Re: The Qur'an never claimed to teach a new religion. It consistently contextualized the Prophet Muhammad as being the final messenger in a long line of messengers from Allah confirming the truth of all earlier scriptures. This continuity is clear in the r

The Quran is the product of a false teacher (Muhammad) who lacked faith;
lived in existential fears and propagated existential threats to cover up
for his total misery in the absence of any glory of God in his mission.

God Bless You,


"Mujahid" <alfalastinee@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1154716838.212822.102520@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Prophet's Pluralistic Constitution

The Qur'an never claimed to teach a new religion. It consistently
contextualized the Prophet Muhammad as being the final messenger in a
long line of messengers from Allah confirming the truth of all earlier
scriptures. This continuity is clear in the respect the Prophet showed
to people of other religions.

Muhammad's mission was to restore the pure religion of Noah, Abraham,
Moses, David and Jesus. The Islamic view of earlier religions is clear
from the following verses of the Qur'an:

[The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined
on Noah--which We have sent by inspiration to thee (O Muhammad)--and
that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus... Call (them to
the Faith), and stand steadfast as thou art commanded, follow not thou
their vain desires; but say: "I believe in whatever Book Allah has sent
down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you. Allah is our Lord
and your Lord: for us (is the responsibility for) our deeds, and for
you for your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. Allah
will bring us together, and to Him is (our) final goal.] (Ash-Shura
42:13 & 15)

It was in the year 622 CE that the Prophet came to Madinah after a
period of thirteen years of preaching Islam to the Quraish tribe in
Makkah. In Madinah he found many who were ready to receive him and help
him in his mission. At that time, the city of Madinah and its
surrounding area was home to many Jewish and Arab tribes. There were
also people of various racial and national origins including Romans,
Persians and Ethiopians living in Madinah.

Taking into consideration the hopes and aspirations of this community
of multi-religious background, the Prophet Muhammad drew up the basic
principles of a pluralistic constitution. In addition, it established
the rights and equality of every citizen before the law, as well as
freedom of religion, trade and speech. The constitution spelled out the
political rights and duties of both the Jews and Muslims to protect
each other from every threat to their security and to uphold moral
conduct and fair dealing.

Part of the constitution reads as follows:

The Jews of Banu `Awf are one nation with the Muslims; the Jews have
their religion and the Muslims have theirs, their freedmen and their
persons shall be protected except those who behave unjustly or
sinfully, for they hurt but themselves and their families. The same
applies to the Jews of Banu an-Najjar, Banu al-Harith, Banu Sa'idah,
Banu Jusham, Banu al-Aws, Banu Tha'labah, and the Jafnah, clan of the
Tha'labah and Banu al-Shua'ibah. Doing good deeds is a protection
against sinfulness. .......There is no responsibility except for one's
own deeds....This document shall not constitute any protection for the
unjust or the wrongdoers.
Whoever goes out to fight or stays at home is safe in the city, unless
he has committed an injustice or a crime. God is the protector of
whoever honors his commitment to this document, and is God-fearing and
so is Muhammad, the Messenger of God. (Ibn Hisham)

The Constitution of Madinah was a historical document authored and
dictated by Prophet Muhammad as the law of a land inhabited by
different ethnic groups and nationalities. The document secured and
promoted cooperation and fraternity among all people of any creed,
color, ethnicity, and lineage, and set down the criterion of
righteousness as the base of distinction.

A Human Soul

In addition to the legislation that the Prophet laid down in Madinah,
he also practiced the spirit of acceptance and respect for those who
were different in his daily life. The Prophet used to visit the sick
people among the Jews as well as the Muslims; and when on one occasion
the funeral procession of a Jew passed before him, he stood up as a
sign of respect for the deceased. "Why did you stand up for a Jewish
funeral?" he was asked. The Prophet replied: "Is it not a human
soul?" (Al-Bukhari)

In this age of racial profiling and targeted killings directed at
Muslims this attitude of the Prophet may sound other-worldly.

Works Cited:

Burhan, Fysal. "The Prophet of Islam and the Jews: Basis of Conduct,
Acceptance, Respect and Cooperation". last accessed March 26, 2006.

Pickthall, Marmaduke Muhammad. "Madras Lectures on Islam". 1927.


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** Professor Shahul Hameed is a consultant to the Discover Islam
Section in IslamOnline.net. He also held the position of the President
of the Kerala Islamic Mission, Calicut, India. He is the author of
three books on Islam published in the Malayalam language. His books are
on comparative religion, the status of women, and science and human
values.

More Articles:

Islam and Other Religions

The True, Peaceful Face of Islam

Need It Be "Us and Them"?

Uniting Humanity

http://www.islamonline.net/english/introducingislam/tolerance/article04.shtml



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