Islam and Human Rights — Page 16
Isl am and Hum an R ights 16 When death came to Jacob. “he said to his sons: What will you worship after me? They answered: We shall worship thy God, the God of thy fathers, Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, the One God; and to Him we submit ourselves [Muslims]” (2:J 14). Joseph is mensioned as praying: “O my Lord. Thou hast bestowed power upon me and taught me the interpretation of dreams. O Maker of the heavens and the earth. Thou art my Protector in this world and the Here after. Let death come to me in a state of submission to Thy will [Muslim] and join me to the righteous” (12:102). Concerning the disciples of Jesus it is stated: “I inspired the disciples (of Jesus) to believe in Me and My Messenger ( Jesus). They said: We believe and bear Thou witness that we have submitted [are Muslims]” (5:112). Jesus “said: Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples answered: We are helpers in the cause of Allah. We have believed in Allah, and bear thou witness that we are obedient [Muslims]” (3:53). So with every Prophet; those who accepted a Prophet and submitted to the Divine Will as revealed through him were Muslims. As, however, the term was given currency by the Quran, its application has become limited to those who profess belief in Islam.