Download In the Name of Allah “The Religious Minorities in Muslim Countries”

In the Name of Allah
“The
Religious
Minorities in Muslim
Countries”
“Islam was spread by the sword
and is intolerant of other faiths.”
• FALSE!
• This is an ideology many in the west are
finding of Islam. Many social studies
textbooks for students show Islam through
portraying the image of an Arab horseman
carrying a sword in one hand and the
Quran in the other conquering and forcibly
converting people to Islam.
HOLY QURAN: 60:8
• "God forbids you not, with regards to those
who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive
you out of your homes, from dealing kindly
and justly with them; for God loveth
those who are just.”
Freedom of religion is laid down in
the Quran itself
• "There is no compulsion (or
coercion) in the religion (Islam). The
right direction is distinctly clear from
error". (2:256)
Christian missionary, T.W. Arnold had this
opinion on his study of the spread of Islam:
• ".. of any organized attempt to force the
acceptance of Islam on the nonMuslim population, or of any systematic
persecution intended to stamp out the
Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had
the Islamic leaders chosen to adopt either
course of action, they might have swept
away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand
and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain…”
Islamic Law
• Function: to protect the privileged status
of minorities
• Permits non-Muslim minorities to set up
their own courts,
• Creates security for Muslim/Non-Muslim
• Does not permit racism
Imam Ali’s
(PBUH)
view on minority
• if, on account of their paganism they do not deserve any
favorable treatment of extra privileges, they do not
deserve to be treated cruelly and harshly either.
• They are governed by us, they have made certain
agreements with us and we are obliged to respect and
honor the terms of those agreements.
• Therefore, be kind to them in future, tolerate them and
give them due respect,
• Always govern with a soft but strong hand. Treat them as
they individually deserve, kindly or harshly and with
respect or with contempt”
• (Nahjul Balagha, Letter #19).
Imam Ali’s
(PBUH)
letter to collector of
taxes
• “Treat the tax-payers with equity and justice
• Do not force anybody to forsake his
requirements and to do without his necessities
(so that he may pay the taxes).
• In collection of taxes and revenues do not sell
their winter and summer clothing, their slaves or
such of their animals as are of service to them,
do not resort to whipping, do not touch their
property, be they Muslims or non-Muslims..”
• Nahjul Balagha; letter #51
If present day Muslim countries had
followed the path of Ahlul bayt.....
If after the demise of the prophet,
people had allowed for the true
Islam to strengthen through its light
and not through the force of
others…
• Then the west would not be seeing such
false Islamic governments today.
An example can be seen in
Saudi Arabia, publicized in the
west to be the largest
representative of an Islamic
kingdom. But is this truly an
Islamic government?
According to Saudi institute website
report:
•
•
•
•
•
attack on the main Ismaili mosque in the
southern city of Najran,
closure of several Shia mosques and
community halls (husayniahs),
arrest of several Shia clerics,
the proliferation of hateful religious web sites
that promote sectarian hatred
Mosques built by private citizens must be
handed over to government control and people
are not able to worship as they wish
For more information on
governmental control in Saudi
Arabia on many other private
affairs, please visit
•
http://www.saudiinstitute.org/Reports/Reli
gious_Freedom/rlgfrdm_en.html
These aspects are what prevent
a majority from learning the true
Islam
Islam has been publicized through
media as a terrorist religion who
gives no right to individuals.
•
•
•
This is not so.
We pray for a time where the veils
covering Islam will be removed,
We further pray for the hastening in
the appearance of Imam Mahdi
(PBUH) who will eventually come and
show Islam in its true form