The Spirit of Islam

Al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen was Salatu was
Salaamu ‘alaa Ashrafil Anbiyaa’e wal Mursaleen. 

Dedicated to those who seek the Truth  

   for the sake of the Truth. 

Wa Ba’d:

Beloved People of Imaam: The spirit of Islam is opposed to isolation and exclusiveness. Islam, it is said, “offered its religion, but never enforced it; and the acceptance of that religion conferred co-equal rights with the conquering body, and emancipated the vanquished States from the conditions which every conqueror, since the world existed up to the advent of Islam, had invariably imposed.” Liberty and total freedom of worship were allowed and guaranteed to all other creeds who lived under Muslim domination. Verse 257 of Surahtul Baqara testifies to the principle of tolerance and charity inculcated by the Din of Haqq.

“Let there be no compulsion in religion”

“Adhere to those who forsake you; speak truthfully to your heart; do good to those who ill treat you.” These are the precepts of Almighty Allah’s Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam who has been accused of preaching hatred, fanaticism and intolerance. These are the words of a man who was divinely inspired……the final of all Allah-sent Prophets – Nabee Muhammad Rahmatul Liel Ala’meen Sallahoo Alayhi Wasallam who was sent to lead humanity out of darkness into the light and on to the royal highway leading to the Path of Seerathal Mustaqeem.

In the hour of his greatest triumph, when the Beloved of Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala entered the precincts of the Holy Ka’bah in Makkah and demolished the idols, he did not do so in a religious rage, but in complete humility, pity and humbleness for he said: “Truth has arrived and falsehood has vanished”. He announced amnesty for all those who tormented  and persecuted him and drove him out of the city of his birth; he also freed all slaves. He did not just preach tolerance, he legislated it into law and he offered liberty of worship to all other creeds.

Could this be said about any other creed? Compare the conduct of the Crusaders with that of the Muslims. When Hazrat Umar al- Khattab Radhi’allahu Anhu liberated Jerusalem [al-Quds] in 637 A.D., he entered the city by riding at the side of the Patriarch Sophronius, conversing with him on its antiquities. When it was time for him to perform his Salaat [prayer], he declined to perform his prayer in the Church of the Resurrection. He said to the patriarch:

“If I had performed my prayer in your church, Muslims in a future 

age might infringe the treaty by imitating my example.” 

Unfortunately, the same thing cannot be said about the Crusaders because history bears witness to the genocide that they had perpetrated against the Muslims. It is a notable fact, with few parallels in modern history that even after the conquest of Egypt Hazrat Umar al-Khattab R.A. scrupulously preserved and safeguarded the property and churches belonging to the Christians and continued the allowances made by the former government for the support of its priests. This testimony to the toleration of the early Muslim government is furnished and attested to by the Christians themselves.

During the reign of Hazrat  Usman R.A. [third Khalif of Islam], the Christian Patriarch of Merv addressed Simeon the Bishop of Fars by telling him:

“The Muslims who have been given the kingdom by Almighty God do not attack the 

Christian faith. They respect our God and all our Saints, they assist us and they bestow

 gifts to our places of worship and monasteries.” 

In order to avoid the least semblance of high-handedness, no Muslim was allowed to acquire the land owned by a Christian nor could they be disposed of their property. All were equal  under the law. In their anxiety for the welfare of all non-Muslim subjects, the Khalifs’ of Baghdad, like their counterparts of Cordova, created a special governmental department charged with the protection of all non-Muslim citizens and the safeguarding of their interests.

In Baghdad the head of this department was called “Katib-ul-Jihbazeh” and in Spain, “Katib-uz-Ziman.” No student of comparative history can blame Nabee Muhammad Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam for trying to safeguard his little commonwealth against the treachery and connivance of enemies and aliens. However, when we look at his kind-hearted treatment of non-Muslim subjects, we find it marked by a large-hearted tolerance, understanding and sympathy. Has any conquering race of Faith given to its subject nationalities a better guarantee than is to be found in the following words of Nabee Muhammad Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam when he said?

“To the Christians of Najran and the neighbouring territories, the security of Almighty Allah and the pledge of His Prophet are extended for their lives, their religion, and their property. To those present as well as to those who are absent; there shall be no interference with the practice of their faith or their observances; nor any change in their rights or privileges; no Bishop shall be removed from his Bishopric; nor any Monk from his monastery; nor any priest from his diocese”.
“They shall all continue to practice their faith; no church, image or cross shall be destroyed; they shall not oppress or be oppressed; they shall not practice the rights of blood-vengeance as during the Days of Ignorance; no tithes shall be levied from them nor shall they be required to furnish provisions for the Muslim troops.”

As long as the central doctrine of the Unity of Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala and the Message of  Nabee Muhammad Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam was recognized, Islam allowed the widest latitude to the human conscience. Consequently, wherever the Muslim soldier made his appearance, he was hailed by the down-trodden as a harbinger of emancipation from bondage. Islam gave people a code which, however archaic in its simplicity, was capable of the greatest development in accordance with the progress of material civilisation.

An office of Muhtesib, of the market was created during the Abbaside Caliphate. The main function of the Muhtesib was to go around the market on a daily basis to examine the weights and measures of the trades people. A caravan route was constructed and trees were planted along this route from Baghdad to Makkah. Resting places for pilgrims and travellers were everywhere to be seen. A road was constructed between Makkah and Madinah and there were relay stations of horses and camels between Hijaz and Yemen to facilitate communication between these two provinces.

