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Social Ties with Non-Muslims
By Dr Zakir Naik
The Non-Muslims liked Islamic rule more than their own rule and lived happily and voluntarily in Muslim lands.
Islamic Society is based on a particular principle and from this source emerge its ordainments, manners, morals and characters. Islam has laid down the basis of relationship with Non-Muslims on goodness and justice. It exhorts Muslims to deal with Non-Muslims in a pleasant manner.
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim in his well-known book ‘Ahkam Ahl-Adhimmah’ said: it is permissible to offer condolences to non-Muslims at times of bereavement, to visit them when they are sick, and to console them when calamity strikes.
It was narrated that Anas (r.a) said, “There was a Jewish boy who used to serve the Prophet (Pbuh). The boy became sick, and the Prophet (Pbuh) went to visit him. He sat near his head and asked him to embrace Islam.’ (The boy) looked at his father, who was with him, and he (the father) said to him, Obey Abu’l-Qasim (Pbuh), and the boy embraced Islam. The Prophet (Pbuh) left saying, ‘Praise be to Allah who has saved the boy from the Hell-Fire.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol.2 Hadith No. 1356]
Allah (swt) also allowed Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) to visit his mother’s grave who died as a Non-Muslim.
AbuHurayrah reported: Allah’s Messenger (Pbuh) visited the grave of his mother and he wept, and moved others around him to tears, and said: I sought permission to beg forgiveness for her, but it was not granted to me, and I sought permission to visit her grave, and it was granted to me. [Sahih Muslim Vol.2 Hadith No. 2130]
Moreover, it is also permissible to accept their gifts because the Prophet (pbuh) accepted gifts from some of the Non-Muslims, such as the gift from al-Muqawqis the ruler of Egypt.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Zubair said, “Qutaylah came visiting her daughter, Asma Bint Abi Bakr, with some gifts such as Dibab, cheese and clarified (cooking) butter, but she was an idolatress at that time. Asma refused to accept her mother’s gifts and did not let her enter her house. Aisha asked the prophet about his verdict and Allah sent down the Ayah [Surah Mumtahinah 60:8]. Allah’s messenger ordered Asma to accept her mother’s gifts and to let her enter her house. [Ahmad 4:4, Vol.3 Hadith No.16111]
There is nothing wrong with visiting Non-Muslims. The Prophet (Pbuh) visited his paternal uncle Abu Taalib when he was dying and called him to Islam.
It was narrated from Sa’eed ibn al-Musayyib that his father said: “When Abu Taalib was on his deathbed, the Prophet (Pbuh) entered upon him, and Abu Jahl and ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Umayyah were present. The Prophet (Pbuh) said, ‘O uncle, say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, and I will plead for you before Allaah.’ Abu Jahl and ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Umayyah said: ‘O Abu Taalib, will you turn away from the religion of ‘Abd al-Muttalib?’ The Prophet (Pbuh) said: ‘I will keep on praying for forgiveness for you until I am forbidden (by Allaah) to do so.” Then the following aayah was revealed: “It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allaah’s forgiveness for the Mushrikoon, even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire” (Surah Tawbah 9:113) [Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol.2 Hadith No.1360]
Allah (swt) also taught the Muslims in the Glorious Qur’an about the manners and etiquettes of engaging in discussion with the Non-Muslims.
“And do not argue with the people of the Scripture except in a way that is best…”[Surah Ankabut 29:46]
A striking illustration of this principle can be seen from the Prophet’s treatment of the Christian deputation, which came from Najran to have a discussion with the Prophet (Pbuh) in the year 10 A.H.
They were given free access to the Prophet’s mosque where they stayed for three days and had a religious discussion with the Prophet.
The mercy, kindness and gentleness of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was the reason why people entered the religion of Allah. If the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had not been so kind and gentle, he would have put off the people around him, and they would have left him and not believed in his message.
Islamic history is full of evidence that shows that Muslims have maintained good relations with Non-Muslims because of which they were able to conquer nations and lands. The Non-Muslims liked Islamic rule more than their own rule and lived happily and voluntarily in Muslim lands. This fact can be further substantiated by the testimony of the Christians of Jordan:
“When the Muslim army reached the valley of Jordan and Abu Ubaydah pitched his camp at Fihl, the Christian inhabitants of the country wrote to the Arabs, saying: “O Muslims, we prefer you to the Byzantines, though they are of our own faith because you keep better faith with us and are more merciful to us and refrain from doing us injustice and your rule over us is better than theirs, for they have robbed us of our goods and our homes.”[Baladhuri, p. 137- The Preaching of Islam by T.W.Arnold, p.55]
(Dr. Zakir Naik is President of Islamic Research Foundation, Mumbai and can be reached at zakir@irf.net)
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