Notes on Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner’s
Unveiling Islam
Chapter 1 : Security, Politics, and Jihad
“One must love Allah in order for Allah to love that person in return. In Christianity, God loved people first in order to secure their salvation.”
-Caner and Caner, Unveiling Islam (p. 31)
According to Caner and Caner, Islam is a religion of constant fear–fear of Allah and fear of hell–but with no love and no hope for eternal security. Even the best followers of Islam have little hope of Paradise. The closest one can get to eternal assurance in Islam is to die the death of a martyr.
“The Qur’an promises Paradise to those who die in battle for Islam more certaintly than it promises salvation to anyone else.”
-Caner and Caner, Unveiling Islam (p. 36)
How my heart grieves for these who have no hope except to kill themselves on the chance that they might be saved. How my heart rejoices that I have assured eternal hope, not through my death but through that of another. How my heart grieves for those who have never experienced a God who is love. How my heart rejoices that my God is love–and has demonstrated His own love in this: in that while I was still a sinner Christ died for me.
Oh, Lord, in your infinite mercy, would you let your light shine upon those who are in bondage to Allah. Would you allow them to see and experience You and Your love. Bring salvation to that house, I pray.
Addendum (May 10, 2010): Ergun Caner’s testimony as a converted Muslim has been challenged by several bloggers who claim that he has grossly exaggerated the extent of his Muslim upbringing. Readers of this book ought to be aware that the Caners may or may not have the experiential knowledge of Islam that they claim to have, and should therefore be careful to test the statements found in this book against other reliable sources.