Through Force or Faith? — Page 202
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 202 َّنِا َهّٰللا اَّمِعِن ْمُكُظِعَي ٖهِب١ؕ َّنِا َهّٰللا َناَك اًۢعْيِمَس اًرْيِصَبَّنِا َهّٰللا ْمُكُرُمْاَي ْنَا اوُّدَؤُت ِتٰنٰمَاْلا ىٰۤلِا اَهِلْهَا١ۙ َو اَذِا ْمُتْمَكَح َنْيَب ِساَّنلا ْنَا اْوُمُكْحَت ِلْدَعْلاِب١ؕ Verily, Allah commands you to give over the trusts to those entitled to them, and that, when you judge between men, you judge with justice. And surely, excellent is that with which Allah admonishes you. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. ( S u rah an-Nis a ’, 4:59) According to Islamic precepts, all citizens, be it Muslims or non-Muslims, are to be provided equal opportunities in business, industry, trade and employment. The distribution of offices is to be carried out purely on merit and not on the basis of religious beliefs, ethnic or national affiliation. The ruler of the time is instructed to observe fairness and equity in all his decisions in the course of governance. It becomes quite evident from the above mentioned verses that, according to the Islamic precepts, fairness, equity, benevo- lence, empathy, graciousness and magnanimity are to be used in dealing with non-Muslims. In all these matters, no distinction is drawn between People of the Book and idolaters. This is what we find practiced in the life of the Holy Prophet s as also. Gracious Treatment of non-Muslims by the Holy Prophet s as The Holy Prophet s as received the Holy Quran. How he imple- mented it and how he taught Muslims its precepts; that is the guiding light for us. He set very noble examples of kind treatment