26 - CHHOTI SI BAAT (Small but Important) A RELIGION OF PEACE AND TOLERANCE Conquerors have always inflicted huge losses on the conquered in terms of life and property. Mongols killed thousands and were most cruel. In the present age of enlightenment atrocities have been committed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo by the modern man that seem to equal those of the Mongols. Serbs killed thousands of Muslims mercilessly and destroyed cities without any qualms. Israel has continued atrocities against the poor people of Palestine for the last 60 years by destroying Palestinian cities with bombs and missiles, indiscriminately killing young and old, women and children. Same conditions prevail in Kashmir and Burma. Muslim conquerors during the early period of Islam treated the conquered people very well. They rebuilt cities, in fact built them better than before. They also built schools, hospitals, roads, libraries and other facilities for people. After the conquest of Iraq, Muslims built a new city there, now known as Baghdad. They also developed excellent facilities for the local people. Caliph Haroon al-Rashid allowed non-Muslims full freedom to practice their faith, developed cities, invited scholars from different areas and built schools and huge libraries to promote knowledge. Subsequent rulers continued the practice of developing cities and promoting knowledge. In Baghdad alone there were 100 libraries. Unfortunately, Mongols destroyed most of that precious source of knowledge. Remaining was destroyed in the Gulf War (1991). The Muslim conquerors continued research and development work in the conquered lands to contribute to the welfare of the local people. Arabs made soap for the first time and established soap factories. The first paper producing factory was built in Baghdad. Then this technology was exported to Andalusia and from there to Europe. The museums in France and UK have some related artifacts collected from Iraq. The perception in the West that Islam promotes violence and is a backward religion is incorrect. Islam does not promote violence, rather it condemns it and requires its followers to live peacefully and exercise tolerance. Islam encourages dialogue between different faiths in order to develop understanding. It provides all the basic rights to people of different faiths living in an Islamic state. Fourteen hundred years ago, Arabia was a land dominated by oppression, feuds, wars and slavery. A minor dispute was enough provocation for a fight to death and often resulted in the killing of generations. Trade caravans were looted and the travelers killed or made slaves. Islam brought them light and they became disciplined people. Islam’s message was not limited to those people only but it was for all those who lived at that time and those who were to come. The Holy Prophet and his companions proved the virtues of Islam by their conduct. Those who call it a religion of violence are either biased or have not read about it in detail. In India where the light of Islam reached in the first century of Islam, much before the arrival of Muhammad bin Qasim (93 hijra), Arab traders used to sail to the coastal areas of Malabar (India) to trade with the locals in the cities of Madras, Kerala, Gujrat and Sindh. Some traders established temporary homes in South India. The local people were impressed by their character and the new religion. Brotherhood, equality between ranks and consultation on important issues now called democracy was quite evident among them. These qualities attracted them and they turned to Islam. Had Islam been spread by sword India would be a Muslim state today. A few instances which reflect Islamic teachings and how the Last Prophet and his companions exercised them are mentioned here. Protection to non-Muslims During the period of the Holy Prophet, Righteous Caliphs and subsequent Muslim rulers, the life, honour, property and faith of non-Muslims in the conquered lands was protected. In battles, the Holy Prophet treated the conquered people with compassion and kindness. He would give special instructions to his soldiers in every expedition to not to kill children, women and the elderly. In one battle, some children were killed, which upset the Holy Prophet very much. One companion said: ‘O Prophet of Allah, they were the children of infidels,’ to which he said: ‘I warn you not to kill children.’ The Holy Prophet allowed non-Muslims to practice their religion freely and settle their social and legal matters according to the teachings of their faith. Misaq-e-Madinah (Madinah covenant) is an excellent example of this fact. The foundation of the Islamic state was based on the principles of tolerance and peace. An example of these principles could be seen in the Najran agreement which the Holy Prophet concluded with the Christian community of Najran. The following were its salient points: The life, wealth, property and land of the Christians shall be protected and they shall not be deprived of their possessions. No changes shall be enforced in their religious rituals and sanctuaries. Cross and their religious pictures shall not be destroyed. They shall not be forced into military service and no military expedition shall be sent against them. They shall not be taxed for their produce. Their matters shall be settled with equality and justice. They shall not be oppressed and no person shall be held in lieu of a run-away criminal. This agreement provided a guarantee of all things required for living a respectable life under a conqueror. World history does not provide another example of such an agreement. The Holy Prophet gave Christians privileges that were not given by even their own Christian rulers. The Holy Prophet announced that any Muslim going against the agreement or taking advantage of them or desecrating their sanctuaries or harming their life and property would be considered going against Allah and His Messenger. The agreement was implemented in letter and spirit. Forgiveness When the Holy Prophet conquered Makkah he forgave all of the Quraish saying: ‘Today there is no claim on you. You are free.’ They were the people who had tortured the Holy Prophet, his family and his companions. They had planned to kill him, socially boycotted him and his followers and forced them to migrate to Madinah. Respect Islam respects all human-beings. It does not allow degradation of a person in the name of religion or for any materialistic standard. The Holy Prophet respected human beings regardless of their colour, creed and caste. Suhail bin Hanif, a companion of the Holy Prophet, narrated that once on seeing the funeral of a Jew the Holy Prophet stood up in respect. The companions asked him why he stood up when that person was a Jew. ‘Was he not a human being?’ said the Holy Prophet. (Sahih Muslim). This action of the Holy Prophet tells us that a human being is respectable regardless of his belief. Islam propagates kindness, compassion and treating others with good manners and respect. The Holy Prophet said: ‘Allah shows kindness towards those who exercise kindness.’ (Tirmizi). Islam respects human rights to the extent that it protected the followers of other religions and their rites. The places of worship belonging to Jews and Christians were given protection and never harmed or demolished. Those who commit such acts in the present times go against the teachings of Islam. Freedom Allah has given all human beings a choice and not forced anyone to accept a particular faith. Surah al-Baqrah (verse 256) of the Holy Quran: ‘La ikraha fid deen’ (There is no coercion in the matter of faith). Therefore, the thinking that Islam forces its ideology on others is also not correct. Whosoever does that is wrong. Fifteen days after the conquest of Syria, during the rule of Caliph Umar, a priest wrote to a friend: ‘The conquerors (Muslims) are not fighting our religion. On the contrary, they protect us and have given us freedom to exercise our faith.’ After conquering Sindh (India), Muslims did not force locals to convert to Islam. Muhammad bin Qasim, the conqueror, made an agreement with the local ruler similar to Najran Agreement. Only the character of the conquerors and their excellent governance won the hearts of the locals and they converted to Islam. The Holy Quran The Holy Quran is the only divine book in the world that has never been changed or modified. The two original copies, made 14 hundred years ago, are still intact in the museums of Moscow and Cairo. One of them is the copy that the third Caliph Uthman bin Affan was reading when he was martyred. If that copy is compared with the present-day copies it will be confirmed that not a single word has been changed. What was revealed to the Last Prophet is saved intact. The life of the Holy Prophet is another proof, the details of which are recorded minutely and accurately. He was an embodiment of virtues and excellence in every respect. There was a time when infidels rejected the new religion. The truthfulness of the Message and excellent character of the Holy Prophet eventually brought them into the fold of Islam and they became the most disciplined and enlightened followers. Before criticizing Islam, it would be appropriate to read about it first and read the Quran. Negative criticism, for the sake of criticism generates nothing but distance, which is not healthy for the world community.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 20:23:50 +0000
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