Islam & Europe - Peace, Identity & Integration — Page 79
ISLAM & EUROPE - A CLASH OF CIVILISATIONS? 79 Yet when he returned victoriously to Makkah and the entire city was under his command, his first pronouncement was that no revenge would be taken from those who had brutally persecuted the Muslims. At that moment of triumph, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) exhibited supreme humility and forbearance. He declared that, in accordance with Islam’s teachings, all those who had tormented the Muslims were to be instantly forgiven and that nobody would be treated unjustly, regardless of whether they accepted Islam or not. Another moral revolution in favour of the weakest members of society brought by Islam regarded slavery, which prior to Islam, was rampant and considered a normal part of society. Upon the command of Allah the Almighty, the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sought to bring an end to this practice. Thus, chapter 24, verse 34 the Holy Qur’an states that if a slave seeks freedom, he should be released and if certain fiscal dues are levied, they must be reasonable and payable in small, easily manageable installments or be waived altogether. As I said, during that era, slavery was part and parcel of society and so by calling for their emancipation, the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) brought about a sea-change in attitudes. In today’s world, physical slavery no longer exists, but it has been replaced by economic bondage and servitude, wherein the