Letter to the Editor:
I would like to address Mark Pafford's Feb 24 article on "Mentors make better human beings". Mr Pafford has obviously NOT heard Usama Dakdok speak. I heard Usama's message on "Revealing the Truth about Jihad and Terrorism"
back in November. He presents facts- not "hatred and misinformation" as Mr Pafford seems to assume. One of the sources Usama uses to support facts, is the quran, one of Islam's holy books.
Usama was born in Egypt and raised in a Christian home. He learned about Islam just as every other student does in a muslim country. Usama also studied for a university degree in Egypt which included the study of Sharia, Islamic Law. Usama has a goal of equipping Christians to be effective witnesses of Jesus Christ to the muslims. Here are a couple quotes from his presentation in November: "To share Jesus, first you must know Jesus personally." and "Share Jesus with the muslims and their children and love them with the love of Jesus Christ." Tell me, Mr Pafford, how is that "hatred"?
Mr Pafford tells of two of his guides and mentors. In case one is not aware, an Imam is a person in Islamic leadership and usually a worship leader of a mosque. Pir Zia Inayat Khan, who Mr. Pafford also spoke of, is a scholar and teacher of Sufism, which is defined as the inner mystical dimension of Islam. Mr Pafford says we "need opportunities to love, to serve and live in trust and harmony...". However, Mr Pafford has written false information about a man who is trying to educate people in the facts on Islam, who uses the quran as a resource and who has a desire to help others share the love of Jesus Christ.
In the presentation, Usama shares facts from the quran in which Americans need to be aware. These are not false statements Usama made up, they are straight from the quran's scriptures. If you read the quran (one of Islam's holy books), you will NOT find scriptures on love and peace towards Christians.
You WILL find many scriptures on killing infidels (anyone not a muslim) and making war (jihad) on the infidels. The quran is full of hatred.
However, the Holy Bible is full of love. Jesus came and spoke of love and forgiveness and grace. Allah spoke of hate and war and capturing men to kill and women to become sex slaves.
As a Christian, are we to "embrace all religious traditions"? No! Are we to embrace all people? Yes! Are we to educate ourselves on the beliefs of Islam? Yes! Are we, as Christians, to love muslims? Yes! Are we to share the love of Jesus with muslims? Yes! This is what Usama Dakdok speaks of in his presentations....
love....truth....not hatred!
Sara Parker
Smithville
