Here’s a scenario. The Prime Minister decides to organise an iftar dinner at Kirribilli House in Sydney. A bunch of imams turn up, along with professionals, business leaders and celebrities.
Over the next few days and weeks, The Australian newspaper runs a series of stories exposing homophobic remarks made by some of the attendees going back years, perhaps decades. The implication is that Muslims are all anti-homosexual, unenlightened and unable to fit into Australian values.
Years later, a devout Christian rugby player has his contract terminated for making comments on social media stating that a host of groups (including atheists and gay people) need to repent or else they will go to hell. The same newspaper goes on a jihad defending the player, claiming his freedom of speech and religion is being compromised.
Is this a case of what’s good for the Christian gander not being good enough for the Islamic goose? Who knows? And quite frankly, who cares? We’ve come to expect such double standards from cultural warriors.
My interest in this whole saga is whether it is ok for religious people to express their views in a clumsy or even hurtful manner. Pseudo-religious pundits are expected to be offensive. Some newspapers make a habit of going after minority figures whether Muslim or indigenous or South Sudanese or whatever. But what about the rest of us who must live in the real world?
From memory, the rugby player stated that gay people would go to hell. The obvious question from a Muslim perspective is this – how the hell does he know? Is he God? Fair enough, he can say that certain forms of sexual conduct are in fact misconduct. But does all misconduct necessarily lead one to spend eternity with Pharaoh and Mr & Mrs Abu Lahab?
I thought I would send a tweet to Israel Folau. I told him I identified as Muslim even if I wasn’t a very good one. I then asked him if he believed I was on the Highway to Hell.
No, my query had nothing to do with AC/DC.
Mr Folau didn’t answer my tweet. However, a host of his supporters did. They all agreed that I was headed straight for hell unless I admitted that Jesus died for my sins.
Should they have said this? Well, it was nice of them to share their formula for salvation. I respect them for their evangelical zeal. If you believed you had access to the truth, you’d only refuse to share that truth if you were selfish.
Muslims also shouldn’t be ashamed of sharing their truths. In Australia, this isn’t so hard to do as most of our sacred teachings and personalities are also found in the Bible.
But I don’t think our preaching should be built around speculating who is headed for hell. Nor should it involve condemning how other people live their lives, including who they choose to sleep with.
The last thing Islam in Australia needs is our very own Israel Folau.
We have religion/s , we have some spiritual estate guys that believe they can dispense heaven and hell and some genuine God – conscious faithfuls at different levels of enlightment. We should know where are we in our pursuit for eternity. Atheist may opt out from the self-assessment.
Dear Br Irfan
I beg to disagree.
Allah said of homo in Quran HUD, 82:
So when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay, [which were].
I am not sure how to describe people who are treated as above other than going to hell.
We should not support an environment where criticizing homo is regarded negatively.. this is very non-islamic.
Remember that telling people the fact as u see it is my/ur duty, and Izzy is opening the door for us to do that.
I donot want to be penalised for quoting a quranic verse, whether non muslims like it or agree with it or not.
After all Abu Lahab didnot like all what the prophet used to say, however the propher kept going.
Also, I am not really sure why we need to be “enlightened” by the Australian newspaper. We all know they are biased.
U wrote:
“The implication is that Muslims are all anti-homosexual, unenlightened and unable to fit into Australian values.”
I am a proud anti-homosexual and donot see my self an unenlightened. If others want to see me backwards due to my beliefs, then this is my honour!
But you do have your own Muslim Israel Folau. Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. He showed the world what happens to homosexuals under Islam.
Al Baghdadi cannot be used as an example of Islam anymore than General Franco or the Grand Dragon of the KKK can be used as examples of Christianity.
Yep your right General Franco and the Grand Dragon can’t be used as examples. The New Testament doctrine does Not support their views. On the other hand, Sahih Al-Bukharia, Sunan Abu Dawud, Al-Muwatta’ and Reliance of the Traveller (Islamic Sacred Law) These Authoritative books which Islamic doctrine was founded on. Do encourage the killing of homosexuals. Please Bilal can you stop writing misleading and Ignorant personal opinions. It muddies the water on True Islamic Doctrine and Truth Seekers.
I believe the rugby player quoted the Bible verse which said that. He should have quoted the full verse, which includes a whole bunch of others destined for Hell as well.
As Muslims we rely on the Quran to advise us on such points. Equally, a Christian can quote his scripture. There is no need to ask whether he is God.
I have to say I am disappointed in this article. The point at the start is valid, the rest…