Muslims demand the right to preach their faith and convert Christians to it. On the other hand, they consider efforts by Christians to convert Muslims -- and the conversion of Muslims to other faiths -- a crime worthy of death. That's why one of the most important books of the last decade has been banned in Muslim countries -- and in some countries with substantial Muslim minorities.

Can you name the book which has the Islamic world in an uproar, and caused the United States government to deny any involvement with it? The book banned in the worldÂ’s most populous democracy? No, not Salman RushdieÂ’s The Satanic Verses, a cause celebre among the literati. The book in question is published by evangelical Christian Arabs, and the American media couldnÂ’t care less about it.

Islam considers apostasy a crime punishable by death. It is very easy indeed to convert to Islam, but once the requisite phrases have been uttered, exit is not permitted. While Muslims are free to proselytize in most of the world, most Islamic countries refuse to allow Christian evangelists, or evangelists for any other faith for that matter, to operate freely. Severe criminal penalties exist in some states like Saudi Arabia, for inducing a Muslim to leave the faith.

There has never been an adequate translation of the Bible into classical Arabic. Such translations as exist are subject to ridicule by those trained in the poetry of the Quran, which is the standard used to define classical Arabic.

Nevertheless, there are Christian evangelists who wish to bring their religion and the teachings of Christ to Muslims. In 1999, two pseudonymous Arab Christian authors produced a book, The True Furqan (Furqan is another word for Quran), written in classical Arabic, intended as a tool to evangelize Arabs in particular, and Muslims in general. It is written in the style of the Quran, as a series of poetic verses, and contains Arabic verses and an English translation, side by side. But it brings the message of ChristianityÂ’s Good News.

To appease its resident Islamists, India banned The True Furqan in September.

Custom Non-Tariff Notification

No: 78/ NT (07-Sep-05) Govt prohibits import of book titled ‘The True Furqan’, subtitled ‘The 21st Century Quran’ published by USA-based publisher

The Central Government, for the maintenance of security of India, absolutely prohibits import of the book entitled “The True Furqan”, subtitled “The 21st Century Quran” published in the United States of America by Omega, 2000 and Wine Press, including any extract there from, any reprint or translation thereof or any document reproducing any matter contained therein.

Interestingly enough, this decree could be seen as banning the Bible, as much of The True Furqan is quotes from Scripture.

I encourage readers to look at the text of the book at the link above, and to pass it on to Muslim friends.

Posted by: Greg at 01:17 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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