Irshad Manji’s free ticket
to heaven
REVOKED
By Nadir Ahmed
Posted: Friday, October 14, 2005, 12:00:00 AM
Irshad Manji in her book and on her website
has smugly reassured all her Christian and Jewish friends that the Quran
teaches they have “nothing to fear or regret” meaning they are assured a place
in heaven so long as they faithfully follow the Bible:
“given all these warm fuzzies for our spiritual forebears,
it makes sense that the Koran would advise Jews and Christians to relax,
that they have nothing to fear or regret as long as they remain loyal to the
scriptures.” The trouble with Islam,
pg. 38
But is this really true? Does the Quran really state this? The answer is NO. Nothing can be further from the truth. Please keep in mind, my intention here is not to “condemn” anyone, but rather to accurately portray the teachings of the Quran. It is wrong to fool people and distort the truth for the sake of attracting a few followers or to seek approval from the credulous Western masses. No one needs to hear the truth more than them. The verse which Irshad alluded to is Surah 5 verse 69:
Surely, those who
believe (in the Oneness of Allâh, in His Messenger Muhammad SAW and all that
was revealed to him from Allâh), those who are the Jews and the Sabians and the
Christians, - whosoever believed in Allâh and the Last Day, and worked
righteousness, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (Al-Ma'idah
5:69)
Notice here, the Quran is making a condition for the non-believers, which is “worked righteousness”. This is a call to action. The non-believers must do something; they must act upon something “righteous”. But the question, is, what exactly is this call to action which the Christians must do in order for them not to fear or grieve? The answer is given in the preceding verse right above it:
Say (O Muhammad
SAW) "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! You have nothing
(as regards guidance) till you act according to the Taurât (Torah), the
Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to you from your Lord
(the Qur'ân)." Verily, that which has been sent down to you (Muhammad
SAW) from your Lord increases in many of them their obstinate rebellion and
disbelief. So be not sorrowful over the people who disbelieve. (Al-Ma'idah
5:68)
As we can see that the verse plainly states, that the Jews and Christians must act according to the Torah, Gospel, and what has been now sent down, referring to the Quran! Therefore the “worked righteousness” or call to action of the Quran, is acting upon all three books. In addition to that, acting righteous has been further defined in the following verse:
And whoever
contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) after the right path has
been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way. We shall
keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil
destination. (An-Nisa 4:115)
Therefore, we see that the Quran is clearly defining
what this “working righteousness” is, and that is obeying Prophet Muhammed(P)
and never contradicting him. Now, we may ask, what happens to those Jews and
Christians who refuse to follow the messenger? The following verse gives the
answer:
Verily, those who
disbelieve (in the religion of Islâm, the Qur'ân and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be
upon him)) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and
Al-Mushrikűn will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures.
(Al-Baiyinah 98:6)
This is one of the many examples of how Irshad Manji
blatantly misquotes the Quran out of context for her own personal agenda. It is
one of the worst acts of de-contextualization I have ever encountered. There
are too many verses on this issue, but I think what is given here will suffice.
Finally, we would like to advice Irshad Manji, that next time she performs her
“ijtihad” to please pay attention to DETAIL.