Man finds himself better off from worldly standards as far as wealth, position and influence are concerned as compared to those who claim themselves to be the Prophets of God. Naturally they contend that if there is a God, then that God is certainly giving them much more luxuries, comfort, wealth, honour, respect and position as compared to those who claim to be Prophets. On that basis they contend that they are more blessed by God on this earth in comparision to those who are Prophets. Because such is generally the case. As such they claim that by worldly standards those who are more blessed on earth than the Prophets have no necessity of such Prophets and their teachings.
Further Prophets are persons who want man to observe strict laws of goodness and piety. They feel these are very difficult for ordinary persons to live upto. As such Man considers Prophets as asking for impossible conditions to be fulfilled. So they must be off their heads or demented. Hence according to the proud and the rich, the Prophets are unsuitable for the guidance of the masses.
Man ordinarily cannot communicate with God. Yet he considers himself more knowledgeable. If he cannot communicate with God then he naturally contends that Prophets also cannot communicate with God. So in his pride and arrogance Man from time immemorial has challenged that Prophets are nothing but "Bashr" i.e. mere common persons at best like themselves.
A. MERE MORTALS (BASHR) LIKE US—BELIEF OF DISBELIEVERS
Here are a few quotations from the Quran recording the disbelievers' contentions :
"And set out for them a parable: The people of a city, when the messengers (of God) came unto them
"When We (Allah) sent to them two, they rejected both of them. Then We strengthened (them) with a third, so they said : Surely we are messengers sent to you.
"They taunted : You are naught but mere mortals (Bashr) like ourselves. The Beneficent (Creator) has not revealed any thing (unto you) ! You only lie" [128].
"They contend: O thou unto whom the Divine message is given to remind (people of the right path of Guidance), lo ! thou art indeed a madman" [129].
B. PUNISHMENT TO DISBELIEVERS WHO MOCKED PROPHETS THAT YOU ARE MERE MORTALS LIKE US
" ...Never came there unto them a messenger but they did mock him (by saying that you are nothing but a common mortal like us i.e. one who does not receive any Divine Guidance).
"Have they not seen how many generations We (Allah) have destroyed before them (which like the Scientifically advanced people of Atlantis, the pre-deluge civilisation of the time of Noah, Babylon, Assyria, Ninevah, Pompeii, the tribes of Thamud and Shuaib etc.) who never revived ?
"But (remember well) without exception all will be brought (out of their graves on the Day of Judgement) before Us (Allah)” [130].
"Has not the story reached you of those, who disbelieved of old (who used to mock their prophets by saying you are mortals like us and do not possess any guidance from God, rather you are mad and demented to think that we should follow such strict laws as you want us to observe) ? And so did taste of the calamities (and destruction that befell upon them) due to their conduct, and theirs will be a painful doom (in the hereafter also).
"That was because their messengers kept coming unto them with clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), but they mocked : Shall mere mortals guide us ? So they disbelieved and turned away. And Allah is Independent. Allah is Absolute, The Owner of all Praise" [131].
C. SOME FAMOUS CALAMITIES UPON THOSE WHO MOCKED PROPHETS
A few examples of famous disasters that befell mankind because they mocked their prophets as mere mortals are :
Noah : The Predeluge people destroyed by the Great Deluge [132].
Abraham : King Nimrod cast Abraham into a great fire. Eventually Nimrod and his mighty army met death by violence for disbelief in Abraham [133].
Lot : The people of Sodom and Gomorrah who were destroyed in the Dead Sea Disaster [134].
Moses : Pharaoh with the entire Egyptian Army was drowned when crossing along the sea bed of the Red Sea [135].
D. IS THE LOVING BEING OF LIGHT A HUMAN BEING ACCORDING TO QURAN ?
We human beings have been created out of "Dust" or "Clay" [136]. The Holy Prophet Mohammad has been made out of "Allah's Nur" or "Allah's Light" [137]. It will therefore be evident that he is from a totally different element as compared to us. So there can be no comparison between him and us.
"Had We (Allah) appointed an angel (i.e. one made out of 'Nur' as the Angels are or as Prophet Mohammad is is made of the 'Nur' or 'Light' of Allah We (Allah) assuredly (would) have made him (to appear before mankind as) a (common) mortal and (Allah has thus) hidden from them i.e. Mankind (the truth of who or what His Messenger Mohammad in reality is). This is a matter in which they (Mankind) have already been covered with ignorance" [138].
