|
The basic Islamic teachings
defy such a claim. This is a false accusation, which is repeated, blindly,
by enemies of Islam. Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran,
Sura al-Baqarah, [The Cow] 2:256, which reads as follows:“ Let there be no
compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects
Evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold,
that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things”.
Allah, the Almighty, further states in the Glorious Quran, Sura
Yunus, [Jonna], 10:99, which reads as follows:“ If it had been thy Lord's
Will, they would all have believed, all who are on earth! Wilt thou then
compel mankind, against their will, to believe!”.
Allah,
the Almighty, further states in the Glorious Quran, Sura Kahf [The Cave]
18:29, which reads as follows:“ Say, The Truth is from your Lord: Let him who
will, believe, and let him who will, reject (it): for the wrong-doers We
have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames), like the wall and roof of a
tent, will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water
like melted brass, that will scald their faces: How dreadful the drink! how
uncomfortable a couch to recline on!”.
Allah, the Almighty,
also, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Nahl, The Bees 16:82, which
reads as follows:“ But if they turn away, thy duty is only to preach the
Clear Message”.
Allah, the Almighty, also, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura
al-Ghashiyah [The Overcoming Burden], 88:21-22, which reads as follows:“
Therefore do thou give admonition, for thou art one to admonish. Thou art
not one to manage (men's) affairs”.
Allah, the Almighty, further states in the Glorious Quran, Sura
Al-Noor, [The Light], 24:54, which reads as follows:“ Say: Obey Allah, and
obey the Messenger: but if ye turn away, he is only responsible for the
duty placed on him and ye for that placed on you. If ye obey him, ye shall
be on right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to preach the clear
(Message)”.
Allah, the Almighty, further states in the Glorious Quran, Sura
al-Tawbh [The Repentance], 9:6, which reads as follows:“ If one amongst the
pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word
of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because
they are men without knowledge”.
As noted above, there are multiple proofs from the Divine revelation
of the Glorious Quran to defy such a false accusation against the Divine
religion of Islam. Islam is a "Faith" and "Belief".
Faith and belief must be fully dwelt in the heart and mind of a Believer,
and must not be, by any means, a lips service only. Uttering the words that
indicate faith is, in no way, a satisfactory act according to the faith of
Islam. In fact, Allah, the Almighty, exposes heinous and wicked intents
underlying the declaration of faith. Allah, the Almighty, states in the
Glorious Quran, Sura al-Hujurat, [The Chambers] 48:14, which reads as
follows:“ The desert Arabs say, We believe. Say, Ye, have no Faith, but ye
(only) say, We have submitted our wills to Allah, for not yet has Faith
entered your hearts. But if ye obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not
belittle aught of your deeds: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”.
As such, a pure faith and belief, by no means, can enter by force,
against the free-will of a person. Any person may utter one thing by his
tongue, but hide another thing deep in his heart. For this very reason,
Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Nahl, [The Bees]
16:106, which reads as follows:“ Anyone who, after accepting Faith in
Allah, utters Unbelief, - except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm
in Faith - but such as open their breast to Unbelief, on them is Wrath from
Allah, and theirs will be a dreadful Penalty”.
Any system, regardless of its source, requires a protective force to
preserve its values, spread its principles, ensure a fair application of
such principles, monitor the execution of respective penalties against
those who reject the system, or even parts thereof. Force, in reality and
in essence, is the executive authority of any system. Force ensures, as
pointed out earlier, the application of all laid values and principles of
any system in order that such system to prosper, continue, and last in
effect. Allah's Messenger (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to
have declared, which reads as follows:“ Truly, Allah, the Almighty, warns
people with the authority [or the power of the ruler/governor] more than
what He does with the Divine revelation of the Glorious Quran”
(Kanz-ul-'Ummal [The Workers' Treasure]).
Historically, Allah's Messenger (may Allah be pleased with him)
stayed in the sacred city of Makkah thirteen years, calling and inviting
his people, the dwellers of Makkah, and the visitors of Makkah, to Islam.
He preached Islam to them in every possible way. He encountered all types
of harassment, hatred, boycott, threats, attacks, oppression, physical
aggression and false accusation from his people. In fact, Allah's Messenger
(may Allah be pleased with him) was not alone in his suffering and
afflictions. All those who believed in the Message of Islam and followed it
shared his sufferings. In fact, Allah's Messenger (may Allah be pleased
with him) passed, helplessly, by the people who were being tortured for
their faith in Islam and believing in the Messenger of Allah (subhanahu wa
ta'ala) , and he remarked which reads as follows:“ Be patient, the family
of Yaser! Jannah, Paradise is your permanent abode [God Willing]”
(Al-Hakim, al-Mostadrak, 3:432).
The enemies of Allah's Messenger (may Allah be pleased with him) and
His Message of Islam, even reached to the point of making a serious
conspiracy to assassinate him, in order to stop his preaching of Islam.
Yet, though he was informed about their conspiracy to kill him, he only
commented, which reads as follows:“ O Allah! Please guide my people as they
know no better!”.
Allah, the Almighty, in reality, commanded His Messenger; Mohammed
(may Allah be pleased with him) , to be patient, forbearing and tolerant to
his people, as the road of propagation of the Message of Islam is rather long,
thorny, tough, and extremely difficult. Islam represents a war against all
types of falsehood, evil, tyranny, and deception. Allah, the Almighty,
states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Ahqaf 46:20, which reads as follows:“
Therefore patiently preserve, as did (all) Messengers of inflexible
purpose; and be in no haste about the (Unbelievers). On the Day that they
see the (Punishment) promised them, (it will be) as if they had not tarried
more than an hour in a single day (Thine but) to proclaim the Message: but
shall any be destroyed except those who transgress”.
