Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 249
26 March 1908 249 confronted with the sword, whereas those who refrain and do not participate in such battles, you too should not fight with them. Indeed, you may—by all means—be benevolent towards them and you must deal equitably with them. Accordingly, He says: اَل ُمُكىٰهْنَي ُهّٰللا ِنَع َنْيِذَّلا ْمَل ْمُكْوُلِتاَقُي يِف ِنْيِّدلا َو ْمَل ْمُكْوُجِرْخُي ْنِّم ْمُكِراَيِد ْنَا ْمُهْوُّرَبَت َو اْۤوُطِسْقُت اَل ُمُكىٰهْنَي ُهّٰللا ِنَع َنْيِذَّلا ْمَل ْمُكْوُلِتاَقُي يِف ِنْيِّدلا َو ْمَل ْمُكْوُجِرْخُي ْنِّم ْمُكِراَيِد ْنَا ْمُهْوُّرَبَت َو اْۤوُطِسْقُت 1 ْمِهْيَلِا١ؕ َّنِا َهّٰللا ُّبِحُي َنْيِطِسْقُمْلا ْمِهْيَلِا١ؕ َّنِا َهّٰللا ُّبِحُي َنْيِطِسْقُمْلا Now, this is a point to reflect upon. Do any of those dire con- ditions exist today for which Holy Quran permits the waging of war? It is quite evident that we are not compelled or coerced in any matters of religion. On the contrary, everyone has been given full freedom. No one is waging a war for a religious cause, nor is anyone holding any male or female slaves. No one interferes with the performance of Salat [obligatory Prayers] , Fasting, Azan [Muslim call for Salat ], Hajj [the Pilgrimage], or other Islamic obligations. Then how can you justify waging jihad or taking slaves? Parity between Men and Women The Promised Messiah as said: Another objection that the Arya members raise out of obsti- nacy and stubbornness, is that Islam has not maintained parity 1. Allah forbids you not, respecting those who have not fought against you on account of your religion, and who have not driven you forth from your homes, that you be kind to them and act equitably towards them; surely Allah loves those who are equitable ( S u rah al-Mumta h inah, 60:9). [Publisher]