"Say (unto them O Mohammad ! by My Order) : Verily, am I (who is made out of the 'Nur' or 'Light' of Allah) a (common) mortal like you (who is made out of clay) ? It is inspired (by Allah) in me (the book of guidance i.e. the Quran and through it) that your Lord is only a single God (have you been similarly inspired with a Book of Guidance from the Alimighty ?) and I seek (continuously) forgiveness (for my followers) from Him (from the time of my birth when I miraculously spoke and said : "Rabbi Habli Ummati" i.e. O Sustainer of the Universe forgive those who follow me [139]. And which I continued praying for my followers until my departure from earthly life. Have you also miraculously spoken thus upon your birth asking for forgiveness of your followers and do you also pray continuously for the forgiveness of all your followers as I did even until and upon my death bed ?—Nay) and (so) woe unto polytheists (i.e. those who in their pride upon their wordly knowledge and power think and imagine themselves to be like mortals or equals of Mohammad and Allah causes such to be covered in ignorance as warned in the above quotation of the Quran)" [140].
E. HOW THE LOVING BEING OF LIGHT IS TO BE HONOURED
Because the Holy Prophet Mohammad (Peace of Allah be on him) is far superior to any other creation so Allah has passed the following orders on Man:
"And lo! those who disbelieve, would do everything in their power to shake thee (i.e. thy faith with the power of their eyes. And when they hear the Reminder they say : lo ! he is indeed mad".
"But indeed he (Mohammad) is naught else than one who is remembered by the entire Universe (including even Allah and His Angels)" [141].
"Lo ! Allah and His Angels remember by sending 'Salluna' (glorification) on the Prophet (because he is Nur-e-Mohammadi from which everything in the Universe has been created). O Ye who believe ! You also send 'Salluna' on him and offer 'Sallemu' (i.e. Peace of Allah) to him in a worthy manner" [142].
"O ye who believe ! When it is said 'Make room in the assemblies (for the Holy Prophet)', then make room, Allah will also make a room for you (in Heaven). And when it is said 'stand up out of respect (for the Prophet), then immediately stand up (as mark of respect to the Prophet). Allah will exalt the position of those amongst you who believe in these orders (to stand up to pay respect to the Holy Prophet) and those who have knowledge to high ranks. Allah is well informed of what ye do" [143].
F. SOME OF THE DIVINE HONOURS BLESSED UPON THE LOVING BEING OF LIGHT
The Quran informs in two of its Ayats that if all the Oceans of the earth were to become ink and if all the trees were made into pens to write down the praise of Allah and yet seven similar sets of Oceans were added to provide more ink, but they all will not be enough to write the praises of Allah e.g. :
"And if all the trees in the earth were pens and (similarly all) the Oceans (of the earth) with seven more (sets of) Oceans to help it (were ink) , the words of (praise of) Allah would not be exhausted (when all these pens and ink would have become exhausted). Lo ! Allah is Mighty, Wise" [144].
So no attempt is being made herein to describe the Wonders that Allah is because He is undescribable. But He out of His kindness has blessed a very few of His remarkable qualities upon the Loving Being of Light, the Comforter Saviour of the Universe, the Holy Prophet Mohammad :
The Atributes of Allah => The Blessings gifted by Allah upon Mohammad the Saviour of the Universe :
1. THE KALIMA
“There is none worthy of Divine worship save Allah" [145].
"Mohammad is the Messenger of Allah" [146].
2. FOR THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE
"Praise be to Allah, the sustainer Lord of the entire Universe" [147].
"We (Allah) have sent thee (O Mohammad) not as anything but as a Mercy (i.e. Saviour) for the entire Universe" [148].
3. NUR OR THE BEING OF LIGHT
"......Allah is "Nur-un-ala-Nur" or Light upon Light......." [149].
"......Now indeed has come unto you (for your guidance) the Holy Prophet (Mohammad)........who is a being out of Allah's Nur.............. [150].
4. GIVER OF LIGHT
"Allah is the Nur or Light of the heavens and the earth........" [149].
"O Prophet (Mohammad) ! Lo ! We have sent thee as a witness and bringer of good tidings, and a warner.
"And as a summoner unto Allah by His permission and as a shining Sun that spreads the light" [151].
5. LEADS FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT
"Allah! is the protecting friend of those who believe. He brings them out of Darkness into Light......” [152].
"Alif Lam Ra. (This is) a scripture entire mankind from darkness into which We (Allah) have revealed unto thee (Oh Mohammad) that thereby thou mayst bring forth Light......." [153].
"(Mohammad is) The Messenger reciting unto you the revelations of Allah made clear so that he may lead the believers and those who do good deeds from darkness into Light" [154].
6. THE FULL OF PITY—THE MERCIFUL
".......for Allah is ‘Raufur Rahim’ (i.e. full of Pity, the Merciful)" [155].
"There has come unto you (Mohammad) a messenger (from Allah) who is Aziz (i.e. far Superior) than any of you. Who is full of concern for you if you are overburdened with difficulties. For the believers he is 'Raufur Rahim' (i.e. full of Pity, the Merciful)” [156].
7. THE MOST FORGIVING
"......Lo ! Allah is Relenting, Merciful" [157].
"... Lo ! He is ever Clement, Forgiving" [158].
".......Now indeed Our (Allah's) Messenger (Mohammad) has come unto you (for your guidance).
He is repeatedly most forgiving……..” [159].
