Islam Promotes Tolerance & Prohibits Terrorism

[Excerpt 2]
Allah Prohibits Terrorism & Promotes Tolerance

“Whoever kills a person [unjustly]…it (his or her sin) is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind."
-- Qur'an [5:32]

Analysis on this verse by Yusuf Ali in his, THE HOLY QUR'AN-English Translation of the meanings & Commentary : "…To kill or seek to kill an individual because he represents an ideal, is to kill all who uphold the ideal. On the other hand, to save an individual life in the same circumstances is to save a whole community. What could be stronger condemnation of individual assassination and revenge?"

“And fight in the cause of God who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors.”
 --- Qur'an [2:190]

Analysis on this verse by Yusuf Ali in his, THE HOLY QUR'AN-English Translation of the meanings & Commentary: "War is permissible in self-defense, and under well-defined limits. When undertaken, it must be pushed with vigor, but not relentlessly, but only to restore peace and freedom for the worship of Allah. In any case strict limits must be not be transgressed: women, children, old and infirm men should not be molested, nor trees and crops cut down, nor peace withheld when the enemy comes to terms." 

Muhammad's(S) Wisdom on Tolerance as against Terrorism

 “And we have not sent you except as a mercy to mankind.”[1]
 ---Qur'an [21: 107]

“Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them. Instead, accustom yourselves to do good if people do well and not do wrong (even) if they do evil”. ---Al-Tirmidhi

“Faith (imam) is to restrain oneself against all violence, let no believer commit any violence”
---Abu Dawud

Test Cases of Tolerance & Mercy of the Prophet & his Companions

 “You have indeed in the Apostle (Messenger) of God (Muhammad) a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in God and the Final Day and who engages much in the praise of God.” - Qur'an [33:21]

His Tolerance at Udaibiyah resulting in "Manifest Victory"

When the Prophet and his sahabah (companions)wanted to make lesser Hajj(Umrah) in the sixth year of Hijrah, (migration to Medina) the Muslim, he was prevented by the Quraysh (non-Muslims), who bent on waging a war with him and his companions if he insists on going to Ka'abah, which was in their possession. They had expelled him and his companions from their hometown. They had taken possession of Muslims' homes and other properties, and spared no effort in disseminating negative propaganda against Islam.

They drafted a four point treaty to the Prophet[PBUH] to sign on their own terms at a place called HUDAIBIYAH, 14 kilometers from Makkah. The treaty was referred to as, SULHUL HUDAIBIYAH, or the TREATY OF HUDAIBIYAH. One of the bizarre and weird proposals in the pact, which no civilization or society on earth would ever agree upon was that; “When a person from Mecca (their kith & kin) comes to the Prophet in Medina and converted, they would send their two people to come and get him? But however when a Muslim leaves Medina and goes to Mecca, the Prophet has no right to send people to come and get him.” This draconian rule was incredibly agreed upon and signed by the Prophet[PBUH] in the interest of peace, tolerance & tranquility. Umar the second Caliph was so furious at the decision of the Prophet to sign it and nearly rebel against him.

However within a short while, this incident rather than a curse, became a blessing in disguise to the Prophet and the entire Ummah, when the Prophet[PBUH] looking radiant announced that, 'A surah (chapter) has descended on me (in the Qur'an), which is dearer to me than anything under the sun.' This surah was the surah of Victory (al-Fat'h) Qur'an chapter 48. This revealed the full significance and success of the events of Hudaibiyah.And this event became a turning point in the history of Islam and it is popularly known as, “Fathan Mubeenan”, a “Manifest Victory”. Commenting on the “Manifest Victory” of Hudaibiyah, Ibn Ishaq, a famous Muslim historian wrote in his, The Life of Muhammad: “No previous victory in Islam was greater than this (Hudaibiyah). There was nothing but battle when men met; but when there was an armistice (ceasefire) and war was abolished and men met in safety and consulted together none talked about Islam intelligently without entering it. In these two years [628-630] (the rate at which people converted to Islam) double as many or more than double as many entered Islam as ever before (Hudaibiyah).

He forgave the person who struck his pregnant daughter, caused her miscarriage and death

Hibar ibn Aswad was yet another enemy of Islam. During the migration of the Prophet's daughter Zainab from Mecca to Medina, he intentionally kicked her while she was riding a camel and caused her to fall to the ground, resulting in her miscarriage and that shock ultimately become the cause of her death. Hibar begged for mercy and the Prophet forgave him.

Part of his bountiful clemency to the enemies is his agreement to pray for rainfall upon the request of his enemy Abu Sufyan, when a severe famine struck Makkah, until the starving lot was compelled to eat carrion and bones. He prevented Thamamah Bun Athal from stopping his supply of food to the non-believers of Makkah, after he accepted Islam. A Bedouin Arab came and jerked his sheet so violently that its thick border injured his neck, leaving a red mark. He said, “Muhammad, this bounty of God that is with you is neither yours nor your father's, so give me a camel load of it”. The Prophet said, “These goods certainly belong to God and I am his servants.” Then he ordered that he should be given a camel load of barely.”

In his last sermon during the end of the last pilgrimage, he had declared to the largest ever gathering that; “I declare all those issues causing bloodshed among tribes as null and void and as the starting point, I take back the claim to avenge a murder in my own family and the interest due on the loans by my uncle Abbas”.

Western Intellectuals view Islam as Tolerant, not Terrorist Faith

“They (Muslims) created a society more free from widespread cruelty and social oppression than any society had ever been in the world before.”
--- H.C. Wells, The Outline of History

“…The Prophet came to Medina and exemplified tolerance, an aspect of Islam which is fundamental to the manner in which the religion should operate in foreign lands.”
--- Amyn Sajoo, Muslim Ethics: Emerging Vistas

Husseini Yushau BabalWaiz,is the Research & Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Media & Peace Initiatives Inc. New York, Author of three books and tutor in Arabic and Islamic Studies [email protected]

NB: Folks, This the second excerpt of my third book entitled :“Islam Promotes Tolerance & Prohibits Terrorism”, sub-titled: “Reviving the Islamic Advocacy of Mercy & Magnanimity to Mankind”. This has become necessary due to the current and contemporary cases of terrorism and radicalism which is associated with Islam and Muslim, and the western media alleges these acts of sadism and savagery are sanctioned by our faith. We hope this and the subsequent excerpts will set the record straight. After serializing the entire manuscript, I will resume the history series by the will of Allah.

Analysis on this verse by Yusuf Ali in his, THE HOLY QUR'AN-English Translation of the meanings & Commentary : " We now have the psychology of the Believers,-God-fearing men, led by that pattern of men and of leaders, Muhammad Al-Mustapha…"