100 PROPHETIC APPROACHES TOWARDS INTERFAITH ISSUES AND ITS RELATION TO
THE SITUATION IN MALAYSIA
Abdul Rasydan Bin Mohamad Rusli (Corresponding Author)
Master Candidate, Faculty of Al-Quran and As-Sunnah Studies, Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM), Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Email: [email protected]
Muhammad Ammar Yaser Bin Ahmad Nazri (Co-Author)
Degree of Shariah and Jurisprudence (Fiqh and Usul Fiqh),University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Interfaith disputes in a multiracial country are unavoidable, either it is a serious or simple issue. The intelligence of the ruler or ruler’s representative is the golden key in harmonizing the issues and maintaining the country’s peace. From the Islamic perspective, the best role model of a leader always been the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. He is the best exemplar for all leaders over the globe to uphold justice and maintaining the harmony of his people in Medina. Thus, this research will discuss acceptable hadiths related to the practices of Prophet Muhammad SAW in overwhelmed issues related to interfaith issues in Medina. The researcher then will elaborate on the understanding that can be made from the hadiths. Afterwards, the researcher will explain how the practices of Prophet Muhammad SAW may be implemented to overcome any interfaith issues in Malaysia. In carrying this research, a qualitative content analysis method will be used. The finding of this research hopes to benefit the leaders, advisors of government, leading representatives and the authorities to exercise their responsibilities according to the path of the best role model in the world. This research also hopes to benefit the public in understanding the rationale of the Prophet Muhammad’s approaches to overcome interfaith issues.
Keywords: Prophetic Approaches, Interfaith Issues, Ḥadīth, Taayush, Situation in Malaysia
INTRODUCTION
Throughout prophetic history, Prophet Muhammad SAW lived for 63 years. These years consist of 53 years in the Holy City of Mecca and ten years in the Holy Land of Medina. The prophet appointed by Allah SWT as His messenger during the age of 40 as agreed by a majority of Prophetic History scholars.
After the appointment of Prophet Muhammad SAW as Allah’s messenger, the preaching of Islam had started. Since the beginning, his preaches resisted by his paternal uncle, namely as Abu Jahal. Abu Jahal led in opposing the spread of Islam among the citizen of Mecca. This particular situation was the first interfaith issue held by the prophet. As the minorities, the prophet and the believers keep endurance and do no resistance. Some believers have been tortured by the resistances of Quraish.
101 After a series of tortures and murders towards the believers of Islam, the prophet commanded them to emigrate from Mecca to Habsyah. In the meantime, the prophet maintains staying at Mecca with some of his families and companions. The resistance continuously torturing the Islamic believers and forced them to convert back to their traditional worshipping to the idols. Bilal Bin Rabah and Yasir’s relative are among the tortured companions. As for Yasir and his wife, both are the first martyr.
Few years passed, Prophet Muhammad SAW premised by Allah SWT to emigrate from Mecca to Medina. Before the emigration, some companions were emigrated earlier by the permission of the prophet. As for Abu Bakr, the prophet insisted on not allowing him to emigrate since Prophet Muhammad plans to migrate with his faithful companion.
In Medina, the prophet became the leader of the state for ten years. The citizen of Medina consists of tribes of Muslim community known as Muhajirin and Ansar. Both tribes have been brothers, connected by the brotherhood of Islam. The other community living with the Muslim are the Jews, consist of 3 tribes known Quraizah, Qainuqa’ and Nadhir. Both the Muslim and Jews community agreed to the Medina Constitution made by Prophet Muhammad SAW.
For ten years of the Prophet Muhammad SAW lived in Medina, the prophet went through numerous events on interfaith issues, particularly between Muslim and Jews. For instance, killing attempt of Prophet Muhammad SAW by the Jews are quite significant throughout history. On the first place where the prophet arrived at Medina, the Jews community agreed to obey the constitution. Unfortunately, the temptation to encounter the Muslim community-driven the Jews disobeying the prophet.
Hence, Medina was the second place where the interfaith issues occurred between Muslim and Jews.
Unlike during the Muslim believers in Mecca, the Muslim holds the political power as Prophet Muhammad SAW was the ruler.
INTERFAITH COMMUNITY DURING PROPHET’S ERA
From the history of Prophet Muhammad SAW, it is undeniable that he lived in Mecca and Medina for most of his life. In Mecca, the prophet and believers lived as a minority of the community. The prophet has no political power and poor religious influences. Most of the society was against him since it was new to Arab tribes. Compared to the situation in Medina, the citizen recognized the prophet as their leader after he immigrated there.
In Medina, Prophet Muhammad SAW has total autonomy in politic. Majority of the community are Muslims, consist of the immigrants (Muhajirin) and the helpers (Ansar). The minority was the Jews, consist of 3 tribes known Quraizah, Qainuqa’ and Nadhir. As time runs, the Jews were have been exiled out from Medina due to breaking the state constitution. The Jews are the antagonist against the Muslim at that particular time.
This fact reflected that there are two categories of interfaith issues adhered. First, the prophet and the believers lived as a minority with no political power and intense religious conflict with the Quraish tribe in Mecca. Secondly, the prophet and the believers lived as a majority and having the political power of a state. Not only as of the majority, but the prophet also was the ruler of the country.
102 HADITH RELATED TO INTERFAITH ISSUES IN MEDINA
After the appointment of Prophet Muhammad as the messenger of Allah on his 40 years old, he preaches Islam to Quraish tribe in Mecca. Throughout prophetic background, it shows that the prophet secretly preachers towards Quraish for 3 years before he preaches publicly into the community.
The moment the prophet started on preaching publicly towards Quraish tribe, one of his paternal uncle was the first person against it, namely as Abu Jahal. Most of the Quraish tribe are not accepting the preaches of Prophet Muhammad SAW. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, Ali Bin Abu Talib and Khadijah Binti Khuwailid are among the earliest believers of Islam in history.
Several years passed, the believers of Islam were slightly increased. The reversion of Uthman Bin Affan, Talhah Bin Ubaidillah, Hamzah Bin Abdul Mutalib and Umar Bin Al-Khattab had strengthened the position of Islam among the society. However, the Quraish tribe keep opposing the preaching of Prophet Muhammad SAW by slandering him as a wizard, torturing and killing his believers, and the worst, attempting to kill the prophet. The killing attempt brought to the migration of Prophet Muhammad SAW to Medina.
The interfaith disputes in Mecca began after the prophet declared him as the messenger of Allah. The Islamic believers lived in Mecca as the minority of the community. Hence, the prophet has no political power to make a decision or giving orders. Even though the Muslim were tormented by the Quraish tribe, the prophet remains silence and keep preaching the Quraish towards the oneness and the only one god, which is Allah SWT. In any situation of threatening, the prophet didn't show any counter-attack towards the disbelievers. The situation is frightfully different compared to the living situation of the believers in Medina.
HADITH RELATED TO INTERFAITH ISSUES IN MEDINA
The ignition of interfaith issues between Muslim and Jews
After the prophet migrated from Medina, the enmity of the Jews against the prophet started. Before the prophet’s migration the Jews knew the characteristics of Prophet Muhammad SAW from their divine book of the Holy Bible:
His mouth is most sweet. Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
From this quoted scripture, the sentence “altogether lovely” was originally from the word Muhammadin in the Hebrew language. It is proved that the coming of the prophet has been stated in The Holy Bible which is believed by the People of the Book, however, denied by most of them. Nevertheless, the Jews have shown the hatred towards the prophet since the beginning of the prophet’s arrival to Medina. The hadith is as follow:
Ibn Ishaq quoted from Safiyyah Binti Huyay Bin Akhtab, she said: When the prophet SAW arrived at Quba’ with Bani ‘Amr Bin ‘Auf, my father Huyay Bin Akhtab and my uncle Yasir Bin Akhtab went to see him. They are not coming back until sunset, walking lazily and feeling sad. I was hurried to meet them by smiling, but they do not reflect the same to me. I heard my uncle talking to my father: “Is it him?” My father said: “In the name of Allah, that is him!” Then he asked again: “Did you recognize him?” My
103 father said: “Yes.” My uncle asked: “What is in yourself about him?” He answered: “In the name of Allah, I feel enmity towards him with no remaining of my heart!”
Regards on the hadith, the Jews hatred against the prophet was since the beginning of his migration to Medina. Eventually, the hatred was indirectly has been told by Buhaira during Prophet Muhammad SAW together with his uncle on business travel to Syam. Buhaira warned the prophet’s uncle to not proceed his travel with the prophet or he will be killed by Jews on sight. Although this hadith proving on the enmity of Jews against the prophet, it is happened before the prophet being promoted as Allah’s messenger.
