My sister Janet Hanifan of the United States whose son is running a Church asked me to sign the petition for the release of Asia Bibi: https://facebook/theACLJ/photos/a.75382170046.86248.58158120046/10152372695085047/?type=1&fref=nf Without any hesitation I have signed the petition but requested her to fix the citation on the photo as Asia Bibi is not going to be hanged because of her Christian faith; she is scheduled to be hanged because she was charged in a Court of Law that she used insulting remarks about Muhammad, peace be upon him. Thus, it is a case of blasphemy of the Prophet of Islam. Before I proceed further I would like to quote for you Prophet Muhammads, peace be upon him, Covenant with the Christians which he had signed more than 1400 years ago (Arabic version is available): Muhammads Promise to the Monks of St. Catherines Monastery Until the End of Days : This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil Gods covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world). From the Prophets Covenant it is mandatory that the Muslims will fight for their rights, and for the protection of their lives and properties. Thus, it is clear that those Muslims who violate this Covenant and unjustly cause any harm to the Christians commit blasphemy of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad, peace be upon him. Because of recent events I researched Al-Kitab, Al-Quraan al-Hakeem, to find out exact, direct, Commandment of Allah prescribing punishment for blasphemy of Allah and His Prophet, Muhammad, peace be upon him. Let us consider Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 57: “Lo! those who malign Allah and His messenger, Allah hath cursed them in the world and the Hereafter, and hath prepared for them the doom of the disdained.” One can see there is no direct order on how to punish the Blasphemers in this world. Lets consider verses in Chapter 111: 111:1: May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. 111:2: His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained. 111:3: He will [enter to] burn in a Fire of [blazing] flame 111:4: And his wife [as well] - the carrier of firewood. 111:5: Around her neck is a rope of [twisted] fiber. The common theme between the verses noted above is that, while the highest condemnation has been heaped on anyone reviling or attempting to revile the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and eternal damnation promised for the perpetrator, neither a direct order (Amr) has been given to impart a punishment nor a set punishment prescribed — not even for Abu Lahab who was an ardent enemy of the Prophet. He and his wife would spare no moment to torment the Prophet yet there is no direct Order for Punishment for them in this world. Let us also consider the Arabic terms used to describe blasphemy against God and the Prophet (PBUH). The Arabic words sabba (abuse, insult) and shatm (vilification) denote blasphemy and have been adopted in Persian and Urdu as well. It must be stated that the word shatm does not occur in the Quran at all while a derivative of sabba is used only in one verse and that too to stop the Muslims from hurling sabba on other people’s gods and deities (Chapter 6:108). 6:108: Wa la tasubu 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. So where then are punishments like death, burning alive, or chopping limbs for blasphemy coming from? Usually, anecdotal reports are cited from the Hadith where the Prophet (PBUH) allegedly condoned the death, or punishment of a blasphemer. However, for each such incident — usually reported on weak authority — there are two others where the Prophet (PBUH) tolerated and indeed pardoned insults against him. Not a single incident can be cited from the Sirah traditions where charges of blasphemy were filed, a trial held and the punishment meted out. Almost all proponents of severe or capital punishment for blasphemy, therefore, quote verse 5:33 (Surah Al-Maidah), in support of their argument. Lets examine 5:33: 5:33. The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.” It is a travesty of justice that a verse dealing with war, sedition, rebellion, and mischief in the land, is invoked to carve out a justification for punishment for blasphemy. In fact, section 295 of Pakistan Penal Code is not just a travesty of justice, it is an Iftira i.e. slander against the Almighty and Prophet (PBUH) as it attributes to them what they never mandated. In view of the above it can easily be concluded that Article 295 of Pakistan Penal Code is repugnant to the Quran and Sunnah and, as long as it remains on the books, it will be a direct negation of the verse “Wama arsalnaka illa Rehmatan-lil-alameen” (We sent thee (O Muhammad) not, but as a Mercy for all worlds — 21:107). By not prescribing harsh punishments for the blasphemers in this world, the Almighty Allah prevented this exalted status of Mohammad (PBUH) from being undermined because in my view no human being has the power to insult the Prophet as his honor and dignity has been guaranteed by Allah Himself. It is now up to the Government of Pakistan to convene a Conference of learned Ulemas to re-evaluate the word of Allah in Quraan, and Sunnah of the Prophet, to harmonize the Law with Quraan and Sunnah so that the life and property of those who profess a religion other Islam are protected as reflected in the Covenant of the Prophet with Christians. If the Government fails to take steps in this direction she will be committing the blasphemy of Allah and His Messenger. As far as poor Christian lady Asia Bibi is concerned, I suggest that the President of Pakistan may pardon her. The time spent spent in Prison shall be deemed her punishment. May Allah accept this service from me. Ameen.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 03:50:06 +0000
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