MAULANA AKHLAQ HUSAIN QASMI, former Rector of and Professor of Tafsir at Jamia Rahimia, New Delhi, has to his credit 20 books and about 150 descriptive and research articles in Urdu, English and Hindi on the various aspects of Qur’an and Islamic
How did Prophet Muhammad’s message help bring positive changes to the lives of people from different echelons of society?
The Holy Qur’an has called the Prophet Rahmatul lil Aalameen and Sahib-e-Khulqe Azim. It means that Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be with him) brought the message of peace and mercy for the whole world and all the peoples inhabiting the earth. He preached love, peace and merry through his actions and words.
Before his emergence the world was full of cruelties and discrimination. Peoples discriminated against each other on the basis of colour, caste and creed. Slaves had no rights. Some peoples considered themselves religiously superior and persecuted others to establish their supremacy. Women, too, had no rights and wives were treated like slaves. This was the general picture of the Arab society and the world before the emergence of the Prophet. Now, compare this with the society the Holy Prophet formed in a short span of 23 years and you will know his greatness. He laid the foundation of a society where every decision on any issue, major or minor, was based on justice and truth and where there was no discrimination of any sort.
Such is the greatness of the Prophet that even his critics and enemies have been forced to concede that he founded a society based on equality and justice and that he brought peace to the world. For instance, H.G. Wells, one of the well known critics of the Holy Prophet who have targeted the Prophet’s marital life, found himself singing praises of the same person in his book A Concise History of the World. Wells writes that there is no way but to accept that Muhammad founded a society based on justice, brotherhood and equality first time in the history of mankind.
What did the Prophet teach about human rights?
The Prophet taught that a human life is precious and a non-believer has as much right to live as a Muslim. The Holy Prophet ordered a Muslim killed in punishment for killing a zimmi non-Muslim.
In the Battle of Badr a number of non-believers were caught as prisoners of war. The Prophet told is Companions to behave kindly with the prisoners. So, a prisoner of war in Badr relates that the Ansari Muslim, in whose custody he was kept, gave him bread and curry to eat and he ate only dates. Abu Aziz says he insisted that his captor ate bread and curry but he would refuse. Can we imagine such a sympathetic behaviour with POWs today? The Westerners, especially the USA, proclaim themselves as the champion of human rights but tell me is it the kind of behaviour that is meted out to the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay?
What did Muhammad say about the right of people who have made peace with Muslims?
Prophet Muhammad gave clear orders about the protection of life, assets and dignity of such people. The Prophet said: “Beware! If anyone (amongst the Muslims) committed any extremities on the people who have made peace with us, or exploited him financially or levied taxes more than his capacity or took something from him without his consent and willingness. I will advocate his case on the Day of Judgment.”
In a hadith the Prophet warned against killing a non-Muslim living in peace. He said, “The one who killed a non-Muslim who had made peace with the Islamic government will not even get near the Paradise let alone getting in.”
Once a Muslim murdered a Jew out of personal rivalry in the Islamic Republic of Medina. Prophet Muhammad had made a treaty of peace with the community to which the Jew belonged. Now, it was incumbent on the Holy Prophet to protect the lives and dignity of these people. So, the Prophet, keeping his words, ordered the murderer to be killed for violating the treaty.
You can imagine how difficult it would have been to pass such an order. It could alienate a large number of Muslims. But despite all that the Holy Prophet kept justice above everything. Some Muslims at that time expressed surprise and dismay at this decision but the Prophet said: “The best amongst you is the one who keeps his words.” He set a precedent for all times to come.
Nowadays we come across instances of suicide bombers and others killing innocent people almost on daily basis. In the light of Seerah of the True Messenger of Allah, can it be justified?
These people kill innocent people in the name of jihad. Let’s go back to the first battle fought in the name of Islam – ghazwa-e-Badr. On the occasion of the Battle of Badr the Prophet Muhammad said, “Our battle is with the one thousand armed people who are standing in the battle field and not with those who are in their houses in the city of Makkah.
Similarly, when the Islamic army entered victorious in Makkah, in the command of the Holy Prophet, he did not allow any non-believer, who was not fighting against the Muslims, killed or harmed. He announced that everyone who did not raise his sword against the Muslims and kept inside his house was safe. Now, what conclusion do you draw out of these incidents?
Human life is precious and must not be wasted on minor pretexts. Islam preaches love and not hatred. The jurisprudential principle is that war is against the war, not against infidelity.
In the modern times Islam is being projected as intolerant towards other faiths and religions; what does Prophet Muhammad’s life teach us? What is the real picture of Islam?
Islam has clearly defined the basic human rights. Religious freedom is one of the most important human rights. Islam does not allow you to force anyone to follow your faith.
The Holy Qur’an also tells us about respecting the religious freedom of others. In Surah Ana’am, Verse 107, Allah orders not to call names to the many gods and goddesses whom the non-believers worship lest they say something unpleasant for Allah in retaliation.
The Qur’an and the Holy Prophet preached tolerance towards other religions. It is absolutely wrong to project Islam as being intolerant towards other religions.