Here we go again. Once again, key elements of the Qur’an and Islamic teaching are not addressed, leaving the impression that Mr. Irfan Mehr is practicing taqiyya. From the Corning Leader, with thanks to Ali Dashti:
Mehr, a native of Pakistan, met with more than 160 county workers during two sessions, to broaden their understanding of a faith held by 1.7 billion people worldwide.
The workshop was set up by Legislator Kenneth Isaman, R-Hornellsville, as a way to raise awareness and respect for Muslims in the area.
Isaman said he plans on arranging more workshops for county employees in the future, and wants to develop similar presentations for municipal boards and local schools….
Mehr said the Koran calls Christians and Jews “Children of the Book” and tells Muslims to treat them as cousins in faith.
“It tells us you are all children of Abraham, leave your differences up to the Almighty,” Mehr said.
The Qur’an also says that Muslims should make war on these “Children of the Book” — actually “People of the Book” — and that they are under the curse of Allah:
Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. The Jews call ‘Uzair [Ezra] a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth! (9:29-30)
The Koran also dedicates separate chapters to Mary, and Jesus. Muslims believe all the New Testament accounts of Jesus, but believe he was a prophet and not the Messiah, Mehr said.
This is simply false. In the first place, there is a chapter of the Qur’an entitled “Mary” (Sura 19), but there is no chapter “dedicated” to Jesus. Nor do Muslims believe all the New Testament accounts of Jesus: Mehr contradicts himself by saying that and following it up by saying Jesus was not the Messiah, since the New Testament of course proclaims him to be the Messiah. Now in this instance I suspect the reporter has gotten mixed up, for the Qur’an does refer to Jesus as the Messiah, but strenuously and repeatedly denies that he is the Son of God. I suspect that that is what Mehr said, unless he himself is ignorant of the Qur’an. But in any case, in no sense do Muslims accept what the New Testament teaches about Jesus, for the latter affirms him to be the Son of God. The Qur’an also denies the crucifixion, as well as other elements of the New Testament account of Jesus.
That they said (in boast), “We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah”; but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not… (Qur’an 4:157)
The story about Mehr continues:
The Islamic notion of justice is strict, with the Koran demanding someone who has done wrong to testify against himself, Mehr said. If a soldier believes his side is wrong he must immediately join the other side and fight his comrades and family.
Is Mehr thereby endorsing the actions of Hasan Akbar?
While individual Muslims may judge an act as wrong or evil, they are forbidden to react until their leaders unanimously agree on a course of action, Mehr said. In extreme cases, after efforts at reconciliation have failed, the leadership may call a holy war, or jihad.
Likewise, only religious leaders may judge wrongdoing.
“It has been said that (Sept. 11 mastermind Osama) bin Laden will never even catch whiff of the fragrance of heaven,” Mehr said. “That is strong condemnation.”
Mehr said reports of Muslims hating the West, and specifically Americans, are exaggerated.
“There is no hate,” Mehr said. “Yes, there are certain things in the American culture they don’t want any part of, we don’t want in our houses. There are certain things in our cultures you don’t want in your houses. Things that are despicable, like wife beating.”
Which also comes, of course, from the Qur’an (Sura 4:34). But “there is no hate”? Really? Sure. Just a few wall posters proclaiming, “Killing of Christians and Jews is required as soon as possible.” But no hate.
And Mehr is trying to take this kind of thing into schools. But of course, it is already there.