There are three verses of the
Qur’an which speak about the excellent example of both Sayidina Ibrahim (may
peace be upon him) and Sayidina Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him).
The verse no. 21 of Surah
Al-Ahzab (about the Prophet)
There has certainly
been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose
hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.
On
the other hand, two verses of Surah Al-Mumtahinah (No. 4 & 6), both speak
about Ibrahim (AS) and his followers:
Verse 4: There has already been for you an excellent pattern in
Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, "Indeed, we
are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We
have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred
forever until you believe in Allah alone" except for the saying of Abraham
to his father, "I will surely ask forgiveness for you, but I have not
[power to do] for you anything against Allah . Our Lord, upon You we have
relied, and to You we have returned, and to You is the destination.
Verse 5: Our Lord, make us not [objects of] torment for the
disbelievers and forgive us, our Lord. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in
Might, the Wise."
Verse 6: There has certainly been for you in them an excellent pattern
for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day. And whoever turns away -
then indeed, Allah is Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
It
is interesting to note that all these verses are in the context of a state of
war, hostilities by the non-believers and an encounter with them. The verse of
Surah Al-Ahzab is preceded and followed by the events of the battle of the
Ditch (or the events of Confederates who came to attack Madinah while the
Prophet was there to defend it with the Muslims around him). Surah Al-Mumtahina
begins with a warning not to befriend the non-believers who are engaged in a
constant war against the believers, have rejected the true faith and have
fought fiercely to expel the Prophet (SAW) from Makkah. Then come the verses
about following the example of Ibrahim (AS) and his followers. And once again,
the discussion continues on how to deal with the non-believers in general. Does
it not emphasize how to follow the examples of these two great Prophets of
Allah, especially in the state of hostilities and war?
Ibrahim
(AS) is an excellent example in a number of characters:
1.
His way of argument, logically and based on evidence, with
his father (Surah Maryam: 41-48), with King Nimrod of Babylonia (Surah
Al-Baqarah: 258), with his people about Tawhid (Surah Al-Anam: 74-83).
2.
His enthusiasm to show the fallacy of Shirk (idolatory) as
depicted in the event of the temple where he smashed the idols (Surah
Al-Anbiya: 51-67).
3.
His standing, firm and steadfast, in the trial when he was
thrown into the fire (Surah Al-Anbiyah: 68-70).
4.
Hijrah (leaving) his homeland to Palestine for the sake of
Allah (Surah Al-Anbiyah: 71-72).
5.
Leaving his wife Hajirah and infant son Ismail, in the barren
land of Makkah, just for the sake of Allah (Surah Ibrahim: 37).
6.
His great act of sacrifice of his child Ismail, if that was
the wish of Allah (Surah Al-Saffat: 100-110).
That was Sayidina Ibrahim (AS) with many more
magnificent examples of establishing the Deen of Islam, the summit of which is
the raising the foundations of the House of Allah, Al-Ka’ba, in Makkah.
Now let us turn to the excellent example of the
Prophet Muhammad (SAW). All his life is set as an example to be followed by the
Ummah. We are concerned here with only one example associated with the state of
war. Once the battle of Badr was over, seventy non-believers of Makkah were
made captive. The question was: how to deal with them?
The Prophet (SAW) consulted his companions on the
issue. Three different opinions emerged.
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
“Kill them all as they had persecuted the believers and killed a number of
them.”
Abdullah bin Rawaha (RA) said: “Let them be
thrown in the woods which are to be set on fire.”
Abu Bakr (RA) said: “Take ransom from each of
them and set them free.”
The Prophet (SAW), being a Mercy to the whole of mankind,
adopted the last opinion. Two of the captives were known to be incredibly
hostile to the Muslims so were not set free. All else were set free when they
were ready to pay the ransom. Even those who were penniless were allowed to
engage themselves to teach the children in Madinah, as a price for their freedom.
Although
the Prophet’s actions of freeing the captives in return for a ransom were
approved by Allah, this approval was preceded by a warning which suggests a
heavy-handed dealing with the non-believers who were obsessed with finishing
Islam and the Muslims for good. (see Surah Al-Anfal: 67)
Verse 68 of this Surah shows that this act of
freeing them against ransom was approved due to previous commandments as given
in Surah Muhammad: 4:
So when you
meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you
have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either
[confer] favour afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its
burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken
vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of
you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never
will He waste their deeds.
This example of freeing prisoners of war is one
that should have been followed by those who call themselves ISIL in Iraq and
Syria. As far as journalists and aid
workers are concerned, they are not in the country to commit war but to report
on the truth and to help those suffering. To parade them on television and to
behead them has nothing to do with the excellent example of the Prophet (SAW).
Let them understand that Islam is not established
just by words and claims, it is established by actions: just and right actions.
Tyranny and injustice is not the way of the Prophet (SAW). His way is to show
mercy and to do justice.
