Mankind along the ages and times
have embraced numerous religion and creeds some of which are
heavenly which have come through messengers and prophets, and
some which are man-made adopted by man himself; therefore, man
has created for himself in the matter of creeds various beliefs
and doctrines.
A belief is regarded as
(irrespective of its being religious, political or social or
other than that, the strongest link or tie in the life of man
exceeding the strong linkage of blood, ethnics and kinship;
therefore, it has not been easy for man or rather impossible to
change his religion, or faith because he always believes that
what he believes is correct and that nothing else is there to be
more correct than his and that all the other beliefs are all in
all, corrupt and false and that his belief only is sufficient to
release his part from any charge or responsibility and the others
are but subtle blasphemy, atheism and disbelief.
Based upon this criterion, it is
incumbent on him to deadly stand up for his belief and sacrifice
himself for its sake and let his soul melt for him because he
will be standing before his worshipped God which necessitates him
to be in full submission, humility and respect, for all his
entity will violently shake if his belief is exposed to any
defect or harm even if the worshipped one is a stone or a planet
or something else. Man ha worshipped since ancient ages idols,
the sun, the moon, the stars, fire and the vagina and some
animals like the cow and the mouse.
Very often, religions and beliefs
are hereditary in origin and (such our forefathers have done) as
there have been no investigators or researchers who would follow
up to verify facts and data as they ought to be dealt with
accordingly with regard to the verification of his religion and
the origin of his belief for he believes that forefathers were
more knowledgeable and aware of their affairs than him and that
their option was the correct one; the older the belief in
piercing the time and its durability signifies the legitimacy of
its imperishability from their point of view.
Religious, sectarian and
theological conflicts have taken place since ancient ages and are
still going on the same path, and wars and seditions arose which
have eaten up the wet and the dry and annihilated plants and
origin of mankind and continued on this example for long years;
all that was because of religious and theological zeal, and
mostly such stubbornness and obstinacy may appear as blind aiming
at establishing the first party as a believing figure and the
bearer of the right banner and by failing the other party
regarding it as disbeliever and perverted from the right
path.
Islam and Respect of
Religions and Beliefs
Islam emerges from the principle
that all the people came from the same self (All of you are from
Adam and Adam is from the earth); therefore, the whole of mankind
are equal before Allah's legislature like the teeth of a comb and
there is no difference or preference between the rich and the
poor nor a white man over a black one. (The most honorable one
amongst you in Allah's sight is the most pious one amongst
you.)
Islam does not bind anyone to
embrace this or that religion since belief cannot be built unless
with consent and satisfaction. (There is no obligation in
embracing religion as guidance is distinguished manifestly from
misguidance), and upon this basis, the teachings of Islam worked
hard to maintain the thought of not fighting against the
disbelievers save in certain cases like maintaining self-defense
or killing the disbelieving fighter who raises his sword against
the believers nor giving legality to kill one who believes in
another religion or obliging one forcibly to embrace
Islam.
The wars and conquests launched by
Muslim armies at the outset of Islam were all defensive ones
though in some of these wars, daring proactive assaults were made
as a means of defensive measures especially when the Muslims knew
beforehand that the enemy was prepared to ignite an offensive
against the Muslim army.
Islam as a religion believes in
opening a peaceful dialogue with the other religions illuminated
by bright and the noble verse: " And argue with them in a better
way and the other verse which calls for: "No obligation is there
in religion." "And what has happened at the outset of Islam of
opening new states by force of arms are but mistakes reckoned on
those who committed them, not on Islam as Islam did not believe
in employing the sword in the matter of spreading Islam, we say
to those who accuse Islam of using the sword in Andalusia: Where
is it now and where is Islam? While Indonesia today is the
biggest state of Islam throughout the world which did not witness
the Islamic sword at all.
Sun -
22 Jamadilawal 1446H -
