A calm dialogue between a seeker of truth and a Muslim

This is a true story with some adaptations

Prepared by: Raji Redha-Allah

Place: A quiet public park
Time: A spring afternoon

Real characters:

• Johann Joseph : Non-Muslim, he believes in a wise Creator, has few conceptions about Islam, doubts the Trinity, sees Jesus only as a great prophet, human being and not the son of God.

• Raji Redha-Allah : Muslim, he believes in the Noble Qur'an being the last revelation from Allah to mankind revealed to his last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and by the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the rightly guided predecessors.

Beginning of the Dialogue

Johann:
You know, Raji? I am certain that this universe cannot exist without a Creator. This order, this beauty, this balance… it cannot be a coincidence.

Raji (smiling):
That is a great acknowledgment because the first step toward truth is believing in the existence of a Creator.

Johann:
Also, I don't accept the idea that Jesus Christ is God or the Son of God. I clearly feel that he was a great prophet, born miraculously without a father, a messenger from God, his mission was not universal, his role was to correct the deviations among his people.

Raji:
That is exactly what Islam says about Jesus, peace be upon him.

Johann:
But something confuses me… some say God is one, and some say three in one! How can that be?

Raji:
Sound reason cannot accept contradiction.
Either He is One… or He is not.
Islam states it clearly without ambiguity:

"Say: He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent." (Surah Al-Ikhlas: 1-4)

No son
No partner
No intermediary

And this is the monotheism that all prophets called for.

Johann:
But Islam appeared late… after Moses and Jesus.

Raji:
Islam is not a historical name, but an eternal reality.
Islam means: submission to the will of the One God, Allah, and to worship Him alone, rejecting any partners or idols.

Hence Allah said:

"And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, 'There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.'" (Surah Al-Anbiya: 25)

Noah was Muslim
Abraham was Muslim
Moses was Muslim
Jesus was Muslim

In other words, they were all submissive to Allah and monotheistic, in the general sense of Islam.
As for what was later added—divinizing humans or the Trinity—that is not from God.

Johann:
I have this conception that the world is governed by a struggle between a god of good and a god of evil.

Raji:
If that were true, the universe would not hold together for a single moment.
Struggle implies:

• weakness

• inability

• chaos

Islam, however, says: Allah is One, perfect, wise, unconquerable, and unchallenged.
Evil is neither a deity nor an independent force; rather, it occurs either as a result of human choice and actions, through the temptation of Satan, or as a trial that Allah decrees with wisdom. Allah, glorified and exalted, is the Creator of all things, and both good and evil fall within His decree and predestination; yet He does not create pure evil devoid of wisdom. What exists of evils — such as Satan or calamities — serves profound purposes, including testing and trial, and distinguishing among people. For this reason, evil is not attributed to Allah as a matter of proper reverence, for He commands only good, and all His decree is founded upon wisdom and justice.

Johann:
But why does the Quran say: "The religion in the sight of Allah is Islam"?
Isn’t this exclusivist?

Raji:
Truth does not multiply.
If all contradictory beliefs were true, the meaning of truth would collapse.

Allah said:

"And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him..." (Surah Al-Imran: 85)

This is not fanaticism, but divine justice: one clear path to salvation.

Johann (hesitantly):
But… did Islam spread by the sword and force people to adopt it?

Raji (calmly):
A logical question, and the answer is simpler than you imagine.

• No, the proof is "survival"; if Islam had been imposed by the sword, there would not be millions of Christians, Jews, and Hindus living in the heart of Islamic countries today, nor would their churches and temples have remained standing for 1400 years. The Quran states: "There is no compulsion in religion" (Surah Al-Baqarah: 256), and historical sources show that non-Muslim communities lived under Islamic protection and were required to pay a symbolic tax called jizya in exchange for protection and exemption from military service. Historically, Islam did not wage war with the aim of forcibly converting people to the faith, but warfare was regulated by clear Sharia rules.

Johann:
Isn’t Islam a religion of terrorism and wars, responsible for violence in the world?

