Islam & Europe - Peace, Identity & Integration — Page 50
50 ISLAM & EUROPE: PEACE, IDENTITY & INTEGRATION itself. The Quran says that if the Muslims were not permitted to fight back, then no church, synagogue, temple, mosque or the place of worship of any religion would remain safe. Hence, when the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his followers were forced to partake in wars and battles, it was for the sake of defending the rights of all people. It was to ensure that Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims and the people of other faiths and beliefs had the right to worship as they pleased. If, as is often alleged, Islam permitted Muslims to spread its teachings violently, to conquer lands, and to try to eliminate other religions, then why would the Holy Quran explicitly state that it was the religious duty of Muslims to protect all religions and to safeguard the rights of their followers? The reality is that the early Muslims gave their lives in order to establish and enshrine, once and for all, the principles of individual liberty, freedom of religion and freedom of belief. These freedoms are the cornerstones of the Islamic faith and have been preserved eternally in the Holy Quran, which has categorically declared in chapter 2, verse 257 that “there should be no compulsion in religion”. What a clear and unequivocal statement in defence of freedom of thought, freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. The Holy Quran teaches that religion is a personal matter for each individual and no one has the right to compel or coerce other people in this regard. During the time of the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his four rightly guided Caliphs, the rights of non-Muslims were never usurped and nor were they