Islamic Invitation Centre
Misconceptions
Q: Is Allah the moon God worshipped by pagan arabs?
A: No. Allah is the personal name of God. The lies spread by christian missionaries that Allah is the moon god is false. There is NOT a single piece of evidence to connect Allâh with the Moon-god, yet, Dr. Robert Morey tries to deceptively confuse the name Allah, with the title al-ilah.
The Qur'an, with one single verse, destroys such lies:
"And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if you (really) worship Him." (Qur'an 41:37)
Even the small Arabic-speaking Jewish communities of Morocco and other North-African Muslim countries use the name Allah for God and every translation of the Bible into Arabic employs this name alone. If anyone was to teach a group of Arab Christians that Allah was a "false god" they would think he was blaspheming, or if this same group was taught that "Allah does not actually exist" (another recent Christian approach), they would think he was an atheist.
It is unfortunate that we have to go into details on such issues, but so many falsehoods have been heaped upon Islam, that we feel that it is our duty to try to break down the barriers of falsehood. This isn't always easy, since there is a lot of anti-Islamic literature in existence, which tries to make Islam look like something strange and foreign to Westerners. There are some people out there, who are obviously not on the side of truth, that want to get people to believe that "Allah" is just some Arabian "God", and that Islam is completely "other" - meaning that it has no common roots with the other Abrahamic religions (i.e. Christianity and Judaism).
For more information, go to [Allah]
Q: So, why are the star and crescent religious symbols and icons of Islam? Are there Islam symbols? Is there an Islam symbol?
A: Islam has no religious symbols, Islamic symbols nor icons. However, "The star and crescent" was first hoisted on behalf of the Muslims by Mahomet II after the capture of Constantinople in 1453 CE.If you look at the focal point of prayer, Kaaba, there are no symbols of the star and crescent on it. This proves that these symbols are of no real significance to Islam.
The companions asked the Prophet (pbuh) about the reality of the crescent, Allah revealed the verse, "Say, the crescent is a means of calculating time for people."
It is perhaps for this (and maybe other reasons) that the crescent took some distinctive role in the character of symbolising identification for Muslims.For a detailed read , go to [The star and crescent]
Q: Is the Qur'an copied from the bible?
A: The historical evidence plus the internal evidence of the Qur'ân proves beyond any doubt that there was no Christian nor Jewish influence in al-Hijaz, in general, and in Mecca, in particular. So how was Muhammad(P) borrowing from the Bible when the non-existence of any Arabic Bible or Arabic apocryphal sources has been proven?
Can a book without any errors , the Qur'an, be copied from a book that's drowning in errors, the bible? IMPOSSIBLE!
In fact, in the New Catholic Encyclopedia, in an article under the subject of the Qur'an, the Catholic Church states:
"Over the centuries, many theories have been offered as to the origin of the Qur'an... Today no sensible man accepts any of these theories!"
Where did the book come from?
For more information, go to [Qur'an]
Q: Did Muhammad write the Qur'an?
A: No. The Qur'an is the pure unadulterated book of God. and as such it was not revealed by any one except God.[Allah]
The Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad through the agency of the angel Jibreel[Gabriel in christian terms]. Yet, neither Gariel nor Muhammad had anything to do with its production.
The Qur'an is solely and exclusively the handiwork of God.
In fact, in the New Catholic Encyclopedia, in an article under the subject of the Qur'an, the Catholic Church states:
"Over the centuries, many theories have been offered as to the origin of the Qur'an... Today no sensible man accepts any of these theories!"
Where did the book come from?
For more information, go to [Qur'an]
Q: What about those who say there are errors/mistakes in Quran?
A: Those who say this are either ignorant of the Quran, or malicious toward Islam, or both.
For more information, go to [Qur'an]
Q: Are muslims terrorists?
A: No. Muslims are NOT terrorists. Who is a terrorist ? By today' definition, a Terrorist is one who is against Freedom and kills a mass number of people because of their location, beliefs, or association with the terrorist's target. Muslims have NEVER been terrorists. But, the Zionist Media, the inventor of the "Muslim terrorist" label, has succeeded in portraying a muslim as a terrorist, by the West.
For more information, go to [Islam and terrorism ]
Q: Why are there muslim terrorists?
A: There aren't! The media twists the facts to present muslims as terrorists.
For more information, go to [Islam and terrorism ]
Q: Does Islam promote violence and terrorism?
A: No. Islam is religion of peace and submission and stresses on the sanctity of human life. A verse in the Quran says, [Chapter 5, verse 32], that "anyone who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the whole of mankind and anyone who has killed another person (except in lieu of murder or mischief on earth) it is as if he has killed the whole of mankind."
