In Islam, on freedom of religious beliefs, the Holy Qur’an is no less equivocal. The following verses suffice: Ye may believe in it (the Qur’an) or not…..(Bani Israel: 107) Say, ‘The Truth is From your Lord’: Let him who will, Believe, and let him Who will reject (it). (Kahf:29) Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out Clear from Error. (Baqara or the Heifer: 256) If it had been Thy Lord’s Will, They would all have believed, All who are on Earth! Wilt thou then compel mankind, Against their will to believe! (Yunus, or Jonah: 99) Therefore do thou give Admonition, for thou art One to admonish. Thou art not one to manage (men’s) affairs…….. (Gashiya, or the overwhelming event: 21-26) This last verse laid down the Islamic principle of religious coexistence and tolerance. God spared the Prophet and all Muslims the trap of fruitless debate on who has the monopoly over the religious truth. The Faithful’s duty is to advocate, but not to admonish or coerce. It is only God who can hold people accountable in the thereafter in matters of beliefs. This fundamental point is repeated over and over again. Addressing the Prophet, God commands: If they do wrangle with thee, Say: “God knows best What it is ye are doing.” God will judge between you on the Day of Judgment Concerning the matters in which Ye differ. (Hajj of the Pilgrimage: 68-69) Equally, the Qur’an adjoins the Prophet and the Faithful to be always gentle in addressing, dialoguing, or arguing with others in general, and peoples of the Book (Jews and Christians) in particular: Speak fair to people. (Baqara, or the Heifer:83) Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them, In ways that are best And most gracious: For thy Lord knoweth best, Who have strayed from His Path, And who received guidance. (Nahl, or the Bee: 125) One could continue to give numerous illustrations of Islam’s respect of differences and it advocacy of peaceful and civilized management of diversity. But this may, in fact, be said of nearly all great religions (such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism and so on,). The question remains: how seriously have Muslims taken their Glorious Commandments? Quotation from article of Professor Saad Eddin Ibrahim , “Religion and Democracy”, in the book, “The Changing Nature of Democracy” United Nations University, 1998.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 01:44:48 +0000
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