GodTube Questions for Islam #1: Three Questions Not Allowed?
John C. Rankin (December 14, 2010)
I come at this from the perspective of a biblically committed Christian, one who believes the Bible intrinsically loves tough questions to be posed of the one true Creator, and one of another.
In posing questions of Islam, I do so with the conviction that all Muslims, indeed all peoples, are my equals in the sight of the one true Creator. I expect no more freedom to pose these questions, than the freedom I first honor for anyone to question me.
To wit, my first concern:
In Shari’a Law, there is a process called ijtihad, or legal reasoning, and it has a long history in Islam where rigorous questions are embraced. However, there is also a predicate to ijtihad, where three questions may not be raised (to do so is to thus be regarded as an unbeliever or infidel):
- The existence of Allah may not be questioned.
- The prophethood of Muhammad may not be questioned; and
- The perfection of the Qur’an may not be questioned.
My question is why?
Namely, if Muslims are convinced that Allah is the one true Creator, that Muhammad is the final true prophet, and that the Qur’an is true in all it claims; then do not questions merely provide an opportunity to give the evidence for these three presuppositions? Should there not be excitement at such engagement?
It truth is true, then no questions can undermine it. Rather, questions well serve the pursuit of truth for all people of good will.
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