The Contrasting Behaviours of Believers and Hostile Apostates

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam 23 September 2024 I have written several articles on misunderstood verses and explained their correct meaning in the light of the Quran itself in the case of its Muhkamat verses and with the help of science in the case of its Mutashabihat verses. If I were a hostile apostate, I would have used the opportunity to mock, ridicule and demean the Quran, which the apostates do. They have also published copious literature on the supposed errors and contradictions in the Quran. There are none. A believer who reads the literature of Islamophobes on the Quran’s supposed flaws may not have an answer to some. He will clear his doubt by asking a direct question. He has no hesitation in doing so. Whether his question is answered or not answered, he suffers no humiliation. However, a hostile apostate bent on proving the Quran wrong and faced with a formidable opponent who was never found wanting cannot risk asking a direct question. He suffers humiliation and loss of credibility with every question that he asks that fails to prove that the Quran is flawed. He, therefore, plays games such as pointing to Wiki Islam or an article by another apostate as “proof”. Imagine what happens to a hostile apostate who consistently opposes all articles that clear a misunderstanding with nothing more than rhetorical tricks, ad hominems, diversions, straw man arguments and other logical fallacies. He has no rational debate, and his opposition is purely ideological. One of the aims of the project of “Progressive Islam” is to rid it of its bigotry. However, what if a person who champions the project also bitterly opposes articles that promote inclusiveness, tolerance and interfaith harmony? The clear answer is that he wants progressive Islam but without the Quran. The project, for him, is only a front to destroy Islam. A person who shows such a marked cognitive bias, ignoring all evidence that proves him wrong, will end up believing in his lies and cannot get out of his self-created delusional world of disbelief. The Quran accurately describes their condition in the following verses: (Read what Allah says He does as a law of Human behaviour. Everything Allah does can be considered a law since Allah never changes His words and His Sunnat). (36;1) Ya Sin. (2) By the Qur´an, full of Wisdom, - (3) Thou art indeed one of the messengers, (4) On a Straight Way. (5) It is a Revelation sent down by (Him), the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful. (6) In order that thou mayest admonish a people, whose fathers had received no admonition, and who therefore remain heedless (of the Signs of Allah). (7) The Word is proved true against the greater part of them: for they do not believe. (8) We have put yokes round their necks right up to their chins, so that their heads are forced up (and they cannot see). (9) And We have put a bar in front of them and a bar behind them, and further, We have covered them up; so that they cannot see. (10) The same is it to them whether thou admonish them or thou do not admonish them: they will not believe. (11) Thou canst but admonish such a one as follows the Message and fears the (Lord) Most Gracious, unseen: give such a one, therefore, good tidings, of Forgiveness and a Reward most generous. Allah presents even such people with several opportunities to redeem themselves. All they have to do is support the truth, but they always support a lie. (39:32) Who, then, doth more wrong than one who utters a lie concerning Allah, and rejects the Truth when it comes to him; is there not in Hell an abode for blasphemers? (33) And he who brings the Truth and he who confirms (and supports) it - such are the men who do right. (34) They shall have all that they wish for, in the presence of their Lord: such is the reward of those who do good: (35) So that Allah will turn off from them (even) the worst in their deeds and give them their reward according to the best of what they have done. Their condition is aptly described as: (7:175) Relate to them the story of the man to whom We sent Our signs, but he passed them by: so Satan followed him up, and he went astray. (176) If it had been Our will, We should have elevated him with Our signs; but he inclined to the earth, and followed his own vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: if you attack him, he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who reject Our signs; So relate the story; perchance they may reflect. (177) Evil as an example are people who reject Our signs and wrong their own souls. (178) Whom Allah doth guide, - he is on the right path: whom He rejects from His guidance, - such are the persons who perish. (179) Many are the Jinns and men we have made for Hell: They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle, - nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning). They always lie but cannot support even one truth, even when that truth supports their cherished project. This is a lesson for all. Is There Any Hope of Redemption for Such People? Allah’s forgiveness is always close at hand. All they have to do is make an effort in the right direction. The first step is the difficult one. The rest of the path is made easy by Allah. ----- A frequent contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed is an Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur and is an independent IT consultant after having served in both the Public and Private sector in responsible positions for over three decades. He has spent years studying Quran in-depth and made seminal contributions to its interpretation. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/debating-islam/contrasting-behaviours-believers-hostile-apostates/d/133260 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism