[size=14pt]Dynamism of Islam in a multi-religious state[/size]


Written by Dr Lateef Mobolaji Adetona
Friday, 02 September 2011

Islam is a way of life and total submission to the will of Allah. It is a religion embarked-upon based on conviction and it promotes knowledge and research, it speaks against backwardness, hatred and vicious tendencies. It is so dynamic that it can operate within any other system. It can operate under oppressors and it allows others to operate when it is governing a state. When under non-Islamic authority, it does no! constitute a threat to such state, and when solely in control of a state, it spells out the rights and duties of the minorities.

It has to be established abinitio that Islam is not merely a religion consisting of rituals restricted to a place of worship but a complete way of life that bothers itself not only with its votaries’ relationship with Allah alone but also with fellow human being being and other beings. For example, the gates of paradise were opened, and Allah’s forgiveness and appreciation of Allah was bestowed upon a man who g ive water to a dog overcome with thirst. Muslim and others narrate that Abu Hurauiah (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH.) said: ‘

‘While a man was walking he became very thirsty due to the intense heat of the day. To his relief he found a well into which he quickly climbed down to get some water. After he had satisfied his thirst and come back out of the well he found a dog so thirsty that it was eating the earth in an attempt to quench its thirst. He said to himself: “Thirst has overwhelmed this dog to the same extent that it had done me.” So he re- entered the well, filled his slipper and held it with his teeth until he got to the top o f the well, where he immediately gave it to the dog to drink from. Allah (the exalted) thanked the man for what he has done and forgave him. One of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH.) said: “Is there reward to be gained from being, compassionate to the animals?” The Prophet (PBUH.) said: “In every living being there is a reward to be gained’”

If Islam has sanctioned compassion towards animals and in this case a non likeable animal like dog, definitely it has sanctioned compassion to any human be that person a believer or not.

Islam has also established the five pillars to train its adherents on way of achieving this perfect relationship. The first pillar establishes in a believer the consciousness that it is only Allah who is constant, Almighty, the Omniscient, the all Powerful and the Controller of all Wills and occurrences. It further establishes the messengership of Muhammad as the vehicle’through which the knowledge of the unique essence of Allah is perfected through communication to the human race thus completing the line of the chain of the Prophets of Allah that had been sent from the time of Prophet Adam (as).

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/eyes-of-islam/27615-dynamism-of-islam-in-a-multi-religious-state