However, sometimes violence is a human response of oppressed people as it happens in Palestine. There is a lot of terrorism and violence in areas where there is no Muslim presence.
For example, in Ireland, South Africa, Latin America, and Sri Lanka. Sometimes the violence is due to a struggle between those who have with those who do not have, or between those who are oppressed with those who are oppressors. We need to find out why people become terrorists. Unfortunately, the Palestinians who are doing violence are called terrorists, but not the armed Israeli settlers when they do the same sometimes even against their own people. As it turned out to be in the Oklahoma City bombing, sometime Muslims are prematurely blamed even if the terrorism is committed by non-Muslims. Sometimes those who want Peace and those who oppose Peace can be of the same religion.
For more information, go to [Islam and terrorism ]
Q: Was Muhammad a murderer?
A: No, Muhammad(pbuh) was NOT a murderer. He was Almighty Allah's Messenger who Spread Islam to Mankind by peace, except when wars were imposed upon him and his followers. As for the lies about the murder of Asma bint Marwan, the torture and murder of Kinana, the murder of Abu Afak, these are ALL FABRICATED LIES. For example, the story of killing Afak is without isnad (chain of narration) at all, and the story of killing Asma’ is fabricated; one of its reporters, Muhammad Ibn-ul-Hajjaj, is accused of fabricating Hadith.
Allah, in the Qur'an, calls Muhammad, a Mercy for mankind!
Narrated ‘Aa’ishah, that "... Allah's Apostle NEVER took revenge (over anybody) for his own sake.... "
[Muhammad ]
Q: Did Muhammad murder a whole tribe of Jews?
A: No. In short, there were 3 large Jewish tribes (Qaynuqah, Nadir and Qurayzah) in Madina (all waiting for the final prophet, which turned out to be the prophet who wasn't a Jew, hence they rejected him). The muslims had made a treaty with these tribes, but all 3 tribes were trecherous and broke the treaty. Qaynuqah staged an unsuccessful rebellion against Muhammad (pbuh) and so they were expelled from Medina. Muhammad (pbuh) tried to reassure the tribe of Nadir, and made a special treaty with them, but when their assassination of Muhamamd(pbuh) failed, they too were sent into exile, where they joined the nearby Jewish settlement of Khaybar, and drummed up support for the enemy of the muslims who were trying to exterminate them. Lastly, when the Jewish tribe of Qurayzah sided with Mecca during the Battle of the Trench, when for a time it seemed that the Muslims faced certain defeat, Muhammad (pbuh) again wanted to exile them, but the tribe of Qurayzah preferred the decision of their ally,Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, rather than the decision of the prophet. However, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, believed that even if they were forgiven, they would soon rally the tribes again to fight the Muslims anew. Such was their obsession with hatred of Muhammad and the Muslims that the Jews believed no life was worth living as long as the Muslim power was not broken and the Muslims were not subjugated or killed. However harsh the verdict which the arbitrator had reached in this regard, it was dictated by self-defense, as the arbitrator had become convinced that the presence or destruction of the Jews was a question of life and death for the Muslims as well.A full description of the event can be found here [The Campaigns of al Khandaq and Banu Qurayzah].
and
[On Muhammad's treatment of Banu Qurayzah, a Jewish tribe] by Karen Armstrong
Q: Is it true Muhammad waged war against his enemies as soon as he had the means?
A: This claim is diametrically baseless. Among the numerous incidents, the incident of Tufayl b. Amr is sufficient to refute this. He was a member of the Banu Daws tribe and after he approached Prophet Muhammad(P) who expounded him of the Islamic doctrines, he became a Muslim forthwith. He went back to convince his fellow tribesmen to invite them to this new religion but in vain. Discouraged at this ill-success, he besought Prophet Muhammad(P) to curse the tribe of Banu Daws and wage war against it. The Prophet(P), then, had all the means to do so, yet he refrained. This is what he advised Tufayl, instead:"Return to thy people and summon them to the faith, but deal gently with them."
Q: What are the proofs that wars were imposed upon Muhammad and his followers?
A: The answer is simple. JUST look at the facts, eg where the battles took place and the saize of the muslim army. The timeline summary of what happened:
- 13 years the muslims were persecuted.
- the muslims were sanctioned, resulting in people having to live off anything they could find, even leather. as a result, the wife of the prophet(pbuh) died.
- prophet(pbuh) sent some of the persecuted muslims to abssinia, and even then the pagans sent people to ask the king to send them back.
- In the end, prophet(pbuh) and his followers had to escape to Madina.
- The enemies of the muslims still followed them to destroy them.
