RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND CONVERSION

He obviously foresaw later generations of Muslims being inspired to build a mosque on that very spot, thus setting up restrictions upon religious freedom. Umar’s discretion is all the more remarkable for being the ruler of Palestine he could have done anything he wished. A man with less insight and forethought would have regarded praying inside the Church as harmless and that could in no way be interpreted as depriving anyone of his rights. Umar, in fact, moved a stone’s throw away, and said his prayers at a discreet distance from the Church. Muslims did indeed come to this city later on, and as he had foreseen, built their mosque at the exact point where he had said his prayers. The mosque exists to this day, but presents no obstacle to Christian worship. It is true that in later times certain excessively zealous Muslims converted a number of non-Muslim places of worship into mosques. Such actions are to be deplored as deviations. Says Arnold, ‘But such oppression was contrary to the tolerant spirit of Islam.’ Islam is the name given to teachings of the Quran and the Hadith, the finest example of living up to this standard was set by the Prophet and his Companions. The deeds of later generations, judged by these criteria, will be sadly deficient in true Islamic spirit. Those who make no attempt to live up to the Prophet’s example are in no way representatives of Islam. Religious tolerance requires that everyone be allowed to present his thoughts, and be given a quiet hearing. The truth is not to be forced upon one, but something which one is gently assisted to go in quest of personal discovery. In this respect, Islam is the greatest upholder of religious freedom. The age of religious persecution has been replaced with that of total religious freedom all over the world. Post World War II, all the nations of the world came together to form the United Nations. They issued the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This charter emphasizes that ‘Every man or woman enjoys the right to opt for any religion according to his or her will, and may propagate it peacefully.’ This declaration was accepted and signed by all the nations of the world. This Declaration of the United Nations was made part of the constitutions of all the signatory nations. For instance, the Indian Imposition of a truth is the recognition of force. It is an insult to truth itself if people are bludgeoned into accepting it.