First:
LIBERTY
This country was built on the Bill
of Rights, established by the founding fathers who came here to escape
religious oppression. The Constitution gives citizens the right
to express themselves as they please, criticize the president, to worship
in the way they want and to act in any way they see appropriate as long
as they don’t violate the rights of others.
What would happen to this freedom in an
Islamic state? Would the citizens be granted the right to choose
the religion they want or would they be forced into Islam according to
the Quranic verse: "If anyone desires
a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him, and in the
hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost."
(Surah 3:85)
How about the right of a Muslim to
change his own religion? Would he be given this right or would
he be punished according to the apostasy rule which states that such a
person should be punished by death? Mohammed
said "Whoever changes his religion, kill him."
(Al Buhkari Vol. 9:57)
Do Muslims activists want us to have
the same rights granted to the citizens of an Islamic country such as Saudi
Arabia, where women are not allowed to drive an automobile and no one can
worship openly according to any religion other than Islam?
Do they want us to be ruled by a ruler such as Khomeini, who issued an
order to murder a writer, Salman Rushdie, just because he dared to criticize
Islam? Even in a moderate Islamic state such as Egypt, Christians
have to obtain a presidential decree to be able to build a church, or even
repair a toilet in a church. They face discrimination in all aspects
of their lives, including education, employment and promotions.
Second:
DEMOCRACY
Our present system in the USA gives
citizens the right to rule themselves, to write the laws that will govern
their lives, to decide the amount of taxes to be collected from them and
how it will be spent.
One important principle in this great
system is the separation of church and state. Islam, however, is
built on an opposing concept, for "Islam is a religion
and a state." According to Islam, the Quran is the principal
source of legislation: "We have sent
down to thee the book in truth, that you might judge men as guided by God."
(Surah 4:105) If the Quran is the law, what are some of the
rules and regulations that will be imposed? Here are just a
few examples:
Third:
EQUALITY
Under our system in the United States,
there should be no discrimination among citizens based on sex, color, religion
or race.
Would Islam treat men and women equally when:
Islam is the fastest growing religion in America. Today, the number of followers of Islam in the United States has reached 4 to 6 million. Muslims project gaining an additional one million American adherents every year. It is expected that Islam will be the second largest religion in America before the turn of the century, and, it is only a matter of time before Islam will become the religion of the majority. America, then, will be labeled an "Islamic country", ruled by the "Quran" and the "Hadith" or what Muslims call Sharia (the Islamic code of ethics).
"You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32 |