NOW, lets look at the battles and where they took place:
Battles
Battle of Badr:
location: 50 miles south-west of Madina. ie the enemies had travelled 250 miles to attack the muslims.
muslim number = 313 men, mostly unarmed men
the makkans had a well-armed, well equipped experienced warriors of 950.
Battle of Uhud:
location: 3 miles from the city centre of Madina:
muslim force 700
enemy force 3000
Battle of Mustaliq:
muslim force 30
enemy force 200
Battle of Khandaq:
muslim force 3000
enemy force 12000
Battle of Kaibar:
muslim force 1500
enemy force 20000
Battle of Muta:
muslim force 3000
enemy force 100000
That's enough to prove the point. Without any doubt, it was the muslims who were fighting for their lives.
Q: Was Muhammad a lustful man pursuing his lusts and sensuous pleasures?
A: No, Muhammad(pbuh) was NOT a man of lust. The Prophet (pbuh) did not marry any virgin other than ‘Aa’ishah, and that all his other wives had been previously married, this will refute the notion spread by many hostile sources, that the basic motive behind the Prophet’s marriages was physical desire and enjoyment of women, because if that was his intention he would have chosen only those who were virgins and beautiful etc.
For more information, go to [Muhammad ]
Q: Why did the Prophet (pbuh) marriy ‘Aa’ishah despite the age difference?
A: The reasons why the prophet married ‘Aa’ishah are many, however, the Prophet (pbuh) did not marry any virgin other than ‘Aa’ishah , and that all his other wives had been previously married, this will refute the notion spread by many hostile sources, that the basic motive behind the Prophet’s marriages was physical desire and enjoyment of women, because if that was his intention he would have chosen only those who were virgins and beautiful etc.For more information, go to [Why did the Prophet (pbuh) marriy ‘Aa’ishah despite the age difference? ]
Q: Is Islam tolerant of other faiths?
A: Islam is the most tolerant of faiths. History testifies to it.
History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths. When the great leader and second Caliph, Umar, entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam guaranteed freedom of worship to all religious communities in the city. In fact, so careful was Umar in setting an example for his people that he not only went to a church to pray, he prayed outside in the courtyard, lest his followers after his death be tempted to convert the church into a mosque.
Another historical example of Muslims living up to the standard of Islam can be found from the time of the Spanish Inquisition. During that disaster sprung by misguided Catholics, some Spanish Jews fled to Muslim Turkey and to this day, there is a community of Spanish-speaking Jews in Turkey. Another example may be found during one of the Crusader invasions from Western Europe. Some of the the Catholic Western European knights were so likely to rape, murder, and pillage the Jews and Orthodox Christians, that when the Muslims won, they were treated as a liberating force by those non-Muslims.
Islam teaches that the closest to Allah and the most beloved of Allah are those who are the best in piety. Thus all people, male and female, and regardless of race, color, nationality or ethnicity, are considered and treated as equal before Allah and before the law. This concept of tolerance did not reach the West even in theory until the 18th century, and in practice not until the 20th century.
Yes, the Creator has clearly specified that no other way of life is acceptable to Him except Islam (i.e. submission to Him as embodied in the Qur'an and Sunnah), However, He has also commanded the Muslims to be tolerant of people who espouse other creeds.
In short, Islam is intolerant of false ideas, however it is tolerant of the people who hold to those ideas.
For more information, go to [Tolerance in Islam ]
Q: Is Islam spreading only because muslims breed like rabbits?
A: Islam is the fastest growing religion on this planet.
For more information, go to [Islam the Fastest growing religion in the World! ]
Q: Does Islam promote slavery?
A: No, Islam promotes the emancipation of slaves.
Q: Are Christians and Jews, under an Islamic Government, treated as second-class citizens?
A: No, they are not second-class citizens. They are called Dhimmis, "protected people", and are to be treated with the utmost respect and kindness.
The Prophet Muhammad(P) is reported to have said,
"Whosoever wrongs with one with whom a compact has been made (i.e - a dhimmi) and lays down on him a burden beyond his strength, I will be his accuser till the day of judgement."
Hence, History is replete with examples where Jews and Christians preferred to live under muslim rule.
For more information please see the following article :
Islam: Spread By The Sword? A Brief Analysis and Responses to Critics
Q: Do muslims force conversion upon non-muslims
A: No, there is no compulsion in religion.
For more information, go to [Islam and compulsion of religion ]
Q: Does Islam breed suicide bombers?
A: No, muslims are the victims, but portrayed as the aggressors , by the Zionist Media.
Far from being the terrorists of the world, the Islamic peoples have been its victims.
For more information, go to [Islam and Suicide Bombers ]
Q: Christian missionaries say that muslims will have homosexuality in Paradise. Is this true?
A: No, it is not true.