Raji (calmly):
Islam condemns terrorism and killing. Islamic texts are clear in prohibiting the killing of innocents, as in:

"Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land—it is as if he had slain mankind entirely."

For example, in the First and Second World Wars, which killed millions, these were mostly in Europe and among non-Muslims. These wars had multiple complex causes related to power struggles, economic interests, and ideological differences.

Johann:
I want to move to another topic: why is Islam accused of oppressing women?

Raji:
Let us compare honestly:

Before Islam:

• In Judaism: women could inherit

• In early Christianity: debated whether she had a soul

• In Hinduism: burned with her husband

• In the modern West: body exploited

In Islam:

• Honored as a mother

• Elevated as a wife

• Given a dowry

• Inherited

• Body preserved

• Made a partner, not a commodity

What injustice is this? This does not mean Muslim societies were free from mistakes, but those were human errors, not scriptural.

Johann:
But why does Islam allow polygamy?

Raji:
Because it is realistic and ethical.
Polygamy:

• Responsibility

• Maintenance

• Justice

• Public declaration

The alternative in modern cultures?

• Betrayal

• Secret relationships

• Children without lineage

• Abortion

Islam allows polygamy under strict conditions of justice and responsibility, as a solution in certain social circumstances.

Johann:
Don’t you see that homosexuality is personal freedom?

Raji:
Freedom in Islam must be disciplined.
Sexual regulations in Islam define the relationship between a man and his wife within a legitimate framework, which preserves the individual and society.

As for homosexuality:

• Contradicts sound nature

• Destroys the family

• Causes physical, mental, and social harm

Islam does not hate anyone, but it sets limits that protect the individual and society and ensure family safety.

Johann:
How can we trust that the Quran has not been altered?

Raji:
Because Allah promised to preserve it:

"Indeed, We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will be its guardian." (Surah Al-Hijr: 9)

The Quran:

• Is read today as it was read 1400 years ago

• Has been preserved by Allah for over 1400 years, while there are dozens of different versions of other religious books.

Johann:
How do we know the Quran is not Muhammad’s own invention? Could it be that he, a genius, composed it himself?

Raji:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was unlettered; he could neither read nor write, so it is impossible to believe he invented the Quran with such precision and depth, especially since its style is fundamentally different from the style of his sayings (Hadith), indicating a source beyond human capacity.

"Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed." (Surah An-Najm: 3-4)

In other words, his words were not from himself, but revelation from Allah.

Johann:
Are there examples from his life proving his honesty and detachment from personal interests?

Raji:
Of course. The Prophet ﷺ was known as "Al-Sadiq Al-Amin" the Truthful, the Trustworthy before his mission. When Allah appointed him, he lived ascetically, did not seek wealth or rulership, and sought only to guide people.

Johann:
I heard that the Prophet Muhammad married Aisha, when she was very young. How is that acceptable?

Raji:
In the time of the Prophet ﷺ, girls were considered mature for marriage upon reaching their natural age of puberty. The marriage was based on affection and respect, and the Prophet ﷺ did not wrong anyone. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, became one of the greatest scholars and narrators of hadith, which demonstrates his wisdom and noble conduct.

Johann:
But why did the Prophet Muhammad marry multiple wives?

Raji (calmly):
Johann, in the time of the Prophet ﷺ, marriage was a means of protecting and providing for women, especially widows and those in need. Moreover, having multiple wives was not for personal desire, but to serve the community and care for the family. It can also be noted that polygamy existed among previous prophets, which shows that multiple marriages were part of the social context of that time.
The Prophet ﷺ instilled affection and justice among his wives, and each marriage had a wisdom and a legitimate social purpose.

Johann (silent for a moment):
Now I understand…
Islam is not just a religion, it is a way of life.
Clear, logical, in harmony with human nature, and sets limits that protect people.

Raji:
That is why Allah said:

"This day I have perfected for you your religion..." (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 3)

Johann (emotionally)
Said the Islamic declaration of faith, the Shahada:

"Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah"

I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

Raji (with a tear in his eye):
My brother Johann… praise be to Allah who guided you to the truth.

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