Islamic history and literature is filled with wisdom and tolerance. All is not as one sees and has seen in the media these days.-Ron Price, Tasmania.

------------------------------------------------------------

Nizar Qabbani - is a famous poet of Syrian origin.
Would You Permit Me?
هل تسم*وا لي

نزار قباني
Nizar Qabbani

في بلاد يغتال فيها المفكرون، ويكفر الكاتب
وت*رق الكتب، في مجتمعات ترفض الآخر، وتفرض الصمت على الافواه وال*جر على الافكار،
وتكفر اي سؤال، كان لابد ان استأذنكم ان تسم*وا لي..
In a country where thinkers are assassinated, and writers are considered infidels and books are burnt, in societies that refuse the other, and force silence on mouths and thoughts forbidden, and to question is a sin, I must beg your pardon, would you permit me?


فهل تسم*ون لي
ان اربي اطفالي كما اريد، وألا تملوا علي
اهواءكم واوامركم؟
Would you permit me to bring up my children as I want, and not to dictate to me your whims and orders?

هل تسم*ون لي
ان اعلم اطفالي ان الدين لله اولا، وليس
للمشايخ والفقهاء والناس؟
Would you permit me to teach my children that the religion is first to God, and not for religious leaders or scholars or people?
·
هل تسم*ون لي
ان اعلم صغيرتي ان الدين هو اخلاق وأدب وتهذيب
وامانة وصدق، قبل ان اعلمها بأي قدم تدخل ال*مام وبأي يد تأكل؟
Would you permit me to teach my little one that religion is about good manners, good behaviour, good conduct, honesty and truthfulness, before I teach her with which foot to enter the bathroom or with which hand she should eat?
·
هل تسم*ون لي
ان اعلم ابنتي ان الله م*بة، وانها تستطيع ان
ت*اوره وتسأله ما تشاء، بعيدا عن تعاليم أي أ*د؟
Would you permit me to teach my daughter that God is about love, and she can dialogue with Him and ask Him anything she wants, far away from the teachings of anyone?
·
هل تسم*ون لي الا اذكر عذاب القبر لاولادي،
الذين لم يعرفوا ما هو الموت بعد؟
Would you permit me not to mention the 'torture of the grave' to my children, who do not know about death yet?
·
هل تسم*ون لي
ان اعلم ابنتي اصول الدين وادبه واخلاقه، قبل
ان افرض عليها ال*جاب؟
Would you permit me to teach my daughter the tenets of the religion and its culture and manners, before I force on her the 'Hijab' (the veil)?
·
هل تسم*ون لي
ان اقول لابني الشاب ان ايذاء الناس وت*قيرهم
لجنسيتهم ولونهم ودينهم، هو ذنب كبير عند الله؟
Would you permit me to tell my young son that hurting people and degrading them because of their nationality, colour or religion, is considered a big sin by God?
·
هل تسم*ون لي
ان اقول لابنتي ان مراجعة دروسها والاهتمام بتعليمها
انفع واهم عند الله من *فظ آيات القرآن عن ظهر قلب دون تدبر معانيها؟
Would you permit me to tell my daughter to revise her homework and pay attention to her learning which is considered by God as more useful and important than learning by heart Ayahs (Chapters) from the Quran without knowing their meaning?
·
هل تسم*ون لي
ان اعلم ابني ان الاقتداء بالرسول الكريم يبدأ
بنزاهته وامانته وصدقه، قبل ل*يته وقصر ثوبه؟
Would you permit me to teach my son that following the footsteps of the Honourable Prophet begins with his honesty, loyalty and truthfulness, before teaching him about his beard or how short his thobe (long shirt/dress) is?
·
هل تسم*ون لي
ان اقول لابنتي ان صديقتها المسي*ية ليست
كافرة، والا تبكي خوفا عليها من دخول النار؟
Would you permit me to tell my daughter that her Christian friend is not an infidel, and ask her not to cry fearing her friend will go to Hell?
·
هل تسم*ون لي
ان اجاهر، ان الله لم يوكل ا*دا في الارض بعد الرسول لان يت*دث باسمه
ولم يخول ا*دا بمن* 'صكوك الغفران' للناس؟
Would you permit me to argue, that God did not authorize anyone on earth after the Prophet to speak in his name nor did he vest any powers in anyone to issue 'deeds of forgiveness' to people?
·
هل تسم*ون لي
ان اقول، ان الله *رم قتل النفس البشرية، Nizar Qabbani
--------------------------------------------------------------
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the splendor of our God.'
(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 146)