Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 35
Inter-Religious Peace 35 Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him. They are Allah’s party. Take note, it is Allah’s party who will prosper. 38 During the Battle of Badr (the first battle in the history of Islam), the might of Meccan idolaters was pitched against a small number of Muslims—overwhelmingly outnumbered, outclassed in weaponry and equipment, and forced to fight a defensive battle for the preservation of their ideology rather than for their personal survival. Commenting upon this, the Holy Quran declares: So let him perish who is condemned to perish by the verdict of manifest logic and let him survive who is worthy of survival by virtue of manifest logic. 39 This is the everlasting principle, which has played the most important role in the evolution of mankind. Survival of the fittest is the essence of this Message. That, in fact, is the methodology of the evolution of life. Freedom of Speech Freedom of speech and expression is vital to the spread of a Message as well as to restore the dignity of man. No religion is worthy of any consideration unless it addresses itself to the restoration and protection of human dignity.