Posted by Amir on 3/10/2009, 7:56 am, in reply to "Re: Islamic Terrorism"
41.212.202.205
Today, the way to spread, cultivate and protect Islam and to have people love Islam can only be achieved through good deeds, patience, love and mercy, NOT stubbornness, fighting and war. A good Muslim is a person who has strong unquestionable faith, who consciously strives for the hereafter, by giving, being patient, merciful, forgiving, is full of love and respect, well-mannered, sweet-tongued, kind and a charitable loving person.
These unique qualities must manifest themselves on oneself when one interacts with people. Our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) once said:
"There is no goodness in a person who isolates himself, who cannot get along with anybody, who is not courteous, and who has no sense of friendship."
Today is the time for every Muslim to have a good long look at oneself. Pay attention to one's appearance, clothes, behaviour, analyse one's words and actions. One must avoid giving a bad impression of Islam on others.
Every Muslim must try to convey the Message of Islam, and make sure that others have good and accurate feelings about Islam. One must portray an excellent personal example, if one desires to earn the pleasure of Allah (Almighty), this is the way which will lead to success.
One of the basic principles of behavior toward non-belligerent, non-Muslims is found in the following verse of the Quran:
“God forbids you not to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and drove you not out from your homes. Verily, God loves those who deal with equity” (Quran 60:8)
An important obligation toward disbelievers is proper and just treatment. This is described by a well-known Muslim scholar, Shaikh ibn Baaz, who said:
“[the Muslim] may not wrong the other person with respect to his life, wealth or honor, if the non-Muslim is a citizen of the Islamic state or has attained other protection. He must fulfill the other’s rights. He may not wrong him with respect to his wealth by stealing from him, deceiving him or cheating him. He cannot harm him in his body by beating or killing him. His protection from the state guarantees his safety from such things.”
God says:
“The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel [the evil] with [a deed] that is better. [If you do that] then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend” (Quran 41:34)
In sum, as ibn Baaz wrote:
“It is obligatory upon Muslims to deal with disbelievers in an Islamic fashion with proper behavior, as long as they are not fighting the Muslims. One must fulfill one’s trusts to them, must not deceive them, must not betray them or lie to them. If there is a discussion or debate between them, one must argue with them in the best manner and be just with them in the dispute. This is in obedience to God’s command:
“And argue not with the People of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) unless it be in a way that is better, except with such of them as do wrong” (Quran 29:46)
It is sanctioned for the Muslim to invite them to the good, to advise them and to be patient with them at the same time being neighborly and polite with them. This is so because God has stated:
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom (of the Quran) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better” (Quran 16:125)
God has also said:
“…Speak good to people…” (Quran 2:83)
In response to the conversation you had with the muslim woman you mentionned,well i think that today ther is much tension between the muslim world and the non muslim and mainly after the attack on Iran and Afganistan after September 11.If u were to ask a muslim if he loves George Bush the answer would be clearly no.I think that part of the muslim world holds the Americans(including the citizens ) as responsible for many life lost in Iraq and Afganistan.Still the message of islam has always been a message of tolerance and peace may it have been at the time of our beloved prophet(SAW) or today.
In the time of Prophet Muhammad(SAW) it was known that he was not appreciated by many Jews but yet the had complete trust in his honesty ad sense of justice.Once a jew and a muslim who had some differences came to see him and exposed the matter.He found out that the muslim was wrong and immediately pointed it out .Here he did not discriminate between the two of them.
Even on a social level, there can be interaction, such as coming together for meals and the like. However, such interactions are, by nature, going to be limited, due to differences in societal practices and customs. Perhaps one could say that the Muslim’s ultimate goal in his relations with non-Muslims is to bring them to Islam, thereby opening the door for there to be a complete relationship of love and brotherhood between them.But there is no question of forcing one on accepting religion as some do.To accept or not is in the hand of the non muslim and their decision must be respected.
Once The Great Caliph Umar was offered to pray in a church but he refused saying he feared that this might encourage muslims in the future to change the church into a mosque.Islam respect other people's places of worship and that is the true meassage of our Beloved Prophet.
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