Assalam o Alaikum
i was just reading this book called Forbidden Love by Norma Khouri and kind of skipping the details related to the
Jordanian culture and Arabs, in order to move fastly towards the real story. Suddenly, on PAGE 70, these WRONGFULLY
STATED LINES caught my eyes >>>>> " Dalia has worn the shar’ii since she was 10, which for women is the beginning
of adult life. This tradition is atleast as old as Mohammad himself. Islam’s founder was married to an even younger
child, six-year-old Aisha, and consummated the marriage sexually when she was 9. Aisha was only one of Mohammad’s
many child brides."
Right after that, i stopped reading the book because the woman is insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad(Sallal laho
alaihai waAalaihe Wasalam), naozbillah, and that she has totally no knowledge of islam or she has false concepts.
But then i thought that is this the only account where she has written such things , so i turned some more pages,
only to find on PAGE 74, some more WRONGFULLY STATED LINES, >>>>>>>>“We can lay the violence that has been part of
the Islamic culture for nearly 1400 years at the feet of another
Mohammad…It is safe to say,I believe, that
Islam is a totalitarian regime operating under the guise of a religion. The Koran is its manifesto,claimed by Islam
to provide guidance for all that is needed for a person’s spiritual and physical wellbeing.”
Page 77 >>>> “We (non-muslims) must not build new churches or temples or sound church bells”.
First of all i would like to say that many other accounts which the writer is associating with Islam have nothing to
do with it. It might be that those things be followed in Jordanian culture , but then Jordan is not a model Islamic
state. Muslims mould the rules of Islam , (which is not allowed in Islam) sometimes, to suit themselves. but then
they are not role models of/in Islam. Similarly , if u catch a terrorist and he is a muslim, that doesnt mean that
his actions depict Islamic teachings. Don’t we have any Christian or Jew terrorists in this world? What about that
person who killed many people in Norway , was he a muslim, did islam teach him this , NO.
Secondly , its the main teaching of Islam >>>“Deen mai koi jabbr nahin” >>>> meaning something like, You are nor
forced in (the religion ) Islam and neither into Islam. so, no one is being forced to embrace Islam, if u talk of
actual Islamic teachings.
Non muslims are not prohibited to worship their religion.
How can u simply relate violence to Islam , have u ever researched on this religion? Do u know what the word Islam
means , Islam itself means PEACE.
And as to talk of these lines, >>> " Dalia has worn the shar’ii since she was 10, which for women is the beginning
of adult life. This tradition is atleast as old as Mohammad himself. Islam’s founder was married to an even younger
child, six-year-old Aisha, and consummated the marriage sexually when she was 9. Aisha was only one of Mohammad’s
many child brides."
The long gown or abaaya , she is talking of, has different purposes and its usage starts at different ages in
different countries , e.g. in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it starts at about 13 or 14, when a girl has her first
periods. (Referring to Princess by Jean Sasson). But anyways , that is a minor matter, but as we are talking of this
gown / abaaya, i would like to ask one question from Norma Khouri , that non-muslims often criticize muslim women on
wearing abaaya/scarf , but they respect the nuns who not only wear a long white/black gown but also cover their head
with a scarf?
Islam says a girl is ready for marriage, when she sees her first period. To talk of Saudi Arabia 1400 years back ,
girls there used to have pure, organic foods and were brought up in healthy environment, so they used to grow up
early and at an early age, they would start having periods. Just as if u today compare the girls in village to girls
in city, village girls grow up fast.
And if the writer had done some research , she would know that why the Prophet(PBUH) married Aisha(RA). Among many
other reasons, was to show the world how the dealings should be, if a man has young, virgin wife . And also
Aisha(RA) observed and listened to everything the Prophet (PBUH) said about Islam, and she lived for many years
after the death of Prophet (PBUH) , so she was able to convey His teachings and pass them along to the people of the
world. And also to correct the people in their decisions/ matters.
The Prophet(PBUH) is named,
“Rehmat-tillil-Aalameen”, meaning blessing for both the worlds- whole world, not only for muslims. So if today u
study His teachings , its not obligatory for u to be a muslim. Anyone can take guidance from His teachings and be
blessed.
The last line >>>> Aisha was only one of Mohammad’s many child brides. >>>>>>> Even non muslims know that Ayesha was
the only bride who was the youngest among our Prophet’s (PBUH) brides and a virgin. All other wives were either
divorced or widow. Even his first wife Khadija(RA) , [from whom He(PBUH) had children], was a 2 time widow and that
she was 40 when she sent the proposal to the Prophet(PBUH), who was 25 at that time and was unmarried. So , All of
the Prophet’s (PBUH) marriages and deeds are to set an example for us , for example, that in case of marriage to
young/widow/divorcee, how the dealings should be done.
Referring to “AL HADIS - an english translation and commentary with arabic text of MISHKAT UL MASABIH, translated
and commentary by AL-HAJ MAULANA FAZLUL KARIM , retired judge M.A.,B.L. , CALCUTTA , INDIA 1939”,
Ali reported: I heard the Apostle(PBUH) of Allah say: The best of their women was Mary, daughter of Imran , and the
best of their women is Khadija,daughter of Khuwailed- (Agreed).
Anas reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: Sufficient for you from the women of the universe are Mary,daughter of
Imran and Khadija, daughter of Khuwailed and Fatimah,daughter of Muhammad and Aasiyah,wife of Pharaoh. (Tirmizi)
May Allah forgive me for writing such insulting and blasphemous lines , which i have quoted from the book.and May
Allah forgive me and guide me if i have written something wrong. Ameen
I would appeal to all muslims , that please do some research of the Islamic teachings ,whether they were told to u
by ur forefathers or u read them somewhere before/while following them and try to learn the logic behind these
teachings , not only for yourself but to educate the non-muslims about Islam.
If u people think any of my arguments false, feel free to research on this matter and any matter regarding Islam. We
as humans often accept whats in writing, just to save us from doing any research. Remember , Seeing is Not always
Believing.
& Peace,