Allah's Messenger (may Allah be pleased with him) continued to
approach visiting tribes, who came to Makkah, every year, and in every
possible occasion, to accept Islam and give their pledge of allegiance to
support him. Nonetheless, finally, a group of the people of the city of
Yathrib, nowadays known as the Madinah of the Prophet, believed in the
Message of Mohammed (may Allah be pleased with him), and gave him their
pledge of allegiance to fully support him, and defend him in the same way
as they defend their own wealth, valuables, honor, integrity and household.
These people promised to honor their pledge if Allah's Messenger (may Allah
be pleased with him) immigrated to their hometown and settle there with
them, along with the rest of the Believers. Thus, we note here that Allah's
Messenger (may Allah be pleased with him), after thirteen years of his
commission as a Messenger of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala), and the deliverer
of the Message of Islam, never shed a drop of blood throughout these long
years in the city of Makkah. Quraish, the Prophet's (may Allah be pleased
with him) tribe, confiscated his wealth and properties, as well as the
wealth and properties of his Companion immigrants. Yet, the Prophet (may
Allah be pleased with him) was not commanded to fight against them until
two years after his immigration to Madinah. The Prophet's (may Allah be
pleased with him) enemies, however, increased. Again, the Prophet (may
Allah be pleased with him) at his own, disliked war against his compound
enemies.
The city of Madinah was in route of the merchants' caravan to Syria.
Allah's Messenger (may Allah be pleased with him) intended to impose a type
of economic sanction on the tribe of Quriash. He intended to apply force on
them to let him propagate his faith to others. He aimed at protecting the
innocent, gullible, and poor Believers. The Prophet (may Allah be pleased
with him) also intended to compensate to the Believers this confiscated
wealth and properties in Makkah. The commercial caravan, led by a leader of
Quraish tribe, namely Abu Sofyan, prior to his embracing Islam, escaped the
ambush and survived of the attack. The leaders of Quraish, however, on
learning about the incident, prepared a sizable army and all war equipment
they had, and headed to fight against Islam and Muslims. Consequently, the
battle took place. It was the first battle in Islam. Mohammed (may Allah be
pleased with him), and his Believers utterly victorious. Allah, the
Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Hajj, [The Pilgrimage]
22:40-41, which reads as follows:“ (They are) those who have been expelled
from their homes in defiance of right, (for no cause) except that they say,
Our Lord is Allah. Did not Allah check one set of people by means of
another there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches,
synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in
abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause); for
verily Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His
Will). (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establish
regular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right and forbid wrong:
with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs”.
Furthermore, Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura
al-Nisa, [The Women] 4:75, which reads as follows:“ And why should ye not
fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated
(and oppressed)? Men, women, and children, whose cry is: Our Lord! Rescue
us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee
one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help!”.
In essence, all victories that Allah's Messenger (may Allah be
pleased with him) achieved, rendered the entire Arabian Peninsula within a
period of twenty three years to the rule of Islam. During this period,
approximately, only three hundred and seventy five people were killed in
the fighting that took place during his leadership. This indeed is a great
achievement.
It is also important to know that his rightly-guided Companions and
Caliphs followed his lead after his demise. The leading Companions of
Allah's Messenger (may Allah be pleased with him) conquered countries,
replaced governments, and spread Islam by their best morals, and standards.
These individuals were, by no standards, equal in number or war equipment,
preparations, and skills to the people of the vanquished lands. One of the
new reverting people [converts] to Islam, in our time, namely Basheer Ahmad
said, 'One of the most puzzling questions to me, and one of my most serious
concerns, prior to accepting Islam and embracing it as a way of life is,
we, Christians, claim that Islam spread by the edge of sword.' Therefore, I
posed the following question to myself, 'If that claim is true, why, then,
we notice that many people, in every corner of the world, still adhere to
Islam and embrace it, join it, and accept as a way of life? Why do we
notice people come to join Islam daily, without any compulsion or force by
any one?' (Dr.Imad-du-Deen Khalil, 'What Do They Say about Islam?', p.295).
Let's examine whether Islam is the only religion that is known to
spread by the use of force? Of course, this is the way Islam is described
by some of biased enemies. In fact, it is totally devoid of such a false
accusation, as it would be determined and established through the following
arguments.
Let's take a comparative look at what is stated in the Glorious
Quran and in both the New Testament; the Bible, and the Old Testament, the
Torah. In the Book of Deuteronomy: 23:10, and after, we read the
following:Let's take a comparative look at what is stated in the Glorious
Quran and in both the New Testament; the Bible, and the Old Testament, the
Torah. In the Book of Deuteronomy: 23:10, and after, we read the following:
" 10. And I stayed in the mount, according to the first
time, forty days and forty nights; and the Lord hearkened unto me at that
time also, and the Lord would not destroy thee.
11. And the Lord said unto me, Arise, take thy journey
before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware
unto their fathers to give unto them."
Additionally, in Mathew 10:25, we come across the following:"It
is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his
lord. If they have called the master of the house Be-elze-bub, how much
more shall they call them of his household?"
Moreover, Jostaf Lopond, in his book, The Arabs Civilization,
states, ' Force was never a factor in the spread of the Glorious Quran. In
fact, Arabs left the freedom of choice to the people they overcome and
conquered. Some of the Christians, who converted to Islam and took the
Arabic language as a medium of communication, were merely impressed with
the Arabs conquerors' justice. Such people never noticed any such
astounding justice from their previous masters. Secondly, such converts
noticed a great ease in dealing with the Islamic life, faith and
principles.' (Ibid, page 314).
By
Aburrahman Al-Sheha
|
