The Islamic Concept of God is Inadequate

Thanks to Dimmitri for initiating this debate.You have said"Islam and Christianity share many parallels..."I approach this debate in this spirit. Even as we explore the differences in our religion - we will remember that our faiths have much in common. And we pray to God to He may use this debate to increase our understanding of faith and to enable us to practice what we understand.The crux of my opponents argument is, how can an all-loving merciful God punish anyone. As he says..."Allah is not morally perfect as He does not love the evil-doers"I will be discussing this from several angles.PART 1:1. The implication of justice: As per Quran, Allah is the Most Merciful and Most Benevoulent. However Allah is also the Most Just. I hope my opponent will accept that justice is a part of divine attributes of God. As a just ruler of the world, Allah is bound to reward those who try to do good. However another implication of justice is punishment for those who do evil.2. The Most Forgiving: So what happens to God's mercy? Allah is also the Most forgiving. So if anyone who has sinned turns to Allah, Allah hastens to forgive her. Quran 7:153 - But those who do wrong but repent thereafter and (truly) believe,- verily thy Lord is thereafter Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. 3. The loving God: Allah loves those who do good. Allah loves those who sin - but turn back in repentance. Allah definitely does not like the evil-doers. Loving evil-doers - while they continue in their oppression would be unjust. However if anyone turns tentatively towards Allah - Allah hastens towards her. It is narrated in a Hadith:Bukhari:9:93:627,Narrated Anas:The Prophet said, "My Lord says, 'If My slave comes nearer to me for a span, I go nearer to him for a cubit; and if he comes nearer to Me for a cubit, I go nearer to him for the span of outstretched arms; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' " 4. Mercy and Just anger: So does the mercy of God clash with God's just anger towards evil-doers. The answer may be yes. It is narrated in a hadith.Bukhari:4:54:416Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Apostle said, "When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him on His Throne, "My Mercy overpowers My Anger."5. Unconditional Love: My opponent argues that God should love everyone unconditionally. I have shown that loving evil-doers unconditionally would violate justice and would be an encouragement to evil. God is eager to love evil-doers if they give up their misdeeds and turn in repentance. My opponent has further compared unconditional love to unconditional love of parents toward their child. This shows a failure to grasp the nature of evil of humanity towards God. Will parents love the child if she refuses to recognise the parents? Or if she tries to hurt and kill those children who love the parents. Of course - if a misguided child repents, we can hope that the merciful parents will be ready to forgive.PART 2:Quran is a book which confirms the books which came before it.Quran 3:3 - It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong).Muslims do not consider the bible in current form to be uncorrupted word of God. Still the concept of God in OT and NT is same as Quran. That is to say - reward for those who do good and for those who repent from sins and turn to faith. Punishement / Eternal destruction for those who remain adamant in sin and faithlessness. The Old Testament: This is from the reference to old testament which you provided!Deut 79 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. I hope you notice, this is the same message as in the Quran. Further...Deut 818 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.New Testament: As per catholic church, faith in our Christ Jesus (Peace on Him) is sufficient for salvation. As per Muslims, for salvation we need to follow the teachings of Christ Jesus (Peace on Him). However this dispute is irrelevant to this debate. Even according to new testament people who refuse to believe in Jesus (Peace on Him) will face eternal destruction. If God indeed loves evil-doers as you have claimed, why are these people condemned? Following verses are also from the reference you have provided...John 317 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (Please note - Muslims do not accept that Jesus (Peace on Him) was 'begotten Son of God'. However that is irrelevant to this debate)The second Thessalonians is much more explicit.2-Thessalonians 17 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; ==Note==One points which is irrelevant to this debate but need to be mentioned. I am not sure - but it looks like you have Rashid Khalifa translation of Quran. Don't. Several verse in this translation has been deliberately distorted. However the verses you have used for this debate are OK. Still it will be better to use one of the translations in reference.==References==All my references are to Bible, Quran and Hadith1. Bible: http://www.biblegateway.com... This is my favoraite website for studying bibile. The good thing is - it is having several versions. By default I have used KJV.2. Quran: http://www.quranexplorer.com... Several translation of Quran. By default I have used Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation. Quran can also be accessed at Centre of Muslim Jewish Engagement http://www.usc.edu...3. Hadith: Try this http://www.quranexplorer.com...