(Continued from previous issue)
The Peaceful Propagation of Islam
Referring to Christ and his followers, the Quran tells us:
When Isa (Christ) observed their refusal he asked: ‘Who will be my supporters in the cause of God? The disciples replied: We are the supporters of God. We believe in Him. Bear witness that we have surrendered ourselves to Him.’” (3:52)
The response given by the disciples to the call of Jesus was so appropriate that the same response was likewise demanded by the Muslims. Therefore the Quran says:
O Believers, be God’s helpers. When Christ the son of Mary said to the disciples, ‘Who will come with me to the help of God?’ They replied: ‘We are God’s helpers.’ Some of the children of Israel believed in Him, while others did not. We aided the believers against their enemies and they triumphed over them. (61:14)
On deeper reflection we find that this verse is of relevance to the history of the second stage of Islam, that is, the second period of the Muslim Ummah (community). That was when fitna had ceased and religious freedom had been introduced into the world. Then the Muslims had to adopt the same course as that adopted by the followers of Christ under his guidance. Of course, there was no question of adopting the additions and innovations in their religious beliefs; these were to be rejected. Therefore, leaving aside the system of their beliefs, the practical pattern adopted by them in dawah was without doubt a prophetic pattern. And it was as worth adopting for the Muslims as it was for the Christians.
The question arises as to what kind of “help” Christ had asked his followers to give. We find the answer in the traditions. Ibn Hisham, the Prophet’s biographer of the first phase, writes: “I have received it from reliable sources that Abu Bakr al-Huzali narrated that, one day, after the peace treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Prophet came to his companions and said, ‘O people, God has sent me as a mercy to all the nations of the world, therefore, do not differ as the disciples of Christ differed with Christ.’ The Prophet’s companions asked: ‘O Messenger of God, how did the disciples of Christ differ from their Prophet?’ The Prophet replied: ‘Christ invited the disciples to what I have invited you. So those who were sent to nearby places, happily accepted it, but those who were sent to distant places were reluctant to go. Then Christ complained to God about it, so God’s special succour descended upon them and these disciples began speaking the language of the community to which they were being sent.” (Seerat an-Nabi, Ibn Hisham, Vol. 4/279)
This incident has been recorded in the present Bible. Here are some excerpts in brief:
Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations. (Matthew, 28:19)
And the gospel must first be preached among all the nations. (Mark, 13:10)
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark, 16:15)
In obedience to these injunctions of Christ, his followers left Palestine. After Christ had left the world, they spread over different cities and countries. They propagated their religion peacefully and those who embraced their faith also adopted the path of peace in propagating the divine message. In this way, the spread of Christianity continued from generation to generation.
As a result of this non-aggressive activity on the part of the followers of Christ, within a period of two hundred years after the advent of Christianity, it spread to many eastern countries. Subsequently, these Christians entered Europe. Here they were initially faced with great difficulties. However, they quietly began propagating Christianity until the time came when the European Emperor Constantine the Great came under its influence, converted to Christianity in 337 and proclaimed it to be the official religion of his empire. Subsequently, the majority of Europeans entered the Christian fold.
The Quran tells us that during the life of Christ, God decreed that the followers of Christ should prevail over their enemies.
In the third chapter of the Quran, addressing Christ, God said: “I shall .... Exalt your followers above them (the disbelievers) till the Day of Resurrection.” (3:55)
Similarly, in chapter 61, the Quran has this to say:
We aided the believers (in Christ) against their enemies, and they triumphed over them. (61:14)
Here the question arises as to how the followers of Christ came to dominate them. Surely this did not come about as a result of war and violence. For neither by the Quran, nor by historical records can it be established that the Christians engaged in armed confrontations with their religious opponents.
According to historical records, the number of Christ’s followers continued increasing until a time came when, by the sheer ratio of their numbers, they came to enjoy a position of dominance. This leads us to ask what feature of the propagation of their mission was so especially effective as to cause their numbers to increase so rapidly. The Quran states that this came about with the special succour of God: “We gave Christ the gospel and put compassion and mercy in the hearts of his followers.” (57:27) We find the same sentiments expressed in the Bible in the words uttered by Christ:
But I say to you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:27-38)
This utterance of Christ indicates what kind of character a man with a mission should have. Normal human relations between the da‘i (addressor) and the madu’ (the person addressed) are essential for the success of any dawah mission. The only way to establish a favourable atmosphere is for the da‘i to adopt the ethics of unilateralism, that is to behave well consistently and unconditionally, even if his hearers (the madu’) do not behave well towards him. In refusing to copy the attitude and conduct of the madu’, the da‘i adheres to the highest code of ethics based on Islamic principles.
“And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.” (Luke, 6:29) We are told here in symbolic language what our behaviour should be. The da‘i does all he can so that no controversy is created between himself and the madu; all he does is convey the message of dawah. That is why the da‘i takes sole responsibility for the maintaining of a propitious atmosphere for dawah by unilaterally bringing all controversies to an end. Such an approach was not peculiar to Christianity; it was a feature common to the missions of all of the prophets. This principle of unilateral accommodation is a sine qua non for success in the task of dawah.
The followers of Christ wholeheartedly adopted this teaching of their Prophet. This special feature of their missionary character contributed extraordinarily to the spread of the Christian religion. They made such headway, that they gave new meaning to the principle of peaceful proselytism. And then, along with their teaching, they engaged in such social service as proved an effective means of bringing the madu’ closer to them. It was the result of this particular dawah style that Christianity spread all over, becoming the greatest world religion.
There is a tradition recorded in Sahih Muslim which foretells us of this rapid spread of the Christian religion:
Mustaurid Qarashi related that he heard the Prophet say that Doomsday would not come until the Christians were the greatest in number. When these words of the Prophet were conveyed to Amr ibn al-As (a senior companion of the Prophet and the conqueror and governor of Egypt) he asked Mustaurid: ‘What is the nature of these traditions you are narrating?’ Mustaurid replied: ‘I narrate only what I have heard from the Prophet.’ Amr ibn aI-As said: ‘If you say so (that is, if it is an authentic hadith) then the Christians are undoubtedly the most forbearing in times of adversity, take no time in setting themselves in order after a calamity and are better than others in caring for their weak and deprived.’ (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Fitan).
From these details we find that a major aim of the revolution brought about by the Prophet and his companions was to remove all obstacles in the path of dawah, so that such conducive conditions would prevail as would encourage people to practice God’s religion and invite others to the same path. This process had to be continued from generation to generation.
The first stage of this revolution was marked by the coercive system being brought to an end, ushering in the dawn of religious freedom in the world. The second stage was embarked upon, when, by availing of the advantages of this freedom, Muslims disseminated Islam at the universal level. Now the Muslims are in the third and final stage of their history, when the progress of religious freedom has reached its zenith. Now Muslims have to continue the task of conveying the truth to people and it is imperative that they do so by adherence to peaceful methods. The truly shining example of religious achievement, according to the testimony of the Quran, is that of the followers of Christ.
Judging by the above-quoted words of Abdullah ibn Umar, the obstacles in the path of dawah work have been removed forever. If obstacles reappear, this will surely be as a result of some ill-considered policy pursued by the Muslims themselves. If the Muslims are able to refrain from adopting any erroneous course, no real obstacle should ever come in the way of the call of the truth until the advent of Doomsday. □
