Everyone’s God-given human dignity must be respected, regardless of his or her faith, race, ethnic origin, gender, or social status (ref. Qur’an, 17:70). Because everyone is created by God Almighty, the Maker of all, humans must treat one another with full honor, respect, and loving-kindness.

In Surah Al-Hujurat verse 13, Allah SWT created humans into nations and tribes. Therefore we as humans should live in respect and appreciate each other –both with fellow Muslims and non-Muslims– to create religious harmony.
The Prophet emphasized in many letters to his emissaries that religious institutions should not be harmed. Here is a letter addressed to his emissary to the religious leaders of Saint Catherine in Mount Sinai who have sought the protection of the Muslims:

“This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them because Christians are my citizens; and by God! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, damage it, or carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are declared to be protected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nations (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”
The Qur’an states clearly that freedom of religion is a God-given right. (ref. Qur’an, 2:256) and the final judgment of all humanity lies in the hands of God, the One Almighty, their Creator, to whom we all ultimately return. (ref. Qur’an, 22:68-69 and 42:15)

Hence, there is a need for us to live in this reality in other to build the peaceful and united society we all crave.
May Allah give us understanding.
Special Thanks to Sheikh Abdul-Kareem Adekunle for your contribution to this.
Join us tomorrow for the Day 5 of “From the Prophet’s Teaching” a special Ramadan series from Community Magazine.

O.T Alphonso
Editor-in-Chief
Community Magazine