In this day and age, some of the Christian missionaries allege that Islam is based on the fear of God whereas Christianity is a religion of love in which God loves everyone without differentiating between good and evil. Thus, aiming to estrange people from Islam and promote Christianity.
However, these missionaries do wrong because they do not recite their Book in its entirety. What they tell about God and love is a clever disguise of the truth. Their words about Islam are misleading.
In fact, Islam and Christianity are very similar in essence, because they both are from the One and Almighty God, just as the other divine teachings.
First of all, when we read through the Bible, we see that God loves those who love Him and punishes the others:
“The Lord said, 6 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 7 “You shall have no other gods before[b] me. 8 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to thousands of generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Deuteronomy 5:6-10)
In another part, it is written that God loves the righteous people only and He hates the wicked:
“The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone; he puts them to test. 5 The Lord puts the righteous to test, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. 6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. ” (Psalms 11:4-7)
The way of gaining God’s love is staying away from evil and doing good:
“Turn away from evil and do good, and your descendants will always live in the land; for the Lord loves what is right and does not abandon his faithful people. He protects them forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be driven out.” (Psalm 37:27-28)
Yet another proof that God loves righteousness and hates wickedness:
“Your throne, O God,[c] will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Psalms 45:6,7)
In the Bible, fearing from God is advised along with the emphasis put on love and God:
“Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 25:17)
“So that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.” (Deuteronomy 6:2)
“Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. “ (Deuteronomy 6:13)
“The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, –so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.” (Deuteronomy 6:24)
Jesus (pbuh) also preached people to fear from God:
““I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” (Luke 12:4,5)
Indeed, we learn from the New Testament that Jesus (pbuh) himself also feared God:
“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared” (Hebrews 5:7)
A truthful and sincerely devout missionary could see that there is no difference between the messages about fear and love of God they would find in the Bible and in the Quran. However, some missionaries hide this truth and follow an unethical way of preaching Christianity.
In tens of Quranic verses, the Almighty God draws attention to His love and endless mercy. He invites mankind to turn around from their wrongs and doing righteous deeds:
“Spend for God’s cause in order to not put yourselves in jeopardy by your own hands. Behave kindly. God loves those who behave kindly.” (Al-Baqarah 2:195).
“They (the mindful) are those who spend (for God’s cause) in time of plentifulness as well as in the time of poverty. They control their anger and forgive the people. God loves those who behave kindly.” (Al-e Imran 3:134)
“They listen eagerly to lies and consume what is unlawful. If they come to you [Prophet] for judgment, you can either judge between them, or decline- if you decline, they will not harm you in any way, but if you do judge between them, judge justly: God loves the just (people).” (Al-Ma’idah 5:42)
“Nay! Whoever keeps his word and protects himself (by being mindful of God) should know that God loves the mindful. “ (Al-e Imran 3:76).
“[Prophet], never pray in that mosque. You should rather pray in a mosque founded from its first day on mindfulness of God: in this mosque there are men who desire to grow in purity- God loves those who seek to purify themselves.” (At-Tawbah 9:108)
One of God’s beautiful names mentioned in the Quran is “having endless love”.
“And He alone is truly-forgiving, having endless love.” (al-Buruj 85:14).
According to the Quran, God punishes those who do evil deeds and disobey Him. We must keep in mind that He will not leave the criminals unpunished and therefore fear Him:
“That Devil who said that word intimidates you with his adherents. Do not fear them and [instead] fear Me, if you are believers!” (Al-e Imran 3:175)
According to the Quran, endless love is one of God’s attributes; but His endless love is attributed to His servants who obey Him and do good deeds. God loves only those who fear Him. They listen to Him, obey Him, and do not follow the Devil. The followers of the Devil deserve the punishment. The Quran confirms the Books that were sent before It also by means of these teachings. Those who strive to disguise Islam as a religion of fear are only trying to deceive people by hiding the truth.
Vedat Yılmaz
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