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From: yazdani@eng.umd.edu (Sayed M. Naved)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: FORGIVENESS
Message-ID: <1991Feb1.170609.6744@wpi.WPI.EDU>
Date: 1 Feb 91 17:06:09 GMT
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I am posting this reply to an article on forgiveness, on behalf
of a brother who doesn't have access to the net. All responses
may be directed to me and it would be forwarded to him.

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful and Most Benificient

Here are a few ayhahs (verses) or signs from Allah, who created
me and you, to whom belongs all glory and praise, and who is free
from what we ascribe to Him. Please, keep in mind that it is 
impossible to translate the Quran and convey the exact the message
, here is translation from Abdullah Yusuf Ali's work.

Surah: Jathiya (The Kneeling Down)	Ayah: 14
	"Tell those who believe to forgive those who do not look
	forward to the Days of Allah: It is for him to recompense
	(for good or ill) each people according to what they have 
	earned."

Surah: Shura (The Consultation)		Ayah: 5
	"The heavens are almost rent asunder from above them (By
	His Glory): and the angels celebrate the praises of their
	Lord, and pray for forgiveness for (all) beings on earth:
	Behold! Verily Allah is He, the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Surah: Zumar (Crowds)		Ayah: 53
	"....Despair not of the mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives 
	all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

I hope that these are the signs you were looking for. I would encourage
you not to be arrogant and to re-evaluate your views. The conclusion
that "Unless someone can come up with a passage from the Koran that 
clearly tells us to love everyone, including the our enemies, then we
will simply have to agree that Bible teaches a higher forgiveness than
does the Koran " is not valid for many reasons; one being that "Love"
and "Forgiveness" are not synonomous. 

I believe that the references quoted above display that Quran enjoins
the highest possible level of forgiveness. But with reference to Love
the Quran speaks differently. All throughout the Quran there are 
references that Allah loves the righteous, the truthful, the patient,
the believers and so on. Allah loves not the ones who cover truth with 
falsehood, the oppressor, the people given to wrong doing, the 
transgressors and so on.

Referencing the Bible, we can display how the famous Christain OBSESSION
with love and forgiveness is taken from the dogma, which has been forced 
on the Bible and not based upon it.
Luke 12:49	"I have come to bring on the earth and how I wish it 
		were already kindled."

Luke 22:36	"He said to them, 'But now if you have a purse take it
		and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell 
		your cloak and buy one."

John 18:10	"Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck
		the high priest servant, cutting off his right ear..."

Matt 10:34	"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the 
		earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."

Joshua 6:21	"They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with
		the sword every living thing in it - men and women,
		young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys."

Referencing the Quran
Surah: Baqarah (Cow)	Ayah: 191
	"...... tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter.."

Surah: Baqarah (Cow)	Ayah: 193
	"And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression
	, and there prevail justice and Faith in Allah; But if they 
	cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice 
	oppression."

To conclude, in Islam we are encouraged by the Quran to be forgiving.
But we are also to be Just; Oppression is not Just, and we have to 
fight it. Fighting was practised by the prophets in the Bible too.

Peace be upon You.

P.S.	Please donot think of Islam as just another religion, it is 
the truth, and a mercy from the One God. It would be best for you to
practice it - but at least do not insult it.