Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 52
Khilafat Centenary The Holy Qur'an has referred to the followers of early scriptures as the 'People of the Book', a class distinguished from polytheists. Hadhrat Ali ra was consulted by his generals and civil administrators regarding the Zoroastrians of the conquered lands. They were advised by the Khalifa to treat them like the 'People of the Book'. Similar views, decades later, were expressed by Muhammad bin Qasim, about the people of Sind who believed in their scriptures. Shah has rightly said that the Persians fondly loved Hadhrat Ali ra for these gestures and called him the 'Arab Nosherwan' (Shah, p. 299). Iraq has been the home of the Christians centuries prior to the advent of Islam. A sizable community lived in Erbil (present day Kurdistan). Hadhrat Ali ra granted them religious freedom and decreed that they would be entitled to build new churches. The only restriction was that the agricultural land would not be used for that purpose. That, too, was in the best interests of the masses. Spiritual food is important but it should not jeopardize the material food which can be planted only on crop-raising land. 3. Hospitality Extended to Assassin Another incident is worth mentioning, which reveals Hadhrat Ali'sra greatness as a Jurist and his profound respect for life and the rule of law, and his inherent concern for human dignity. Abdul Rahman bin Muljam, a Kharjite fanatic, fatally wounded him when he was entering the Kufa Mosque for Fajr prayers, on 17 1 h Ramadan, A. H. 40 (January, 661 C. E. ). The culprit was apprehended on the spot and presented to Hadhrat Alira. The Caliph advised his son, Hasan ra, to provide the prisoner food, shelter, and other comforts. He further said that after recovering from his wounds, he would deal with Ibne-Muljam. However, he made it clear: If I die, only then should he be killed in Q!. ssas (legal retribution prescribed in the Qur'an) but he should not be subjected to muthla (mutilation and torture). No other person or associate should be killed (Shah, pp. 327, 328). It is reported that there was another accomplice who escaped, but he did not want to punish any other individual on mere suspicion. Likewise he did not wish to initiate a witch hunt. 5. Regard for Animal Rights Syedna Ali ra, like Hadhrat Umar ra was sensitive to the rights of the animals. Umarra, the Great, is reported to have once remarked: "If a goat or a dog is killed unjustifiably on the banks of Euphrates (a river in Iraq), God would question Umar for that" Hasan has noted the following instruction of Hadhrat Ali ra regarding animals donated as Zakat tribute: The animal should be fed with sufficient fodder and water and their young ones should not be deprived of their milk (Hasan, p. 354). Hadhrat Ali ra had learned that way of life from the Holy Prophet , Muhammad saw , who once told the owner of a neglected camel that the animal was protesting against his maltreatment. The Message of a Dream In the end, I would like to narrate a dream which I had in Sierra Leone (West Africa). I saw the Rightly Guided Khulafa sitting together on a bench. Their countenance revealed anguish and disapproval. At that time, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih, III ra, had been invited to Parliament House, in Islamabad, Pakistan, to explain thejama 'at's position in the light of a questionnaire issued by the government (August, 1974). On awakening, I understood the message of the dream. The blessed souls of the Rightly Guided Khulafa were grieved with the high handedness of the then, Bhutto regime, which was bent upon declaring Ahmadis to be non -Muslims. I interpreted it as an expression of spiritual solidarity with the institution of Khilafat and reassurance to the Ahmadis who were going to be excommunicated en masse. I believe it was a Divine condemnation of the sheer violation of the human rights of millions of Ahmadis and pray that, one blessed da y, that draconian amendment, which was passed on September 7, 197 4, will be deleted from the country's constitution. It is not only a slur on the fair face of Islam and democracy, but is also a crude violation of the U. N. Charter of Human Rights.