8. OBEDIENCE OF ALLAH & MESSENGER
"Whose obeyeth Allah and the Messenger (Mohammad), they are with those upon whom Allah has blessed with favours. They comprise of Prophets, and the Saints and the martyrs and the righteous. The best of friends are they !" [159].
"Whose obeyeth the Messenger, (Prophet Mohammad) indeed obeyeth Allah and whoso turneth away, We (Allah) have not sent thee (O Mohammad) as a saviour for them" [160].
9. BAIYAT – SWEARING OF ALLEGIANCE
"Lo ! those who swear allegiance (i e. do Baiyat) unto thee (Mohammad), swear allegiance only unto Allah. The Hand of Allah is above your hands. So whosoever breakes his oath, breakes it only to his Soul's hurt ; while whosoever keeps his covenant (with thee keeps his covenant) with Allah, on them will He bestow immense rewards" [161].
10. ALLAH'S CURSE UPON THOSE WHO SHOW DISRESPECT TO THE LOVING BEING OF LIGHT
"Lo ! those who malign Allah and His Messenger (Mohammad), Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and has prepared for them the doom of the disdained" [162].
The very same warning has been given by Jesus on pages 225-227 of "Gospel of Barnabas".
11. ORDER NOT TO ADDRESS THE HOLY PROPHET AS YOU ADDRESS ONE ANOTHER
Because Mohammad is so much different to ordinary human beings so Allah has passed the following order :
"Do not address the Messenger (Mohammad) amonges you in the same manner as you would address one another............Therefore let those who conspire to evade (Allah's) orders (by claiming and treating Mohammad as a common human being or "Bashr") beware lest grief and a painful punishment befall them" [163].
12. ORDER NOT TO ADDRESS MOHAMMAD EVEN AS "FATHER".
“Mohammad is (so much different and superior from you O mankind ! that he can) not (even be referred to as) the father of any man among you (Papa or the term father has always been regarded as the most honourable and respectful term by which we human beings honour our elders but this Ayat of the Quran forbids us from calling Mohammad even as "Father"), but he is the Messenger of Allah (which none of you are) and he is the Seal of the Prophets (i.e. the final Prophet or the promised Prophet and that no more Prophets are going to be born on this earth after him. Such an honour has not been given to any of the earlier great Prophets) and Allah is aware of all facts (as to who or what the Prophet Mohammad is i.e. Nur-e-Mohammadi out of a very small dot or piece of which how many millions of galaxies have been created comprising of how many billions of stars, planets, satellites, meteorities, comets and other wonders comprising the Universe, which we human beings inspite of all our scientific progress have not yet been able to calculate and find out and of which we form such a very small insignificant part)" [164].
G. THE FIRST REVELATION OF THE QURAN
Mohammad is 40 years old in 610 A.D. This is his fifth annual retreat, each for a month during the month of Ramadhan to contemplate upon the Divine Creator of the Universe. He was meditating in "Gar-e-Hira" (Cave of Research) on Jabl-e-Nur (Hill of Light) about 6 miles from Macca.
The Holy Quran informs that around the end of this month was the Night of Qadar or Power:
"Lo ! We (Allah) have sent down (the Holy Quran) during the Night of Power.
"Ah ! what will convey unto you what the Night Power is ?
"The Night of Power is better than 1000 months of prayers or piety (i.e. this one night is better than 83 years of prayers).
"The Angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of the O Lord, with all His decrees.
"(That night is) Peace until the rising of dawn" [165].
This discloses the following facts :
1) That the Quran was sent down from Heaven during this night.
2) Prayers during this one night is better than 1000 months or over 83 years of prayers.
3) Angel Gabriel descended from Heaven with the Lord's decrees.
4) A Spirit also descended. A Spirit is superior to Angels. Now arises the question as to who or what this “Spirit" was ? We have to confine ourselves to what has been revealed in this Surah. In the very first verse we are told that the Quran was sent down. So it will be clear that this Spirit was the “Spirit of the Quran". Now let us ask : What is the Quran ? The Quran is the words of Allah. It issued from Him. It is not a created thing. This "Spirit of the Quran" came and entered into the breast of Mohammad. As such the Holy Prophet came to know by heart the full Quran by the inspiration of Allah directly reaching him.
5) Thereafter a shining figure with 700 wings with human features appeared before him and commanded : "READ". Mohammad replied : "I read not".
6) This reply conveyed two meanings, firstly I have not been taught by any worldly teachers how to read or write. The second meaning is : Who are you to ask me to read or why should
I read at your request ?
7) Thereupon this personage took Mohammad to his breast and pressed him. The Prophet said he was pressed so hard that he felt as if his ribs would break and pierce his lungs. Then this figure released him and said again "Read". Mohammad gave the same reply. So the shining figure again pressed him for the second time and upon releasing said for the third time. Said “Read". Mohammad gave the same reply. For the third time he pressed Mohammad to his breast and upon releasing him asked again "Read".
