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by the All-Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and He Who is in heaven will show mercy unto you". Showing mercy to those on earth is an essential principle for all humanity. This Prophetic tradition does not distinguish between Muslims and people of other faiths as well as human beings and the rest of the creation, including animals and plants.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) practiced these qualities in his life. When he entered the city of Makkah in a complete peaceful manner, the Prophet (pbuh) had in front of him some of his staunchest enemies; those who fought him for many years, persecuted his companions, and killed many of them. Now he had full power to pay back and punish them for their crimes and for what they did to him and to the Muslims. Instead the Prophet (pbuh) asked them, "How do you expect me to treat you?" They replied, "You are a noble brother and the son of a noble brother! We expect nothing but goodness from you." Then the Prophet announced, "I speak to you in the same words as the Prophet Joseph spoke unto his brothers: "No reproach on you this day, God will forgive you, He is the Most Merciful of the Merciful" (Qur'an, 12:92). Go, for verily you are free." He forgave even Abu Sufyan and his wife Hind who had caused the murder of his uncle Hamzah -may God be pleased with him. After killing him she had his body mutilated and chewed his liver. The Prophet even forgave her. On this day, when tolerance and forgiveness were least expected, the Prophet set an example of mercy and forgiveness by releasing all the captives without ransom, and forgiving them for the persecution and brutal torture of the Muslims, which was continuous during the first 13 years of conveying the message of Islam. This kind of behavior is parallel to the following verse as well: "those who restrain (their) anger and pardon men; and God loves the doers of good (to others)" (Qur'an, 3:134). It is important to build bridges of dialogue under any condition, and the two crucial qualities of people of dialogue are restraining anger and forgiveness.
Showing mercy to those on earth is an essential principle for
all humanity. This Prophetic tradition does not distinguish between Muslims and people of other faiths as well as human beings and the
rest of the creation, including animals
and plants.
A group of Christians visited Prophet Muhammad in Medina. Long talks continued between Muslims and Christians for 3 days. They wanted to go back to their town for Sunday service. The Prophet told them they did not need to go back, that they might pray in the mosque. Muslims left the Mosque to Christians and re-entered after the Christians performed their prayers. They signed an agreement with the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). According to this agreement, ministers will continue to perform their ministry; freedom of religion will be granted to Christians; their churches shall not be demolished or not be taken over; ministers, priests, monks, and other clergymen shall not pay tax; no one will be forced to accept Islam; if a Muslim gets married to a Christian, he will not force her to accept Islam, he will help her worship according to her religion; if Christians need help to fix their churches, monasteries, Muslims shall help them as a sign of obedience to the Prophet and as charity/blessing of God. There are many such agreements and all of them secure lives, chastity, property, religion, and churches of Christians.
Successors of the Prophet showed the same respect to people of other faiths.
14th Biennial JAINA Convention 2007
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PEACE THROUGH DIALOGUE
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