THE GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD?

My church, First Arabic Baptist, hosted a series of New Years revival events during the last week of 2007. One of our guest speakers requested that she not be recorded in any way out of concern for herself and her family. She had converted from Islam to Christianity back in 2000 and was therefore afraid of the retribution for doing so. Such retribution is often threatened and occasionally carried out. Never-the-less, she had already made arrangements to fly back to Egypt in order to inform her family of her decision in spite of the risk that it posed to her.

As she was speaking I started to ponder about how the Koran refers to “Allah” as “The Gracious and Merciful.” Never-the-less, I have never read any were in the Koran were “Allah” actually acts in as gracious and merciful manner. Their prophet who recited[1],[2] the Koran to the first Muslims, Muhammad, never speaks in a gracious and merciful manner towards non-believers. He instructs his follows to deal with them in a manner that is anything but gracious and merciful. So if “Allah” is truly the gracious and merciful why does neither He nor His prophet ever speak or act in a gracious and merciful manner?

In 2000, a group of Muslims that we taught English to at my church moved to an apartment complex on the other side of town. Sharon, our director, recruited another church to start an English class for them. They endured a conservative back lash from some of their fellow Muslims who were opposed to them receiving help form Christian. One of our volunteers was confront by one of them when she came to make a social visits with one of the families in advance of the start of the class. On the night of the first class, some of our students were in tears because these hard line conservatives were telling them that they would be bad Muslims if they went. I found out months later that one girl was beaten by her older brother because she tried to get into the van that was sent to pick them up.

Through my tireless service to all of the refugees in their community with out regard to religion, I was able to build a strong enough reputation to start an English to in the community room of their apartment complex. When some of my Muslim students saw me open up the room, they assumed that I was starting another English class. I explained to them what I was doing and the ones that spoke good enough English to understand explained it to those who did not. They then continued to converse about other things in their language at the doorway of the room until I announced that the Bible Study was about to start. As soon as I did the Muslims who were at the doorway quickly exited the room as if they were afraid that their neighbors would think that they actually going to be involved with the study.

While I was writing this, a missionary to Indonesia visited our church. I told us of the horrible persecution that were being committed against the Christians there. These were stories that I have heard many times over since I became a Christian August 4, 1983. The question is, what percentage of all Muslims are involved in these acts? Some would tell you that every Muslim is obligated to participate in such atrocities because the Koran tells them to do so. I stand with those who would tell you that such militants are an ultra radical minority.

It is a fact there is a difference between the teachings of Christianity and the way that Christians conduct themselves on a day to day basis. It is also true that there is a difference the teachings of Islam and the way that Muslims conduct themselves on a day to day basis. Christianity and Islam are religions – Christians and Muslims are human being with free choice. What they are supposed do and what they want to do are not always the same. In the end, it is up to each individual to choose whether to obey what they have been taught or to go their own path.

Never-the-less, it is impossible for anyone to make a strong case that the violent militants are not firm control of Islam. So if “Allah” is truly gracious and merciful, why will the peaceable majority that I know not exist stand up to the militants and take control of their religion? That is a question that they need to answer for themselves.

[1] “The Arabic name (Qur’ān) means ‘The Recital’.”; “Introduction” chapter; “The Koran with Parallel Arabic Text;” pg ix; footnote 1; Penguin Books; © 2000; by: N. J. Dawood

[2] “The Koranic revelations followed each other at brief intervals and were at first committed to memory by professional remembrancers. During Muhammad’s lifetime verses were written on palm-leaves, stones, and any material that came to hand. Their collection was completed during the caliphate of ‘Umar the second Caliph, and an authorized version was established the caliphate of “Uthmān his successor (644-56).”; “Introduction” chapter; “The Koran with Parallel Arabic Text;” pg x; paragraph 4; Penguin Books; © 2000; by: N. J. Dawood