8) Thereupon Mohammad asked who are you to ask me to read and what do you want me to read. The vision replied I am Angel Gabriel the bringer of messages of Allah to convey to the earlier prophets of Allah.
9) Angel Gabriel said I want you to :
"Read : In the name of the Lord, Who createth" [166].
10) As soon as Mohammad realised he was being requested to read in the name of Allah he replied, Do you want me to read about that Creator of the Universe :
“ Who Createth man from a clot" [167].
Angel Gabriel replied : "Yes indeed" to which the Prophet replied :
"Read : that the Lord is the Most Bountiful".
"Who teacheth by the pen".
"Teacheth man that which he knew not" [168].
These are the first five ayats of the Quran to be revealed on earth. They comprise of the first five ayats of surah No. 96 Iqra.
Angel Gabriel was dumbfounded and replied : Indeed I had come to teach you to read these verses of the Quran by the order of Allah ! How is that you knew from before hand about the very Ayats when I know well that nobody has taught you to read anything ?
11) Thereupon Mohammad replied: Do you not remember that when t was born on earth I had recited immediately within a few minutes with my index finger of my right hand raised :
"Ash-hado an la ilaaha il lal lahu Anna Mohammadur Rasulallah".
"Ya Rabbe Habli Ummati".
Translation :
"I give evidence that none is worthy of divine worship except Allah and indeed I am Mohammad the Messenger of Allah.
"O Sustainer (of the Universe) bless those who follow me".
Angel Gabriel replied that he did remember this petition. Thereupon Mohammad replied from the moment of my birth on earth I have been praising Allah continuously as I had been praising the Creator from the time that He created me out of Himself as "Nur-e-Mohammadi".
12) This incident shows that the Holy Prophet had Divine knowledge directly from Allah. This has been confirmed in numerous passages of the Quran e.g.:
"We (Allah) shall make you (Oh Prophet Mohammad) read (the Quran) so that you shall never forget" [169].
13) Then Mohammad said that during this night of Qadar, the Ruh-ul-Quran or the Spirit of the Quran had entered his breast just before angel Gabriel came to me. So I knew the Quran by heart. When you read the first ayat of Surah "Iqra", I could without any difficulty recite to you next four ayats.
The Holy Prophet Mohammad, the owner of “Nur-e-Mohammadi" is therefore the most sublime and exalted of all that has been created. Consequently he is supreme in regard to dignity and rank to all creations. He is the chief of all archangels and superior to all creations. He is the “Nur" or the "Being of Light" which guides the entire creation to the "All Truth" of Allah. Therefore Allah has given him the title of "Rahmat-AI-Lil-Aalameen" i. e. "The Comforter-Saviour of the entire Universe" [170].
Whenever any incident used to take place during the following 23 years which comprised of the period of Prophethood of the Being of Light, Mohammad used to recite verses from the Quran in a state of trance saying that God had given the following instructions in respect of the incident concerned.
Then he would announce that the verses of the Quran just revealed would be placed in such and such a chapter in such and such a position in the Holy Quran. The remaining verses of the said chapter being revealed in small portions during the next 23 years. There was not a single mistake in this arrangement even though verses were revealed over such a long period. There is not a single flaw or contradiction in the Quran. Its beauty and elegance is of such a high order that not a single chapter has been written by man which can come upto the standard of the Quran during the past 1400 years. It has defied forgeries inspite of it being repeatedly burnt and destroyed by infidels and Christians on numerous occasions It is a living miracle. Due to the Quran, the Arabic language has remained without any change during the past fourteen centuries. This is considered by European Orientalists as also a living miracle.
H. SOLACE OFFERED TO ALL OTHER RELIGIONISTS !
As our children grow they are influenced by their surroundings. They instinctively adopt the faith of their parents. Each of us believe our religion to be the best. Our egoism forces us to contend that to save oneself everyone has to convert to our faith. In our arrogance we declare that all, who disagree with our creed, are wrong and will be condemned to hell ! This pride of ours is the source of all religious conflict and turmoil throughout the world.
It is a pity that we fail to realise that God has created all of us. None of us have any control over the family into which the next child is going to be born. We have no say in the matter. It is He, Who has caused some of us to be born in Buddhist families, others in Christians or Hindus or Jewish or Muslim Communities etc. Under such circumstances can the creed of our birth be wrong ? Is it a crime to believe in the religion in which God gave us birth ? Can God ever punish us on the basis of this faith of our birth ? It must be remembered that it is He, Who has caused us to be born in those different religious groups ! What is our fault in it ? How can we be punished for it ? After all we are all His creations.
He cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, condemn us for being born in the various religious groups, when it is not our fault.
All religious scriptures teach us that we are to love God and do good deeds. God is the Most Beneficient and Ever Merciful. The Quran further clarifies :
"Allah has no desire whatsoever to punish you. So be thankful (for His mercies) and believe (that He is One and the Creator of the Universe). Allah is ever Responsive Aware" (Quran Surah 4—An Nisa : Ayat 147).
