I Reject Honor Killings: I had to become a Muslim. - Will King The subject of honor killing has been at the forfront of media reporting over and over again. An implied relationship between honor killings and so called Muslim Culture, and therefor with the teachings of Islam itself, is being hammered and hammered in the minds of many over time. Any person with a sense of true justice and true honor knows that it is a sinful, unjust act for a father to kill his innocent son or daughter. You have to have peanuts in your brains to think it is the teachings of Islam to think otherwise! This is why I became a Muslim. The concept of honour killings in itself has great importance to me as a born Canadian who embraced Islam, because the greatest acceptance of honor killing in all of history was the acceptance in Later Christian theology that God the Father killed His son, although entirely innocent, in order that humanity be saved. We as human beings condemn this act amongst ourselves but yet we place this very act upon the hands of God, due to an interpretation of the original word of God and the changing of the scriptures by the hands of man. (Jeremiah 8:8, “How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.) Divine Justice in the killing of Jesus sinks below a level of justice which every judge on earth condemns. The Quran says: if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people 5:32 As a now Muslim, I turn to the teachings of Islam, through the Quran and the Sunnah of Muhammad, peace be upon him, that tells me to believe in Jesus as a Righteous Messenger and servant of God Almighty. Before I was Muslim I knew it was an unjust act for a father to kill his son for any form of honor or because of anything someone else did. As a Muslim I read time after time that God has condemned the killing of any innocent human being. As a Muslim I believe in Jesus and say peace be upon him. I also believe there were those who wished to kill Jesus because he came with a message that was not very popular with the power elite of his day. I do see however a man at the time of Jesus, in the Bible, who spoke against the plan to crucify him, and the existing bible says about that man, whose name was Joseph on the Jewish council, that he was good and upright. Wouldnt everyone like to be like a man that is referred to in the Bible as good and upright?. Luke 23:50-51 - Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God., we see the same Joseph being discussed in Matthew 27:57, As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. The man who became a disciple of Jesus from the Jewish council who disagreed with the decision to crucify Jesus is the one who is described as a righteous upright man in the bible. Although as a now Muslim we believe that Jesus was not actually crucified and that God made it appear so, the Biblical narrative does point out some interesting things. I see a man in the Bible that condemned the fact that Jesus was being punished on the cross; this man being the criminal next to Jesus, defending Jesus from the slurs of the other criminal - telling the other criminal that Jesus has done nothing to deserve being on the cross. This is the man that is told will enter the kingdom. Luke 23:35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[c]”43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Although I now conclude there was much confusion surrounding this event and there are different accounts of the discourse surrounding Jesus and what appeared to be his crucifixion and his statements, I will say that the biblical narrative has even the criminal next to Jesus knew that honor killing of an innocent being who has done nothing wrong was an unjust act. Both men who denied the need and denied any justice whatsoever in the crucifixion are being rewarded with the pleasure of God. What men wished to do they have placed onto God! I believe all of us would say that God is Just. If God would be unjust then truly we have no hope at all. I know, however that evil destroys, and the example of good and just people in the world indicates their is a Creator who is the Creator and Fashioner of this thing. A Just God, rewards justice on Earth and would not expect us to believe that to become closer to him we must accept and embrace an act that He, Himself condemns, over and over; that being the killing of an innocent man. Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they dont know what they are doing. (Luke 23:24) The Roman, Pontious Pilate, knew that to crucify Jesus was an unjust act and he washed his hands of it as it was not really his choice. Matthew: 11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, Are You the King of the Jews? So Jesus said to him, It is as you say. 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, Do You not hear how many things they testify against You? 14 And He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have nothing to do with that JUST Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, Which of the two do you want me to release to you? They said, Barabbas! 22 Pilate said to them, What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? They all said to him, Let Him be crucified! 23 Then the governor said, Why, what evil has He done? But they cried out all the more, saying, Let Him be crucified! 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it. 25 And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us and on our children. 26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Even Pilate and his wife knew it was an unjust and reprehensible act to condemn Jesus to death. Honor killing was condemned by God as exemplified by the fact that Abraham, peace be upon him was freed from performing the sacrifice of his son. The Bible says in Isaiah 1:11 - The multitude of your sacrifices--what are they to me? says the LORD. I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. We see that God has condemned the blood of lambs as sacrifice to him. As a Christian I then had to ask how did the teachings of Jesus, peace be uon him change to become a lamb sacrificed in an honor killing by his father. In our abhorance to honor killings we are willing to accept that God does the act that is reprehensible to us; that is a grave sin to us? The Bible says: Deut. 24:16 Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin. Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him. Allah says, Every soul shall have taste of death; In the end to us shall ye be brought back Quran 29:57, On the day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you (to fear) Him. And Allah is full of kindness to those that serve Him. - Quran 3:30 Muslims believe that although all human beings are offspring of Adam, peace be upon him, that children do not inherent sin. When you look at a small baby no judge would condemn that baby for a crime because the baby has done no act of his own will to merit punishment. Divine Justice is of inherent logic and purity in Islam. God does not sin, while the killing of an innocent for an offense another did is just that, a grave sin. The Quran says: ...... Say, God never advocates sin. Are you saying about God what you do not know? 7:28 As a Muslim, I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe he is to come again as the Messiah, to impart true Justice on this Earth. Not just justice for the rich or those who can afford good representation. Justice for all people, including the ones who cover their hair like his mother did, and wore a beard like he did, and prayed on his face to the same God he did in the manner in which he did. I believe as a now Muslim that although the Bible has been changed due to many factors, not the least being the translation into different languages and the non existence of the original Aramaic copy. Although I believe it to be changed, I do believe there is still much truth in it. The Bible says in Hebrews 5:7 While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. The Quran says: They themselves bragged: “We have slain Jesus son of Mary, a Messenger of God!” Whereas, in fact, they did not slay him, nor did they crucify him; but the matter was made dubious for them. And those who have differed about this matter, are also in doubt concerning it. They have no knowledge of it, but they follow mere conjectures, for it is certain that they did not kill Jesus. Nay, the fact is that God had raised him to Himself, for God is indeed All-Powerful, All-Wise. Many people are trying to make it seem like Islam itself permits honor killing. Nothing could be further than the truth. Islam gives to me, a second chance. A second chance to worship a merciful God by falling on my face, the way Jesus did. Islam gives me a second chance to believe in Jesus as the Messiah and to try to walk with him as he told us to do... by following his actions. He didnt eat pork, he condemned money trading, we dont eat pork and see money trading as the curse that is causing the downfall of the global economic system. Islam gave me a second chance to worship the God of Jesus and believe in the religion of Jesus not the religion about Jesus. Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity: for He loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked. 2:275-276 The teachings of Jesus have turned into mockery if we point at people who look like him, and pray like him, and condemn women who dress like his mother. Have we lost our sense! Do we see what we have become? The one we say we love we want nothing to do with? We only want to drink his blood but do not want to hear his words? I now worship the Creator who in the Arabic language is called Allah. I believe with all my heart that God also abhors honor killings. I believe wholeheartedly that God did not kill his innocent son to forgive us. I believe we all stand for our own actions and if we ascribe no partners to God that He is the source of all Mercy. Do you think that God will punish because of the statement: I worshiped only you in your Oneness oh God? Even Jesus in the bible told us that he did nothing of his own authority! A God without authority? Authority granted to him by God. And Christ is the Greek for anointed. All Prophets were anointed by God into positions of authority granted only by The Almighty. This is the statement of belief in Islam, I testify that their is no god but God, and Muhammaed is a messenger of God. (To ensure we differentiate the messenger from the One who sends him. My Father is greater than I (Jesus says in John 14:28). We say the same thing about God, as Jesus did when we say, Allahu Ackbar (God is Greater - the call to prayer of Muslims). When I, as a Muslim, say that God is greater than I, and fall on my face as Jesus did, I am saying I am the created, while God is the Creator. I am saying I am the weak and will die, while God is All Strength and does not die. I am the one asking, while God has All Power to answer. I am praying, while God does not pray but Hears the prayers. When Jesus said, God is Greater than I and he fell on his face in prayer, he showed the nature of his relationship with his Creator, with God Almighty, with Allah. Remember Jesus didnt call God by the English word God; he spoke Aramaic. The bible refers to him as saying my god as Illahi, Illahi! Islam is simple: One God, One Prophet-hood, One Humanity. God, being all powerful can not only forgive us if we ask of him directly. He has the power to be able to save Jesus too! Amazing! Just! Merciful! Kind! Loving! This is my God! I hope you get to know Him! The women love Allah too. They can pray to one who is not a man or male. God says in the Bible in Numbers 23:19, God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? and the Quran says, no vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things. 6:103. And There is NONE like unto him (Quran Ch 112). Now you know why we do not have pictures of Jesus although we love him, or pictures of Muhammad, or Moses because we do not know what they look like and to hang a picture may be the start of worshiping the messenger instead of the One who sends him. And to draw a picture of God Almighty while the Bible says non may look upon Him and live... I deny the HONOR KILLING of JESUS. I believe the desire to kill Jesus was an unjust act of men to rid them of the one who spoke against the elite money trading and whom loved and lived with the poor. The question you have to ask yourself is: Would the MEDIA defend Jesus today or would they side with those that pay their bills? I say history is repeating itself as the poor Afghan woman looses her innocent son in the collateral of the act of defending her, as the traders trade rice on the futures market so the Pakistani peasant can not buy food for his family. Next time we say we value women have a look at the magazines they show your daughters in the checkout and the rapes they show your sons on TV and the language about women on their iPods. Just tell Jesus when he comes that his mother is not allowed to wear her headscarf and you mock the ones who pray on his face as he again prays on his. But we follow him. What a backwards world. Are we so blind? A Muslim would have followed and listened to Jesus in his day. Now Jesus would be on the no fly list. I love JESUS. I am a MUSLIM! I testify that their is only One God, Allah and that Jesus is a Messenger of God! There is no such thing as an Honor Killing. Whether it be from man or God.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 00:41:01 +0000
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