Muslims sympathized with the Roman Empire. Qur'anic verses were revealed, prophesying a prospective victory by the Roman
Does Islam Command Attacking Churches? By E-Da`wah Committee
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It is safe to say that a given religion can be judged correctly only by two things: its own teachings and the practice of the mainstream doctrine of this religion. A religion cannot be judged by the centrifugal practices or beliefs of some followers, be they liberal or extremist, hither or thither. Attacking the places of worship is a criminal act which is done by individual followers of all religions all over the world. It is unfair to claim that it is Muslims only who attack the places of worship. In fact, Islam prohibits any assault against the places of worship. The alleged attacks on the places of worship if really carried out by Muslims go against the well-established Islamic teachings. Such acts serve as odd precedents in the Islamic history. Suffice it to say they break with tradition. The Messenger of Allah once wrote to the bishop of Banu AlHarith Ibn Ka’b and the bishops and priests of Najran, their followers and their monks that everything, small or great, pertaining to their churches, chapels and monasteries would remain in their possession, that Allah and His Messenger would guarantee that no bishop would be removed from his see, nor any monk from his monastery, nor any priest from his office and none of their rights or powers would be changed as long as they were sincere and good, and no cruelty would be shown to them. This was scribed by Al-Mughirah.
uslim Caliph, M d n co e S e th attab, Umar ibn Al-Kh ple of Jerusalem o e p e th h it w aty concluded a tre rvant of God, which read: se e th h ic h w ty fe ce of sa This is the assuran s granted to the a h l, fu h it Fa e th f o nder urance of ss a n Umar, the Comma a m e th n e iv g m. He has eir churches, people of Jerusale th y, rt e p ro p ir e th es, for safety for themselv of the city, and y h lt a e h e th d n a sick their crosses, the eir religion. Their th to g n lo e b t a th s] and will im for all the rituals sl u M y [b d e it b be inha churches will not land on which e th r o n y, e th r e . Neith not be destroyed eir property will th r o n s, e ss ro c ir e verted. The n they stand, nor th co ly ib rc fo e b t y will no ke the people be damaged. The li x ta ll o p e th y a p m must people of Jerusale e Byzantines and th l e p x e st u m y e d th all have as sh of [other] cities, an y e th k o o b e is from th is Messenger, the robbers. All th h m o fr n o ti c te ro d as p a pact of Allah, an evers if they pay li e B e th m o fr s a ll s we alid, `Amr W in from the Caliphs a b d li a h K : re a es of this Mu`awiya bin the jizyah. Witness d n a f w `A in b n a l-Rahm bin al-`As, `Abd A sent in the 15th re p ll a h it w n e tt s wri Abi Sufyan. It wa year after Hegira. 4
Khalid bin Al-W alid, the renow ned Muslim commander, co ncluded a simil ar treaty with th people of Dam e ascus which re ad: This is what K halid bin Al-W alid shall grant people of Dam to the ascus: He shall grant them pro [and safety] for tection their lives, prop erty [and posse their churches, ssions], and the walls o f th e ir cities. Nothing their quarters w ill be destroyed of nor shall anyone them. This they live in shall have as a p act of Allah, pro from his Messen tection ger, from the Ca li p h s as well as from Believers and no the thing but good will remain for th they pay the jiz em if yah. Habib bin Masla mah, a Compan ion of Prophet Muhammad an d accomplished Muslim military commander, en tered into a sim ilar pact with th people of Dabil e which read: In the name of A llah, the benefic ent, the mercifu a document from l! This is Habib bin Masla mah to the Christ Magians and Jew ians, s of Dabil, prese nt and absent. I you safety of y assure our lives, prope rties, churches, of worship and places walls of your cit y. You are guara protection and nteed we are bound to fulfill our pact a as you adhere to s long the jizyah and p a y witness and He the kharaj. Allah alone suffices a is s a witness. 5
us that Allah g in ll te s e rs e v e read In the Qur’an, w st the unbelievers in a g a t h g fi to rs ve of worship in s allowed the belie ce la p e th f o n o moliti to prevent the de ys: ave believed. general. Allah sa h o h w se o th s efend acherous e tr e Indeed, Allah d n o ry e v e e es not lik Indeed, Allah do ose who th to and ungrateful. n e iv g n e e ght] has b ronged. And w Permission [to fi re e w y e th se u beca are being fought, petent to give them victory. com ted from their indeed, Allah is ic v e n e e b e v a h who say, “Our y e th [They are] those se u a c e b ly ght – on homes without ri were it not that Allah checks nd ld Lord is Allah.” A thers, there wou o f o s n a e m y b e es, churches, the people, som ri e st a n o m d e olish have been dem osques in which the name of m synagogues, and tioned. And Allah will surely en Allah is much m support Him. Indeed, Allah is ho support those w d in Might. e lt a x E d n a l u authority rf m e Powe th e iv g e W if , ose who ive zakah and [And they are] th g d n a r e y ra p blish in the land, esta and forbid what is wrong. And ght . enjoin what is ri e of [all] matters m o tc u o e th s g n to Allah belo ) (Al-Hajj 22:38-41 der how the n o w y a m y d o b e demolition e th However, som t n e v re p l il w Muslims empowerment of orship. of the places of w 6
