Followers

Sunday, March 10, 2019

PUNISHMENT FOR INSULTING ANOTHER RELIGION – THE PROPHET’S WAY


I write in response to the recent 10-year jail sentence for insulting Islam and the Prophet. I have strong convictions that we must relook at this law. It is not justly balanced. Ironically, it is also not in accordance to the Quran’s and the Prophet’s way of doing things.

Muslims must remember how the Prophet behaved at the conquest of Mecca - when he was at the zenith of his power. The people of Mecca whom for more than a decade before the conquest insulted and boycotted him, refused to listen to his mission, tortured him and his followers, persecuted them, drove them to exile and tried very hard to kill him. At that moment of power, did he act with cruelty or mercy? With vengeance or love?

Instead of following the rules of war, where he could avenge and punish them with a death sentence, Muhammad the Prophet whom the Quran declared as ‘the one sent as the mercy to all mankind” (Quran 21:107) flowed with kindness and love and he proclaimed "THIS DAY, THERE IS NO REPROOF AGAINST YOU AND YOU ARE ALL FREE. THIS DAY I TRAMPLE UNDER MY FEET ALL DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN MAN AND MAN, ALL HATRED BETWEEN MAN AND MAN."

The Prophet’s behavior in giving pardon to even his worst enemies, even those who killed his beloved uncle, Hamzah, mangled his body, ripped it open, even chewed a piece of his liver is consistent to another Quranic declaration at Quran 3:159, “And it was by God's grace that thou [O Prophet] didst DEAL GENTLY WITH THY FOLLOWERS: FOR IF THOU HADST BEEN HARSH AND HARD OF HEART, they would indeed have broken away from thee. PARDON THEM, THEN, AND PRAY THAT THEY BE FORGIVEN. And take counsel with them in all matters of public concern; then, when thou hast decided upon a course of action, place thy trust in God: for, verily, God loves those who place their trust in Him.” It is obvious that the 10-year sentence is in itself is an insult to the Prophet. Is it not ironic?

So where do we go from here? We need to practice Mercy, just like the Prophet did. Let me unpack why Mercy must play a bigger role in these kinds of situation.

Mercy is central to everything that is good. When all else fail, Mercy is our savior. The Prophet knew this. His goal is Peace, not vengeance. As such, our framework to make things good and move forward must emerge from Mercy. Once we have Mercy as our operating system, our worldview, our intentions, our journey, our plans, actions and behavior cannot but come back to moderation in action. Mercy is the core of being a good human. Without mercy, there would be no humanity. With mercy, we create a chain reaction that has the powerful ability and capacity to convert enemies into friends. Those who insult the other, into those who appreciates.

Mercy helps us to forgive and forget. We are a young nation chasing after big dreams. We come from different backgrounds, religions, cultures and ethnicities. It is natural that along the way, we may intentionally or unintentionally hurt each other. If we are not quick to forgive and forget, we will create a tit-for-tat cycle. Mercy will help us choose to be the bigger person and may even turn the other cheek. Mercy will help us be able to see the greater good in forgiveness.

How to punish then? We need to change our goal. The goal is to educate, not to punish. To open one’s heart, not to hardened them. I suggest a two-prong approach.

  1. Anyone found insulting another religion-culture-tradition must spend time studying and understanding the religion-culture-tradition under a kind & merciful teacher from that faith. This should include time to do social services.   
  2. The religious and community leader of the offender should also play a role in re-educating him or her based oh his or her religious tradition. In other words, if a Christian mock another faith, the Church leaders must engage the person with their own tradition and core values that corrects his or her wrongful behavior. Similarly, when a Muslim mock another religion, a Muslim religious leader should bring him back to the behavior of the Prophet.
As a Muslim Malaysian, I have strong convictions that we need to be the first to practice Mercy and follow this method. After all we are the majority citizen, the country’s official religion is Islam and the main leaders of the nation are Malay Muslims. We need to be the standard bearer if we want to claim leadership. We must be the community that make the first move. When a non-Muslim insults Islam and is punished with a ten-year sentence but a Muslim preacher who insults another religion is given protection, we are seen as unjust. Our religion is looked down upon, and, our Prophet is misunderstood. We Muslims know and proud to profess that “being just is nearest to Taqwa - God-Consciousness (Quran 5:8)” but we must also be seen to practice it consistently. Less we become the very type that is warned by Allah as a Mutaffifin – those who give short measure.

O YOU who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; and never let hatred of any-one lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. BE JUST: THIS IS CLOSEST TO BEING GOD-CONSCIOUS. And remain conscious of God: verily, God is aware of all that you do.

Quran 5:8

WOE UNTO THOSE WHO GIVE SHORT MEASURE, those who, when they are to receive their due from [other] people, demand that it be given in full, but when they have to measure or weigh whatever they owe to others, give less than what is due!

Quran 83:1-3

VERILY, in the Apostle of God you have a good example for everyone who looks forward [with hope and awe] to God and the Last Day, and remembers God unceasingly.

Quran 33:21

Peace.
Anas Zubedy
Kuala Lumpur