If
we read Quran between the lines, we will come across eloquent passages
breathing a spirit of universal toleration and harmony.It is an
embodiment of the rich contents of the Prophet's mind,as well as of the
loftiness of his spiritual genius.It is really an insult to human
wisdom to suppose that Prophet of Islam did actually advocate compulsion
in religion. The verses quoted below from Quran constitute proofs
positive of his catholicity and friendliness towards the religions of
others. The Quran says: 'If thy Lord had pleased,verily all who are in
earth would be loved together. What! Whilt thou compel men to become
believers?' Say thou:'I worship not that ye worship,and ye do not
worship that which I worship;neither shall I worship what ye
worship;neither ye worship what I worship;to you be your religion;to me
my religion'.'Revile not those whom they call on beside God,lest they,
in their ignorance, despitefuly revile Him.Thus have we planned out
their actions for every people;then shall they return to their Lord,and
He will declare to them what those actions have been.' 'Verily, they
who believe, they who follow the Jewish religion, and the Christians,and
the Sabeites, whoever of these doeth that which is right, shall have
their reward with their Lord;fear shall not come upon them, neither
shall be grieved'.'And if God had pleased,He had surely made you all one
people; but He would test you by what He hath given to each.Be emulous,
then , in good deeds.To God shall ye all return, and He will tell you
concerning the subject of disputes'.'To everyone of you have we given a
rule and a beaten track'.'Our God and your God are one God and after Him
we all strive'.
Indeed,what stronger and more convincing testimony is needed to demonstrate the universalism in Islam-the freedom extended in Quran to every man to follow his own convictions in matters religious? The illustrious Persian poet Sanai has also sung to the same tune:'Islam and the faiths other than Islam follow Thee,O Lord,when they declare that there is no god but God'.Even the beautiful song of the celebrated Urdu poet Zafar expresses the same sentiment: 'Angels and men, Hindus and Mussalmans, thou , O Lord,hast created according to Thy sweet will.Everyone bows to Thee, for it is Thou who art worshiped everywhere- in the Caaba, in the mosque,or in the temple. Thou art omnipresent.Every heart is a dwelling place,and Thou art the dweller. There is no heart where Thou abidest not. Thou dost abide equally in all hearts, for Thou art all that exist in the universe'.So does another Urdu bard sing:
'Only names differ,Beloved!
All forsooth are but the same.
Both the ocean and the dew-drop,
But one living liquid frame.
--------------------------------
*Remembering Kalam Vellimadu who gave me the Quran for the first time, E. Moidu Maulavi Sahib who taught me the depth of Urdu language, and friends Abdur Rehman Kutty,Syed Alavi Sahib,Nazar.
*Quotations from Quran (Translated from the Arabic by Rev.J.M.Rodwell)
Indeed,what stronger and more convincing testimony is needed to demonstrate the universalism in Islam-the freedom extended in Quran to every man to follow his own convictions in matters religious? The illustrious Persian poet Sanai has also sung to the same tune:'Islam and the faiths other than Islam follow Thee,O Lord,when they declare that there is no god but God'.Even the beautiful song of the celebrated Urdu poet Zafar expresses the same sentiment: 'Angels and men, Hindus and Mussalmans, thou , O Lord,hast created according to Thy sweet will.Everyone bows to Thee, for it is Thou who art worshiped everywhere- in the Caaba, in the mosque,or in the temple. Thou art omnipresent.Every heart is a dwelling place,and Thou art the dweller. There is no heart where Thou abidest not. Thou dost abide equally in all hearts, for Thou art all that exist in the universe'.So does another Urdu bard sing:
'Only names differ,Beloved!
All forsooth are but the same.
Both the ocean and the dew-drop,
But one living liquid frame.
--------------------------------
*Remembering Kalam Vellimadu who gave me the Quran for the first time, E. Moidu Maulavi Sahib who taught me the depth of Urdu language, and friends Abdur Rehman Kutty,Syed Alavi Sahib,Nazar.
*Quotations from Quran (Translated from the Arabic by Rev.J.M.Rodwell)
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