Then what is wrong with us that we go condemning everyone who does not accept our religion ? Where is the solution to all this confusion ?
As read earlier the charge of giving guidance had been entrusted to His Khalifa. What has this Comforter done for the safety of the whole universe ? You will be surprised beyond imagination to discover that over 1400 years back he has offered peace and security in this life and in the next to all Mankind ! That is irrespective of their religion, caste, colour, creed, beliefs or nationality ! It applies as much to his own followers as it applies to all other religions in the whole world without any distinction between one man and another. They comprise of three very simple universal truths viz :
1) To believe that God is one and only. He is the Creator of the universe.
2) To believe that all Mankind will be raised from the dead on the day of Judgement and will have to give an account for their deeds on earth.
3) Those who do good have no fear and will not suffer any grief on the day of Judgement irrespective of whatsoever be their religion or nationality ! Therefore the particular religion to which a person belongs is not at all of so great an importance. It is faith in God and good deeds which only count.
Everyone realises that there cannot be anything so universal.
It covers entire Mankind. All religions on Earth are based upon these three golden rules :
1) God is one
2) Accountability for one's deeds on a day of Judgement.
3) To do good deeds.
That is the reason why this "Being of Light" greets and comforts each new entrant who passes through the gateway of death into the next life. As soon as the soul comes out of the dark passages of the physical body, the "Being of Light" greets them and in a flash by vivid pictures shows the entire life from childhood till death and asks what are the value of one's deeds on earth in terms of the new life after death as shown by the research carried out by Dr. Raymond A. Moody Jr., M. D. in :
“Life After Life"
These noble teachings are repeatedly enshrined in the Holy Scriptures revealed through him viz :
"Lo ! those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee, Mohammad) and those who are Jews and Nazareens (i e. followers of Jesus of Nazarath) and Sabaeans (as Sabaeans cannot be identified it is taken to mean anyone irrespective of his caste or creed or beliefs or nationality), whosoever (this word again clarifies that it applies universally to all Mankind) believes in Allah (as the one and only God) and the Day of Judgement and does good deeds ; surely their reward is with their Lord and they shall not have any (reasons for) fear in them and they shall not suffer any grief" (Quran Surah 2—Al Bakr : Ayat 62 and Surah 5-AI Maidah : Ayat 69).
That is the reason why Mohammad has emphasied :
"There is no compulsion in religion" (Quran Surah 2—Al Bakr : Ayat 256) and
"Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion" (Quran Surah 109—The Disbelievers : Ayat 6).
Now arises the question : Have the followers of Mohammad been as tolerant towards others as taught by Mohammad ?
I. RELIGION OF TOLERATION
John Devenport has recorded on page 136 of his research : “ Mohammad and the Koran" under the Chapter of "Charges Refuted" as follows :
"That Mohammad waged wars is certain, but they differed essentially from those of Moses in not being wars of extermination, because the laudable objects of the former were to unite the Arabian tribes into one empire, to reclaim them from idolatry and instruct them in the worship of the one and only God, the Creator of all things.
"Mohammad received generously and with open arms all who would submit to his laws ! but He always spared the innocent blood of women, maidens, and infants, in short, he strictly commanded his followers never to molest, but to treat as brethren, all who would accept and obey the Quran.
“Moses, on the contrary, slaughtered whole nations, without offering or accepting any conditions of Mercy ! an example never followed by Mohammad, although in many instances by Christian Powers, and especialfy by the Spaniards in their conquest of Peru and Mexico. Nowhere throughout the Quran can be found commands attributed to the Diety wholly opposed to all human ideas of justice and mercy".
De Lacy O'Leary has given his findings on Page 8 of "Islam at the Crossroads", London 1923 :
"History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated".
E. Alexander Powell has pointed out on page 48 of "The Struggle for Power in Muslim Asia", New York 1923 :
"In their wars of conquest, however, Muslims exhibited a degree of toleration which puts many Christian nations to shame".
J. ACCORDING TO EUROPEAN HISTORY, A RELIGION OF TOLERANCE OR THE SWORD ?
Tolerance and persecution are two opposites. They are never compatible. The question is what does the history of Islam during the past fourteen centuries show ? Let us analyse some of the major incidents to see if Islam was ever spread with the sword in one hand and the Quran in the other ?
1. SPAIN
a) The History of Spain under Islamic rule for about 800 years (711 to 1502 A.D.), is singularly free from any kind of religious or other persecution ! In fact, the toleration shown towards the Christian subjects by the Muslim Rulers and the freedom of intercourse between the followers of the two religions brought about a certain amount of assimilation between the two communities. There was no compulsion to accept Islam. The Holy Bible was not burnt and destroyed, but respected ! There was no education to hate Christians ! Nobody was killed on account of religion !
b) What happened when Spain was recaptured by the Europeans in 1502 A.D. ? Ferdinand and Isabella issued an edict to put to death all Muslims and to burn millions of copies of the Quran ! Thus establishing that the Christians had no respect for innocent human lives nor for Religious Scriptures.
