Title: A Comment on 'Understanding Islam' Question: You have a nice way of denying facts and modifying it in a very sophisticated manner. At the end of every response, you show yourself as a humble and calm person. My question is don't you have fear of ALLAH, as you have contradicted almost all the basic things in Islam ordered by ALLAH. I don't need a justification, just want to say fear ALLAH and remember that you will be speechless in front of ALLAH "according to my present understanding". Even non-Muslims who have knowledge of Islam laugh at your responses. You have denied ALLAH indirectly by contradicting almost every natural cause and effect. And what is this "present understanding", did you have a "past understanding", and, do you plan to have a "future understanding": What is Islam? A joke? Islam has been completed 1400 years ago, don't make a new religion out of it. After looking at people like you, Salman Rushdie and other Satanic thinkers that how far ALLAH can go in forgiving his creation "the human being". I pray that ALLAH shows all of us the right path and give us guts to accept the true path. I am an illiterate compared to you as you are a scholar but my blood boils when I see people like you making fun of Islam in a sophisticated and an indirect way. People like you have literally teared apart Quran and Sunnah. But ALLAH's mercy and blessing is ahead of his anger, you and all of us sinners have time before death to bend down in front of supreme ALLAH. Always pray, according to my past, present and future understanding; "Oh ALLAH show us the true and right path which you like, not the path which we like, give us the strength to be on the right path of your choice even if we hate to follow it, we are always wrong forgive us". Ameen. I am not qualified to point out your mistake as I don't have certain pre-requisites to do it. But "according to my present understanding" I was able to find out a lot which is burning a fire inside me and makes my heart cry as how easy it is to destroy ALLAH's order and how hard it is to disobey a traffic signal on a busy road (which is just a man-made law). People like you are living in a fool's paradise that by modifying Islam, you can please west and make a safe heaven on earth. ALLAH will rule and ALLAH's true orders will prevail. Only those will survive the test who follow the true path and go against their desires. Don't give your own desires the sacred name of Islam. I am sorry for using any harsh words, I hope you get the real meaning and point. Forgive me for any harm done, because "according to my present understanding" it was required. It is required by average Muslims to respect every scholar whatsoever and it is restricted for Muslims to indulge themselves in debate but to tell once is required. You are lucky not to be in a true Islamic state like the ones during Hadrat Usman and other khulfa-rashideen. Otherwise you would have been definitely jailed and or killed in case of propagating these ideas and showing resistance. "According to my present understanding", this is what Shari`ah orders for people like you. It was required just once and don't think by smartly avoiding a question or answering you can run away. Facts are facts no matter how hard and bitter. People like you are responsible for current conditions and people like you are like snakes sitting along side rivers, who don't drink water themselves and at the same time don't let others drink. Let the non-Muslims see the real Islam and pray for the light of ALLAH for everyone. Please stop it from spreading. ALLAH knows best May ALLAH give hidayah to all AMMEN Regards Harjit Sawhney Answer: Thank you for your comments and observations on my work. Although it is obvious that you do not agree with my opinions regarding various issues, yet I am not in a position to respond to your comments as you have completely refrained from stating your precise objections on even a single issue. Your comments are mostly judgmental in nature and, therefore, not requiring a response from me. I consider it your right to hold and express your opinions regarding my work, but would request you, in all sincerity, to keep your mind open for any alterations in your 'present understanding', in the light of the Qur'an and the Sunnah . Please do not brush aside the idea that you can as easily be mistaken in your 'present understanding' of the directives of the Qur'an and the Sunnah , as I. You write: You have a nice way of denying facts and modifying it in a very sophisticated manner. At the end of every response, you show yourself as a humble and calm person. My question is don't you have fear of ALLAH, as you have contradicted almost all the basic things in Islam ordered by ALLAH... You have denied ALLAH indirectly by contradicting almost every natural cause and effect. I would appreciate if you could kindly point out the 'facts' that I have denied, the 'basic things' ordered by Allah that I have contradicted and the 'natural cause and effect' that I have contradicted. This would provide me a real opportunity of correcting my understanding. You write: And what is this "present understanding"? did you have a "past understanding", and, do you plan to have a "future understanding": What is Islam? A joke? Islam has been completed 1400 years ago, don't make a new religion out of it. 'Present understanding' is exactly what the phrase implies. Yes, I did have a 'past understanding', which was proven wrong in the light of the Qur'an and, subsequently, led me to the 'present understanding'. And yes, I still do not claim perfection in my 'present understanding' and recognize the potential of correction in it, insha'Allah , through honest search and with the help of the Most Merciful. My dear brother, after the Prophet of God no person in this world can claim 'perfection' in his understanding. All of us have our limitations and mistakes. I consciously try to remind myself and my readers that whatever I write is according to my 'understanding' of the directives of the Qur'an and the Sunnah , which entails the potential of being incorrect. I assure you, that all scholars - whether they say it or not - do exactly the same. They present and propagate Islam according to their 'present understanding' - which entails an equal potential of being incorrect. Many things in their 'present understanding' have indeed gone through developments and corrections and many may be corrected in future. I agree with you that the revelation of Islam indeed was completed 1400 years ago, but do you not agree with me that its 'understanding', interpretation and deliberation over its directives shall continue till the Day of Judgment? You write: Even non-Muslims who have knowledge of Islam laugh at your responses. Almost everyday, I renew my pledge with God to present my 'understanding' of the Qur'an, the Sunnah and sayings ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh), according to the best of my abilities without any regard to whether or not people - Muslims and non-Muslims alike - like my presentations or laugh at it. I will, insha'Allah , continue to do so till the time that I meet God. You write: I am not qualified to point out your mistake as I don't have certain pre-requisites to do it. But "according to my present understanding" I was able to find out a lot which is burning a fire inside me and makes my heart cry as how easy it is to destroy ALLAH's order and how hard it is to disobey a traffic signal on a busy road (which is just a man-made law). If you are not qualified to point out my mistakes, then what makes you so complacent and confident about your 'understanding'? As I have stated earlier, I defend your right to disagree with me with all my strength, but my dear brother, you should consider refraining from passing a judgment (of right or wrong) or recording such strong comments on another person's opinion, till the time that you have fully understood the other person's opinion. And when you do fully understand the other person's opinion and its basis, you will be in a much better position to not only record your objection for the general readers but also to affect a correction in that other person's opinions. Giving rash comments without even undertaking a serious study of another person's opinion is not likely to have any positive affects. I thank you for your sincere words of advice and prayers, but would once again request you to keep your heart and mind open to the Truth that may come your way. With sincere prayers, Moiz Amjad March 26, 2002