Islam's Reformers .pdf

full of îmân and his beard wet with tears, opposed the officials inthe courts who had tortured the Armenians. Of old, Europeans,thinking that some bigoted Turks could be dangerous for non-Muslims, used to become hostile against real Muslims. By theway, today’s progressives call Muslims, who carry out Allah’scommands and abstain from prohibitions, e.g. those whoperform salât and who have their wives and daughters coveredwhen going out and who do not have alcoholic drinks, “bigots”.However, ‘bigotry’ or ‘obstinacy’ means ‘holding to one’s ownsect and opinion and refusing others’ right words that are notagreeable with his’. A person who persistently defends anunright thing is called “bigot”. Bigotry is a bad habit which Islamrejects.When our master Rasûlullah (’alaihi ’s-salâm) was askedwhat Islam was, he said, “Islam means to esteem Allâhuta’âlâ’s commands great and to pity His creatures.” Muslimswho walk on the luminous path which Rasûlullah (sall-Allâhu’alaihi wa sallam) points out in this hadîth know that it willdeserve a severe punishment in the next world to meddle withothers’ rights no matter of what race, nation or religion they are.The above-mentioned behaviour of a muftî shows obviously thatno one will suffer harm from Muslims. Though in Islam workingis for the benefit of individuals and of the society, Muslims’purpose is a divine thing which is above this usefulness. It isnatural and necessary to think of advantages, yet it is a shame,a defect and bad egoism to consider it superior to everypurpose and one cannot escape this egoism by consideringnational feelings to be above everything. A person whobehaves with such national feelings thinks that he also is of thatnation and therefore he behaves more or less egoistically. Asfor the purpose that motivates Muslims, it is purer and nobler.Above all, every Muslim who works for Islam, for Allâhu ta’âlâ,behaves with great love and sacrifice. Advancement of hisnation will be easier and firmer. It will not harm other nations.Muslim means one who takes his each step for Allâhu ta’âlâand does all his reckonings within the consideration of Hisapproval. Such a person cannot do any harm either to himselfor to anybody. In contrast, those who abandon the religion andAllâhu ta’âlâ and who think of nationality devoid of religion maynot, at least sometimes, behave rightfully and fairly againstother nations. To be religious means to be for everybody as in- 98 -