We were in Italy ,when I read some editions of the Daily Telegraph. A particular reflection, titled “Lebanese Despair” by Jonathan Carrick, Bridge of Allan, Stirling, captured my attention. He claims that, “The problem lies in the link between religion and politics in Islam and its ideology of jihad. As Christians, we are taught to turn the other cheek, forgive and love. Islam is about conquering through persuasion or bloodshed; there is no room for other faiths. …” I am intensely perturbed by the fires that are burning in the Muslim world and not for the first time have heard these words. Silence was no longer an option. I needed to reply.
The truth is that there is no compulsion in our way of life. This is simply what the Koran tells us. God seeks purity and sincerity not numbers. Therefore in its essence, Islam believes in inviting, informing, and teaching by practical example. It is a most natural and logical way of life. It tells us to repel evil with good but also allows one to take revenge – only to the extent of the injury.
The Muslims History is full of examples of this tolerant blending of ideologies. For instance, in the case of India, had the Muslims sought to spread Islam by force, the Indian subcontinent, ruled by them for over eight hundred years, would have been a Muslim majority country. It is not! The English could not stay for more than a hundred odd years and never won over the hearts of the people. They always felt superior to the people they ruled. On the other hand, the Muslims intermingled with those they ruled. All were the same in the eyes of Allah as opposed to the caste system that divided man from man because of superiority of birth and clan. During his final sermon, the Prophet PBUH reminded the people that, “There is no superiority for an Arab over a non Arab and for a non Arab over an Arab; nor for white over the black nor for the black over the white except in piety. Verily the noblest among you is he who is the most pious.
A true student of Koran is rid of all prejudice and biases. He hates the sin and never the sinner. He informs but never compels. He looks on all as creatures of the same creator and seeks only to serve. I know this because that is the message of the Book and the life of the Prophet who taught it. Try seeing the world through a child’s eye, my 8 year old son reasons that if Adam was the first man then we all are one family. In our stubborn emphasis on our own superiority of racial, national and religious boundaries, we have relinquished that essential fact.
There is no ambiguity in our way of life. There are differences amongst the followers as in any other religion and when fanned by our ill wishers they do become volatile. The non-muslims have caused more confusion and misinterpretation, just like the aforementioned comment of Mr Jonathan Carrick. Pick up any magazine or newspaper you will find articles that only show their intolerance to other view points. Theirs is the best way of life and that is it. Are you with us or not, is the key question to any opposition. Such ignorant statements can hardly mend hearts.
Koran revealed itself with the injunction, “Read!” It is the pursuit of intellectual and moral perfection and a willingness to adopt each good idea that saw the rise of Islam. This struggle is called Jihad. It is ridiculous that this word is so misunderstood in this super age of information when everything is a click away. It is the very absence of this struggle in our part of the world that is the cause of our humiliation.
Prophet Mohammad PBUH said, “ My cherisher has ordered me nine things: To reverence him externally and internally; to speak true, and with propriety, in prosperity and adversity: moderation in affluence and poverty: to benefit my relations and kindred who do not benefit me: to give alms to him who refuses me: to forgive him who injures me; that my silence should be in attaining knowledge of Allah: and that when I speak, I should mention Him : that when I look on Allah’s creatures, it should be as an example for them.” He advised us to “Be on your guard against committing oppression, for oppression is darkness on the Day of Resurrection, and be on your guard against pettimindedness for pettimindedness destroyed those who were before you, as it incited them to shed blood and make lawful what was unlawful to them” These virtues are the underlining foundations of our way of life.
As a result of this training, Muslims eatablished a new world order where slaves stood shoulder to shoulder with nobility, where women cleared of the original sin were given the rights of inheritance and identity. They led by their power of ideas, discovery and fearlessness. The Renaissance of the West owes to the Muslims. If you do not believe me visit Cordoba and Granada.
Jews were among the most dynamic citizens of Islamic Cordoba, holding important posts in various fields. Intermarriage with the people of the book, religious and ethnic tolerance were established way of life. It was the catholic monarchs in Granada that wanted to “purify the people of Spain.” Jews and then the Muslims were forcibly baptized, but then punished, tortured, and executed if suspected of insincerity to their new faith. Many were exiled. Was this not extremism? Ironically, it is the Jews who were sent to the Ottoman empire that were the most lucky. Sultan Bayezid 11 went to the extent of sarcastically thanking the monarch for” impoverishing his own lands while enriching his.”
We have witnessed the fall of capitalism and we are seeing the tyranny of Capitalism. We are all connected. That was the message of the Tsunami. The response to the disaster showed humanity at its best and what the media can achieve if it really wanted to. Balance will have to be restored only if we all open our minds and sift the truth. It is not difficult to find a solution if we believe that we all are essentially the same.
