ham@gator.cacs.usl.edu (Hameed Ahmed Mohammed) (06/05/91)
In the name of Allah most Gracious most Merciful.
Relationship of the Muslims With Non-Muslims.
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When we contemplate summarizing the Islamic teachings concerning dealings
with non-Muslims in relation to the halal and the haram, we find that the
following two verses of the Quran are sufficient.
Says Allah Subhanahy wa Taala:
Allah does not forbid you, with regard to those who do
not fight you on account of your religion nor drive you
out of your homes, to treat them with goodness and to be
just to them; truly, Allah loves those who are just. Indeed,
Allah forbids you (only) with regard to those who fight
you on account of religion and drive you out of your homes,
and assist (others) in driving you out, that you turn to
them (in friendship); and whoever turns to them (in friendship)
they are wrongdoers.) 60:8-9.
The first of these two verses not only calls for justice and fairness in
dealing with non-Muslims who neither fight Muslims on religious grounds
nor drive them out of their homes-that is, those who are neither at war
with, nor hostile to, Muslims--but alse urges Muslims to be kind to them.
The word Birr or goodness which is used in this verse is a very comprehensive
term signifying that kindness and generosity which is over and above justice
;it is the same word which is used to describe the Muslim's duty to his
parents.
A question which troubles some people and which is sometimes discussed openly
is the following: How can we show kindness, and affection, and good treatment
to non-Muslims since Allah Himself prohibits Muslims to take non-believers as
friends and allies in such verse as the following:
O you who believe, do not take the jews and Christians as friends; they
are the friends (only) of each other. And whoever among you turns to them
(for friendship) is certainly one of them; indeed , Allah does not guide the
people who do wrong. Yet thou seest those in whose hearts is a disease racing
toward them ...(5:54-55(51-52))
The answer to this is that these verses are not unconditional , to be applied
to every Jew and Christian, or non-Muslim. Interpreting them in this manner
contradicts the injunctions of the Quran which enjoins affection and kindness
to the good and peace loving peoples of every religion, as well as the verses
which permit marriage to the women of the People of the Book, with all that
Allah says concerning marriage--"and He has put love and mercy between you"
(30:21)-- and the verse concerning the Christians:
...And thou wilt find those who say, "Surely we are Christians." to be
nearest to them (the Muslims) in affection...(5:85(82))
The verses cited above were revealed in connection with those people who were
hostile to Islam and made war upon the Muslims. Accordingly, it is permissible
for the Muslims to support or assist them--that is , to be their ally--nor to
entrust them with secrets at the expense of his own religion and community.
This point is explained in other verses, in which Allah says:
They will spare nothing to ruin you; they yearn for what makes
you suffer. Hatred has been expressed by their mouths, but what
their hearts conceal is still greater. Thus have We made clear to
you the revelations(or signs), if you possess understanding. Ah!
you love them, but they do not love you ...(3:118-119)
This ayat throws light on the character of such people, who conceal great
enmity and hatred against the Muslims in their hearts and whose tongues
express some of the effects of such hostility.
Allah says:
Thou wilt not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day
loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they
may be their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kin...
(58:22).
Opposition to Allah is not simply belief but includes hostility toward Islam
and Muslims.
Allah says:
O ye who believe, do not take My enemy and your enemy as friends,
offering them affection, even though they have disbelieved in what
has come to you of the truth, driving out the Messenger and yourselves
because you believe in Allah, your Lord ...(60:1)
This verse was revealed in connection with the pagans of Makkah, who
declared war on Allah and His Messenger driving the Muslims out their
homes simply because they said,"Our Lord is Allah". With this type of
people, friendship and alliance cannot be permitted. Yet inspite of this, the
Quran did not dismiss the hope that some day there might be a reconciliation;
it did not declare utter disappointment in them but encouraged the Muslims
to entertain the hope of better circumstances and improved relationships, for
in the same surah Allah says:
It may be that Allah will bring about affection between
you and those who are your enemies from among them. And
Allah is All-Powerful, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (60:7)
This Quranic statement gives the assurance that this bitter hostility and deep
hatered will pass away, as it is also stated in the hadith
"Hate your enemy mildly; he may become your friend one day."
(al-Tirmidhi).
