Salaam Bros n Sisters,

Its been a long time since I posted. As a rational monotheist Muslim, I am content that I follow a religion that is most logical and superior to all other beliefs on Earth. But then there are yet questions about Islam that bother me. These are questions that pop-up when discussing religion with people of other religions. I would be grateful if all of you here could provide your own views and responses.

Shukran.

Here are a few queries....

1. We usually discuss that the Holy Quran is very scientific, logical and one will not find any nonsense within it. But then we also have verses that discuss about King Solomon's time when he 'spoke' to the hoopoe bird and heard the ant; when 'jinns' did all kinds of magical stuff in daily life. Verses talk about the bad effects of black-magic, the evil-eye etc. all of which are truly unscientific. Hindus are quick to point out such verses to show that their outlandish mythologies of demons and gods on earth are comparatively the same in this regard. On what basis can one invite a rational polytheist/ disbeliever/ pagan/ athiest to 'believe' Islam when we have to ask him to accept our unbelievable stories, so as to leave behind his own illogical beliefs?

2. If Islam is the true word of God, why is there so much chaos, suffering and hatred in the Muslim world? If we explain that this is because average Muslims do not follow the real word of God from the Quran, then the Christian asks, why then did God reveal the Quran, if people ultimately did not follow it? What is the utility of the revelation when it is not used for society's benefits? Why is it that the world's most peaceful, techonologically advanced and democratic countries that give human freedoms are all nations that DO NOT follow the message of Islam? For whose benefit was the "final message" of the Quran revealed? For just a few individuals here and there who call themselves monotheists? What is the need for the message, when mankind is always attaining its ethical and moral goals through other sources?
   We say the Bible is not truly the word of God, but contains conflicting messages. How is it that the adherents of the Bible, even today are the most blessed of all people,the most charitable and the most powerful? They have established schools, hospitals and orphanages across the world, with countless priests and nuns having dedicated their lives for the welfare of the needy. How many Muslims organisations are doing half of this work?

3. Something as basic as marriage..if it is allowed by God to have up to 4 wives for men, (assuming that one can be just and fair to each wife) why is it that the Prophet of Islam had upto 9 wives at the same time? Isn't the very messenger, breaking the message he preached? Isn't that hypocrisy?

Any answers to these queries would really make life a lot easier.. Thank you so much for your time!
Peace.

http//queriesonislam.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/alquran-4-1-1_wordpress.gif?w=620&h=465

Assalamu aleykum

1. Answering to your first question, we have first of all, like you have mentioned yourself, listen to what logic dictates. You have to know that, for example in legal system we have what we call primary evidence and secondary evidence. If you make a claim like? ?we also have verses that discuss about King Solomon's time when he 'spoke' to the hoopoe bird and heard the ant?, then you want to deal with the secondary evidence, disregarding the primary one, which is completely illogical. Consequently, once you have come with such a claim, it becomes up to you to first disprove the primary evidence (unless it is not available), which is the Qur?an.
   One is not in a position to respond to a claim which is based on something no more than convenient for the one making statement.
2. Once we?ve answered the first question, then the second is actually of no use. But once again, wherever you come with a claim, you have to make sure, that you are actually based on something. For example, ?why are there so much chaos, suffering and hatred in the Muslim world? how do you define ?Muslim World?? Government?s self-declaration of ruling under religious law, the establishment of an official state religion, or more than 50 percent of the population practicing, or claiming to belong to, a particular religion, etc. ? Suffering due to what? And many other questions. You see, once the question is addressed one can begin to claim empirically whether, for example, Islam deters or enhances social and economic development. So once again, it?s your turn to prove your claims in the first place. It concerns every single one of your questions, for which you haven?t given evidences.
   Example

• ?How is it that the adherents of the Bible, even today are the most blessed of all people?- ?the most charitable?
• ?and the most powerful??
• ?They have established schools hospitals and orphanages across the world with countless priests and nuns having dedicated their lives for the welfare of the needy.?
• ?How many Muslims organizations are doing half of this work??
  These all claims are for you to prove, before we can have a serious conversation, based on evidence. If a person is claiming to be rational and logical, then he ought to follow the laws of logic, and one could get the discussion further, unless he is based on speculations.

3. Once again, what is your premise? You have to disprove the Quran is from God for us to proceed with that statement.
   I hope that it gave you an idea of how to deal with all these questions on a rational level, and showed you how speculative are the claims you made without any prove. Consequently, well-grounded arguments, proves and evidences are the integral part of a fair discussion.

God bless
Assalamu aleykum wa rahmatu-llahi wa barakatuh