Cyberpi,
Bismillai Rahman Nir Rahimm... In the name of God most Merciful most Compassionate.
I start this post with the above, that was commanded to all Muslims. Say the name of Allah before you start on any work so that it will gain HIS blessing.
Light,
Not taking sides on your conversation but I'd really hate to be the one to convict myself before God (swt) by judging and calling anyone a disbeliever in God (swt) from as little as a conversation on a web page. Faith and good deeds are not measured by a conversation. If the person claims to be a Jew or Christian then the Qur'an directly commands a Muslim to say the exact opposite of what you've just said. The exact opposite. (29:46, Surat 109) How is that possible? I suggest that your mistake is to confuse a believer in God (swt) with a believer in your words... two different things entirely.
In my posts, I do not make judgement. It may appears so just because I include the verse of Sura Al-Kafiruun. This is to make people aware that indeed there are differences in our theology and the Quran teaches us to respect people of other faith. Thus, this Sura tells us that we have differences in the way we believe, practise and professing our faith. Although it may be to the same God.
Some verses for you to consider:
29:46
Yusufali: And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam)."
...
Alhamdulillah, praise to Allah. You've bring forth this verse. This does not contradict to my earlier post. Reason being, if you're Christian or Jews, you have you own theology. We have our own, but yet we believe and worship the same God. However, the method of executing it are different.
In this verse "
We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you".
One have to ask what does this mean. Does this referred to the current Christian theology or is it the original revelation by God?
For Muslims, we believe in the original revelation (and theology) from God that was revealed to Jesus (pbuh). Not the present one. Christian may claim the present one is the original revealed to Jesus (pbuh). I rest my case on that as it is their opinion. We have our own opinion.
Lets examine this verse further, "
Our Allah and your Allah is one". This is telling us that Christian (and Jews) believe in the same God. However, the Christian theology - believing Holy Trinity and the salvation from the original Sin - as the base the Christian faith, Christianity is clearly rejected in Islam. God has declared in ayat 4:171 the absurdity of Trinity.
004.171
YUSUFALI: O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not "Trinity" : desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.
PICKTHAL: O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.
SHAKIR: O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only a messenger of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His messengers, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one Allah; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.
And again God say in Sura 005:073
005.073
YUSUFALI: They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.
PICKTHAL: They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no Allah save the One Allah. If they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve.
SHAKIR: Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah is the third (person) of the three; and there is no god but the one Allah, and if they desist not from what they say, a painful chastisement shall befall those among them who disbelieve.
I can further confirm that Quran is the only book that mentioned Trinity explicitly. And it is something that God have declared as absurd and unacceptable. So, back to ayat 29:46, which says "
And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation)". It means that, don't dispute with the Christian and Jews except with
something better. Something better must be the truth and we are obliged to tell the truth. If they dispel the truth, God further tells them in sura 4:171.
Don't commit excesses in their religion (Christianity).
Sura 005:073 further warns them, "If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.".
Thus, who are we to desist God's command?
Right, back to your original post about judging or calling someone a disbelievers. It is not me who pass that judgement, but the Quran. And I am following what the Quran says. Thus, if someone rejects after all that was revealed to them, the best manner (in my opinion) so at to show them that Islam does not force people into submission, is sura Al-Kafiroon which I have post earlier.
In Sura Al-Kafiroon if I may extend on its meaning...
109.001 PICKTHAL: Say: O disbelievers!
This encompass all who do not believe in Islam. Islam is God choosen and perfected religion as stated in Sura 005 verse no 3. Let me say here PERFECTED religion. That is enough to say that ISLAM is the final religion that GOD has perfected through his Last Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
So in matter of fact, this is saying that no other religion will be accepted from the time this verse is revealed until the end of time. Some people might feel awkward to say this and some may come out with concession to make it sound nice to non-Muslims, but this is the truth based on the verses in Quran. You may have you own opinion and I have mine. That brings us to the second verse.
109.002 PICKTHAL: I worship not that which ye worship;
By this verse, God is telling us to be firm in our believe. Thus, there is no concession/diversion on our way of worshipping HIM. The theology, practices and law is clearly defined for us to follow in our daily life. The core values, doesn't change since it was revealed. So we don't divert nor do we worship what you worship.
109.003 PICKTHAL: Nor worship ye that which I worship.
This clearly state that Christian or Jews or any other religion will not worship what we worship. Let's put this frankly, Christian prayed using Jesus as an intermediary. Jesus is called upon as the Son of God at the end of their prayer. We don't do that nor will be ever do that - else we apostate from Islam - nauzubillah (Allah forbid). We reverred Jesus as a prophet - one of the greatest prophet.
