Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 21:52:22
From: Tracy Hall
Subject: A Muslim Response to "The Love of God in the Qur'an
and the Bible"
As Salamu 'Alaikum. My name is Tracy Hall. I am a Muslim and I wish to
respond to the work entitled The Love of God in the Qur an and the Bible
by John Gilchrist.
I seek refuge in Allah (God) from Satan the accursed one, and I bear witness
that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (peace
be upon him) is his last and final Messenger.
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
I embraced Islam less than a year ago after being raised 20 years in the
Christian faith. I am not an Islamic scholar, but I have a good
understanding of the relationship between God and mankind according to Islam.
I am surprised and, frankly, disappointed in Mr. Gilchrist's interpretation
of the relationship between God and mankind in Islam. He has concluded that
Muslims do not genuinely love God and that God does not genuinely love
mankind. This assumption, as I see it, is derived from these two concepts:
1. Muslims are servants of God and not His children.
2. God does not emphasize love in the Qur'an.
It is my opinion that Mr. Gilchrist does not possess a concrete
understanding of Islam and the relationship between God and mankind. I will
attempt to give a brief explanation on this topic focusing on the above two
concepts.
In Islam, there is one God. He created mankind from the dust of the earth
and fashioned us according to His will. The reason mankind was created is
to serve God and to submit completely to His will. In fact, the word Islam
means Peace and Submission to the will of God and Muslims are those who
submit to God's will. In Islam, mankind is not considered to be children of
God. We are His servants and rightly so. Surah Al-Ikhlas, in the Qur'an,
clearly states why mankind must have this relationship with God.
"In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Say: He is Allah, The One;
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, Nor is He begotten;
And there is none Like unto Him." (112:1-4)
"He begetteth not. . . . In other words, He has no children. Because
Muslims have this relationship with God, Mr. Gilchrist suggests that Muslims
do not love Him, but only fear (are afraid of) Him and also wish rewards for
ourselves. He repeatedly points out that because of this (supposed)
attitude toward God, Muslims do what we are told so as not to incur His
wrath and to secure rewards. I do not disagree that Muslims fear (honour,
respect, revere) God and strive
to obtain his approval. God has promised that if we submit completely to His
will, we will be rewarded in the hereafter. In Christianity there are also
promises of rewards in the hereafter for those who are righteous.
Similarly, in the Bible, Christians are told to fear God. In fact, Mr
Gilchrist, himself, pointed this out in the very first lines of his piece.
"'You shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in
his ways and by fearing him'. Deuteronomy 8:6"
In the above quotation, there is no mention of loving God at all. Does this
mean that Christians do not or should not genuinely love God, but serve Him
only to escape His wrath and receive rewards?
What is the definition of genuine love, in respect to the present topic?
According to Mr. Gilchrist, it is similar to the love of a father to his son
or a husband to his wife. This is not a realistic way to explain or compare
the relationship between God and mankind? It has already been determined
that, in Islam, God has no children. Therefore, comparing the relationship
between
God and mankind to that of a parent and child is vain. The idea of
comparing God's love for mankind and vice versa to that of a husband and
wife, is very irreverent. Glory be to God. He is above such things. These
types of love relationships are characteristic of human beings and they
should not be attributed to the Omnipotent one. Muslims do not seek an
intimate relationship
with God, such as father and son, because it is inappropriate. God is our
Creator. Our love for Him should stem from our great esteem and
indebtedness toward Him. This is the type of love that Muslims have for
God. This love, is genuine.
To say that God does not have a genuine love for mankind in Islam, is
incomprehensible. God is the best example of one who has genuine love. His
love is true and He was and always is the first to show love.
His love is true. This point takes me into the second concept stated
earlier in regards to proof of love in the Qur'an. Mr. Gilchrist has said:
"...God is called 'the Merciful' over two hundred times in the Qur'an,
but 'the Loving One' only twice."
It escapes me how Mr. Gilchrist could conclude from this point that God, In
Islam, does not have genuine love for mankind. All praises due to God, Yes
He is called "The Merciful" in the Qur'an an abundance of times. He is also
called "The Beneficent", "Most Gracious", "The Cherisher", "Guardian Lord",
Oft-forgiving" . . . just to mention a few. These are all attributes of
God. If one cannot ascertain from God s other attributes that He is also
loving or that these things are a result of love, than mankind is truly
lost. This lack of insight would suggest that one cannot believe in what
one does not see, hear, or read. How logical is this thinking for people of
faith? God does not have to use the word love to describe the relationship
between mankind and Himself. Listen to this verse of the Qur'an:
"It was We Who Created man, and We know What suggestions his soul Makes
to him: for We Are nearer to him Than (his) jugular vein." (Surah 50:16)
"It was We Who Created man. . . ." This brings me to the point of God
showing love first. He created us. Why? To serve him as we have already
established. However, does serving God benefit Him in any way? When we
serve God does He receive a reward? No, but we do. We are promised
everlasting life in Heaven with Him.
"And the Garden Will be brought nigh To the Righteous,- no more a thing
distant. (A voice will say:) 'This is what was Promised for you,- For
every penitent Heedful one, Who feared The Most Gracious unseen, and
brought a heart Turned in devotion (to Him): Enter ye therein In Peace and
Security; This is a Day Of Eternal Life!' There will be for them Therein
all that they wish,-And there is more With us." (Surah 50:31-35)
Glory be to God. Does mankind really deserve such a generous reward? Not
only is mankind promised wonderful things in the hereafter, but we are
forgiven repeatedly when we sin and when we are ungrateful of the blessings
bestowed upon us each day. God is surely most genuine in His benevolence
and love.
I would like to conclude with this last point. We must keep in mind that
God s love is a privilege, not something that He owes to us. He is the
Creator, the All-knowing, and the Judge of mankind. His love should be
deemed as a special grace from the All-mighty, and that is the reason we
should serve, fear and love Him. As a brother of mine in Islam said, Fear
of God and love of God is not only not inappropriate but rather love
REQUIRES fear because of who we are
and who God is. . All Glory and Praises are due to Allah.
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If anyone would like to respond or comment, you are welcome to e-mail me at:
thall@akana.com
As Salamu 'Alaikum
Overview on John Gilchrist's booklets
Answering Islam home page