FROM THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET

Prophet’s life confirms that he never tired of calling people to the path of God, or of exhorting them to maintain peace. He was firm in his stand that peace was better than war. through a network of peace treaties and divine guidance, especially pertinent in the treatment of non-Muslims and even the Muslims’ opponents, was more pleasing to God than direct hostilities. The Quran says: ‘Permission to fight is granted to those who are attacked, because they have been wronged—God indeed has the power to help them.’ (22: 39) and ‘Fight in God’s cause against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression—for surely, God does not love aggressors.’ (2: 190) To emulate the Prophet is considered Sunnah in Islam and his treatment of other communities should serve as a guideline to be emulated also in today’s world. If he considered the treaties as a framework for working out differences and ensuring peaceful living conditions, the same should be done in the contemporary world. Policy Towards People of other Faiths The attitude of Islam towards non-Muslims is summed up in the Quranic verses: “There should be no compulsion in religion” (2: 256) and “Your (Prophet’s) duty is only to convey the Message” (42: 48). Compulsion is thus ruled out for the purpose of the propagation of Islam. The duty of the Prophet is merely to communicate and propagate the Message. It can be said of the period of the Prophet and the regime of his Rightly Guided Caliphs that no one ever embraced Islam through compulsion. The Quran lays down a unique principle in regard to the treatment of non-Muslims. It grants complete autonomy to every religious community, which not only then enjoys freedom of faith and worship in its own way, but is also free to follow its own laws and cases decided by its own judges. The concept of complete internal autonomy has been advocated in a number of Quranic verses, one of which is very clear: “And let the People of the Gospel judge according to what God has revealed therein”. (5: 47) This means Christians should judge according to the laws given by God in the Bible. In deference to this principle, every religious community was granted complete autonomy during the time of the Prophet. They enjoyed as much freedom in respect of their religion, worship and legal matters as did any Muslim. A little later a new development took