The prohibition against befriending the enemies of Islam is even nore emphatic
when they are stronger than the Muslims, crushing hopes and generating fear in
the minds of people. In such a situation, only hypocrites and those in whose
hearts is a disease hasten to befriend them, giving them help today in order
to benefit from them tomorrow. Allah says:
Yet thou seest those in whose hearts is a disease racing toward
them(the enemies of Islam), saying,"We are afraid that a change
of fortune may befall us". but it may be that Allah will give(thee)
the victory or some decision from Himself, and then they will become
regretful for what they thought secretly within themselves.(5:55(52))
And again,
Give to the hypocrites the tidings that they will have a grevious
punishment. Do those who take the unbelievers as friends instead
of the Believers seek honor among them? For indeed all honor
belongs to Allah alone. (4:138-139)
There is no harm done if Muslims, at either the private or the government
level seek help from non-Muslims in technical matters which have no connection
with religion. At the same time it is of course exteremly desirable that
Muslims become self-sufficient in all fields.
We see from the life of the Prophet (peace be on him) that he employed
Abdullah bin Uraiqit, a polytheist, to be his guide in his hijrah from
Makkah to Medinah. Scholars have concluded from this that a person's
unbelief does not mean that he is basically untrustworthy, for what
could be more risky than depending on a guide to show the route,
particularly in fleeing form Makkah to Madinah?
Indeed , Islam respects a human being only because he is human; how much the
more then, if he from the People of the book and still more if he is a dhimmi?
Once a funeral procession passed by the Prophet and he stood up. Thereupon
someone remarked," O Messenger of Allah, it is the funeral of a Jew."
The Prophet replied," Was he not a soul?" (al Bukhari).
THUS, TRULY, IN ISLAM EVERY HUMAN BEING HAS A DIGNITY AND A PLACE.
emev02@castle.ed.ac.uk (H Oral) (06/07/91)
DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ASSALAMUALAIKUM, I HAVE BEEN ENJOYING THE CONVERSATIONS FOR A WHILE. ALHAMDULILLAH THAT WE ARE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE IN SUCH AN EFFICIENT MANNER. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE OVERALL POSTINGS. IT MAY BE EASIER TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO SAY: THREE BLIND MEN WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT AN ELEPHANT IS ARE TAKEN TO AN ELEPHANT. EVERYONE OF THEM HAVE TRIED TO GET THE IDEA BY TOUCHING AS MUCH AS THEY HAVE REACHED. AT THE END, WHEN THEY ARE ASKED WHAT AN ELEPHANT LOOKED LIKE THEY ANSWERED ACCORDING TO THE PARTS THAT THEY HAVE TOUCHED. SO, THE MAN WHO WAS HOLDING THE TAIL SAID THAT IT WAS LONG AND THIN. WHEREAS, THE ONE WHO WAS HOLDING THE LEG SAID THAT IT WAS THICK AND BIG ETC. ALHAMDULILLAH, THE RELIGION IS PERFECTED BY ALLAH IN THE FORM OF ISLAM. AND ALLAH HAS PROTECTED IT FOR US INCLUDING SOUND TRADITIONS OF THE PROPHET(SAW). TODAY WE HAVE SOURCES OF OUR RELIGION, SO MUCH SO THAT IF WE MAKE AN EXTENSIVE STUDY, WE CAN BRING FORTH ALL THE ANSWERS WITHOUT HAVING TO DISCUSS IT IN GREAT EXTENT. HOWEVER, IF OUR PRESENTATION OF SUBJECT IS NOT COMPLETE AND BIASED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IT IS LIKELY THAT IT WILL BE SOURCE OF FURTHER MAILS WHICH ARE WRITTEN LIKE CONFRONTATIONS. I THINK, IT WILL BE HELPFUL WHILE PRESENTING A POINT OF VIEW, TO CONFESS THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS WHICH WILL COMPLETE THE PICTURE, HOWEVER THEY ARE NOT PREPARED FOR PRESENTATION. EVERY ONE OF US WILL AGREE THAT WE ARE NOT PERFECT. THEREFORE I TAKE IT THAT THIS WILL NOT OFFEND ANYONE. MAY ALLAH HELP US AND INCREASE US IN KNOWLEDGE YOUR MUSLIM BROTHER hamid oral