"Christians" whose religion is hate

By Khaild Amayreh in occupied Palestine

In recent days and weeks, some "Christian" fanatics in the United States decided to take on Islam which they called "the devil." On Friday, about a dozen right-wing "Christians" carrying placards and yelling" Islam is a lie" angrily confronted worshipers outside a Fairfield Avenue Mosque.

"Jesus hates Muslims," screamed the cultists at worshipers arriving at the Masjid An-Nur mosque to prepare for the first congregational prayer in the Holy Month of Ramadan. One protester reportedly shoved a placard at a group of young children leaving the mosque, shouting "murderers."

One Texan, who was carrying a bullhorn, was shouting "this is a war in America and we are talking it to the mosques around the country."

The anti-Islam riots coincide with plans by a marginal Pentecostal church to burn copies of the Quran on 11 September to coincide with annual anniversary of the terrorist events which took place nine years ago.

It is not difficult to understand what these ignoramuses and liars are up to. They are insecure in their beliefs and would want to draw attention. This is why Muslims must maintain calm and composure. Reacting violently or in an uncalculated manner would be playing into their hands.  In Surat Aali-Imran, the Almighty reminds us of the following:

 "Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs." V. 186

These people are not really interested in  knowing the truth or evening understanding the other. They reject any debate because they have nothing really to say except badmouthing and curses. Their aim is to incite against Islam and foster hatred against Muslims because they view Islam as their ideological and spiritual opponent. Their slogans that Islam represents the devil should be viewed as a sign of moral and religious bankruptcy. There are hundreds of religions in this world and each views itself as exclusively right and others as wrong. However, very few if any openly calls for the annihilation of a specific religion.

Well, if Islam represents the devil, then why not debate it and expose it to all and sundry instead of ranting like mad, barking  dogs? (A Muslim is urged to say "I seek refuge with God from devil" whenever he or she recites the Quran.) So, what kind of devil is that which warns people against itself when reading Islam's Holy Scriptures?

Besides, does the rejection of the Trinitarian doctrine make the rejecters worshipers of the devil. If so, Jews, too, must be authentic worshipers of the devil since they reject Jesus completely and absolutely?

But why do these morons have a certain fixation on Muslims while paying little or no attention to billions of other people around the world who don't worship Jesus?

The answer is very clear. Buddhists  and Hindus, for example, don't represent a religious or spiritual alternative to the Christian religions. Moreover, the perceived proliferation of Islam in some western countries is seen as a strategic threat  by these fanatics who seem to have no other recourse in dealing with this issue other than to resorting to  primitive incitement, saber-rattling and   vilification.

Islam orders Muslims to love, venerate and glorify Jesus. However, the Quran, Islam's holy scripture, teaches that Jesus is a human being, not a deity. That God neither begets nor is he begotten, and has no sons, daughters or a wife.

The story of Jesus' birth is highlighted in Surat Maryam (Mary), the Mother of Jesus, who is mentioned in Islam's holy book more often than she is mentioned in the New Testament.

16. Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.
17. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
18. She said: "I seek refuge from thee to ((Allah)) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah."
19. He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.
20. She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?"
21. He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, 'that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us':It is a matter (so) decreed."
22. So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.
23. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!"
24. But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee;
25. "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.
26. "So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to ((Allah)) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into not talk with any human being'"
27. At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!
28. "O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!"
29. But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
30. He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah. He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
31"And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;
32. "(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;
33. "So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"!
34. Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute.
35. It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is.  (the Quran, Sura 19)

It is really difficult and pointless  to argue with fanatics especially if they happen to be ignorant as is the case with these stupid so-called Christians. Fanatics don't hold ideas, they are held by them.  Ultimately, these people bring shame to themselves and to the great religion they claim to represent.
The issue at hand is not whether Jesus Christ claimed to be God or Son of God. People are free to believe what they want to believe. God is the final arbiter. And the arbitration doesn't take place in this world, but in the hereafter.
However, relating to those who differ with us with vilification, demonizing and calling children "murderers" is an expression not only of religious intolerance, but of  intellectual bankruptcy  to say the least. It is also an expression of a certain propensity to commit violence and terror.
 Murderers are those who have murdered innocent people; Hence calling Muslim children on their way to a mosque in Texas "murderers" says more about the Christian fanatics'  morality and way of thinking than about the innocent kids who were taught in school something about First Amendment freedoms and civil liberties, including freedom of religion.
The ugly anti-Islamic discourse in the United States these days  is by no means a healthy discourse. Just imagine what the reaction to such a blaspheme would have been if such events had been  held at a mosque and if Christianity had been demonized in the manner Islam has been?
Again, these barking "Christians" may succeed in generating some "bitterness" in some circles. However, let it be known that all their protests and madness will not succeed in undermining Islam, a religions that is gaining new converts despite all the incitement and hate-mongering.
Muslims are always capable of defending and protecting their religion and religious convictions. But they will not be drawn to meaningless altercations with marginal and isolated  mad dogs that are really a cancer upon the conscience of Christianity.
Hatred is the weapon of the weak, and will only  eventually consume the hateful themselves. Hatred is not Jesus's way of dealing with opponents, and Muslims are no opponents of Jesus.  Hence, one wouldn't exaggerate much by saying that the preachers of hate must be acting under the influence of the devil, not the influence of God.