3. Islamic Principle: Living Peacefully with All Nations and Peoples.
The verse mentioned below informs us that we were created and made
into various nations and tribes so that we may get to know each other, and
not so that we may despise and hate each other. Then we are reminded of the
the fact that the best of us in God's eyes are those who are most righteous.
- "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a
male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know
each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of
you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And
Allah has full Knowledge and is well-acquainted (with all things)."
(Surah 49, Verse 13).
This wonderful principle of Islam makes it clear that there is no single people, race,
or nation that is better than others. God created us all equal. In God's eyes, the best
of us are the most righteous and most kind.
God created mankind as different races and nations although He could have created us all
with as one nation, with one language and one religion. However, as stated in the verse mentioned above,
God created these different nations and tribes so that we get to know other each other, and not
to hate
each other because we are different. This tells us that we should celebrate our differences and not
hate each other based on them. Islam also teaches us to realize that no single race or people have
supremacy over others, and that we are judged solely based on our actions.
This verse also teaches us that we should live peacefully with other nations and tribes and we should
respect each other and our differences. We should learn to live together and to get to know each other,
and to engage in dialogue amongst all nations and treat every human being as being equal.
4. Islamic Principle: There is no Compulsion in Religion
The verse from the Qur'an which states this principle of no compulsion in religion
is the following:
- "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from
Error: whoever rejects Evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most
trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all
things." (Surah 2, Verse 256).
The holy Qur'an reminds us that there must not be compulsion in religion.
It states that the truth stands out clear from error, and that those who
reject error and believe in God are the saved ones.
This means that Muslims are not allowed to force people to convert to Islam.
Muslims should only seek to make the truth clear to others, and talk to them
about Islam, then let them decide for themselves. In fact, most people who
study Islam without having made a decision to hate it first come to love its message
and convert to Islam after learning about it's values and principles.
Another verse that also states this principle is the following:
- "If one amongst the Pagans ask thee for
asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and
then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are
men without knowledge." (Surah 9, Verse 6).
This wonderful verse instructs Muslims to grant asylum to
non-believers, and make them safe, and allow them to hear the word of
Allah. Then they are to be escorted to whatever place they will be safe
and secure in. This is because these non-believers simply have no
knowledge of Islam, and no knowledge of the word of Allah.
What a wonderful religion Islam is! How can this be compared with the
way that Christians spread their religion? They spread it by genocide,
mass murder, kidnapping of children and wiping out of entire nations and
civilizations! Ask the natives of the Americas, Australia and Africa
about it!