarary to what the writer claims, this ayah does not incite hatred at all.

Because Islam is a universal religion, it incorporates all the systems to solve mankind’s problems. It recognizes the possibility of non-Muslims living among the Muslims, and incorporates relevant ways to deal with such a situation. Islam does not deny such an eventuality, but recognises its reality. The Prophet (saaw) said:

"من كان على يهوديته أو نصرانيته فإنه لا يفتن عنها" وقال: "ألا من ظلم معاهدا أو انتقصه أو كلفه فوق طاقته أو أخذ منه شيئا بغير طيب نفس فأنا حجيجه يوم القيامة".

“Whosoever wishes to remain a Jew or a Christian is not to be forced.” and said: “Beware anyone who does an injustice to a covenant [non-muslim citizen of the Khilafah] or infringes on his rights or encumbers him beyond his capacity or takes from him unfairly, I shall be his arguer on the day of Judgement.”

Therefore, where is the justice and fairness that the West boasts of as ‘enlightenment’, which calls upon the Muslims to tear off and amend their Qur’an; and induces Muslims to renounce their religion in the name of integration into the ‘mainstream’ of the West?

The reply to this devilish allegation ends with the challenging words of Allah (swt):

{أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِثْلِهِ مُفْتَرَيَاتٍ وَادْعُوا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (13) فَإِلَّمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكُمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أُنزِلَ بِعِلْمِ اللَّهِ وَأَن لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ (14) (سورة هود)}.

“Or they say, “He (Prophet Muhammad saaw) forged it (the Qur’an).” Say: “Bring you then ten forged Surahs (chapters) like unto it, call whomsoever you can, other than Allah (to your help), if you speak the truth!”. If then they answer you not, know then it [the Revelation (this Qur’an) is sent down with the Knowledge of Allah and that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! Will you then be Muslims? [TMQ 11:13, 14]

Abu Zain – Okai Bala

Representative Member of Hizb ut-Tahrir – Holland
14th Rabi’ ul Awal, 1428 A.H
7th April, 2007 C.E