A few days ago I received a mobile phone message asking me to raise my hands when I broke my fast at sunset and pray against America. I kept thinking of the request but when the time came, I prayed to God to guide the American people onto the right path, leading them to understanding and helping them to become an asset to Islam. At the taraweeh (late night) prayers on that same day, the imam who led the congregation called upon the Almighty to inflict the severest punishment upon both Jews and Christians.
Both of these are things that we must look to see where they might lead us. I have never been one who hesitates to stand up to an aggressor or a wrongdoer; either should be resisted by all legitimate means. God orders us to resist oppressors and the unjust who sin against us; He also orders us to show them sternness and severity. At the same time, God orders us not to oppress, or commit an injustice against, anyone — regardless of what they may have done to us. In the Holy Qur’an we read: “O ye who believe, stand out firmly for God, as witnesses to fair dealings, and let not the hatred of others make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just; that is next to piety and fear God, for God is well-acquainted with all that ye do.”
In many cities of the world, millions of Christians and Jews poured into the streets, denouncing the oppression of our brethren in Palestine and in other Muslim countries. Shall we ask God to annihilate these people?
There are in the Western media, and even in the Israeli press, courageous and honest voices that resist Israeli-American injustices and lay bare the lies of Zionist writers. These brave men and women risk losing their jobs and brought before courts on charges of anti-Semitism; some have even been subjected to death threats. Shall we ask God to kill them and transform their womenfolk into slaves?
Our duty as Muslims has never been to kill those who do not follow our religion. Our duty is to save them from the eternal fire of hell by calling them and guiding them to the right path — while using wisdom and the best ways of admonition and exhortation. The objective is to save the unbelievers from hell and not to massacre or displace them or take their women as slaves.
It is time we differentiate between those who harbor enmity and hostility toward us and those who stand with us, between those who commit crimes against us and those who are innocent of any crime whatsoever. This is the kind of just treatment that God requires of us: “God does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily God loves those who are just.”
Arab News From the Local Press 5 December 2002
