Declaring Human Brotherhood

Declaring Human Brotherhood and Bringing

Glad Tidings of the Universal Idea

Islam came to announce human brotherhood and give glad tidings of a call to universality, to eradicate all forms of discrimination, and to establish this noble system using all the practical and theoretical means at its disposal.

Reaffirming Racial and Ethnic Unity

Islam has reaffirmed the racial and ethnic unity of all mankind; the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

‘For, man is from Adam, and that there is no supremacy of an Arab over a non-Arab and no supremacy of a black man over a red man except in piety’

The wisdom behind dividing people into tribes and nations is nothing more than the creation of variety, so that they may come to meet each other in an atmosphere of mutual respect and co-operation, and not for the promotion of hostility and difference. Sharing and caring and competing only for righteous deeds and holy virtue, competing for the benefit of the masses and individuals and seeking the pleasure of Allah who is the Lord of all, and who watches this brotherhood, protects it and calls all his servants to practice and establish it.

The Holy Qur’an declares all these meanings very clearly when Allah says:

‘O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam),

and from him (Adam) He created His wife (Eve), and from them both He created many

men and women and fear Allah through whom you demand mutual (rights), and (do

not cut the relation of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is watching over you.’

(The beginning of Surat-an-Nisaa’(4))

Allah also says:

‘O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into

nations and tribes, That you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable

among you in the sight of Allah is that (believer) who has piety and righteousness.’

(Surat-al-Hujuraat (49), ayah 13)

Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) says in his famous sermon during the farewell pilgrimage:

‘Allah has relieved you from the burden of ignorance with its pride in the fathers and the ancestors. You are all from Adam, and Adam is from dust. There is no difference between an Arab and a non-Arab, nor between a black man and a red man except in piety"

He also says:

‘He who calls to tribalism is not one of us, nor is he who fought for it, nor is he who died for it.’ (Abu Dawood).

With this declaration Islam totally forbids racism and tribalism - a trend which is still alive in modern western societies.

Reaffirming the Oneness of Religion

Islam has reaffirmed the oneness of religion in its general principles which assert that the laws of the almighty Allah stand on firm foundations of Imaan (faith), righteous, work and brotherhood. Islam also came to remind us all that all of the holy Prophets came with a message from Allah, the High in praise, that all of the heavenly books are revelations from Him and that the believers, regardless of their background, are His righteous servants deserving of honour in this life and the hereafter. Islam tells us that disunity, fragmentation and hostility in the name of religion are a sin totally inconsistent with its teachings and beliefs. The duty of humanity,therefore, is to adopt this religion and unite under it. This is the one true path and the natural way for mankind.

In this regard Allah says in the glorious Qur’an:

‘He (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islam) which he ordained for Noah,

and that which we inspired in you (O Muhammad), and that which we ordained for

Abraham, Moses and Jesus, saying you should establish religion, and make no

divisions in it.’

(Surat-al-Shuraa (43), ayah 15)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says:

’My likeness and that of the other Prophets before me is as the likeness of a man who built a house and did so

with great perfection, except for a gap in one corner, which he left unfilled. This caused much surprise among

the people who kept commenting, "Would it not have been better if you would have put a brick in this empty

space?". It is I who am that missing brick and it is I who am the seal of all the Prophets.’ (Bukhari, Muslim)

Islam has shown us an unprecedented route in its attempt to unite religions. For it is obligatory upon a believer to believe in all the Prophets that preceded Muhammad (PBUH), and every book that came before the Holy Qur’an. To respect every law before Islam, and to praise every nation of believers that existed in the past. The Holy Qur’an orders this and ordained it for the Prophet and his companions:

‘Say (O Muslims), "We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and

that which has been sent down to Ibraaheem, Ismaa’eel, Ishaaq, Ya’qub, and to

Al-Asbat, and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no

distinction between any of them and to Him we have submitted.’

(Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayah 136)

The Qur’an then follows this by declaring that this is truly the route to unity. That if the peoples of other religions had faith in this then they would be among those who are guided, and if they reject this straight path then surely they will drown in the darkness of difference and conflict. Allah (SWT) says:

‘So if they believe in the like of that which you believe, then they are rightly guided, but

if they turn away, then they are in opposition. So Allah will suffice you against them.

And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’

(Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayah 137)

Allah also supports this unity among the religious and the believing people on two clear bases, that only the arrogant would contest: First- accepting Abraham as the father of all Abrahamic religions. Abraham is without doubt the source of the three famous Prophets whose messages became widely known and followed. These great Prophets are Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (may the peace and the blessings of Allah be upon them all). Secondly - the stripping away of all subjectivity and self desire from religion and the referral to Allah as the ultimate authority. One reads in Surat-al-Baqarah :

‘And who turns away from the religion of Abraham (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) except

him who befools himself? Truly, We chose him in this world and verily, in the Hereafter

he will be among the righteous.’

‘Our Sibghah (religion) is the Sibghah (religion) of Allah (Islam) and which Sibghah

(religion) can be better than Allah’s? And we are His worshipers.’

Later, Allah (SWT) says:

’That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they

earned. And you will not be asked of what they used to do.’

(Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayahs 130-141)

The Holy Qur’an adulates all of the Prophets. He (Allah) talks of Moses:

‘He was honourable in the sight of Allah’

(Surat-al-Ahzaab (33), ayah 69).

And describes Jesus as:

‘..the son of Mary, held in honour in this life and the hereafter, and will be one of those

who are near to Allah.’

