Islam and the Freedom of Conscience — Page 56
~ 56 ~ should help them as it was a preferred option. It would neither be deemed a loan nor a favour but would be a means to enhance the pact in that it would improve social connections, and spirit of mutual help. 25 With standards of religious freedom and tolerance of the Holy Prophet sa as these, it is extremely cruel to allege that Islam was spread through force and oppression. The Promised Messiah as states: At a time when the People of the Book and the idolaters of Mecca were extremely depraved and having committed a wicked act considered they had done a meritorious act. They did not desist from crime, and interfered with public order. Allah the Exalted willed to save the helpless from their clutches by giving the reins of government into the hands of the Holy Prophet sa. Since the land of Arabia was unbridled and the people were not under the rule of any King, consequently each faction lived its life most freely and daringly. The people exceeded in crime day by day as no law of punishment existed for them. So, God had mercy on this land. . . . and sent the Holy Prophet sa not only as a Prophet for this land but also made him the King of the land, and completed the Holy Quran as such a law that contained all directives pertaining to judicial, criminal and financial matters. Therefore, the Holy Prophet sa was the 25 Z a dul ‐ Ma‘ a d f i h adye khairil ‐ ‘ib a d, fa s l f i qud u m wafd ‐ e ‐ Najr a n…