Q. Christian giving reviews of ISLAM?

Salaam,

Yes, the theory is actually propagated some decades ago by Dr Robert Morey, a Christian polemicist. It's the "moon god" theory, which he used archeological evidence and ancient worshipped gods around mediterranean and middle east to "justify" the falsity of faith of Islam. It must be noted that this theory had no agreeable acceptance among the most serious scholarship among even non-muslim scholars (yes, it's true. his "authentic sources" and cut-and-paste references was in fact questionable), in fact it is almost as yawning as Christopher Luxemburg's theory of the Syro-Aramic readings of the Quran (though the latter was discussed by non-Muslim scholars and anti-Islamic polemicist in the Notre Damme conference ).

Firstly, one must know that these group of authors/scholars "agreeingly understood"/proposed that Islam is "dealienated" from the "other monotheistic faiths" (Judaism and Christianity). One of their ideas is that the birth of Islam (Arabia) is "by their geograhical thought", far from the "commonly biblical setting or historically monotheistic birthplace" as generally found in the Old Testament/New Testament of the Judaic-Christian scriptures, hence the study of Islam (to them) must not be monotheistic-ally of "Abrahamically approached", rather an "evolution of a religion" from polytheistic/ ancient pagan worhipping to monotheistic religion. I remember reading the GR Hawtings "Idea of idolatory and emergance of Islam" by Cambridge in local library which articles were drawn on the same base of assumptions for his book. This gave one of many simple reason why, in many scholarly articles and books published by non-Muslims, used such assumption as mentioned above in approaching the study of Islam as given to "borrow/influence from Christian and Jewish sources or traditions over time". (God forbid!)

Secondly, one must understand the nature of and assumption of non-Muslim scholarship and their study of Islam. Though their "thorough" research and analytic skills overturned the Islamic academics towards a more critical and intellectual discourse (in terms of academic study and journalistic reviews), their conclusions were not geared towards iman(belief) and taqwa(spiritual consciousness), rather doubts, speculative or sometimes propulsive towards criticism in historicity of religion, sociology of culture and practise and also more commonly in recent times, political thought. Hence, one should refrain towards cautiousness and in reading such books, not because it could destroy one's faith completely (hardly unless one is defiant/ignorant of Islam and/or un-academically informed, which tends to be the main causes), but rather as a research material and discussive intercourse from a perspective of the "other" community or group , whether it's from a non-muslim, a secular/liberal, or a religious polecimist like the "moon god" author Dr Robert Morey.

Hence, it better like zahara had said, so don't read it if you in doubt of the type of material you are reading and it's purpose and intention...

A general and simple refutation of the link she post, however can be found in the link : http://www.islamic-awareness.o...

Salaam..