(Surat-aal-Imraan (3), ayah 45)

And:

‘His mother a righteous women.’

(Surat-al-Maa’idah (5) ayah 75)

honoured by the angles:

‘And (remember) when the angels said: "O Mary! Indeed, Allah has chosen you,

purified you (from polytheism and disbelief), and chosen you above the women of man

kind."’

(Surat-aal-Imran (3), ayah 42)

Allah also talks about his previous books with great praise. He says about the Torah:

‘Verily, we have sent the Torah (to Moses), therein was guidance and light...’

(Surat-al-Maa’idah (5) ayah 44)

And about the gospel

‘... And we gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirmation of

the Torah that had come before it, and a guidance and an admonition for the pious.’

(Surat-al-Maa’idah (5), ayah 46)

They, and the Holy Qur’an are lamps of guidance to mankind:

‘It is He who has sent down the Book (the Qur’an) to you (Muhammad) with truth, and

confirming what came before it. And He sent down the Torah and Gospel.’

(Surat-aal-Imran (3), ayah 3)

Furthermore, the children of Israel, the nation of Moses, are a good nation so long as they believe and are straight:

‘O Children of Israel! Remember My favour which I bestowed upon you and that I

preferred you to the mankind and Jinns (of your time-period.)’

(Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayah 122)

And the followers of Jesus are talked of as upright and virtuous people so long as they are sincere and honest:

‘.. And we ordained in the hearts of those who follow him, compassion and mercy...’

(Surat-al-Hadeed, (57) ayah 27).

The relationship of Muslims with people of other convictions is one based on mutual social benefit and the for good of all mankind:

‘Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against

you on account of religion and did not drive you out of you homes. Verily, Allah loves

those who deal with equity. It is only those who fought against you on account of

religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out , Allah

forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the

wrong-doers - those who disobey Allah.’

(Surat-al-Mumtahinah (60), ayahs 8-9).

Any debate should only be conducted in a way that is polite and proper - except with those who transgress.Such a discourse is based on reminding one another of the ties between the heavenly messages and the monotheistic unity of faith and conviction:

‘And argue not with the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians), unless it be in

(a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner), except with those who do

wrong, and say (to them): "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and that

which has been revealed to you; our God and your God is One, and to Him we have

submitted."’

(Surat-al-‘Ankabut (29), ayah 46).

It is through this that Islam has overcome all sources of conflict, disagreement, hatred and hostility between the believers of different religions, and reminded them all of the need for uniting around the laws of Allah:

‘Verily those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians,

whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does righteous good deeds shall have

their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear , nor shall they grieve.’

(Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayah 62)

If they shall persist, however, on staying in conflict with one another and seeking a judgement other than Islam, then Islam, its laws and followers accept no responsibility for what they do:

‘Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious

sects), you (O Muhammad) have no concern in them in the least. Their affair is only

with Allah, Who then will tell them what they used to do. Whoever brings a good deed

shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit, and whoever brings an evil deed

shall only get the like thereof, and they will not be treated unjustly. Say: "Truly, my

Lord has guided me to a straight path, a right religion the religion of Abraham - to

believe in One God, and he was not those who worshipped others with Allah." Say:

"Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds."’

(Surat-al-An’aam (6), ayahs 159-163)

For this reason, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sent as a universal Prophet and not a regional one. The Holy Qur’an declares this universality in many verses; one of which is:

‘Blessed be He Who sent down the Criterion (of right and wrong) that He may be a

Warner to the worlds.’

(Surat-al-Furqaan (25), ayah 1)

And said:

‘And we have not sent you except as a giver of glad tidings and a Warner to all

mankind, but most of men know not.’

(Surat-Saba’ (34), ayah 28)

In Surat-al-A’raaf He says:

‘Say (o Muhammad): "O mankind! Surely, I am sent to you as a messenger of Allah -

to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. La ilaha illa Huwa (none

has the right to be worshipped but He); it is He Who gives life and causes death. So

believe In Allah and His messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write; who

believes in Allah and His Words [(this Qur’an) the Torah and the Gospel and also

Allah’s Word: "Be!" - and he was i.e. Jesus-son of Mary], and follow Him so that you

may be guided."’

(Surat-al-A’raaf (7), ayah 158)

Prophet Muhammad’s message was the final revelation, and he was the seal of all the Prophets. There will be no message after his and no Prophet shall follow him:

‘Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah,

and the last of the Prophets, And Allah is Ever All-Aware of everything.’

(Surat-al-Ahzaab (33), ayah 40)

Thus, he was given an ever-lasting miracle, which is this Holy Qur’an:

‘And verily, it is an honourable respected Book. Falsehood cannot come to it from

before it or behind (it was) sent down by the All-wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah)’

(Surat-Fussilat (41), ayahs 41-42).

In the past, many people used to wonder as to how one man, from one nation, can be sent as a messenger to humanity as a whole. But with the coming of this age, an age in which distances have shortened, and communications cover the globe, the interests of the different peoples and nations mixed until they became ‘one nation’. An era in which the atmosphere is filled with news allowing the events and affairs of the east to be heard in the west, in which the aspirations of the reformers are concentrated in ‘the one world’, ‘the one system’, for ‘social security’ and for ‘world peace’. This, the struggle for world unity, is a great sign and another miracle for the Prophet and the laws of Islam; because it proves the urgent need for a comprehensive system of world government.