Within that short span, Muslims were able to move from ignorance to wisdom, to move from the peninsula that was known as Arabia to conquer the known world and to provide leadership for the world. They accomplished all this under the banner of Islam, under the programme of remembrance of Almighty Allah Tabaraqa Wata’ala and performing good deeds. The very same effort is now binding upon us as true Muslims because we find ourselves in a similar position as the early Muslims.

We are oppressed, not so much by our fellowman but by ignorance; because on the basis of ignorance we allow men to oppress us.We look for guidance in Almighty Allah’s revelation and we find that He gives a narrative in the Glorious Qur’an concerning a people who were similar to us in condition, in that they existed in a state in which they were oppressed, or repressed, in the land. Almighty Allah, in dealing with the Children of Bani Isra’eel informs us in verses 5 and 6 of Surahtul Al-Qasas:

“And We wished to be gracious to those who were being depressed on 

the land; and to make them leaders (in faith), and make them heirs.

To establish a firm place for them in the land, and to show Pharaoh,

Haman, and the hosts at their hands, the very things against which

they were taking precautions.”


Almighty Allah is talking about a people who had been steeped in ignorance, and as a result of their ignorance had allowed themselves to be oppressed by other people. At this point, He turns to these people, and to be gracious to them, He turns to them so as to make them leaders and inheritors; but to be leaders in what? Leaders in faith, for indeed, the leaders amongst men are those who have the strongest faith, those who have the best faith. And the faith that is superior to all other faith deals with the belief that there is no god but Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala, and that He has created men, and has given them, as a sign, certain guidance, and on the basis of this guidance, they are able to deal with the situations in which they find themselves. Let us seek to implement Divine Justice.

Surahtul Al-Isrâ’ was revealed to the Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam in Makkah after his Night Journey from Makkah to Jerusalem. In this Surah – Almighty Allah mentions some basic commitments of Muslims. Without fulfilling these commitments no individual or group can succeed. Muslims have to live by these values and it is their duty to invite people to these principles. These principles are not limited to one race, tribe or group; they are universal in their scope and application. These are also called the Hikmah or the teachings of wisdom.

Let us struggle for what Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala has commanded and let us ponder upon the following brief synopsis of Surahtul Al-Isra by way of advice, the Surah recommends, in verses 23 to 39 inclusive, a list of social, moral, and economic practices and measures, which, if adopted, would strengthen the fabric of society and maintain justice and cohesion within it. Verse 23 begins thus:

“Your Rabb has enjoined that you worship none

but Him, and to show kindness to your parents”.

………..and verse 39 ends with the statement:

“These injunctions are but part of the wisdom which your Rabb

has revealed to you [Muhammad). Serve no other god besides

Allah, lest you should be cast into Jahannun, 

remorseful and despised”.

Beloved people of Imaan!  You will note that the section opens and closes with an emphasis on Tawhid,

indicating that it is the backbone of righteousness and true submission to Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala. Along with Tawhid comes respect and kindness towards one’s parents. To appreciate the value of this, one need only to look at how parents and elderly people are treated in today’s materialistic societies that exists within Muslim communities. Once they reach old age, parents and grandparents are committed to old age homes and institutions that are devoid of love and kinship, abandoned by their sons and daughters and left to die in loneliness and desolation. Almighty Allah reminds us verse 24:

“Treat parents with humility and tenderness and say:

O Allah! be merciful to my parents, for they nurtured me

when I was in childhood”.

And regarding other family relations, Almighty Allah declares in verse 26:

“Give to the near of kin their due, and also to the

destitute and to the Musaffir and do not squander

your wealth wastefully”.

And in verse 29 we are reminded:

“Be neither miserly nor extravagant, lest you 

would become despised or destitute”.

Verses 31, 32 and 33:

“Do not kill your children for fear of want and avoid illicit

sexual relations, for they are foul and indecent

“Do not take the life of a human being (the Life)

which Allah has willed to be sacred”.

The Most Holy and Noble Qur’an enjoins man to protect the property of the orphan, honour pledges, covenants, and contracts, and exercise justice and fairness in using weights and measures. Every individual bears responsibility for what he or she hears or sees or feels. As Humans, our lives have a purpose, our senses and actions carry liabilities and we are answerable for all our experiences for we are reminded in verse 36:

“Do not follow what you do not understand.

All shall be accountable for what their ears, 

eyes, and hearts do”.

A little reflection and discretion with respect to our thoughts and to what we hear and learn can help us avoid a great deal of misunderstanding and ill-feeling. Verse 37 is rounded off with the profound advice:

“Do not walk proudly on the earth. You shall neither

split the earth nor rival the mountains in their height”.

Beloved Ummatal Muslimeen! These most valuable exhortations are vital ingredients for the development of morally and spiritually balanced individuals and are, moreover, indispensable building blocks for the development of strong and enlightened societies. This precludes our argument or excuse that the religious duties are beyond our capabilities. Almighty Allah establishes a practice that man can copy; we can do what other humans do, we can emulate what men do. If we look at the historical acts of our Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam and the illustrious Sahaba Ridwanullahi Ta’ala Alayhim Ajma’een, we see a clear blueprint for changing a society, for bringing about revolutionary changes even under the most difficult conditions.

And Almighty Allah knows best.

And Peace be upon those who follow the Guidance.

The Truth is from Almighty Allah. The errors are all mine and

I stand to be corrected.

Baarak Allaahu Feekum wa-sal-Allaahu wa-Sallam ‘alaa
Nabiyyinaa Muhammad Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam.

Was Salamualaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

Abdul Hamid Lachporia