Understanding the Koran

To Continue to understand what Islam stands for I would like to submit some reflections on recent correspondence.

"The infidel is one who knows the truth and denies it".

According to this statement, Christians could not have been infidels, as indeed Koran 3:3 affirms. Islam appeared at least 600 years after Jesus Christ the Saviour.

"Whoever hurts a Jew or a Christian, I will be his enemy on Judgment Day". So said Mohammad. History shows that for 1,000 years Muslims have been on the offensive against Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Hindus.

Are we to conclude that Muslims have ignored the teachings of their prophet? In the Koran itself there are a number of verses urging the Muslims to war. Not all Christians or others were the aggressors. And what about Dili in Indonesia in recent years?

"Jesus enjoys high status in Islam". If Koran 3:3 is correct, then Jesus has been demoted. Status may not be equated with faith. True faith means dedication to and full trust in and acceptance of a person for who he says he is.

"The existence of Jesus at the second heaven does not reveal the exact rank of Jesus" What is it supposed to reveal since it cannot all be so trivial a detail? If the interpretations of Koran 17:1 as one or multiple events are part of revelation, why invoke the infallibility of God to show that they are to be accepted as revelation? Does God not trust the transmitters of his revelation?

"Islam should not be judged through the deeds of its followers but through the teachings of the Holy Koran and the words of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him."

If Muslims had taken care to obey this rule themselves, with regard to other religions, things would have been very different today.

Unfortunately what Christians say about themselves is of no concern to Muslims, but only what they think about Christians, and this in spite of Koran 3:3. "He has verily revealed to you this Book, in truth and confirmation of the Books revealed before as indeed He has revealed the Torah and the Gospel." (From translation by Ahmed Ali, published in 2001.)

As far as I know this assertion is repeated a number of times in the Koran.