The Relevance of Islam in Today's Conflict

Delivered during the Youth Interfaith Solidarity Conference

Its Relevance in the Resolution of Today’s Conflict

• AbdulGaphor M. Panimbang

Delivered during the Youth Interfaith Solidarity Conference at Balabagan Trade School, Balabagan, LDS

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The Word "Islam"

• The "root" of the word "Islam" in Arabic is SALAMA which is the origin of the words Peace & / or Submission, a submission to God and peace to all humanity.

• It is, thus, no wonder why the salutation in Islam is: "Al-Salamu Alaikum or Peace on You."


Human Brotherhood & Ethnic Unity

• ‘For, man is from Adam, and that there is no supremacy of an Arab over a non-Arab and no supremacy of a black man over a red man except in piety’

• ‘O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created His wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through whom you demand mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relation of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is watching over you.’

• (The beginning of Surat-an-Nisaa’(4))


• ‘O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, That you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable among you in the sight of Allah is that (believer) who has piety and righteousness.’(Surat-al-Hujuraat (49), ayah 13)

• ‘Allah has relieved you from the burden of ignorance with its pride in the fathers and the ancestors. You are all from Adam, and Adam is from dust. There is no difference between an Arab and a non-Arab, nor between a black man and a red man except in piety"


• ‘He who calls to tribalism is not one of us, nor is he who fought for it, nor is he who died for it.’ (Abu Dawood).


Reaffirming the Oneness of Religion

• ‘He (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islam) which he ordained for Noah, and that which we inspired in you (O Muhammad), and that which we ordained for Abraham, Moses and Jesus, saying you should establish religion, and make no divisions in it.’

• (Surat-al-Shuraa (43), ayah 15)

• ’My likeness and that of the other Prophets before me is as the likeness of a man who built a house and did so with great perfection, except for a gap in one corner, which he left unfilled. This caused much surprise among the people who kept commenting, "Would it not have been better if you would have put a brick in this empty space?". It is I who am that missing brick and it is I who am the seal of all the Prophets.’ (Bukhari, Muslim)


• ‘Say (O Muslims), "We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibraaheem, Ismaa’eel, Ishaaq, Ya’qub, and to Al-Asbat, and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to Him we have submitted.’

• (Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayah 136)


The Holy Qur’an adulates all of the Prophets

Allah describes Jesus as:

‘..the son of Mary, held in honor in this life and the hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah.’

(Surat-aal-Imraan (3), ayah 45)

And Virgin Mary:

‘His mother a righteous women.’(Surat-al-Maa’idah (5) ayah 75)


Allah’s previous books with great praise

• He says about the Torah:

• ‘Verily, we have sent the Torah (to Moses), therein was guidance and light...’

• (Surat-al-Maa’idah (5) ayah 44)

• And about the gospel

• ‘... And we gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirmation of the Torah that had come before it, and a guidance and an admonition for the pious.’

• (Surat-al-Maa’idah (5), ayah 46)

• They, and the Holy Qur’an are lamps of guidance to mankind:

• ‘It is He who has sent down the Book (the Qur’an) to you (Muhammad) with truth, and confirming what came before it. And He sent down the Torah and Gospel.’

• (Surat-aal-Imran (3), ayah 3)


Confirming the Oneness of the Message

• ‘Blessed be He Who sent down the Criterion (of right and wrong) that He may be a Warner to the worlds.’(Surat-al-Furqaan (25), ayah 1)

And said:

• ‘And we have not sent you except as a giver of glad tidings and a Warner to all mankind, but most of men know not.’(Surat-Saba’ (34), ayah 28)


Seal of all the Prophets

• ‘Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah, and the last of the Prophets, And Allah is Ever All-Aware of everything.’(Surat-al-Ahzaab (33), ayah 40)

Thus, he was given an ever-lasting miracle, which is this Holy Qur’an:

• ‘And verily, it is an honorable respected Book. Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind (it was) sent down by the All-wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah)’

• (Surat-Fussilat (41), ayahs 41-42).

Islam and War

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:• ‘And if Allah did not check one set of people by

means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is full of Bounty to the worlds.’(Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayah 251)

The All-Mighty also says: • ‘For had it not been that Allah checks one set of people by means of

another, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, wherein the Name of Allah is mentioned much would surely have been pulled down. Verily Allah will help those who help His (cause).Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-mighty.’(Surah Al-Hajj (22), ayah 40)

The Purposes of War in Islam:

1. Resistance of transgression and self-defense as well as defense of family, possessions, nation and religion. In this regard the Holy Qur’an tells us:

• ‘And fight in the Way of Allah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors.’(Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayah 190)

The first verse that discussed and permitted war was:

• ‘Permission to fight is given to those, who are fighting because they (believers) have been wronged, and surely, Allah is able to give them (believers) victory. Those who have been expelled from their homes unjustly only because they said: "our Lord is Allah"’(Surah Al-Hajj (22), ayahs 39-40)


2. The protection of the freedoms of religion and the doctrine of the believers - those whom the disbelievers attempt to divert and mislead. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:

• ‘They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months. Say, "Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) in the sight of Allah is to prevent mankind from following the Way of Allah, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to the Holy Mosque (at Makkah), and to drive out its inhabitants, and Fitnah is worse than killing.’

(Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayah 217)



3. The protection of the Islamic call so that it reaches and becomes clear to everyone:

• ‘Verily, we have sent you to all mankind as a Warner and a giver of glad tidings.’

Islamic Principle: There is no Compulsion in Religion

• "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects Evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things." (Surah 2, Verse 256).


The Preference of Peace

The Qur’an says:

• ‘But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it, and (put your) trust in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’

(Surat-al-Anfal (8), ayah 61)


Wonderful ideals of Islam:

• To pursue peace with everyone including past enemies, except when they fight the Muslims and refuse peace, then Muslims are allowed to fight in self-defense.

• To ensure that we always apply justice and never transgress against others even if they are our enemies.

• To repel evil actions with good actions, in order to replace hatred with an intimate friendship.

• To respond to punishment with the same punishment, but that forgiveness and patience is even better than retaliation.



Spiritual

The Relevance of Islam in Today's Conflict