Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!olivea!samsung!sdd.hp.com!usc!jarthur!nntp-server.caltech.edu!bes
From: paul@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Forgiveness (toward "non-believers") in Islam
Message-ID: <1990Dec12.022334.20607@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Date: 12 Dec 90 02:23:34 GMT
Sender: bes@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Behnam Sadeghi)
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Lines: 95
Approved: bes@tybalt.caltech.edu

Elizabeth says, in part...

> Subject: Re: Excerpt from USRA Family Magazine: (Forgiveness)
> From: ta00est@unccvax.uncc.edu (elizabeth s tallant)
> Date: 29 Nov 90 17:58:28 GMT
> 
> Hello Mark,
> 
> I am an orthodox Christian who was once confused by Islam.  Perhaps I can
> answer some of your questions.
> 
> First, in your posting, you quoted Jesus.  Well, the Koran has different
> stories of Jesus than the Bible does, and I have yet to find a single passage
> in the Koran which says "love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and
> pray for them that despitefully use you."  I have yet to even find a single
> passage which resembles this.  The only thing that comes close are passages
> that deal with forgiving OTHER MOSLEMS.
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I asked Elizabeth to post my answer to her many days ago, but alas it
hasn't come to pass. Here is a reconstruction of my answer:
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Goodness!!!!!!! Let me provide you a few references!

60:8

"As for such [of the unbelievers] as do not fight against you on account of
[your] faith, and neither drive you forth from your homelands, God does not
forbid you to show them kindness and to behave towards them with full equity:
for, verily, God loves those who act equitably."

41:34

"But [since] good and evil cannot be equal, repel thou [evil] with something
that is better - and lo! he between whom and thyself was enmity [may then
become] as though he had [always] been close [unto thee], a true friend!"

Here are further references:

Apostacy
  - do not ask for speedy doom for apostates 46:35
    - God alone will punish them 73:11, 74:11
  - give charity even to the "erring ones" 24:22
Arguments/Attacks
  - respond in kind 8:58, 16:126
    - being patient is far better 16:126
  - respond with something better 41:34
Behavior
  - argue in a kindly manner with those given earlier revelation 16:125, 29:46
  - be just in your opinions 6:152
  - community should be moderate 2:143, 25:67
  - conceit discouraged 4:36, 57:23
  - don't chide those who seek your help 93:10
  - don't consider yourself pure 53:32
  - don't deride others 49:11, 104:1
  - each group given a law and way of life 2:148, 5:48, 10:47, 10:74, 13:38
    16:36, 16:63, 16:84
  - forgive Jews who distort the Qur'an 5:13
  - forgive non-believers 31:15, 45:14
  - forgive readily 42:37
  - peacemakers rewarded 42:40
  - towards others 17:26-29, 17:35, 17:53, 60:8
  - towards slaves 24:33
    - do good unto 4:36
    - share sustenance with 16:71
Business
  - be fair in dealings 6:152, 17:35
Disbelievers (see also Hypocrites)
  - bear their company in kindness 31:15
  - bear what they say in patience 20:130, 50:39
  - leave company of those in the act of mocking God's law 4:140, 6:68
  - protect them if they ask you to 9:6
  - speak kindly to them 17:53
Fighting
  - aggression
    - forbidden 2:190, 4:90, 60:8
    - sin of 5:2
  - foes cease, you must cease 2:193, 4:90, 8:37, 8:61
  - killing only during hostilities in progress 2:191, 4:89, 4:91, 5:33, 8:39,
    8:57, 9:5, 9:12
  - not for material gain 4:94
Judgement
  - be just 5:8, 5:42
    - don't let hate lead judgement astray 5:8
  - use reason 6:151
  - verify reports and rumors 49:6, 49:12
Killing 18:74, 18:80
  - don't 6:151, 17:33, 25:68
  - don't harm those offering peace 4:90
  - only during hostilities in progress 2:191, 4:89, 4:91, 5:33, 8:39, 8:57,
    9:5, 9:12
Native peoples
  - don't drive them out 2:84
    - reject those who do 2:85
Religion
  - no coercion in matters of faith 2:256