2. CONSTANTINOPLE
a) When in 1204 A.D. the Christian Crusaders sacked Constantinople they massacred their fellow Christian brethren of the Orthodox Churches for several days and nights—"Sword in one hand and the Greek Bible for the acceptance of the authority of the Pope as the supreme head of the Church of Christ in the other hand”. None were spared by the Crusaders. Not even the aged, the defenceless women and the helpless children—all Christians ! None were spared by the Crusaders !
b) King Muhammad II, after the capture of Constantinople in 1453 A.D, granted religious freedom. The Greek Orthodox Church proclaimed him as the "Protector of Greek Orthodox Church". The Muslims did not practice any hatred for the Christians, nor did they burn and destroy the Holy Bible but respected it !
This incident caused the Greeks to prefer their new Masters and the domination of Islam to that of any other Christian Power ! Does not History thus prove repeatedly that Islam is a religion of absolute toleration ? That it is utterly false to declare that Islam was spread with the "Sword in one hand and the Quran in the other" ?
3. EUROPEAN CHRISTIANS
While the Christians of different sects were safe under Islamic rule, which never compelled anyone to renounce one's faith, the Catholics of Poland committed horrible atrocities against the Russians of the Orthodox Eastern Church. In the course of about 50 years, they are said to have put to death seventy to eighty thousand souls—nuns, women, girls, boys and even infants ! The Holy Bible makes it absolutely clear that Christianity is not a religion of "Peace" but "of the Sword" :
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth : I came not to send PEACE, but a SWORD" (St. Matt. 10:34).
This sentence of the Holy Bible is known as the "The Verse of the Sword" and the Divine Authority to massacre all non Christians in the words of Holy Jesus !
4. MEXICO AND PERU
Yet another horrible example of spreading Christianity by the sword in one hand and the Holy Bible in the other is to be found in the footnote on page 135 of the research carried out by the English Scholar J. Devenport under the heading of "Charges Refuted" of his book “Mohammad and the Koran" (published by L. Davy & Sons, London, 1882).
"That the Spaniards thought themselves justified by the Bible, appear by the book which Sepulveda wrote for the express purpose of vindicating them in the murder of twelve million of Indians, ‘by the example of the Israelites towards the people of Canaan’.”
Las Casas says in his “Brevissima relacion de la destruction de las Indias" : "I have seen in the islands of St. Domingo and Jamaica, gibbets erected all over the country to hang thirteen Indians at a time in honour of the thirteen apostles. I have seen", continues he, "young children thrown to the dogs to be devoured alive".
5. BIBLICAL RECORDS SHOW :
a) Prophet Moses :
"And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, arid go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour".
'And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses : and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men" (Exodus 32 : 27 & 28).
b) Prophet Joshua :
"And Joshua returned and all Israel with him, to Debir ; and fought against it:
"And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and they smote them with the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein, he left none remaining, as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof, as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king".
“So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings : he left none remaining but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded".
"And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon".
“And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel" (Joshua 10: 38-42).
K. ACCORDING TO CHRISTIANS THE ONLY RELIGION WHICH IS PROTECTOR OF THE WEAK
T. W. Arnold has recorded as follows :
"The treatment of their Christian subjects by the Ottoman Emperors—at least for two centuries after their conquest of Greece—exhibits a toleration such as was at that time quite unknown in the rest of Europe. The Calvinists of Hungary and Transylvania and the Unitarians of the latter country long preferred to submit to the Turks rather than fall into the hands of the fanatical (Catholic) House of Hapsburg".
"It was to Turkey that the persecuted Spanish Jews fled for refuge in enormous numbers to the end of the fifteenth century and the Cossacks who belonged to the sect of the Old Believers and were persecuted by the Russian State Church, found in the dominions of the Sultan the toleration which their Christian brethren denied them" (pages 60-61, "The Prophet of Islam and His Teachings" by Maulvi Abdul Karim, Calcutta Second Edition, 1937).
It was this exemplary tolerance of the Muslims that induced Macarinus, Patriarch of Antioch in the seventeenth Century publicly to recite with his Christian followers the following prayer :
"O God, perpetuate the Turks (i.e. Muslims or Islam) for ever and ever because they take their impost and enter into no account of religion be their subjects Christians, Nazarenes, Jews or Samarians" (Pages 52-63, of "The Prophet of Islam And His Teachings").
Surely nowhere in the history of mankind has such a fervent prayer been made to God by one of the heads of a religious organisation along with all his followers for the continuity and success of any other religion but its own, except in the case of Islam, thereby proving beyond doubt, what a wonderful religion Islam is for toleration and goodwill towards others who are not even Muslims !