The answer is that Islam bind s M refrain from atta cking the places uslims to not only of worship but a protect them ag lso to ainst attacks by any other peop safe to say that le. It is Islam is keen on the other faiths, they are contra even if dictory to its pri nciples. Islam is nothing bu cause of faith se t a faith and a body of beliefs . The rves as a comm on ground for coexistence wit h the other, who their se faith or beliefs be right or wro might ng from Muslim s’ point of view So long as som . e faith or belief is cherished, th way for commu ere is a nication. Islam lo oks for those w willing to believ ho e in religions si mply because th are supposed to se ey are ek we have that tru the truth. We, Muslims, think that th. Consequentl y, dialogue with people will brin those gM and friends from uslims either new converts or allies th be hard liaise wit e other religions. Therefore, it may h those who are unwilling to beli any religion for eve in they are unlikely to accept religio religious people n and . Furthermore, M uslims are dee ply concerned security, peace about , justice and fr eedom on eart security, peace, h. Such just be maintained b ice and freedom are more like ly to y religion for reli gion usually pre such values. Wit aches hout religion, su ch values are at Therefore, Islam peril. pleads the cause of religion and d all religions as w efends ell as their place s of worship. M uslims 7
e religion is n o , d e ss fe ro p t o Islam is n s. wish that even if uslims themselve M r fo r e tt e b is is still followed. Th eace, justice and p , ty ri u c se e te n uara Just as Muslims g pect that they are x e y e th s, im sl u -M freedom for non y non-Muslims. b t n e tm a e tr l a u other divine given eq e th f o rs e w o ll fo see the Though Muslims side with them l il st s im sl u M , rs lieve e religions as unbe rs of the non-divin e w o ll fo e th d n a ts at the whole against the atheis th e p o h s im sl u ough M at if Islam is religions. Even th th r fe re p y e th , Islam world converts to ns are followed io g li re e in iv d r e e oth not embraced, th shared by those s e ti li a n o m m co e instead given th religions. followers of the e th r fo y th a p m wn sy Muslims have sho ry though such to is h t u o h g u ro th ions ers, either w o other divine relig ll fo se o th y b ciprocated a feeling is not re corded in the re is y th a p m sy s. Such Jews or Christian once. Qur’an more than mmad’s lifetime, a h u M t e h p ro P ring e Christian th For example, du d te a fe e d e ir ian Emp would break the Magian Pers h ic h w rs a w e th one of Roman Empire in n. At the time, e th d n a w o n ry e m ev out between the n Empire. Qur’anic a m o R e th h it w d ize tive victory c e Muslims sympath sp ro p a g in sy e led, proph verses were revea ersian Empire. P e th r e v o e ir p m by the Roman E the Qur’an: in s e rs e v g in w o ll 8 We read the fo
The Byzantines In the nearest have been defeated land. But they, overcome. after their defe at, will Within a few y before and aftears. To Allah belongs the co m er. And that d rejoice ay the believe mand rs will In the victory o wills, and He is f Allah. He gives victory to w [It is] the prom the Exalted in Might, the Me hom He promise, but mise of Allah. Allah does not farciful. Rum 30:1-7) ost of the people do not kn il in His ow. (ArIn a word, Isla treatment and am commands Muslims to g as they do not ct justly towards non-Muslimsive kind wrong Muslims. so long Allah says: Allah does not fo you because of rbid you from those who do homes – from breligion and do not expel you frnot fight justly toward theing righteous toward them anom your em. Indeed, Alla d justly. h loves those w acting ho act Allah only forbid of religion and s you from those who fight you your expulsion –expel you from your homes anbecause And whoever m [forbids] that you make allies d aid in are the wrongd akes allies of them, then it is th of them. oers. (Al-Mumta o _________ hanah 9-60:8) se who References: 1 - The Glorious Qur’ 2 - As-Sirah An-N an (Sahih International Transla tion) abawiyah, by Ib n Ishaq 9
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