Through Force or Faith? — Page 44
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 44 Promised Messiah as has to establish today under the instruction of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as. Allah, the Exalted, has ordained international security, pro- viding an ample reply, and a satisfactory explanation for those who say that Islam spread by the sword and ordains coercion. To the contrary, Allah, the Exalted, commands that those who are not terrorizing you, who are not at war with you (under some injunctions, war was a necessity; those details cannot be discussed here), who have not raised the sword against you; not only you cannot be harsh to them, but you be gracious to them, be kind to them, and observe all dictates of justice in their affairs, whether they are Christians or Jews or anyone else. In this regard, the Promised Messiah as says: Certainly be kind to them, be compassionate to them, be equitable to them because God loves those who do so. ( Nūrul-Qur a n, No. 2, R uha n i Khaz a ’in, vol. 9, p. 435) This is in compliance with this injunction of the Holy Quran, in which Allah, the Exalted, says: اْۤوُطِسْقُت ْمِهْيَلِا١ؕ َّنِا َهّٰللا ُّبِحُي َنْيِطِسْقُمْلااَل ُمُكىٰهْنَي ُهّٰللا ِنَع َنْيِذَّلا ْمَل ْمُكْوُلِتاَقُي يِف ِنْيِّدلا َو ْمَل ْمُكْوُجِرْخُي ْنِّم ْمُكِراَيِد ْنَا ْمُهْوُّرَبَت َو All a h forbids you not respecting those who have not fought against you on account of your religion, and who have not driven you out from your homes, that you be kind to them and deal equitably with them; surely, All a h loves those who are equitable. ( S u rah al-Mumta h inah, 60:9)