The ways of countering anti-Islam propaganda on websites

There are many websites that are intent on undermining Islam. Some are
openly hostile, while others adopt an apparently objective stance making
their criticism sound more plausible. Other websites have a more subtle
approach, citing some Hadiths when they make an argument, but relying
always on using half truths. There are some, which try to show themselves
as truth seekers, but they twist arguments and rely on false reports
presenting them as solid truth. Those who run and manage these websites
belong to different trends and have different agendas. To what extent should
we take up the challenge and how? If we were to answer every point on
every website, we will find ourselves immersed in a long-winded argument
that will benefit no one. To start with, our answer will not be placed side by
side with the criticism, to allow a reader to weigh up both arguments.
Therefore, the person who reads the criticism will most probably remain
unaware of the answer. Secondly, our argument will never be as powerful as
that of the Quran. These people twist the Quran and Hadith to serve their
purpose. What will they do with our arguments? Thirdly, there are too many
websites that criticize Islam, and trying to answer them all requires an army
of scholars who devote all their time to this ultimately impossible task. The
other day a reader sent me a link to one of these websites. The link speaks
about what the writer calls "contradictions in the Quran." Apparently he
listed these after someone wrote to him that there are 101 contradictions in
the Bible. He retorted by listing close to 200 points of so-called
contradictions in the Quran. My reader asked me to reply to these. I looked
at them and found out that they all rely on a mixture of inaccuracy,
deliberate twisting of facts, and sheer ignorance.

To write an answer to each one of them would require us to devote a few months to the task
during which we do nothing else. What would we come up with in the end? Nothing other than
refuting a small section on a single website. Would the users of that website be aware of our
refutation? Most likely not. Then what is the gain? What is the proper policy to adopt, then? The
first point is to listen to what God tells us in the Quran that means: “Do not argue with the people
of earlier revelations in other than the most kindly manner, except for those of them who are
intent on wrongdoing; and say: 'We believe in that which has been revealed to us, as well as that
which has been revealed to you, for our God and your God is one. It is to Him that we submit
ourselves.'" (Al-`Ankabut 29:46). This is indeed the proper attitude: an argument in a kindly
manner that points out that we basically believe in God who is the Lord of all the worlds. In
addition, we should have our own websites which present Islam in its rightful image, so that
people who seek to know the truth about Islam can find it. A number of scholars have their own
websites, and this trend is on the increase.

We should also remain confident that the truth of Islam is overpowering. No argument can
stand to the truth that emanates from God Almighty. Therefore, we need not be scared by such
hostile adversaries. Over the centuries, there were many like them who used the best means
available to them in their own times, but they could not mar the image of Islam. Their present
and future successors will end up with the same failure. Many are those who tried over the years
to undermine the position of Hadith_ in Islam. They dress their argument with a seemingly
appropriate clothing, saying that the Quran is God's word and we do not need anything other than
His word. They simply overlook two basic principles: the first is that to be a Muslim one
declares his belief in God's Oneness and at the same time declares his belief that Muhammad was
God's messenger. Unless he believes in both, he is not a Muslim. The other is the Quranic
commandment: Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, refrain
from it. (Al-Hashr 59:7).

The Prophet gave us both the Quran and the Hadith. If we abandon the Hadith, how can we
account for disobeying God's order?

(www.islamicvoice. com)