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This morning when I woke up, I was sad to learn that a bomb had exploded outside the Coptic Church al-Qadissin in Alexandria right after the New Year's service. 21 Christians were killed and over 70 injured. President Hosny Mubarak said that "This sinful act is a part of series of efforts to drive a wedge between Copts and Muslims." And I believe he has right, as some people see themselves superior to others and do not respect other opinions or beliefs.
Tensions have increased between these two groups of people during the past months, as al-Qaeda themselves have occasionally threatened the Christian minority in Egypt, which caused greater security outside the churches. Muslim top-leaders within the country have expressed their condolences, but a heart on fire is difficult to settle, and the Copts demand increased protection and rights in their country.
(the photo belongs to CBC.ca)
I heard that it's the father of a good friend of my boyfriend, who is investigating this case, and from what I've heard he is a very good police man and inshaAllah he will catch the ones behind this bombing.
What does Islam say about terrorism? And which rights do Chrisians have in a Muslim country? I will have a look at this in today's post.
Maybe some people have read the book called "Islam and Terrorism" by Mark A. Gabriel, where the author tries to portray Islam as a violent religion supporting and encouraging terrorism. Well, I once decided to read this book myself. This was about 8 months after my conversion, and in the beginning I was worried that this book might make me think bad about Islam and make me believe Islam is violent, and hence weaken my faith. Anyway, I'm always open to see and hear all sides of a case, so I decided to read it. Already after a couple of pages I noticed odd things in what the author was stating. Of course, when he was trying to illustrate how Islam supports terrorism, he used sources from the Quran kareem and hadiths, but the sources had been altered. He had changed the contents of them and circumscribed them, to change the meaning.
Alhamdullilah, I'm a critical person, so when I read things I always check their reliability and sources, so I was sitting with the computer while I was critically reading what Mark said. The sources he was listing, I searched them all when I was reading, to see if they said what he really was stating, and I saw that he had altered them all. I didn't read more than 80 pages before I was tired by this nonsense and I gave the book back to the library. I just say that, if you have read this book, be sure that the book is not reliable, and it's only a desperate try to turn more people against Islam. You need to do another research to find the truth about Islam and terrorism, and I must admit that after I read this book, my belief and love for Islam only increased. So the book worked against it's purpose.
People who mean terrorism has a root in Islam, base their beliefs on misinterpretations of the Quran kareem. The biggest danger with the Quran is to just take one verse and look at it, ignoring the verses that came before it and after it. The Quran must be seen in context, and not in pieces.
It is stated in the Quran that: "If anyone slays a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew all humankind. And if anyone saves a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all humankind." - Quran 5:32
How can anyone then defend the use of terrorism against innocent people? The Quran teaches us to respect all other races, languages, nationalities, skin colours and beliefs. In the Quran Allah (SWT) repeatedly tells us to do good and act good. The Quran always urges that forgiveness is better than revenge, and forgiveness will have a greater reward with Allah (SWT.) An example might be:
"The recompense for an injury
is an injury equal thereto (in degree),
but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation,
his reward is due from Allah,
for Allah loves not those who do wrong.
But indeed, if any do help and defend themselves
after a wrong done to them,
against such there is no cause of blame.
The blame is only against those who oppress men
with wrongdoing and insolently transgress
beyond bounds through the land,
defying right and justice.
For such there will be penalty grievous (in the Hereafter).
But indeed, if any show patience and forgive,
that would truly be an affair of great resolution."
- Quran 42:40-43
We have the right to defend ourself against harm, but not hurt anyone solely because he has another belief than us. Allah (SWT) loves those who do justice and those who do good and have patience. If somebody has another religion that you, that should be none of your concern as long as this person doesn't do anything to harm you.
If they do try to harm the Muslims, such as a violent attack on a country, Muslims have the right to defend themselves. Only in cases of war can they injure and harm others, but that is only the result of defense. They can't stand passively watching their country and people go to ruins. This can be seen from this verse from the Quran:
"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors. And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter ... But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful ... If they cease, let there be no hostility except those who practice oppression." - Quran 2:190-193
The danger happens when anyone just looks at this line "slay them wherever you catch them." - Quran 2:191. You need to look at the whole context to get the true meaning, and this verse just means that if you are attacked without reason, or oppressed you have the right to fight back. There are no clear evidences in the Quran kareem that supports terrorism, and the People of the Book (Christians and Jews) have the right to be protected by the state when they live in a Muslim country, but they should pay jizya, meaning a tax to the state.
The People of the Book do however, not have the right to express their religion out loudly for Muslims to see or hear in an Islamic state. They and Muslims are subjected to the same civic laws and should be treated alike in matters of theft, murder, damaging property, honour etc. On personal matters, such as marriages and inheritance, they have the right to appeal to their own religious courts. There are much more to it, than what I have mentioned here now, what I try to say is that the People of the Book have rights in an Islamic state, though not always equal to the Muslims. That is to protect the religion Islam, which has been completed as the true religion of God. So how can some Muslim extremists exercise terrorism on innocent people!
To return to the case of Egypt, Egypt is not an Islamic state, it's only a Muslim country. The constitution within the country is secular, except in personal matters such as inheritance, marriage and divorce. The Christians in Egypt do not pay the jizya, which they should do, to be granted this protection and all their rights. As human beings, they should not be discriminated, and their beliefs should be respected. We are all children of Adam and Hawwa (Eve) and we all have the same god. If there is peace in the world, everyone can interact more easily with each other and learn more about each other to acquire acceptance.
Allah (SWT) knows best.
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