Human Relations in Islam

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Human Relations in Islam

• Dr. Ishaq Zahid
• March 08, 2009
• Unitarian Church

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Outline

• Preamble
• The Prophet (pbuh) with Jews and Christians
• Selections from Quran and Hadith
• Our World Today!
• Concluding Remarks
• Q/A

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American Muslims

• 6 million (The New York Times, Feb. 21, 1989)
• About 40 Afro-American
• Not all Muslims are Arabs, Not all Arabs are
  Muslims

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The Message of the Prophets

• There is no god, but God.
• (Allah is the Arabic name for God)
• Worship and obey God as taught by His Messengers
• and that is Islam!

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One Nation Under God

• Mankind was one single nation, and God sent
  Messengers with glad tidings and warnings and
  with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge
  between people in matters wherein they differed
  but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs
  came to them, did not differ among themselves,
  except through selfish contumacy. God by His
  Grace Guided the believers to the Truth,
  concerning that wherein they differed. For God
  guided whom He will to a path that is straight.
  (The Quran, 2213 )

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Abraham Builds Kaba
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Abrahams Prayer, Gods Response

• And remember Abraham said "My Lord, make this
  (Mecca) a City of Peace, and feed its people with
  fruits,-such of them as believe in God and the
  Last Day."
• He (God) said
• "(Yea), and such as reject Faith,-for a while
  will I grant them their pleasure, but will soon
  drive them to the torment of Fire,- an evil
  destination (indeed)!" (Quran, 2.126)

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No Compulsion in Religion

• Let there be no compulsion in religion Truth
  stands out clear from Error whoever rejects evil
  and believes in God has grasped the most
  trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And God
  hears and knows all things. (Quran, 2.256)

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Respect for others beliefs

• Islam forbids its followers (Muslims) to insult
  anything that is viewed as a deity by any
  religion, regardless of what that is.

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Safeguarding Houses of Worship

• 022.039 To those against whom war is made,
  permission is given (to fight), because they are
  wronged- and verily, God is most powerful for
  their aid-
• 022.040 (They are) those who have been expelled
  from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no
  cause) except that they say, "our Lord is God". 
  Did not God check one set of people by means of
  another, there would surely have been pulled down
  monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques,
  in which the name of God is commemorated in
  abundant measure. God will certainly aid those
  who aid his (cause)- for verily God is full of
  Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His
  Will).

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The Prophet and a Christian King

• King Negus of Ethopia gives Protection to
  migrated Muslims
• First Muslim-Christian Governmental Interaction

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The Prophet the Jews of Madinah

• A miraculous escape of the Prophet from a murder
  plot and migration to Madinah. A great event in
  the history of Islam.
• He signs a peace treaty with the Jews of Madinah

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• The Jews of Bani Awf are one community with the
  believers. The Jews will profess their religion,
  and the Muslims theirs.
• The Jews shall be responsible for their
  expenditure, and the Muslims for theirs.
• If attacked by a third party, each shall come to
  the assistance of the other.
• Each party shall hold counsel with the other.
  Mutual relation shall be founded on
  righteousness sin is totally excluded.
• Neither shall commit sins to the prejudice of the
  other.
• The wronged party shall be aided.

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• The Jews shall contribute to the cost of war so
  long as they are fighting alongside the
  believers.
• Madinah shall remain sacred and inviolable for
  all that join this treaty.
• Should any disagreement arise between the
  signatories to this treaty, then Allâh, the
  All-High and His Messenger shall settle the
  dispute.
• The signatories to this treaty shall boycott
  Quraish commercially they shall also abstain
  from extending any support to them.
• Each shall contribute to defending Madinah, in
  case of a foreign attack, in its respective area.
  
• This treaty shall not hinder either party from
  seeking lawful revenge.

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The Prophet and the Monks

• The Prophet sent a message to the monks of Saint
  Catherine in Mount Sinai
•    "This is a message written by Muhammad ibn
  Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt
  Christianity, far and near, we are behind them.
• Verily, I defend them by myself, the servants,
  the helpers, and my followers, because Christians
  are my citizens and by Allah! I hold out against
  anything that displeases them. No compulsion is
  to be on them.

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Letter for the Monks

• No one is to destroy a house of their religion,
  to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the
  Muslims' houses. Should anyone take any of these,
  he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His
  Prophet.
• Verily, they (Christians) are my allies and have
  my secure charter against all that they hate.
• If a female Christian is married to a Muslim,
  this is not to take place without her own wish.
  She is not to be prevented from going to her
  church to pray.
• No one of the nation is to disobey this covenant
  till the Day of Judgment and the end of the
  world."

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The Prophet and the Christians of Najran

• A Christian delegation from the city of Najran,
  South Arabia, came to visit the Prophet in
  Madinah. During the visit, the Christians prayed
  in the Mosque of the Prophet, the second holiest
  mosque of Islam!