109.004 PICKTHAL: And I shall not worship that which ye worship.
This is talking about present and future. Which states that the Islamic doctorine is well established and cannot be altered. Such that it cannot be amended to be similar to Christian, Jews or other religion.
109.005 PICKTHAL: Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
Vice versa. If the other religion amended their theology and began to worship like Muslims and follow the same Islamic article of faith. They are Muslims! Alhamdulillah.
109.006 PICKTHAL: Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.
This is a clear indication that you have your own way and I have mine. Similarly, you have your way of describing your non-believers (eg. "No one goes to the Father except via me" - the most famous verse from the Bible). So we too have our own way in describing our non-believers. It is true that, Faith and good deeds are not measured by a conversation. However, conversation is a result of conscious thinking of the individual that was influenced by their interaction to the outside world. In short, conversation goes a long way in describing someone believe and thought.
5:69
Yusufali: Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
Pickthal: Lo! those who believe, and those who are Jews, and Sabaeans, and Christians - Whosoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right - there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
Shakir: Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabians and the Christians whoever believes in Allah and the last day and does good-- they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.
Khalifa: Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the converts, and the Christians; any of them who (1) believe in GOD and (2) believe in the Last Day, and (3) lead a righteous life, have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
This verse is perfectly fine and has no contradition. It is the individual understanding of it is flawed. When the Quran says those who believe in the Quran, follow the Jewish scriptures etc. What is the Quran is saying exactly? It is referring to the original scriptures that God revealed to Moses (pbuh), David (pbuh) and Jesus (pbuh). Not the current version of the text which contains amongst other things words from historian and does contain obscenity. It has also gone through a number of editions.
Furthermore, if we were to read this verse in conjunction to verse 004:171 and 005:073. This shows the clear picture. The christian have to only renouce trinity and they shall not fear for their fate in judgement day. That's all. Dear Muslims, please correct me if I am wrong in this one.
If you claim that a person's Faith is measured by whether or not they state the Shahadah, then I advise you to study the following verse.
By someone saying the Shahadah, he knows that he has reverted to the natural religion (Islam). Thus, well aware of the duties encompass within it. Therefore, this is one of the first yardstick in measuring one's faith.
3:67
Yusufali: Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allah's (Which is Islam), and he joined not gods with Allah.
Pickthal: Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was an upright man who had surrendered (to Allah), and he was not of the idolaters.
Shakir: Ibrahim was not a Jew nor a Christian but he was (an) upright (man), a Muslim, and he was not one of the polytheists.
Khalifa: Abraham was neither Jewish, nor Christian; he was a monotheist submitter. He never was an idol worshiper.
"and bowed his will to Allah's" - the same way Muslim do in our prayer. Abraham is a Muslim!
"he joined not gods with Allah" - clear indication that Abraham is a Muslim (submit to the wills of Allah). Also, another rejection to the trinity.
And the ayat didn't say Abraham is not a Muslim, it just say Abraham is not Jews nor Christian. "
but he was an upright man who had surrendered (to Allah), " - surrendered to Allah - the basis of the Islamic faith - where we surendered to the will of Allah. Similar? Something to ponder!
Thus, in Abraham time, he have proclaim the following:
006.079
YUSUFALI: "For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah."
PICKTHAL: Lo! I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, as one by nature upright, and I am not of the idolaters.
SHAKIR: Surely I have turned myself, being upright, wholly to Him Who originated the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists.
That is Shahadah. Proclamation of faith is a shahadah.
"
never shall I give partners to Allah." - no partners? - isn't that shahadah - I bear withness there is not gods but Allah.
The difference for us of this period is we also witness that Muhammad (pbuh) is a Messenger of God - not Son, God or any such things. This second witnessing is to ensure that we get our understanding right about Muhammad (pbuh).
Alhamdulillah, my purpose of this post is not to belittle other faith. But merely to show the truth and fact on Islam. In my earlier post I include Sura Asr' as a reminder to us all. A good reminder which if we ponder deeply is a good news and a warning for all of us. Use our time in this world wisely and take the opportunity God gives us to to HIS will. Worship him as he commanded and keep asking questions to seek truth. Insyallah, Allah permit, we will be saved from the permanent torment of the Hellfire.
And you too...
I would like to close with wallahu Alam - and Allah knows best. If the above have erred, is purely my own doing, forgive me. If there is truth, verily it is from Allah.
Ma-a-salama (with peace)