Sir Charles Edward Archibald has confirmed :
"There is no religion which is so maligned by the ignorant as Islam, yet, if people only knew, it is the only solution for the problems of socialism, in as much as it is a religion of the strong for the weak, of the rich for the poor" (page 85, "Wisdom of Prophet Mohammad", compiled by Mohammad Amin, Barristei-at-Law, printed by Lion Press, Lahore, 1945).
Professor Ram Dev the editor of "Vedic Magazine" has given his findings :
"It is wrong to say that Islam was spread with the use of the sword, let some one come forward and try to do so today" (page 79 of "Wisdom of Prophet Mohammad").
L. PRACTICE OF THE BLACK NEGRO AS OUR EQUAL BROTHER
Prophet Mohammad of Arabia (Peace of Allah be on him) not only proclaimed "Universal Human Brotherhood", but also for the first time in the history of mankind, made it a principle and a fact of common law ! The most conspicuous example is seen every year by the whole world on the occasion of Haj. Here millions of Muslims from the different parts of our earth, with varying colours of skin from pure white to yellow, brown and even black, with differing customs and manners and separate languages fraternise together for over a month. All men wear the same pilgrim's robe which comprises two pieces of unstitched plain white cloth. There is absolutely no distinction between the rich and the poor. The kings, the merchants and the slaves are all treated on the same footing. They are all men, hence alike before their Creator. They all stand and pray alike—there are no reserved places for anybody ! This proves to the world again and again each and every year for one who has sense and power of observation that Islam is continuously showing and proving annually to the whole World for the past 1400 years now that there is no distinction whatsoever between man and mankind.
On pages 332-335 of "Veiled Mysteries of Egypt" by Leader published in London 1912, one reads :
"Take away that black man, I can have no discussion with him, exclaimed the Christian Archbishop Cyrus when the Arab conquerors had sent a deputation of their ablest men to discuss terms of surrender of the capital of Egypt, headed by Negro Ubadah, as the ablest of them all".
"To the sacred archbishop's astonishment, he was told this man was commissioned by General Amr (Omar was second Khalifa of Islam), that the Moslems held Negroes and white men in equal respect judging a man by his character and not by his colour".
"Well, if the Negro must lead, he must speak gently, ordered the prelate, so as not to frighten his white auditors".
"(Ubadah replied) There are a thousand blacks, as black as myself, amongst the companions (of the Holy Prophet Mohammad). We live only for God, and to follow His will. We care naught for wealth, so long as we have the wherewithal to stay out hunger and to clothe our bodies. This world is naught for us, the next world is all".
"Such a spirit of class distinction is certainly the greatest hindrance to missionary work in the East, as every impartial observer has noted. How, for instance, can any other appeal stand against that of the Muslim, who in approaching the pagan, says to him, however obscure or degraded he may be, "Embrace the faith, and you are at once an equal and a brother ! Islam knows 'no colour line'.
James A. Michener under "Islam—The Misunderstood Religion", in the Reader's Digest (American Edition, for May, 1955) has clarified :
"More than most religions, Islam preaches the brotherhood of all races, colours and nations within its fold. Mohammad himself probably had exactly the same skin colouring as Jesus— a very sun-tanned white—but today his followers embrace all colours, black men from Africa, yellow men from China, brown men from Malaysia, white men from Turkey".
The Parsi Barrister Homi J. Rustonji has given his findings upon equality of mankind as practised by the various religions as :
“The equality taught by Islam is not to be found, as far as I know, in any other religion" (page 84, "Wisdom of Prophet Mohammad").
Munshi Prem Chand, M.A. has confirmed :
"Islam was never spread by the sword. It spread because it taught that all persons are equal. It is necessary that we should forget the falsely written history books. Muslims, whom we regard as aliens, are really the deliverers of mankind" (page 81, "Wisdom of Prophet Mohammad").
Thus Islam has truly proved by its action and preachings over the past fourteen centuries that it stands for "I shall love all mankind"—A universal organisation and culture of Love and Brotherhood on earth.
M. CAUSES FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY !
The result of this teaching of equality between man and man under Islam has often seen that the slaves of the family have been made heirs, if they were efficient and capable, in preference to the sons of their Masters. This proves clearly that Islam does not recognise any difference in the eyes of God between a master and his slave. Hence Khalifa Omar, the Second President of Islam, the absolute ruler of Arabia, arrived at the gates of Jerusalem to accept the surrender of the city from the Christians leading his own camel whilst his slave rode on the camel as detailed in pages 263-274 of "Destruction or Peace" by Hajee Mahboob Kassim, Calcutta 1971. This action of Omar is based upon :
"Believers are naught else than brothers ! Therefore make peace between your brethren and observe your duties towards Allah, that haply ye may obtain (His) mercy" (Quran 49—Al Hujurat: Ayat 10).
