CURRENTLY, it is claimed in the mainstream media that non-Muslims are being forcibly converted to become Muslim. Some people are making noise in this regard. But they do not ask themselves if anyone in the present day India has the power to forcibly convert anyone?
Even if forcibly converted, will he/she become a Muslim? Because, to become a Muslim is basically believing in one God (Allah) from the heart and to consider Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be the last messenger of Allah. A person does not become a Muslim just by uttering the words of Tawheed (Kalema) and even praying namaz (salaat), unless he/she believes in Tawheed and Prophethood in heart.
While it is clear that the words of Tawheed can be uttered under duress, it cannot be observed from the heart by force.
According to the principle stated in the Holy Qur’an in Surah No. 16 / Verse No. 106, if a Muslim is forced to utter words of disbelief while his heart is satisfied with Islam, he does not become a disbeliever. Similarly, if a non-Muslim is forced to utter the words of Islam, while he does not sincerely believe in the principles of Islam by heart, he will not become a Muslim.
But it is surprising to read few articles written by even educated people on this topic. It seems they are not aware of the prevailing atmosphere of today’s world. They are not aware of the basics of Islam either.
Islam does not give a Muslim the right to force non-Muslims to become Muslims, because if that were the case, then more than five million Hindus living in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries would have been converted to Islam. Even the communal minded people in India have not complained with the Muslim countries that the Hindus who earn their livelihood there are forcibly converted to Islam. Then one has to think a thousand times about how Muslims in India will do that to non-Muslims, what is not done to non-Muslims in Muslim countries.
But unfortunately the communal minded and ignorant people of our country enjoy in spreading false propaganda against Muslims and Islam, as they do not find such enjoyment in anything else.
I don’t know Maulana Jahangir Sahib but I know Omar Gautam Saheb. He is a very noble man. He is an educated person. He has accepted Islam by understanding and reading Islamic teachings.
It is not expected of him that he would indulge in such illegal activity.
Yes, if a person who has become a Muslim comes to complete the paperwork of conversion according to Indian law, he would have helped him, since he himself had gone through this stage.
At this point, I think it is appropriate to explain the basic teachings of Islam that are for non-Muslims living in an Islamic country, so that it may benefit those who are burning in the fire of communal mindset.
The world knows that the real teaching of Islam is that which has been given in the “Quran” or by the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad.
Thus, Prophet Muhammad says following about non-Muslims who live in an Islamic country:
1. If an enemy attacks non-Muslims in an Islamic government, then the Islamic government will fight from the side of non-Muslims.
2. Non-Muslims will not be expelled from their religion in any Islamic country. Words from the blessed tongue of the Messenger of Allah is ”لا یُفْتَنُوْا عَنْ دِیْنِہِمْ“.
3. The lives of non-Muslims shall be safe in an Islamic country.
4. The wealth of non-Muslims shall also be safe in the Islamic government
5. Their caravan, i.e. trade, shall also remain safe
6. Their land shall also be remain safe
7. Everything that was already in their possession shall remain as it is in their custody.
8. Their clergy “Rehban”, priests “Mahant” shall not be removed from their posts.
9. One tenth of their agriculture production shall not be taken.
10. There shall not be genocides by the military.
11. No rights they already had shall be taken away
12. Those who are not present will be included in all these rules.
(Reference: “Fatuh al-Baldan” by Bala Zari and “Kitab al-Kharaj” by Imam Abu Yusuf-)
When these Islamic teachings given by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are in an Islamic country, how can a non-Muslim be forcibly converted to Islam in a non-Islamic country? And how can he become a Muslim without accepting it from the heart? That is why one of the wills made by Hazrat Umar, the second caliph, near his death was that “The non-Muslims who live in our country are under the responsibility of Allah (God) and the Prophet. Muslims should fight with their enemies on their behalf (Books for reference: “Fatuh al-Baldan”).
I am presenting all these facts because the accusation against an educated and serious man like Omar Gautam is an untrue slander and has no reality.
We have the experience that the arrested Muslims are portrayed as anti-nationals and traitors. They are sentenced to life imprisonment, and even death penalty. But later they are honorably acquitted by upper courts. While languishing in prison, the lives of these young men are ruined.
We go to courts again and again to say that reprimand orders should be issued against the investigators but it is avoided by saying that the “morale” of the police and government agencies will fall.
In all such cases attempts are made to defame Islam and, out of ignorance, it is falsely portrayed as the religion of terrorism, and all Muslims are branded as terrorist.
We must know the reality of the propaganda against Islam and the accusations leveled against educated Muslims. We can avoid ruining the lives of Muslim youths.
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The author is President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind. Views are personal.
