Through Force or Faith? — Page 283
Chapter 7 — Novelty in the Teachings of Muhammad 283 Along with this, it is emphasized that even the religious differ- ence with any person or people should not be a hindrance in this regard: َو اَل ْمُكَّنَمِرْجَي ُنٰاَنَش ٍمْوَق ىٰۤلَع اَّلَا اْوُلِدْعَت اْوُلِدْعِا َوُه ُبَرْقَا ىٰوْقَّتلِل …and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to right- eousness ( S u rah al-Mā’idah, 5:9). Then, they were commanded to administer their affairs with mutual consultation: َو ْمُهُرْمَا ىٰرْوُش ْمُهَنْيَب ‘and whose affairs are decided by mutual consultation’ ( S u rah ash-Shūrā, 42:39), and not with- out mutual consultation or regard to public opinion. This com- mandment is for every decision and Islam has not left it to the prerogative of the ruler. Similarly the rights of the subjects are also defined that not only they should participate in consultations but they have the right not to obey the ruler if he rules in violation to the basic com- mands of the Divine teachings and the principles defined by God: َو اَل ْعِطُت ْمُهْنِم اًمِثٰا ْوَا اًرْوُفَك And yield not to any one among them who is sinful or ungrateful ( S u rah ad-Dahr, 76:25). However, it is made clear that the response should not be rebellion or sedition but it should be migration from such a place ( S u rah an-Nis a’ , 4:98). Rebellion and lawlessness are not to be permitted under any circumstance.