The Light of Truth — Page 85
REFUTING OBJECTIONS and worshipping Him as commanded; as well as those who fight unjustly and turn out the believers from their homes and countries; and convert God's creation to their faith through compulsion and conquest; and desire to extinguish the light of Islam; and prevent people from accepting Islam. Those are the ones who have incurred the displeasure of Allah, and it is incumbent upon the believers to wage war against them if they do not desist. Now observe this government: Is there even a single evil present in it from among these evils? Does it prohibit us from our prayers, our fasting, our pilgrimage, and preaching our faith? Or does it fight us on account of our religion, or expel us from our homelands? Does it convert people to Christianity through compulsion and force? Nay! Indeed it is free from all such types of coercion. In fact, it is a helper for us. Then, look at the commandments the Quran teaches us concerning those who have granted us favours, made allowances for our endeavours, taken responsibility for [easing] our sorrow, and provided for our needs and granted us protection after we had been wandering. Does our Lord forbid us from doing good in return to those who do us good, or from expressing grati- tude to those who grant us favours? Nay! The Quran enjoins fairness, absolute justice, and kindness—and Allah loves those who act with fairness. The Quran says: وَلْتَكُن مِنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ ! 85 It does not say, 'Let there be among you a body of men who should kill the disbelievers and compel them to join your faith. 1. And let there always be among you a body of men who should invite to good- ness, and enjoin equity and forbid evil (Sūrah Al-e-Imrān, 3:105). [Publisher]