Mosques around the World — Page 9
The Holy Quran and Places of Worship. A Christian cathedral. A Buddhist temple الَّذِينَ اُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍ إِلَّا أَن يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللهُ، وَلَوْلا دَفَعُ اللهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَمُ وَصَلوتُ وَمَسْجِدُ يُذْكَرُفِيهَا اسْمُ اللهِ كَثِيرًا ، وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزُ "Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly, only because they said, 'Our Lord is Allah'-And if Allah did not repel some people by means of others, there would surely have been destroyed cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah will surely help one who helps Him. Allah is indeed. Powerful, Mighty. " (Al-Quran, 22:41). A Baptist church. A Catholic church. In this verse, Allah has enjoined upon the Muslims to defend even with their lives all places of worship-the churches, the synagogues, the temples, etc. This injunction, as embodied in this verse, did not just remain as a pious principle. Rather, it was acted upon by Muslims in their daily lives. Presented below is a practical example-a charter of freedom which the Holy Prophetsa granted to the followers of other faiths:. CHARTER OF FREEDOM. This is the document which Muhammad, son of 'Abdullah, God's Prophet, Warner and Bearer of glad-tidings, has caused to be written so that there should remain no excuse for those coming after. I have caused this document to be written for Christians of the East and the West, for those who live near, and for those of the distant lands, for the Christians living at present and for those who will come after, for those. Christians who are known to us and for those as well whom we do not know. . . I promise that any monk or way-farer who will seek my help on the mountains, in forests, deserts or habitations, or in places of worship, I will repel his enemies with all my friends and helpers, with all my relatives and with all those who profess to follow me and will defend him, because they are my covenant. And I will defend the covenanted against the persecution, injury and embarrassment by their enemies in lieu of the poll-tax they have promised to pay. If they will prefer themselves to defend their properties and persons, they will be allowed to do so and will not be put to any inconvenience on that account. No bishop will be expelled from his bishoprice, no monk from his monastery, no priest from his place of worship, and no pilgrim will be detained in his pilgrimage. None of their churches and other places of worship will be desolated or destroyed or demolished. No material of their churches will be used for building mosques or houses for the Muslims, any Muslim so doing will be regarded as recalcitrant to God and His prophet. Monks and bishops will be subject to no tax or indemnity whether they live in forests or on the rivers, or in the East or West, North or South. I give them my word of honor. They are on my promise and covenant and will enjoy perfect immunity from all sorts of inconveniences. Every help shall be given them in the repair of their churches. They shall be absolved from wearing arms. They shall be protected by the Muslims. Let this document be not disobeyed till Judgement Day. (Hazrat Mirza Bashirrudin Mahmood Ahmad, Holy. Quran Commentary, Volume 4, pages 1755-6) hmadiyya Muslim Association USA: 1994 Souvenir 9