Islam is thus the principle which has been solely responsible for the abolition of slavery which it has changed into a brotherhood of equality between a master and his slave, and thus brings out
that "Islam" stands for "I shall Love All Mankind", there being no such thing as low caste or untouchables, every man being equal in the eyes of Allah !
N. SLAVES REPEATEDLY NOMINATED KINGS BY THEIR MASTERS
The most famous event in the history of mankind auout this equality taught in Islam between a master and his slave is to be found in the kings of the "Slave Dynasty of India". King Mohammad of Ghur appointed Qutubuddin Aibak, a Turkish slave as the sole heir and ruler of his Kingdom in India in 1206 A.D. When the latter died four years later he nominated his slave lltutmish to become his heir in 1210 A.D. After him came his daughter Queen Raziya. Upon her death she was succeeded by Nasiruddin Mahmud in 1240 A.D who was the next slave to become a king. When he died in 1266 A.D. Ghiyasuddin Balban became the last slave king of India.
The World cannot show any examples of slaves being nominated heirs of their masters. This was the equality not only preached but also actually practised by Islam—the universal religion of toleration, love and brotherhood.
References to Chapter 9 :
[128] Holy Quran — Surah 36 — Ya Sin : Ayats 13-15.
[129] Holy Quran — Surah 15 — Al Hijr : Ayat 6.
[130] Holy Quran — Surah 36 — Ya Sin : Ayats 30-32.
[131] Holy Quran — Surah 64 — At Taghabun : Ayats 5 & 6.
[132] Holy Quran — Surah 23 - Al Mominun : Ayats 23-30 ; Holy Bible, Genesis Chapters 7 & 8.
[133] Holy Quran — Surah 23 - Al Mominun : Ayats 32-37.
[134] Holy Quran — Surah 23 - Al Mominun : Ayats 38-42 ; Holy Bible, Genesis 18 : 20-33 and 19 : 1-30.
[135] Holy Quran — Surah 23 - Al Mominun : Ayats 45-48 ; Holy Bible, Exodus Chapter 14.
[136] Holy Quran, Surah 17 — Bani Israel : Ayat 61 & Surah 38 - Saad : Ayat 76 ; Holy Bible — Genesis 3:19.
[137] Holy Quran, Surah 5 — Al Maidah : Ayat 15.
[138] Holy Quran, Surah 6 — Al Anam : Ayat 9.
[139] Page 13, Vol. 2 "Tafrihul Azkia Fil Ahwal Ul Anbia".
[140] Holy Quran, Surah 41 - Ha Mim, as Sajdah : Ayat 6. Also similar is Surah 18 — Al Kahf : Ayat 110.
[141] Holy Quran, Surah 68 — Al Qalam : Ayats 51 & 52.
[142] Holy Quran, Surah 33 — Al Ahzab : Ayat 56.
[143] Holy Quran, Surah 58 — Al Mujadilah : Ayat 11.
[144] Hofy Quran, Surah 31 — Luqman : Ayat 27.
[145] Holy Quran, Surah 47 — Mohammad : Ayat 19.
[146] Holy Quran, Surah 48 — Al Fatah : Ayat 29.
[147] Holy Quran Surah 1 — Al Fateha : Ayat 1.
[148] Holy Quran Surah 21 — Al Anbiyah : Ayat 107.
[149] Holy Quran, Surah 24 — An Nur: Ayat 35.
[150] Holy Quran, Surah 5 — Al Maidah : Ayat 15.
[151] Holy Quran, Surah 33 — At Ahzab : Ayats 45 & 46.
[152] Holy Quran, Surah 2 — Al Bakr : Ayat 257.
[153] Holy Quran, Surah 14 — Abraham : Ayat 1.
[154] Holy Quran, Surah 65 — Al Talaq : Ayat 11.
[155] Holy Quran, Surah 2 — Al Bakr : Ayat 143.
[156] Holy Quran, Surah 9 — Taubah : Ayat 128.
[157] Holy Quran, Surah 4 — An Nisa : Ayat 16.
[158] Holy Quran. Surah 17 — Bani Israil: Ayat 44.
[159] Holy Quran, Surah 4 — An Nisa : Ayat 69.
[160] Holy Quran, Surah 4 — An Nisa : Ayat 80.
[161] Holy Quran, Surah 48 — Al Fatah : Ayat 10.
[162] Holy Quran, Surah 33 — Al Ahzab : Ayat 57.
[163] Holy Quran, Surah 24 — An Nur: Ayat 63.
[164] Holy Quran, Surah 33 — Al Ahzab : Ayat 40.
[165] Holy Quran, Surah 97 — Al Qadar : Ayats 1-5.
[166] Holy Quran, Surah 96 — Iqra : Ayat 1.
[167] Holy Quran, Surah 96 — Iqra : Ayat 2.
[168] Holy Quran, Surah 96 — Iqra : Ayat 3-5.
[169] Holy Quran, Surah 87 — Al Aala : Ayat 6.
[170] Holy Quran, Surah 21 — Al Anbia : Ayat 107.
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