Tolerance in Islam (part-II)
Random Thoughts
By Dr A Q Khan
In my previous column I stressed the importance of tolerance and forgiveness in Islam, defining what it meant and mostly dealing with the sayings (Ahadith) of our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his own actions in that respect.
The purpose of both the previous and this column is to address the issue of those ignorant, semi-literate and misguided people who call themselves Muslims but whose actions are abhorrent, despicable and anything but Islamic. How can the call to murder innocent men, women and children be justified? How can the destruction of places of learning be justified when these are the prime source of not only formal learning, but also of Deen, Quran, Ahadith, Islamic culture and Islamic history, from which we learn the causes and intrigues that led to the disintegration of our rich culture. Although anti-Islamic elements have much to do with the pathetic situation we find ourselves in today, a lot of it is due to the fact that we have ignored the divine edicts and Ahadith, internal squabbling, intrigues and, above all, totally forsaking the golden principles of tolerance, forgiveness and flexibility in dealing with each other and our opponents.
The guiding principles have been given to us by Allah more than fourteen hundred years ago. The Holy Quran says (translation by Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik):
* “A life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth and for a wound an equal retaliation. But if you remit the retaliation by way of charity, it will be an act of atonement for him”. (5:45)
* “O believers. Retaliation is prescribed for you in the cases of murder: a free man for a free man, a slave for a slave and a female for a female. But if anyone is pardoned by the brother of the slain, then bloodwit should be decided according to the common law and payment should be made with gratitude. ….. Now, whoever exceeds the limits of this, shall have a painful punishment. There is security of life for you in the law of retaliation so that you may restrain yourselves”. (2:178,179)
* “If you have to retaliate, let your retaliation be commensurate with the wrong which was done to you; but if you endure with patience, the best reward indeed is for those who endure with patience”. (16:126)
* “You shall not kill anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for just cause under the law. If anyone is killed unjustly, We have granted the right of retribution to his heir, but let him not carry his vengeance too far in killing the culprit through taking the law in his own hands, as he is supported by the law”. (17:33)
* “He that retaliates equal to the infliction he received and then is wronged again, will most certainly be helped by Allah; surely, Allah is the One Who is All-Forbearing, Most-Forgiving”. (22:60)
* “The recompense for an injury is an injury proportionate to it; but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, he shall be rewarded by Allah; He does not like the wrongdoers. Those who take revenge when wronged cannot be blamed. The blameworthy are those who oppress their fellow men and conduct themselves with wickedness and injustice in the land. It is they who will have painful punishment. Those who endure with fortitude and forgive others, surely, exhibit great courage in conducting their affairs”. (42:40-43)
* “Those who spend generously in the Way of Allah, whether they are in prosperity or in adversity, who control their anger and forgive other people, Allah loves such charitable people”. (3:134)
* “O Muhammad, it is a great Mercy of Allah that you are very gentle with them; had you been rough or hard-hearted, they would have deserted you. Therefore, pardon them and ask Allah’s forgiveness for them. Consult them in the conduct of affairs…”. (3:159)
* “Allah commands doing justice, doing good to others, and giving to near relatives, and He forbids indecency, wickedness, and rebellion: He admonishes you so that you may take heed”. (16:90)
* Fulfil the covenants of Allah… and do not break your vows oaths”. (16:91)
* “You shall not walk arrogantly on the earth, for you can neither rend the earth asunder nor attain the height of the mountains”. (17:37)
* “And when, chained together, they are flung into some narrow space, they will fervently plead for death. But they will be told: ‘Do not plead for one death today, but plead for many deaths”. (25:13, 14)
* “If Allah were to punish mankind for its wrongdoing, He would not leave even an animal around the wrongdoers, but He gives them respite for an appointed time”. (16:61)
* “… do not despair of Allah’s mercy, for Allah forgives all sins”. (39:53)
By quoting Allah’s edicts, I would once again like to stress that all those deeds perpetrated by some self-proclaimed custodians of Islam are strictly against Allah’s commands. Killing innocent people, suicide bombings, kidnappings, prohibiting Muslims from learning, demolishing schools, breaking vows, etc are all strictly forbidden and against Islamic teachings. There should be no doubt that the wrongdoers will be taken to task by Allah and His punishment is, no doubt, most severe, most painful. No one should be under the illusion that those who incite and/or mislead the poor, uneducated, unemployed people with hardly any religious knowledge into committing the heinous and despicable crimes cited above will not face the wrath of Allah (i.e. permanent banishment to hell) for their un-Islamic deeds. They should remember Allah’s words in Surah Najm – Ayat 32: “He knew you well when He created you from earth and when you were just embryos in your mother’s womb, therefore do not (boast) claim of piety for yourselves. He knows best who is really God-fearing (pious).” So beware! Allah’s punishment is very severe, very painful.
