The Right to Live
The Right to Live
Hafiz Aziz
The best way to understand Islam is through its holy source, the Quran. The theme in the Quran is peace as long as there is no oppression or injustice that cannot be resolved by all the peaceful means available. Islam offers humanity a life filled with harmony in which human life is given a great respect. Those who kill innocent people under the name of religion may misunderstand their religion or practice it wrongly. Quran is based on the concepts of morality, love, compassion, mercy, modesty, self-sacrifice, and tolerance; a Muslim who truly lives according to these moral precepts is highly tolerant, and accommodating. Islam considers all life forms as sacred; the sanctity of human life is accorded a special place. The first and the foremost basic right of a human being is the right to live. Islam strongly forbids killing of innocent people, irrespective of the cause, religious, political or social beliefs.
Killing innocent people is a great Sin: According to the Quran, one of the greatest sins is to kill an innocent human being; those who commit such a crime will have evil punishment in the Hereafter. Allah SWT says, “...If someone kills a person - unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the land - it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with Clear Signs but even after that many of them committed outrages in the land” [5:32]. Such is the value of a single human life that the Quran equates the taking of even one human life unjustly with killing all of humanity. In a different verse it is mentioned, “Those who do not call on any other God together with Allah and do not kill anyone, God has made inviolate, except with the right to do so, and do not fornicate; anyone who does that will receive an evil punishment” [25:68]. As far as the question of taking life in retaliation to the punishment for spreading corruption is concerned, it can be decided only by a proper and competent court of law. Allah SWT says, “Do not kill a soul which Allah has made sacred except through the due process of law...” [6:151].
Islam Condemns Mischief: Allah SWT has commanded humanity to avoid evil, immorality, cruelty, murder and bloodshed. Those who do not obey these commands are falling into the traps of Shaitan and will be punished according to their actions. Allah SWT says, “But as for those who break Allah’s contract after it has been agreed and sever what Allah has commanded to be joined, and spread corruption on earth, the curse will be upon them. They will have the Evil Abode” [13:25]. In a different verse it is mentioned, “Seek the abode of the Hereafter with what Allah has given you, without forgetting your portion of the world. And do good as Allah has been good to you. And do not seek to cause mischief on earth. Allah does not love mischief makers' [28:77].
Behave Justly: Islam commands believers to behave justly in all areas of their lives with humanity, irrespective of their race, gender or religion. Allah SWT says, “You who have Faith! show integrity for the sake of Allah, bearing witness with justice. Do not let hatred for a people incite you into not being just - Be just. That is closer to Taqwa (God consciousness). Have taqwa of God. Allah is aware of what you do” [5:8]. In a different verse it is mentioned, “...And act justly. Truly, Allah loves those who are just” [49:9].
Compulsion in Religion: Quran prohibits Muslims from using any method of compulsion to influence the religious practices and beliefs. Giving ‘Dawah’ (inviting other to Islam) is encouraged for Muslims, however, Islam does not allow use of force by any means to make others accept Islam. Killing or even the persecution of people merely because they have a different religion is not permitted in Islam. Quran does not allow Muslims to fight except for self defense and to enforce peace and does not allow restrictions on those who disagree on religious matters. Allah SWT says, "There shall be no compulsion in religion..." [2:256]. In a different verse it is mentioned,".....Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then GOD gives you no excuse to fight them" [4:90].
أَقُول قَوْلِي هَذَا ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ لِيَ وَلَكُمْ ولِسَائِر الْمُسْلِمِي ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوه ، إِنَهُ هُوَ الْغَفُور الرّحِيمُ.
Please sit down for a moment
بِسْمِ اللّهِ ، والْحَمْدُ ِلّهِ ، والصّلَاةُ والسّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللّهِ ، صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَم
The moral teaching offered to humanity by Islam is one that will bring peace and justice to the world. The barbarism that is happening in the world today under the name of Islam is completely removed from the moral teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. Those who believe in Allah and His messenger with a sincere heart and fear suffering in the Hereafter will never harm innocent people and commit murder. Islamic morality aims at a society built on brotherhood, peace, freedom and security of life. May Allah guide those who have been misled – Ameen.
عِبَادَ اللّهِ ، إنّ اللّهَ يَأْمُر بِالْعَدْلِ والْإِحْسَانِ وإيْتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى ويَنْهَى عَنِ الفَحْشَاءِ والْمُنْكَرِ والْبَغِي ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلّكُمْ تَذَكّرُونَ . اُذْكُرُوا الَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُروهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوه يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا. وَأَقِم الصّلَاة
إنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا ، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلاَ هَادِىَ لَهُ،وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ
اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ
مُسْلِمُونَ
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُو اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلاً سَدِيدًا * يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا
اما بعد:
إنَّ أَصْدَقَ اْلحَدْيثِ كِتَابُ اللّهِ وَأَحْسَنَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَشَرُّ الْأُمُوْرِ مُحدَثَاتُها وَكُلُّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ وكُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّار