The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 150
Seal of the Prophets - Volume III 150 an idolatrous woman there is a risk that the children may remain devoid of the fundamentals of religion in their upbringing. Secondly: An idolatrous person is not bound by any specific moral code, due to which relations can never be established on specific and firm grounds. On the other hand, however, it was also necessary to allow for the broadening of relations, and therefore, whilst prohibiting marriage to idolatrous women, permission to marry all other non- Muslim women was granted. Among the religions of this day and age, Christians, Jews and Hindus, etc. , are included in the term Ahl-e-Kitāb , with whom a Muslim is permitted to marry. Albeit, a better part of the uncivilized nations of Africa, etc. , are not from the Ahl-e-Kitāb and marriage to them is forbidden in all circumstances. Since a detailed discussion has already occurred on this topic, hence here the brief note provided should suffice. The Account of Abū Baṣīr and its Outcomes Among the conditions of the agreement of Ḥudaibiyyah, one condition was that if an individual from among the Quraish becomes Muslim and came to Madīnah, the people of Madīnah should not grant him protection, instead, they should return him. If however, a Muslim denounces Islām and heads towards Makkah, then the people of Makkah would not return him. At the outset, this condition seemed to be a means of disgrace for the Muslims. It was for this reason that many Muslims were averse, so much so, that even a venerable and remarkably understanding companion like Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra , in the emotional situation of that time, was very displeased and restless concerning this condition. However, soon thereafter it was proven that in reality, this condition was a means of weakness for the Quraish and strength for the Muslims. Just as the Holy Prophet sa had stated in the beginning, that if a Muslim became apostate and left Madīnah, then he was a rotten limb, whose amputation was actually better. However, in comparison to this, if an individual became Muslim pure-heartedly and left Makkah, whether he find a place in Madīnah or not, he would become a means to strengthen Islām, irrespective of where he resided, and ultimately, Allāh would clear a way for his deliverance. 1 This 1 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 208, Amrul-Ḥudaibiyyah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)