Ahmed Deedat and Christian Propaganda by Yahya Snow
snow.fo...@hotmail.co.uk
internet are focussing their hateful and deceitful propaganda on
Sheikh Ahmed Deedat.
Ahmed Deedat, for those of you who do not know, was a self learned
scholar of comparative religion and a debater for Islam who resided in
South Africa. Yes, he was a Muslim who was familiar with Christianity
and thus debated many Christians and proved to be highly successful in
his ministry to Christians, so much so that he gained approbation,
love and friendship all over the world from both Muslims and non-
Muslims.
His charismatic oratory skills were gripping and perhaps he would be
remembered best for coupling these oratory skills (and charisma) with
piercing and coherent arguments.
He has of course passed away (in 2005) but it does appear as though a
smear campaign against Deedat has begun on the internet. I do feel
this smear campaign must be addressed as the perpetrators are looking
to poison the well of discussion.
Deedat, before his death, had a stroke and was paralysed to the extent
that he could not speak and communicated using his eyelids. This was
seen, by the Muslims, as a test from Allah. Indeed Deedat had
accomplished so much prior to this but continued in his work even
whilst paralysed.
The reason why I mention this is due to this small group of Christians
on the internet making deceptive claims about Deedat.
Their first claim is that Deedat prayed to God to mute whoever was
wrong and a liar after his debate with the Christian evangelist named
Anis Shorrosh. There is no evidence for this claim despite all the
Deedat-Shorrosh debate being documented on video. So this claim is
dismissed as a lie.
In fact Muslims could do the same thing and claim that Shorrosh prayed
and asked God to have the authorities arrest and jail the one who is
wrong. Anis Shorrosh was arrested an imprisoned after his debate with
Deedat [1].
Or Muslims could claim the infamous Christian evangelist Jimmy
Swaggart (who also debated Deedat) prayed to God to ask whoever was
wrong to be humiliated by caught in a high profile sex scandal [2].
Swaggart was caught in a sex scandal and was humiliated in public.
Of course it would be absurd to claim these allegations against
Shorrosh and Swaggert as there is no evidence for these claims. This
is the reason why Muslims do not do this whilst these Christians have
moved into the realms of deception by making false claims of this
nature against Deedat.
It seems, Deedat (even after his death) is still being used to point
out errors to Christians as these Christians claim to have the Holy
Spirit (which Christians believe to be God) inside them whilst
claiming Muslims are misguided. Interestingly enough Muslims are
refraining from lying about Deedat’s opponents whilst these Christians
are lying about Deedat. Surely the guided ones would refrain from
lying? Surely if these Christians really had a Holy Spirit within them
they would not lie about Deedat. Thus it seems Allah (God) is showing
these Christians some truth and wisdom through Deedat, whether they
are too blind to see it lies with them.
The other claim these Christians make is that of God punishing Deedat
for speaking out against Christianity by paralysing him.
This claim is another fanciful claim based on no evidence at all and
is somewhat contradictory to Christian teachings. Their premise is
that Deedat sinned due to him speaking against the Trinity and the
Bible and thus he was “punished” by paralysis.
Firstly the Muslim belief is that those who are paralysed or struck by
a severe illness are to be honoured and looked after and not to be
labelled as sinners. This is a test that Allah (God) sends to these
individuals and indeed a test to the healthy so we can aid and support
these people without stigmatising these people as sinners or unworthy
souls.
In Islam, disabled people are indeed equal to those who are able-
bodied. This I believe to be a fine teaching indeed, a teaching many
Christians could benefit from too.
So we realise that this group of Christians who label Deedat as a
“sinner” being “punished” by paralysis are insulting all those who
have been paralysed, lost functions of any body part or struck with a
sever/debilitating illness. The question is; is this pious and pure
behaviour on the part of the Christians? Surely not!
Surely the Muslim belief offers more comfort to the paralysed, ill,
elderly and infirm whilst this group of Christians insult and offer
discomfort to these people. Again, it seems to me that Allah (God) is
using Deedat to teach these Christians more wisdom and truth, whether
they choose to remain blind and unreceptive to this truth and wisdom
is down to them.
Also, Hitler was a great sinner, Why did God not send paralysis on him
as a “punishment”? Do these Christians believe God approved of
Hitler’s actions?
Also let us look at the friends of Jesus, his sincere companions and
followers were terrorised and oppressed by the Romans during and after
the ministry of Jesus. Do these same Christians believe that God was
punishing them for sins? Interestingly enough Paul was one of those
who were oppressing these sincere followers of Jesus. This is food for
thought for the Christians.
However, to completely dispel any doubts and thoroughly refute this
group of Christians who have resorted to arguments based on bigotry
against paralysed and severely ill people we can look to pious
Biblical figures and see their plight.
John the Baptist, according to the Christian belief, was imprisoned
and later beheaded. Muslims do not consider this to be a punishment
from God and believe John the Baptist to be a truly respected Prophet
of God. Do the Christians really believe God was punishing John the
Baptist? Surely this was a test for John the Baptist and a test for
his followers and those around him. This was no punishment. So if this
was not a punishment from God then surely the condition of Deedat was
not a punishment from God but a test.
We can also look at the view that Isaac went blind in his later years.
Surely these Christians do not believe God was punishing the well
respected Isaac? Well, if they do not believe that about Isaac then
why would they believe it about Deedat? It seems these Christians are
operating a double standard. Their hypocrisy and inconsistencies are
being highlighted through Deedat, again it is down to them to accept
this criticism and correct their selves.
My message to these Christians to correct their deceptive ways will be
further strengthened by "A man who remains stiff-necked after many
rebukes will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy." (Proverbs 29:1)
Further food for thought goes to babies who are born with paralysis or
other health implications. Do these Christians and Christians in
general really believe God is punishing these innocent babies? Surely
God is not punishing these babies so why do these Christians argue
against Deedat in this fashion.
Christians regularly claim God loves every body; the question has got
to be where is the love and compassion of these Christians who insult
the memory of Deedat and hurt his living family members and friends
(both Muslim and non-Muslim).
It may come as no surprise to those familiar with the Biblical sayings
of Jesus that Deedat and those who believed Jesus to be a Prophet are
the target of evil lies as Jesus is reported to have said;
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say
all kinds of evil against you because of me”. (Matthew 5:11)
In fact I put it to you that God loves Sheikh Ahmed Deedat more than
he loves these Christians who are making such deceptive claims.
All Biblical Quotes are from the New International Version of the
Bible
References
[1] News report concerning Shorrosh’s arrest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SndHKXLR17k
[2] BBC article on the Swaggart scandal:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/21/newsid_2565000/2565197.stm