Interfaith conflict with Qainuqa’ tribe
After migrating to Medina, Prophet Muhammad SAW binds a constitution within the community, known as Medina Charter. Since the beginning, the Muslim and Jews together agreed with all of the charter’s details. Unfortunately, a series of provocation and issues have been done by the Jews.
Besides calling the Muslims with assamualaikum, the Jews look down the Muslims when they won the war of Badr against the Quraish. It so happens when the Muslims arrived at Medina, the Jews said: “Do not assume we are as the same as the Quraish. You defeated the people who did not know war. In the name of God, you will meet the real men if we fight you." Although the war between the Muslims and the Jews did not take place, the fact cannot deny that the Jews from the Qainuqa tribe was provoking for a war. This event was a start of the ignition of the hostility of Jews towards Muslim.
On the event, the prophet does nothing but concerned on the provocation made by the Jews. Since the Jews were not physically breaking the constitution, there was no proof in binding them with such treason.
Unfortunately, the event of a harassed Muslim lady in Qainuqa’s market brings the tribe into an insecure situation. In response to the killing of a Muslim who protected the pride of the lady, Qainuqa’ tribe has been banished out from Medina.
Interfaith conflict with Nadhir tribe
After the evacuation of Qainuqa’ tribe, only Nadhir and Quraizah are remaining as Jews tribes in Medina.
The next tribe who attempting to break the charter of Medina was namely as Nadhir. It so happens when there was a Muslim who killed two persons of the tribe.
As binding with the rule, Prophet Muhammad SAW went to the Jews village to discuss the compensation of the killing. The prophet went to the community with Abu Bakr RA and other companions. Amid the discussion, the Jews agreed to contribute for the compensation and asking for the prophet together with his companions to wait at a house. On top of the house, the Jews are preparing for murdering the prophet.
Suddenly, the prophet straightly went back to Medina. He explained to his companions that the tribe was setting up to kill him, has been revealed by Jibrail. Nadhir tribe has accused of the killing attempt of Prophet Muhammad SAW. After 15 days of Muslim siege on the village, they surrendered and went out from Medina peninsular.
From both events of Qainuqa' and Nadhir tribes, Prophet Muhammad SAW consistently shows that the banishment of the tribes was caused by the betrayals of the Jews. The prophet never showing any unwise decision to banish the Jews but the reason for the expulsion came from themselves.
104 Interfaith conflict with Quraizah tribe
After Qainuqa and Nadhir tribes exiled from Medina, they are planning to vengeance towards Prophet Muhammad and Muslim by allying with the Quraish. As a result, the war of trench had taken place. In this battle, the Quraizah tribe betrayed Muslim by being associates with Quraish and other Jews alliance, attacking Medina.
The prophet commanded the Muslim army to besiege Quraizah area after the battle had ended. For 25 days, the Muslim sieged the area until finally the tribe was unconditionally surrendered. According to the hadith narrated by Bukhari, the prophet sentenced the males of the tribe with death. All women and children were released but not their property. The booty of the siege was distributed among the Muslims after the war ended.
From the disputes mentioned, it shows that the prophet and the believers faced numerous interfaith conflict in Medina. Their prime antagonist in Medina was the Jews, who were trying to provoke and breaking the peace of Medina. Wise decision made by Prophet Muhammad SAW brings the city back into harmony to its citizen. Hence, abundant of values can be learned from it.
The Understanding (Fiqh) From the Prophetic Narration
Prophetic narration or sunnah is mainly categorised into two sections; which are ‘Amaliyah (actions) and Qauliah (sayings). There is no better example for us than the actions and sayings of the noblest of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. He is indeed the best role model for us to study and take an example from.
Here, we shall discuss some gracious practices from the prophetic history and traditions in regards to his interactions with non-believers.
1. Not Wronging the Non-Believer
Imam al-Bukhari narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr Bin Al-‘As RA: The Prophet SAW said:
“Whoever killed a person having a treaty with the Believers, shall not smell the smell of Paradise though its smell is perceived from a distance of forty years.”
