Former Muslim offers a Christian response to Orlando

June 14, 2016

While the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful, the relationship of Islam to terrorism, including violence toward gays, mustn’t be ignored, Nabeel Qureshi, a former Muslim who became a Christian says.

Dr. Nabeel Qureshi,  author of "Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward."
Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, author of “Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward.”

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Qureshi offered these words in response to the massacre where 49 were reported murdered at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando: “As we are clouded by agendas and struggling to react, two opposing positions are coming to the fore: ‘Islam is a religion of peace and Mateen’s actions therefore have nothing to do with Islam,’ or ‘Islam is inherently violent therefore we must see all Muslims as latent threats.’

“As an American and a former Muslim, my heart is torn by these two poles of rhetoric. Those who take the first position are endangering my country by overlooking the very real cause of Jihad, which are the teachings and history of Islam. Those who take the latter position are endangering my Muslim family and friends, loving and patriotic Muslims that are as innocent and American as the rest of us.”

In the sayings of the prophet Mohammed (also called the Hadith), homosexual practice is harshly condemned. As Qureshi noted in that same Facebook statement, the Islamic religion has always held that gays must be executed. Several books of the Hadith include lists of punishments for specific sins. With reference to homosexual conduct, “If you find anyone doing as Lot’s people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done.” (Sunan Abu Daud 4447). …

“My answer is simple: truth and love. This may sound trite or fanciful, but I am not advocating a whimsical or baseless love, which would never stand in the face of Jihad. I think we must respond with a love grounded in truth and self-sacrifice, reflecting the person and heart of Jesus Christ. We need to acknowledge the truth about Islam while holding that in tension with a respect and love for Muslims.” Qureshi said.

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