By Harun Yahya
In the Quran, Allah commands believers to: Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do. (Annisaa’ 4:135).
With the rules he imposed on Muslims, his just and tolerant attitude towards those of other religions, languages, races, and tribes, and his way of not discriminating between rich and poor, but treating everybody equally, Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is a great example to all of mankind.
Allah says this to His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in one verse:
They are fond of) listening to falsehood, of devouring anything forbidden. If they do come to you, either judge between them, or decline to interfere. If you decline, they cannot hurt you in the least. If you judge, judge in equity between them. For Allah loves those who judge in equity. (Al Ma’idah 5:42)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) abided by Allah’s commands, even with such difficult people, and never made any concessions in his implementation of justice. He became an example for all times with the words, My Lord has commanded justice (Al A’araf 7:29).
A number of incidents testify to the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) justice. He lived in a place where people of different religions, languages, races and tribes all co-existed. It was very difficult for those societies to live together in peace and security, and to check those who sought to spread dissension. One group could grow aggressive towards and even attack another over the slightest word or action. Yet, the justice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a source of peace and security for those other communities, just as much as it was for Muslims.
During the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Christians, Jews, and pagans were all treated equally. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) abided by the verse (Let there be no compulsion in religion) (Al Baqarah 2:256), explaining the true religion to everyone, but leaving them free to make up their own minds.
In another verse, Allah revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) the kind of justice and conciliation he needed to adopt towards those of other religions:
Now then, for that (reason), call (them to the Faith), and stand steadfast as you are commanded, nor follow you their vain desires; but say: “I believe in the Book which Allah has sent down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord: for us (is the responsibility for) our deeds, and for you for your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is (our) Final Goal.(Ash-Shura 42:15)
This noble attitude of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), being in total harmony with the morality of the Quran, should be taken as an example of how members of different religions today should be treated. (Abu Dawud)
The Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) justice brought about understanding between people of different races. In many of his addresses, even in his final sermon, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated that superiority lay not in race but in godliness as Allah states in the verse;
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you 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).(Al Hujurat 49:13)
Two hadiths report the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying: “You are sons of Adam, and Adam came from dust. Let the people cease to boast about their ancestors.” (Abu Dawud)
And; “These genealogies of yours are not a reason to revile anyone. You are all children of Adam… No one has any superiority over another except in religion and taqwa (godliness).” (authenticated by Al Albani)
During his final sermon, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called on Muslims in these terms: “There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over an Arab; nor for white over the black nor for the black over the white except in piety.” (authenticated by Al Albani)
The agreement made with the Christians of Najran in the south of the Arabian Peninsula was another fine example of the justice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The agreement stated that the lives of the people of Najran and its surrounding area, their religion, their land, property, cattle, and those of them who are present or absent, and their places of worship are under the protection of Allah and guardianship of His Prophet.
The Compact of Madinah, signed by the Muslim immigrants from Makkah, the indigenous Muslims of Madinah, and the Jews of Madinah is another important example of justice. As a result of this constitution, which established justice between communities with differing beliefs and ensured the protection of their various interests, long years of enmity were brought to an end.
One of the most outstanding features of the treaty is the freedom of belief it established. Ibn Hisham reported the relevant article in the treaty which reads:
“The Jews of Banu `Awf are one nation with the Muslims; the Jews have their religion and the Muslims have theirs…”
Another article of the treaty reads: “The Jew who follows us is surely entitled to our support and the same equal rights as any one of us. He shall not be wronged nor his enemy be assisted.”
The Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) Companions remained true to that article in the treaty, even after his death, and even practiced it with regard to Berbers, Buddhists, Brahmans and people of other beliefs.
One of the main reasons why the golden age of Islam was one of peace and security was the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) just attitude, itself a reflection of Qur’anic morality.
The justice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also awoke feelings of confidence in non-Muslims, and many, including polytheists, asked to be taken under his protection.
Allah revealed the following request from the polytheists in the Quran, and also told the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of the attitude he should adopt towards such people;
If one amongst the Pagans ask you 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. How can there be a league, before Allah and His Messenger, with the Pagans, except those with whom you made a treaty near the sacred Mosque? As long as these stand true to you, stand you true to them: for Allah does love the righteous.(At-Tawbah 9:6-7)
In our day, the only solution to the fighting and conflict going on all over the world is to adopt the morality of the Quran, and, like the Prophet (PBUH), never to depart from the path of justice, making no distinction between different religions, languages, or races.
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