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Selections From Quran and Hadith

• The Holy Quran contains 23 Years of Revelations
  (610 - 632 C.E.)
• Original intact as given by the Prophet in Arabic
• 114 Chapters Most Chapters contain Multiple
  Revelations
• Chapter names are based on a word in the Chapter
• Historic Context matters Quran was a living,
  dynamic, in-time guidance for the Prophet and his
  community.
• Basic principles are clear.
• Others should be understood in the light of
  Hadith and the 23 years of History

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Sunnah and Hadith

• Approvals, disapprovals of the Prophet
• Compiled in separate books, known as Hadith
  books, after the death of the Prophet
• Classified from authentic to false.

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Respect For Parents

• The Qur'an elevates kindness to parents
  (especially mothers) to a status second only to
  the worship of Allah.
• Your Lord has decreed that you worship none
  but Him and that you be kind to parents. Whether
  one or both of them attain old age in your life,
  say not to them a word of contempt nor repel
  them, but address them in terms of honor.
  (Qur'an 1723)

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Human Equality in Islam

• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said
• "No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor
  does a non-Arab have any superiority over an
  Arab. Nor does a white man have any superiority
  over a black man, or the black man any
  superiority over the white man. You are all the
  children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay."

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Justice in Islam

• "Do not let your hatred of a people incite you to
  aggression." (Quran 52)
• "And do not let ill-will towards any folk incite
  you so that you swerve from dealing justly. Be
  just that is nearest to heedfulness." (Quran
  58)

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Be Just, even if

• Oh you who believe, stand up firmly for justice,
  as witnesses to God, even if it be against
  yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and
  whether it be against rich or poor for God can
  best protect both. Do not follow any passion,
  lest you not be just. And if you distort or
  decline to do justice, verily God is
  well-acquainted with all that you do. (Quran
  4135)

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Repel Evil with Goodness

• 041.034 Nor can goodness and Evil be equal.
  Repel (Evil) with what is better Then will he
  between whom and thee was hatred become as it
  were thy friend and intimate!
• 003.134 Those who spend (freely), whether in
  prosperity, or in adversity who restrain anger,
  and pardon (all) men for God loves those who do
  good.

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Suicide is a Grave Sin

• O ye who believe! Eat not up your property among
  yourselves in vanities But let there be amongst
  you traffic and trade by mutual good-will Nor
  kill (or destroy) yourselves for verily God has
  been to you Most Merciful! (Quran, 429)

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OneAll

• if any one slew a person - unless it be for
  murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it
  would be as if he slew the whole people and if
  any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved
  the life of the whole people.(Quran, 5.32)

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Quran Verse 812

• Often misinterpreted Verse by Islam bashers
• Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the
  message) "I am with you give firmness to the
  Believers I will instill terror into the hearts
  of the Unbelievers smite ye above their necks
  and smite all their finger-tips off them."
• (The Quran, 8.12)
• Read for an explanation
• http//www.islam101.com/terror/verse8_12.htm

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Quran Verse 861,

• 008.061 But if the enemy incline towards peace,
  do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust
  in God for He is One that hears and knows (all
  things).
• 060.008  God forbids you not, with regard 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 loves those who are
  just.
• 060.009  God only forbids you, with regard to
  those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive
  you out of your homes, and support (others) in
  driving you out, from turning to them (for
  friendship and protection). It is such as turn to
  them (in these circumstances), that do wrong.

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A Few Sayings of the Prophet

• The Muslim is that one from whose tongue and
  hand the Muslims are safe.
• And said
• None amongst you believes (truly) till one likes
  for his brother that which he loves for himself.
  
• And said
• He will not enter Paradise, he whose neighbor is
  not secure from his wrongful conduct.

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• He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let
  him be kind to his neighbor and he who believes
  in Allah and the Last Day, let him show
  hospitality to his guest and he who believes in
  Allah and the Last Day, let him either speak good
  or remain silent". (Hadith)
• And said
• He is not a perfect believer, who goes to bed
  full and knows that his neighbor is hungry.

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• And said
• To remove something harmful from the road, is
  charity.
• And said
• Charity erases sins just as water extinguishes
  fire.

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• And said
• Show mercy to people on earth so that Allâh will
  have mercy on you in heaven.
• And said
• Try to avert fire even by half a date (in
  charity) if not by tendering a good word.

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Our World Today!
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(No Transcript)
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A Word on Terrorism

• There are no ISLAMIC TERRORISTS!
• (There are a few among a billion Muslims who are
  terrorists.)
• Using Islam or Islamic associates evil acts
  to the teachings of Islam. And that is WRONG!
• Let us STOP associating Islam with evil.

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Speak Good or Be Quiet

• The Prophet said He who believes in Allah and
  the Last Day, let him either speak good or remain
  silent".

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see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

• Shutdown on bad media, , Radio Talk Shows,?

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Work together for Justice and peace for All
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Questions and Answers

• Surah Al-Fatehah
• (Chapter 1 The Opening)
• 1. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most
  Merciful.
• 2. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and
  Sustainer of the worlds
• 3. Most Gracious, Most Merciful
• 4. Master of the Day of Judgment.
• 5. Thee do we worship, and Thine help we seek.
• 6. Show us the straight way,
• 7. The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed
  Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath,
  and who go not astray.