Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims who have some knowledge of
Islam
Q17.Is Allah forgiving or revengeful?
Question:
The
Qur’an says several times that Allah is most Merciful and Forgiving but also
says many times that He gives severe punishment. Is He Forgiving or Revengeful?
IS ALLAH FORGIVING OR REVENGEFUL?
Answer:
1.
Allah is most Merciful:
The
Qur’an says several times that Allah is the most Merciful. In fact all the
114 Surahs i.e. chapters of the Glorious Qur’an except for Surah Taubah,
(chapter 9) begin with the beautiful formula, “Bismillahhir Rahmannir Rahim”,
which means, “In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful”.
2.
Allah is Forgiving:
The
Glorious Qur’an mentions in several verses including Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse
25 and Surah Maidah, chapter 5 verse 74:
“And
Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
3.
Allah gives severe punishment to the deserving:
Allah
besides being Merciful and Forgiving is also strict in giving punishment to the
deserving. The Qur’an mentions in several verses that Allah will give severe punishment
to the unbelievers and rejecters of faith. He will give punishment to all those
who disobey Him. Several verses of the Qur’an describe the various types of severe
punishment that Allah will give in hell to all those who disobey.
“Those
who reject our Signs, we shall soon cast into the Fire; as often as their skins
Are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste
the Penalty: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise”.
[Al-Qur’an 4:56]
4. Allah
is Just:
The
question is whether Allah is forgiving or revengeful. An important point to be noted
is that Allah besides being Merciful and Forgiving, He also has to give severe punishment
to the deserving wicked or evil people, because He is also Just. The Qur’an
mentions in Surah Nisa:
“Allah
is never unjust in the least degree”.
[Al-Qur’an 4:40]
It is
further mentioned in Surah Al-Ambiya: “We shall set up scales of justice for
the day of Judgement, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the
least. And if there be (no more than) the weight of a mustard seed, we will
bring it (to account): and enough are we to take account”.
[Al-Qur’an 21:47]
5. Example:
Teacher forgives a student who copies in the examination:
If
during an examination, a student copies and the teacher who supervises in the examinations
catches the student red-handed, the teacher says that he is very merciful and
kind and forgives him and allows him to continue copying. Those students who
have worked hard for the examination will not call the teacher merciful and
kind but will call him unjust. This merciful act of the teacher will encourage
the other students to also copy. If all the teachers are merciful and kind and
allow the students to copy then no student will ever study for examinations and
all will pass with flying colours by copying. The theoretical results of the
examinations will be excellent in which all the students will pass with first
class and distinction but practically these students will be a failure in life.
The whole purpose of the examination would be defeated.
6. This
Life is a Test for the Hereafter:
The
life in this world is a test for the Hereafter. The Qur’an says in Surah Al
Mulk: “He who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in
deed; and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving”.
[Al-Qur’an 67:2]
7. If
Allah forgives all and punishes none, who will obey him?
If
Allah (swt) forgives each and every human being and punishes no one then why should
the human beings obey the command of Allah (swt)? I do agree that no one will
go to hell, but this world would become hell to live in. If all human beings
are going to go to heaven then this life cannot be called a test for the
hereafter.
8. Allah
only forgives if a person repents:
Allah
(swt) only forgives if a person repents. The Qur’an says in Surah Al-Zumar, chapter
39 verse 53-55:
“Say:
‘O my servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy
of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
“Turn
ye to your Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (will), before the penalty comes
on you - after that ye shall not be helped.
“And
follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the penalty
comes on you - of a sudden, while ye perceive not!’ ”
[Al-Qur’an 39:53-55]
There
are four criteria for repentance: first, agree that the act is wrong. Secondly,
stop it immediately. Thirdly, never do it again in future and lastly,
compensate for the loss if caused to anyone.
Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims who have some knowledge of
Islam
Q16.Author of the Qur'an does not know mathematics
Question:
According
to Arun Shourie there is a mathematical error in the Qur’an. In chapter 4verses 11 and 12 when you add up the different parts of inheritance
given to the heirs, it is more than one. Therefore the author of the Qur’an
does not know mathematics.
AUTHOR OF THE QUR'AN DOES NOT KNOW MATHEMATICS
Answer:
The
Qur’an mentions about inheritance in many places, in
Surah Al
Baqarahchapter 2 verse 180
Surah Al
Baqarahchapter 2 verse 240
Surah Al
Nisachapter 4 verses 7
to 9
Surah Al
Nisachapter 4 verses19
and 33
Surah Al
Ma‘idahchapter 5 verses 105
and 108
Regarding
the share of inheritance it is clearly given in Surah Nisa chapter 4 verse11,
12 and 176.
Let us
examine the verses quoted by Arun Shourie, i.e. Surah Nisa chapter 4 verses11
and 12:
“Allah
(swt) (thus) directs you as regards your children’s (inheritance): to the male,
a portion equal to that of two females: if only daughters, two or more, their
share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half.
For
parents, a sixth share of the inheritance to each, if the deceased left
children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has
a third; if the deceased left brothers (or sisters) the mother has a sixth.
(The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye
know not whether your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit.
These are settled portions ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing,
All-Wise.”
“In
what your wives leave, your share is a half, if they leave no child; but if
they leave child, ye get a fourth; after payment of legacies and debts. In what
ye leave, their share is a fourth, if ye leave no child; but if ye leave a
child, they get an eighth; after payment of legacies and debts.”
[Al-Qur’an 4:11-12]
Islam
explains the law of inheritance in great detail. The broad and basic outline isgiven in the Qur’an and the minute details are given in the Ahadith i.e.
the tradition and sayings of the Prophet (pbuh).
A
person can spend his full life only on the research of the Islamic law of
inheritance with its various permutations and combinations. Arun Shourie
expects to know the law only by superficially reading two verses of the Qur’an
without knowing the criteria.
It is
similar to a person who wants to solve a mathematical equation but does not know
the basic rule of mathematics, i.e. BODMAS which says that in a mathematical equation,
irrespective of which mathematical sign appears first, you will first solve BODMAS:
1st Brackets Off, 2nd Division, 3rd Multiplication, 4th Addition and 5th
Subtraction. If Arun Shourie does not know mathematics and first does
multiplication then subtraction, then brackets off, then division and finally
addition, the answer that he will obtain is bound to be wrong.
Similarly,
when the Qur’an mentions the law of inheritance in Surah Nisa chapter 4 verses
11 and 12, even though the children’s share is mentioned first and then that of
the parents and spouses, according to the law of inheritance in Islam after
paying off the debts and liabilities first, the share is given to the spouses
and the parents depending on whether the deceased has left children or not, and
whatever portion of wealth is remaining is divided between the sons and the
daughters according to their respective shares.
So
where does the question arise of the total coming to more than one? So it is
not Allah who does not know mathematics but it is Arun Shourie himself who is
ignorant about mathematics.
