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What's wrong with Zain’s Anti-jihadi advert?

“Worship your God with love, not terror.” That is the dominant message of the much watched three-

minute advert posted online at the beginning of Ramadan 2017. What could possibly be wrong with

such a wonderful message created by Kuwaiti telecommunications giant Zain, which operates across

the Middle East?1

Despite its uplifting message, it has divided the Internet for its use of an actor playing Omran

Daqneesh. The five-year-old Syrian boy from Aleppo was pictured sitting alone and bloodied in the

back of an ambulance in August 2016. Many critics were rightly pointing out the boy had been

wounded in an attack by the regime of Bashar al-Assad, rather than Muslim jihadists.

Others were saying the advert was exploiting the suffering of the Syrian people. What follows will

bring about even more division. However, for the sake of truth and our love for Muslims these

questions need to be raised. They are based on screenshots of the advert:

Does Allah hurt? According to Surah 76, Al- Dahr, verses 31-32 he is in complete control.

1 arabnews.com/node/1107126/middle-east independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/ramadan-2017-anti-jihadi-advert-preaching-love-not-terror-goes-viral-in-middle-east-a7762746.html

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The word "worship" in Surah 51, Al Dhariyat, verse 57 is a translation of the Arabic "Ibadah," also

rendered as, "serve". In this verse it means total obedience to Allah's commands.

Do Muslims not have to obey the command found in Surah 8, Al Anfal, verses 13-14?

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Do passages from the Quran, such as Surah 2, Al Baqarah, verse 194, not say the opposite?

Do idolators not have be killed if they don't convert according to Surah 9, Al Taubah, verse 5?

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Does Surah 53, Al Najm, verses 61-63 not forbid singing? See also https://islamqa.info/en/5000

The forgiving and forbearing who hurts:2

8 He (God) said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior.

9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them.

In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them

all the days of old.

(Tawrat, Isaiah 63:8–9)

Worship your God with love, not terror:

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them

a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is

2 For more details on the main message of the Tawrat and Injeel visit: http://www.writehere.com/post/161116-6/why-is-the-injeel-called-good-news

No doubt, the advert very powerfully touches the human heart and its yearning

for love, forgiveness, peace and for God to suffer with us. The good news is that

all these longings are met in the message of the Tawrat and Injeel:

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one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and

with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no

commandment greater than these.” 32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other

but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength,

and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of

God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

(Mark 12:28–34)

Confront your enemy with peace not war

43 (Jesus said) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor z and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I

tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your

Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous

and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the

tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than

others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

(Matthew 5:43-48)

Persuade others with leniency not by force

23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where

he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of

God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.

(Acts 28:23–24)

Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

(Acts 18:4)

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.

(2 Corinthians 5:11)

We will counter their attacks of hatred with songs of love. From now until happiness.

33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. (Psalms 104:33-34)

Much work has been produced to prove from the Quran3 and secular history4 that the Judeo-

Christian scriptures are substantially unaffected by textual changes.

Please contact us with questions, comment or if you would like to do a free and easy six lessons online study about the message of the Tawrat and Injeel:

info@christianityexplained.net

3 youtube.com/watch?v=lP1i2HWFxQ0&feature=youtu.be

christianityexplained.net/explainedto/muslims/26.html answering-islam.org/Responses/Menj/q2_77-79.htm 4 thejesusaccounts.tv

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