"Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan 'for blasphemy"

Today when I turned on my TV, a story caught my attention. It was about Asia Bibi, a Christian women from Pakistan who was sentenced to death for blasphemy. Asia Bibi was working together with some Muslim women. She brought them some water but they claimed it was "unclean" because she was Christian. According to several articles and the news story I saw on TV, she spoke ill of the Prophet Muhammed (SAW). In response to this, these people beat and harrased her. She was escorted to the police station, where they charged her with blasphemy. Later during the trial, information indicates that she didn't insult the Prophet (SAW), but she got charged anyway. She was later sentenced to death.

First of all, these Muslims need to learn how to take criticism. They shouldn't have reacted that way because someone says something they don't like. Someone needs to remind them of how the Prophet (SAW) would react in this situation. Lashing out in anger is forbidden according to the Quran. The Prophet (SAW) often said that the best of men are the ones who can control their anger.

"The strong man is not the good wrestler; the strong man is only the one who controls himself when he is angry." - Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

It seems these people pick and choose which parts of the Quran they like and which ones they don't like. You can't edit Islam. If you take something out or add something in, it is no longer Islam. This is a major flaw in these societies.

"Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah(God) and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they greive." - 2:62, Quran

It says in the Quran that Christians and Jews will go to heaven too, so what makes these people think that a Christian person is lower than them? Being a Muslim and being a believer are two different things. So even though she is a Christian, she is apparently more a believer than the Muslims who beat her are. I said in my previous blog that according to the Quran, the only time attacking someone is justified, is if you are defending yourself. I don't mean defending yourself from words, I mean physical attacks. Nothing in the Quran justifies their violent behavior. I really hope that the condition of this Muslim country and those like it improve. The problem is not Islam, it's the lack of Islam. If they actually listened to what it says in the Quran and didn't put their culture before everything else, things would be alot different. What those Muslims did was NOT in the name of Islam.

-Hasinah

Sources:

Article on Telegraph UK

The Quran

"Kill them wherever you find them"

Greetings everyone. My name is Hasinah. I made this blog in a attempt to help clear up misconceptions about Islam. I only have average knowledge of what is in the Quran, so please forgive me if I make any mistakes.I know this might not make a huge different, but it has to start with something. I think more Muslims need to step up and speak out in any way that they can.

My first topic will be about one of the most common verses used by Islamophobes. That is Surah 2 (Baqarah), verse 191.

"Kill them wherever you find them (Those who fight against you), drive them out of the places from which they drove you out, for tumult and persecution is worst than killing. But do not fight them at the Invoilable Sanctuary (Masjid Al-Haram) until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there), then kill them. Such is the reward of the disbelievers." - 2:191, Quran

Now, not only the bigots fail to read the entire verse, they forgot one very important factor, context. Bigots tend to only read the first six words of the verse. Their objective is to try and make it seem like the Quran tells Muslims to kill the Non-Muslims wherever we find them. That is completely false. To understand the meaning of this verse, you just have to read 1 verse before and 2 after it, something that it obviously very difficult for the Bigots.

Before I reveal the other verses, I want you to read the first and look at a very important part. Fight those who fight against you and don't attack them unless they attack you first. In other words, self defense. The verse before 191 is also about self defense.

"Fight for the sake of Allah those that fight against you, but do not attack them first. Allah does not love the aggressors." - 2:190, Quran

This verse specifically says do not attack first and fight those who fight you. Clearly not what the Islamophobes want you to think. The two following verses are very important.

"But if they desist, then (know that) Allah is forgiving, Merciful / And fight them until tumult and persecution are no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against the evil-doers." - 2:192 and 2:193, Quran

Based on what I have read from the Quran, these verses are specifically connected with a time when Muslims where being persecuted for being Muslim. Muslims were were being denied the right to practice their religion. The Muslims were attacked first and they had to defend themselves just like anyone else. When verse 2:192 says "and religon is for Allah", it means when the Muslims had the right to practice their religion freely again. It also says, if they stop, then you stop too. So my conclusion is that these verses mean: Defend yourself from those who fight you, and if they stop fighting then you stop.

If people read the Quran in this way instead of listening to verses Bigots take out of context, things would be alot different. Please try to learn what Islam really is before making judgements.

-Hasinah

Sources:

The Quran