The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Blog

Issue 18

Issue 18 [@ 17:01]: Serge Trifkovic: “There are indeed some verses in the Quran that could be called peaceful and tolerant. Notably, the injunction against the compulsion in a religion. Those verses almost invariably date back to beginnings of Muhammad’s prophetic career in his native city of Makkah where he was powerless, where he was only beginning to attract followers.”

Rebuttal 18: At least Serge Trifkovic partially admits that “There are indeed some verses in the Quran that could be called peaceful and tolerant. Notably, the injunction against the compulsion in a religion.”

Serge Trifkovic is especially adept at using adjectives against Islam, Muhammad and Quran without providing any reference or basis for his using such words. He essentially resorts to dignified cursing. Here he uses the word “powerless” for Muhammad. His choice of words throughout the documentary is filtered by his prejudices against Muslims in his own life where he is on record for being unable to comprehend the Genocide of Bosnians at the hands of his fellow Serbs that he advised, and is in denial, or maybe even complicit. Despite being “powerless” both Muhammad then and Bosnians now, had the moral prowess to prevail in the long run. The evil machination of Serge Trifkovic are no different than similar slurs that were hurled at Muhammad in his life time. Quran rebuts such Islam, Muhammad and Quran haters:

5:63. Why do not the teachers of divine knowledge and those learned in the Law prohibit them from their blasphemic talk and deeds and their being too much given to eating things forbidden? Evil indeed is their machination.

5:64. And the Jews said, `Allâh’s hand is fettered (from assisting the helpless Muslims).’ Fettered are their own hands (from assisting the enemies of Islam), and they are deprived of blessings of Allâh for what they said. Nay, (the truth of the matter is that) both His hands are wide open (and free). He spends as He pleases. And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will most surely increase many of them in inordinate rebellion and in disbelief. And We have kindled enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection. Every time they kindle a fire for war, Allâh puts it out, but they strive to create disorder in the land, whereas Allâh does not like the creators of disorder.

Every word of this verse came out true fourteen centuries ago and in the present where – Fettered are their own hands [of Bosian War Criminals and the insinuators of this movie] (from assisting the enemies of Islam), and they are deprived of blessings of Allâh for what they said. Nay, (the truth of the matter is that) both His hands are wide open (and free) and Serge Trifkovic himself having eating things forbidden i.e. being compensated for being an adviser of the Genocide perpetrators. Irrespective of how many rebuttals are written and facts of history may be to the contrary, the fact of the matter is that for the makers of this documentary – We have kindled enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection. All this attitude of theirs is merely for – that which has been revealed [- Quran] to you [- Muhammad] from your Lord will most surely increase many of them in inordinate rebellion and in disbelief.

Serge Trifkovic himself is witness to his moral short comings by being adviser of the Balkan War criminals who perpetrated genocide in Bosnia. Quran addresses him directly and those he advised, when it states – Every time they kindle a fire for war, Allâh puts it out, but they strive to create disorder in the land, whereas Allâh does not like the creators of disorder.

Serge Trifkovic oozes with hate when he states – “…beginnings of Muhammad’s prophetic career in his native city of Makkah where he was powerless, where he was only beginning to attract followers.”

Yes, Muhammad was seemingly “powerless” but not not alone or despaired:

8:26. And (recall the time) when you were only a few and were looked upon as weak in the land, you were afraid lest the people should take you by storm, but He provided you refuge (in Madînah) and strengthened you with His help and provided you with good and pure things so that you might give thanks.

History was on the side of Muhammad, just as it was for the Israelites under Pharoah:

28:3. We recount to you (a portion) of the true account of Moses and Pharaoh with all accuracy for the benefit of the people who would believe.

28:5. And We chose to confer favour upon those who had been rendered weak in the land and to make them leaders and to bestow a kingdom upon them, thus make them inheritors (of Our blessings).

This Divine plan for Muhammad did not stop at providing refuge to who were only a few and were looked upon as weak in the land and “powerless”, but it went on to provide a complete victory to the same “powerless”:

110:1. The help of Allâh and the victory (over the Makkans) has indeed come (in fulfillment of the prophecies),
110:2. And you see people thronging in to the fold of the Faith of Allâh.

Sorry, Serge Trifkovic, you cannot undo the morality of the past nor of present or future. So far in the documentary you have only uttered falsehood without backing up your slurs without any facts from Quran or secular history. You try to mock Muhammad for “peaceful verses” in his early prophetic career only, but you give no verse number to make your point. Your scholarship is pathetic.

Lesson Learned – The verse above outlines a moral law about hate that Muslims will face. If the hate is because of some Muslim behavior, then it can be rectified by dialogue, clarifications, apology or redress on part of Muslims. But if the hate is because of their being a Muslim and their Quran, then there can be no remedy – 5:64…And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will most surely increase many of them in inordinate rebellion and in disbelief. And We have kindled enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection…

Editorial Comment: Many so called “peaceful and tolerant” verses from the Makkan period could be quoted besides many many more from Medinian period, but the burden remains on Serge Trifkovic to identify the peaceful verses as he in his infinite wisdom seems to have found the non-peaceful ones as well in Quran.

References:

Holy Quran – Nooruddin