Comments of grand ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi about the inflammatory statements by Pope Benedict xvi about Islam and Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him and his pure family

In the name of Allah the compassionate the merciful

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure family.

The recent inflammatory statement by Pope Benedict xvi about Islam and Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him and his pure family, have indeed contributed nothing to the truth.

Islam was spread through the goodly word and sound logic, respecting divine religions and human values, and the fact the existence of religious minorities in Muslim countries, beginning from the dawn of Islam up to date is the proof that Islam did not coerce anyone to change their religion or belief. In the noble Qur'an the Almighty states, “There is no coercion in religion”. Another factor that proves this is the fact is that religious minorities in the West used to seek asylum in Muslim countries when the church persecuted them on religious grounds, contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ peace be upon him . . . and of course the Inquisitions aren't too distant in memory.

Islam is religion that stresses on reason, knowledge, and education in general, and great many verses of the Qur'an encourage and promote this and indeed enjoin to their promotion. This is when the Church history points to torturing and persecuting scholars, thinkers, and inventors and even killing and burning them.

As for jihad in Islam, it is regulated for self-defence, and for the cause of Allah in order to bring about justice and eliminate wronging and defend the oppressed, which in itself it is a human value for one to defend his fellow human being, and does not allow oppression and wronging to undermine humanity. Whereas the crusade wars, which the Church led – contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ peace be upon him – were in aid of plundering the wealth and forceful doctrinal conversion.

Islam does not bear responsibility for those who pretend and impersonate it; who have a special agenda – they either are linked to imperialist governments or have unbalanced reaction to the wronging and oppression of the imperialist governments.

It is expected from the Vatican to respect the divine religions and to distance itself from such statements that do not serve humanity, but rather exacerbate the rather unsettled world.

The Almighty Allah states, “Say: ‘People of the Book! Come now to a word common between us and you, that we serve none but Allah, and that we associate not aught with Him, and do not take each other as Lords, besides Allah, And if they turn their backs, say: ‘Bear witness that we are the ones who are muslim (who have surrendered unto Him)'.” [1]

Peace be upon those follow guidance. [2]

22 Sha‘ban 1427 (16 September 2006)

Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi

The holy City of Qum