CHAPTER 6

THE ENTIRE HUMANITY DESERVES OUR MORALITY

Our Treatment of the Non-Muslims

Every religion has its characteristic symbols, which make it distinct from every other religion, Undoubtedly there are certain fixed forms of worship in Islam, which have been made compulsory for its followers. Besides there are certain values prevalent among the followers which have no relation with the Non Muslims. But the moral teachings do not come under this category or within the sphere of this principle, Every Muslim has been made responsible to employ good manners in dealing with all the citizens of the land unhesitatingly, For every Muslim it is necessary that he should be truthful in dealing with the Non-Muslims. Similarly good qualities like charities keeping one's promise, tolerance, decency, generosity, co-operation, etc. are to be brought into play while dealing with Muslims and Non-Muslims alike, The holy Quran has commanded us not to indulge in such debates with the Jews and the Christians that may encourage mutual enmity, clashes and quarrels. It says: “And do not indulge in disputation with the people of the Book except in a refined way, unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong, and say:  “We believe in the Revelation which came down to us and in that which came down to you Our Allah and your Allah is one ,. and it is to Him we bow'.” -( Ankabut ..46) And the followers of Moosa and Issa (Moses and Jesus) were asked, expressing wonder, whether they are indulging in this kind of argumentation and polemics? “Say: 'Do you argue with us about Allah when He is our Lord as well as your Lord? We are accountable for our deeds and you for yours so we are sincerely ( dedicated) to Him'.” -(Baqarah.. 139) It is a famous incident of the biography of the Prophet that he owed something to a Jew, The Jew demanded repayment and in a very harsh tone said: “O Sons of Abdul Muttalib! You people unnecessarily delay the repayment of your loans.” At that place Hazrat Umar bin AI-Khattab was also present. He decided to teach the Jew, who insulted the Prophet, good manners, and drew his sword from the scabbard. But the Messenger of Allah silenced Umar saying: “I and he deserve better treatment, Teach him to demand his money in a better way and advise me to repay it in a refined manner.” Islam has commanded to deal justly and fairly even if the opponent may be a wrongdoer or an infidel. Allah’s Messenger has said: “The prayer of the oppressed is answered, If he is wicked and wrongdoer, its ill effects will go against him.” -(Ahmed) In another Hadith it is stated: “Even if the oppressed person is an infidel, there is no obstruction between his prayer and its answer. Give up doubtful things and adopt those matters in which there may be no doubt.” In the light of these authorities and the commands, Islam has advised its followers not to mal-treat their ideological and religious opponents, In connection with the insistence on treating the followers of the other religion kindly, there is one more hadith: Hazrat Ibn. Umar says that a goat was slaughtered in his house. When he came home he inquired whether the gift was sent to the neighbouring Jew or not? He further says: “I have heard the Messenger of Allah as saying' Jibril' had been regularly insisting on me to treat kindly my neighbours, so much so that I surmised that the neighbour would be made a recipient of the inheritance.” -( Bukharl ) Similarly Islam has ordered that its followers should be kind to their relatives, even though they may have rejected this religion, which they have made their own. Therefore, following the Truth does not mean that the rights of the relatives may be usurped: “And bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love); in the end the return of you all is to Me and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that you did” -( Luqman ..15)

The Need of Morality for the Nation and the Country

This discussion was on the importance of morality at the level of individuals. As regards the importance and need of morality at the public and collective level, Islam says that the progress and the survival of the nations, the nourishment and the development of their civilization and culture, and the consolidation of their power and strength depend on morality. If the people have good and excellent moral character, then all these good qualities will be found in them, but if their moral character is a lower levels then kingdom and rule will soon end, “Nations live till their morality lives. When their moral character declines, they also decline,” This reality is fully explained in a hadith in which the Prophet says to the people of his nation that although they have control over the whole of Arabia, and are in a position to decide the fate of the people of the country, as they hold an important position, their power can be maintained on the pillar of morality only. Anas bin Malik says: “We were sitting in a house where some members of the Ansar and Muhajir were present, The Messenger of Allah came into the room and everybody tried to make room for him near his own seat. Then he proceeded towards the door and stood taking support of the door and said: “The leaders will be from the Quraish, and I have great right on you and they have also a right on you as they would do. When they would be requested to show mercy, they would show mercy. When they would give a judgment, it would be based on justice. And when they would make a covenant, they would honour it. He who does not do like this, there would be on him the curse of Allah, of the angels and of all the people” (Tibrani) This hadith unambiguously shows that any person, community, nation or government would be deserving of as much honour and respect as they would be the representatives of the best qualities in this world and would be striving to achieve high objectives. If a government flaunts the label of Islam and Quran but the people are not satisfied with it, if it does not decide their matters justly, if it is not kind to the needy and does not honour its covenant, then it should be understood that in this government Islam and Quran are merely names, and this government is bereft of Islam's basic values and it deserves to be cursed from every corner of the earth and the skies. Hazrat Husain narrates that the Messenger of Allah has said: “When Allah wants to deal kindly with a nation, He entrusts its reins in the hands of the wise men, gives wealth to its generous people; and when He wants to deal with a nation harshly, he entrust its control in the hands of foolish people, and gives wealth to its miserly men.” (Abu Daud) It is a famous saying of Imam Ibn Taimiyah: “Allah guards the justice-loving government, even if it is the government of the infidels, and destroys the tyrant government, even if it is the government of Muslims.” In the light of the holy Book and the Sunnah, morality is the perfect religion and also the perfect world. If any nation loses its honour in the eyes of Allah or commands no respect among the people, it so happens  because of its losing good moral character and becoming deprived of decent and honourable traits.