Imam Ahmad and others narrated with an authentic chain of transmission, the Prophet SAW said:
“Whoever killed an Ahlul Zimmah (protected people), shall not smell the smell of Paradise.”1
Abu Dawud and others narrated a sahih hadith from the Messenger SAW: “Beware, if anyone wrongs a contracting man, or diminishes his right, or forces him to work beyond his capacity, or takes from him anything without his consent, I shall plead for him on the day of judgement.”2
Based on the textual evidence, it is clear that the guidance that was being proliferated by the Messenger SAW strongly against wronging the non-believers regardless of any kinds of wrongdoings.
1 Ahmad Bin Hanbal (780), Musnad Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Hadith 18072, Dar al-Manhal. Imam al-Nasaie (830) Hadith
4673, “Sunan Imam al-Nasaie” – authenticated by Syeikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz.
2 Abu Dawud (817), “Sunan Abu Dawud”, Hadith 3052, Al.Baihaqi “Sunan al-Baihaqi”, no. 9/205 with the chain of narration strengthening each other. The Hadith is authentic with its number of narrators, al-‘Iraqi and al-Sakhawi said the position of the chain of narration is strong and supported. See Syamsuddin al-Sakhawi (831) “Maqasid al-Hasanah”, No.
1044.
105 2. Invocation for The Non-Believers
From Abu Musa al-Ash’ari RA, he said, The Prophet SAW said: “The Jews used to intentionally sneeze in the presence of the Messenger of Allah SAW, hoping that he would say to them ‘Yarhamukallah’ (may Allah have mercy on you), but he would respond with ‘Yahdikumullah wayuslihu baalakum’ (may Allah guide you and render sound your state of affairs).”3
Narrated by Abu Hurairah RA he said: “Al-Thufail bin ‘Amr al-Dausi came to the Prophet SAW and said: The Daus (nation) have perished as they disobeyed and refused to accept Islam. So invoke Allah S.W.T against them! But the Prophet SAW said: O Allah, give guidance to the Daus (tribe) and bring them (to Islam).”4
In the end, the whole tribe of Daus embrace Islam including Abu Hurairah due to this call towards Islam made by al-Thufail.
3. Justice in Interaction
Narrated by ‘Imran bin Husain RA He said: “Once we were travelling with the Prophet SAW and we carried on travelling till the last part of the night and then we (halted at a place) and slept (deeply). There is nothing sweeter than sleep for a traveller in the last part of the night. So it was only the heat of the sun that made us wake up and the first to wake up was so and so, then so and so and then so and so and the fourth person to wake up was `Umar bin Al- Khattab.
And whenever the Prophet SAW used to sleep, nobody would wake up him till he used to get up, as we did not know what was happening (being revealed) to him in his sleep. So, `Umar got up and saw the condition of the people, and he was a strict man, so he said, "Allahu Akbar" and raised his voice with Takbir, and kept on saying loudly till the Prophet SAW got up because of it.
When he got up, the people informed him about what had happened to them.
He said, "There is no harm (or it will not be harmful). Depart!"
So, they departed from that place, and after covering some distance the Prophet SAW stopped and asked for some water to perform the ablution. So, he performed the ablution and the call for the prayer was pronounced and he led the people in prayer.
After he finished from the prayer, he saw a man sitting aloof who had not prayed with the people. He asked,
"O so and so! What has prevented you from praying with us?"
3 Ahmad Bin Hanbal (780), Hadith 19586, Musnad Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal; Hadith 5238, Abu Dawud (817) Sunan Abu Dawud & Hadith 2739, Sunan al-Tirmidzi where the chain of authorities is hasan (good). Al-Tirmidzi said it is sahih (authentic).
4 Hadith 4392, Sahih al-Bukhari.
106 He replied, "I am Junub and there is no water.5”
The Prophet SAW said, "Perform Tayammum with (clean) earth and that is sufficient for you."
Then the Prophet SAW proceeded on and the people complained to him of thirst. Thereupon he got down and called a person and `Ali, and ordered them to go and bring water.
So, they went in search of water and met a woman who was sitting on her camel between two bags of water. They asked, "Where can we find water?"
She replied, "I was there (at the place of water) this hour yesterday and my people are behind me.6
They requested her to accompany them. She asked, "Where?"
They said, "To Allah's Messenger SAW."
She said, "Do you mean the man who is called the Sabi, (with a new religion)?"
They replied, "Yes, the same person. So come along."
They brought her to the Prophet SAW and narrated the whole story. He said, "Help her to dismount."
