As a Muslim, I feel I must inform the readership that there are two sources of recognized doctrine in Islam: the Quran, which is the revealed word of God, and the Hadith, which is man's commentary and collected observations of Mohammed's teachings. The Quran is the supreme authority in Islam, and all followers, Shia or Sunni, are considered Muslims.

"There is no coercion in religion," the Quran emphatically teaches, and — following this decree — throughout history Islam has been the most tolerant of the three great monotheistic religions. In their schools, Americans have been taught that Islam was "spread by the sword," but that is a misnomer insomuch that Islam did spread as a result of being taken into conquered territories and then spread even farther through merchants from the Far East who took this wonderful new religion home to Indonesia, the Philippines and other Eastern nations.

That's where the majority of the world's Muslims now reside because they were impressed with its teachings, but the conquered peoples were not forced to convert to Islam. Unlike Christians, Muslims do not proselytize but do welcome those who wish to join them.

The question at hand is the tradition that has developed over the centuries of taking the life of one who chooses to leave Islam. This is when we must realize that in the history of the world, culture and tradition have many times trumped God's word. In many Muslim countries such laws are on the books but very rarely are they enforced. Muslim countries vary widely, and many have no such law.

I know of a number of conversions to other religions, principally Christianity, that have gone unchallenged, although the families involved may have expressed their disapproval or even shunned the offending family member as a result. We need to understand that Islam is not an organized religion, therefore the responsibility for enforcing laws of morality has fallen on society itself.

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One can find other examples of some societies enacting laws or traditions that are directly contrary to the teaching of the Quran, such as denying women the inheritance the Quran guarantees them. Mankind is imperfect, particularly when it relies on the wisdom of the time instead of on the word of God.

Muslims do not believe that they are the only ones who will make it to heaven. The Quran also states that there are very pious Jews and Christians who will make it to heaven ahead of some Muslims.

I feel that it is essential that Muslims and Christians engage in a dialogue so that we can better understand one another. I thank you for the opportunity to offer to you my humble opinion.


Omar Barrani lives in Salt Lake City.

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