by Salman Azhar
In May 1991, Salman Azhar, a computer science graduate student at Duke University, received a set of questions from a non-Muslim reader of his previous posts on soc.religion.islam — questions the reader said he had "repeatedly asked" and "got vague replies" to. Azhar shared both the questions and his answers with the group.
The result is a brief but substantive practitioner's engagement with four challenges that are as common today as they were in 1991: How does Islam treat non-believers? What is the actual Quranic position on women? Is it possible to worship out of love rather than fear? And can a religion that emerged from a particular historical moment claim universal truth? The answers are frank, theologically grounded, and occasionally surprising in their candor — particularly on the question of fear as a motivating factor in worship.
Azhar signs himself "religious-scholar-wanna-be" — a self-deprecating note that understates the quality of the engagement. The post closes with a verse from the Quran's Surah al-Anfal.
I received the following through personal mail. Since most of these questions are pertinent to the article, I shall share them with the net at large.
On Atheism
How does Islam deal with atheists and "unreligious" people?
Islam tells Muslims to treat irreligious people like other human beings. No human can condemn another to hell, or otherwise. At the time this question is asked, a considerable amount of your life is still to go, so there is no immediate need for you to be classified.
On Women
What does the Quran say about the role of women in society, in relation to men, and the role they play or can play?
According to Islam, women can do everything a man can, own everything a man can, etc. Often, one hears about misinterpretation of "men having a degree of superiority over women." A son does not have superiority over mother, a brother not over sister, etc. In the institution of marriage, the husband has some degree of authority over wife, which is complemented with an equally greater responsibility for the quality of the family's life. This is a topic in itself, and should be discussed separately.
On Fear
Why does worship have to be based on fear?
At the outset, one does not have to worship out of fear. As humans we motivate ourselves from a variety of emotions: love, hate, courage, fear, etc. Of these emotions, fear is the most effective and efficient motivating factor. Which one of the following do you find easier: to pay $100 to a charity, or pay the same $100 to a mugger at gunpoint?
Consequently, it should come as no surprise to you that of all the motivations to submit to God, we find fear the most dominant.
On Social Evolution
A religion is born out of the social structure of its times. How can one translate the writings of an individual born in a particular social class, at a fairly violent time, into universal truths?
The classic socio-evolution argument has often been presented against most religions, but it dies a painful death when confronted by Islam. The difference is that Islam was "defined" over approximately 700 centuries, starting from His messenger Adam. The 14 centuries after His messenger Muhammad's death are insignificant compared to those 700 centuries, which saw violent and peaceful times.
Islam is not a static religion but a dynamic one. Even today, there is an urgent need to ponder over new circumstances that arise every day.
We need less religion and more free thinking and compassion. Less division and more harmony.
We certainly need less exploitation of religion, and must accommodate fresh thoughts. Most religions are strong advocates of compassion, so I do not understand the need for considering compassion and religion as incompatible.
— Salman [religious-scholar-wanna-be] Azhar
Believers are those who, when God is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts. And, when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened. And, put all their trust in their Lord.
— Surah al-Anfal (8:2)
Colophon
Written by Salman Azhar ([email protected]), Duke University Computer Science Department. Posted to soc.religion.islam on 29 May 1991. Original Message-ID: [email protected]. Cross-posted to soc.culture.pakistan and soc.culture.indian.
Preserved from the UTZOO Usenet mirror (shiftleft.com) for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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