Jesus In India — Page 11
J e s u s i n I n d i a 11 This means that you are simply not allowed to convert people by force. Can we ever accuse the great Prophet Muhammad sa of using force, while, for thirteen long years of his Meccan life, he continued to exhort his companions not to return evil for evil, but to forbear and forgive? When mischief exceeded all limits, and everyone joined hands to try to obliterate Islam, God’s wrath required that those who kill by the sword should be killed by the sword. Except for this, the Holy Quran does not at all approve of compulsion. Were it so, the companions of our Holy Prophet sa , in moments of trial, would not have succeeded in proving their sincerity as true believers. While the loyalty of the companions of our Master, the Holy Prophet sa , is a matter upon which I hardly need to dwell, it is no secret that the examples of upholding the truth and loyalty displayed by the disciples are unparalleled in the history of other nations. This band of the faithful did not waver in their loyalty and steadfastness even under the shadow of the sword. The unrelenting steadfastness they exhibited in the company of the Holy Prophet sa is not humanly possible unless one’s heart is lit up with the light of genuine belief. In short, there is no room for compulsion in Islam. Wars in Islam fall under three categories: i. Defensive war—war by way of self-protection; ii. Punitive war—blood for blood; iii. War to establish freedom—to break the hold of those who kill converts to Islam. Whereas Islam does not permit that anyone should be converted by force or by threat to one’s life, it is simply absurd to await the appearance of a bloodthirsty Mahdi and