Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

“I think Islam hates us,” Trump told CNN’s Anderson Cooper, deploring the “tremendous hatred” that he said partly defined the religion. He maintained the war was against radical Islam, but said, “it’s very hard to define. It’s very hard to separate. Because you don’t know who’s who.”

Donald Trump with boxer Muhammad Ali, the most recognized Muslim alive. This is a picture from years, when Trump did not have political ambition

There are countless verses in the Holy Quran about compassionate and humane living: Two Hundred Verses about Compassionate Living in the Quran and it does not limit the circle of compassion by race, religion or creed.

There are scores of verses that address the whole of mankind and emphasize our common humanity, for example:

O ye people! fear your Lord, Who created you from a single soul and created therefrom its mate, and from them twain spread many men and women; and fear Allah, in Whose name you appeal to one another, and fear Him particularly respecting ties of relationship. Indeed, Allah watches over you. (Al Quran 4:2)

And:

 O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female; and We have made you into tribes and sub-tribes that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most honorable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you. Surely, Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware. (Al Quran 49:14)

There is a chapter of the Holy Quran named after mother Mary and she is presented as a role model for not only Muslim women, but, also Muslim men in chapter number 66.  The Holy Quran remembers Jesus, may peace be on him, as a noble and honorable prophet of God and his name appears more often in the Quran than the name of the Prophet Muhammad himself.

The Holy Quran specifically mentions a close bond of love and compassion between the Muslims and the Christians:

And thou shalt assuredly find those who say, ‘We are Christians,’ to be the nearest of them in love to the believers. That is because amongst them are savants and monks and because they are not proud. (Al Quran 5:83)

The Holy Quran even allows the Muslims to inter-marry with people who are given the book, more specifically the Christians and the Jews. So, obviously, it could not be hate mongering against the Christians. Trump has perhaps never read the Quran. It says:

And lawful for you are chaste believing women and chaste women from among those who were given the Book before you, when you give them their dowries, contracting valid marriage and not committing fornication nor taking secret paramours. (Al Quran 5:6)

Not to mention the friends and family, the Holy Quran wants us to be fair and just and not hateful even towards our enemies:

O ye who believe! be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do. (Al Quran 5:9)

The Holy Quran also gives us the recipe to convert enemies into friends and some of the devout Muslims put this into practice also:

And good and evil are not alike. Repel evil with that which is generous and the best. And lo, he between whom and thyself was enmity will become as though he were a warm friend.

But none is granted it save those who are steadfast; and none is granted it save those who possess a large share of good. (Al Quran 41:35-36)

Now let me describe the essence of the message of the Holy Quran towards people of other faiths in totality. Allah wants us to be kind and nice to them, except those who are belligerent and want to make us homeless:

Allah forbids you not, respecting those who have not fought against you on account of your religion, and who have not driven you forth from your homes, that you be kind to them and act equitably towards them; surely Allah loves those who are equitable.

Allah only forbids you, respecting those who have fought against you on account of your religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and have helped others in driving you out, that you make friends of them, and whosoever makes friends of them — it is these that are the transgressors. (Al Quran 60:9-10)

So, if Donald Trump does not want the American Muslims to be homeless, we do not have a case to hate him or be unkind to him. But, as he has changed his position often and made sweeping negative comments  against the Muslims, so many times, the Muslim voters are likely to feel safer with the Democratic party front runner, Secretary Hillary Clinton and I will tweet her this article.