Removing Obstacles to Peace and Order in the Light of Sirat-e-Rasool - Part 2
Escalating
Instability and Disorder, As Well As Its Solution In Light Of the Prophet's
Biography
Highlights
1. Unjustly
interfering in the honour of others is the third major source of conflict and
mischief in the world.
2. The Qur'an
affirms all persons to be honourable and revered as human beings, regardless of
their faith or nationality.
3. Interfering
in one's religious affairs is the fourth key cause of international peace and
order problems.
4. In a time of
narrow-mindedness and prejudice, the Holy Prophet was the first individual in
human history to raise the banner of religious and intellectual freedom.
...
By
Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
24 December
2021
Respect
for Human Dignity
The third
important thing that causes strife and mischief in the world is to unjustly
interfere in the honour of others. According to the teachings of the Holy
Prophet, everyone is worthy of respect, whether he is ruler or subject, male or
female, Muslim or non-Muslim, teacher or student, rich or poor, officer or
subordinate, educated or illiterate, everyone deserves due respect.
The Qur'an
declares all people, regardless of faith or nationality, to be honourable and
revered as human beings.
Allah says
in the Quran: “And We have certainly honoured the children of Adam and
carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and
preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.”
(Surah Bani Isra'il/ 17:70)
At one
point, the Qur'an described the human body as the best stature. Allah says: “We
have certainly created man in the best of stature” (Surat at-Tin/ 95:4)
After
considering these verses, it is clear that Fitna and mischief amongst people
based on religion are not appropriate. Because of race, it is not appropriate
to cause discord. It is not proper to consider someone honourable and dignified
because of wealth, nor is it proper to consider someone degraded because of poverty;
rather, who is devout and whose deeds are virtuous is the measure of good and
evil, honour and dignity. Allah declares:
“O mankind,
indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes
that you may know one another. Indeed, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah
is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (Surah
Hajarat/ 49:13)
This
passage is addressed to all human beings, not just Muslims, and sends a clear
message that there is no distinction between them and that they are all formed
in the same way. They are split into tribes and families, but this does not
mean that they degrade and fight with one another because of their tribal and
family distinctions; rather, it means that they recognise one another and
acquire a good understanding of one another.
As a
result, it is clear that every human being is appreciated by Islam, regardless
of colour, ethnicity, sex, nationality, language, or religion. This is why, via
his noble teachings, the Holy Prophet forbade any conduct that harms a person's
self-esteem.
The holy
Quran says,
“O People who Believe! Men must not ridicule
other men for it could be that the ridiculed are better than the mockers, nor
must the women ridicule other women for the ridiculed women may be better than
the mockers: And do not insult one another, nor assign evil nicknames; how base
it is to be called a sinner after being a Muslim! And whoever does not repent –
then it is they who are unjust.” (49:11)
This is
another passage that gives believers rights over one another, declaring that it
is banned and not permissible to ridicule others in words or actions that
suggest looking down on one's human brother, as this is demonstrative of
self-admiration on the mocker's part.
It's
possible that the one who is mocked is better than the one who mocks him, as is
often the case because mockery is merely a mirror of a bad attitude and bad
manners, as well as all other negative attributes.
Allah says,
“O People who Believe! Avoid excessive assumptions; indeed assumption
sometimes becomes a sin, and do not seek faults, and do not slander one another;
would anyone among you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? So you will
hate that! And fear Allah; indeed Allah is Most Acceptor of Repentance, Most
Merciful.” (49:12)
Allah
forbids suspicion and thinking ill of the believers in most cases because
suspicion is a sin on some occasions. Suspicion based on facts and proof, as
well as thinking ill of someone, can lead to them saying and doing a variety of
criminal behaviours. That's because harbouring negative thoughts usually
doesn't end there; rather, it continues until something incorrect is said or
done.
In the
Farewell Sermon, the Holy Prophet said, “No Arab has any supremacy over a
non-Arab, and no non-Arab has any superiority over Arab, and no white has any
superiority over black, and no black has any advantage over white. Piety is the
foundation of virtue and greatness.”
Superstitious
practises such as caste have no place in the teachings of the Holy Prophet. On
the occasion of the conquest of Makkah, The Holy Prophet instructed Hazrat
Bilal, a Black African, to stand on the House of God and call Azan. The people
were taught that caste, creed, colour, and race don't matter. It is one's
faith, belief, values, and clean character that count the most.
Respect
for Religion or Religious Freedom
The fourth
major reason for the problem of peace and order in the world is to interfere in
one's religious affairs. The Holy Prophet was the first person in human history
to raise the banner of religious and intellectual freedom in a time of
narrow-mindedness and bigotry. The Quran says, “There is no compulsion in
the Religion” (2:256) and “For you is your religion and for me is my
religion” (109:6)
In this
regard, the Holy Prophet not only forbade coercion but also forbade any
behaviour that could lead to tensions between the followers of different
religions. This can be gauged from the fact that it is unlawful for a person to
speak ill of any religious leader or religious figure, as it may lead to
fights, quarrels, strife and riots between the followers of two different
religions.
Islam
expressly forbids blasphemy against non-Muslim religions or deities. Allah is
fully aware of the dangers that the misuse of other faiths poses to society's
harmony, and He has advised Muslims to leave the final judgement to Him alone. “And
do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in
enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their
deeds. Then to their Lord is their return and He will inform them about what
they used to do.” (6:108).
The goal of
Islam is to promote goodness to all of humanity and to establish a peaceful and
secure environment for all of humanity. We see that the battle has been
authorised to end oppression on occasion, but keep in mind that this was only intended
to end oppression. It was discovered that Islam's goal is to create a society
that is truly peaceful and secure, and that in order to do so, it is vital to
act with justice and fairness toward all members of society. As a result, it is
imperative that we take the pure biography of Allah's Messenger as an example
and follow it. Only in this way can the world be free of violence and turmoil,
and a climate of peace and security be established.
-----
Kaniz
Fatima is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
Related
Article: Removing Obstacles to Peace and Order in the Light of
Sirat-e-Rasool - Part 1
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/obstacles-peace-order-sirat-rasool/d/126025
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