The Prophet SAW asked for a pot, then he opened the mouths of the bags and poured some water into the pot. Then he closed the big openings of the bags and opened the small ones and the people were called upon to drink and water their animals. So, they all watered their animals and they (too) all quenched their thirst and also gave water to others and last of all the Prophet SAW gave a pot full of water to the person who was Junub and told him to pour it over his body. The woman was standing and watching all that which they were doing with her water.
By Allah, when her water bags were returned the looked like as if they were more full (of water) than they had been before (Miracle of Allah's Messenger SAW) Then the Prophet SAW ordered us to collect something for her; so dates, flour and Sawiq were collected which amounted to a good meal that was put in a piece of cloth.
She was helped to ride on her camel and that cloth full of foodstuff was also placed in front of her and then the Prophet SAW said to her, "We have not taken your water but Allah has given water to us."
She returned home late. Her relatives asked her: "O so and so what has delayed you?"
She said, "A strange thing! Two men met me and took me to the man who is called the Sabi' and he did such and such a thing. By Allah, he is either the greatest magician between this and this (gesturing with her index and middle fingers raising them towards the sky indicating the heaven and the earth) or he is Allah's true Apostle."
5 The state of being ritually impure due to sexual intercourse or seminal discharge. A person in such state needs to take a bath in order to become ritually pure and be able to perform his prayers.
6 Her people were late to get the water.
107
Afterwards, the Muslims used to attack the pagans around her abode but never touched her village.7
One day she said to her people, "I think that these people leave you purposely. Have you got any inclination to Islam?" They obeyed her and all of them embraced Islam.8
INTERFAITH ISSUES IN MALAYSIA
From the textual evidence of the prophetic traditions, it is clear that Islam sets a decent and holistic law in regards to the interaction with non-believers and our co-existence. However, in this day and age, we can see the position of the Islamic Law are still in conflict and dispute with the Civil Law, the Common Law, the judiciary and administrative body of the country. This includes a never-ending polemics on the position of Islam in the constitution, the implementation of the Islamic legislation and the authority of the Syariah Court over the Civil Court.
For instance, the case of Lim Chan Seng V. Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Pulau Pinang & 1 Kes Yang Lain9 portrays the real situation. The main question, in this case, is whether or not the Civil Court has jurisdiction over the case. The State Legal Counsel which represented the Defendant argues that the case falls under the jurisdiction of Syariah Court.
It is clearly said by the Fatwa (legal pronouncement) that if a Muslim renounces Islam through a deed poll or a baptism of another religion, he is still considered a Muslim until a declaration is made by the Syariah Court that he apostate. Hence, according to the Fatwa, Plaintiff Lim Chan Seng is still a Muslim.
He should bring this matter to the Syariah Court for a declaration of his apostasy as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court, not the Civil Court.
Despite that, our scholars and law practitioners are working hard in harmonising the law concerning inter-religion issues like apostasy and inheritance. Undeniably, the dual court structure in Malaysia sparks some conflict and dispute. So, we should play a role to put a remedy on the polemic by underlining clear guidelines on the jurisdiction of respective courts.
CONCLUSION
As a nutshell, the researcher concludes that Prophet Muhammad SAW preaches the believers to lives peacefully with non-Muslim, without any prejudice. However, the history on Prophet Muhammad era shows that the prophet and the believers would not harm any disbelievers unless being threatened.
Throughout evidences and events mentioned by the researcher, the believers and disbelievers both have the same right living in a country. This shows that the blessings of Islam conveyed by the Prophet SAW
7 Interpretation for the various text of the hadith is taken from Syarh Muslim by Imam al-Nawawi, 5/190-192; Fath al-Bari by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani 1/449-453
8 Hadith 344, Sahih al-Bukhari & Hadith 682, Sahih Muslim. Translation is based on the text from Bukhari.
9 Common Law Journal (1996) 3 CLJ 231, Malaya High Court, Pulau Pinang
108 not only include Muslims alone but also include non-Muslims. The teaching of Prophet Muhammad SAW was in line with the saying of Allah SWT:
And We (Allah) have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.10
By communicating politely to each other, no provocation and comply with the law of the country are some of the actions should be taken by all citizen in maintaining peace and harmony. As a ruler or government, the justice and fairness should be the key towards pertaining a peaceful country.
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10 The Al-Qur’an 21:107.
