Muslims and non-Muslims: Can we work together for the good of all?
MUSLIMS ARE GOOD FOLKS
Source: Soundvision
The fight for civil rights; the struggle against pornography; the aim for
better children's television programming: these are concerns of most Muslims
and a number of non-Muslims. With talents and resources on both sides, can
Muslims and non-Muslims work together on common causes for the greater good?
According to Jamal Badawi, a leading North American Islamic scholar, the
answer is yes - with certain conditions.
The Quran: enjoining the good, forbidding the evil
In an interview with Sound Vision and RadioIslam.com, Badawi notes that
Allah says in the Quran to "cooperate with one another on things that are
righteous and pious and good and do not cooperate with one another in
aggression or sin. That's a general directive" he says, aimed at not just
Muslims, but non-Muslims as well.
Hilf ul Fudool: an example of cooperation from the Prophet Muhammed (peace
and blessings be upon him)'s life
The Prophet himself was involved in enjoining the good and forbidding the
evil with others in pre-Islamic times, as indicated by the pact known as
Hilf UL Fudool.
This was a covenant to protect those who are weak and to make sure that
business dealings are conducted without any cheating.
The pact came into being after a merchant from outside Makkah had sold some
items to one of the chiefs of the Quraysh tribe in the city. But the chief
refused to pay him. The man objected to this injustice.
In response, one of the respected men of the Quraysh, Abdullah ibn Jud'an
invited a number of chiefs and noble people to his house to discuss the
matter. They agreed to a covenant and decided to stand up for justice if any
person, including strangers, visitors or merchants coming from outside, was
mistreated or treated unjustly.
The group immediately told the Qurayshite to pay the merchant his due. After
being pressured, the man complied.
"That seems to indicate to us that cooperating with anyone, when we are not
compromising our principles to achieve the common good is something that
should be welcome," says Badawi.
He adds, "even after he (the Prophet) received the revelation and became the
Prophet of Allah, still he kept praising that particular covenant and he
said that if it is invoked today I will respond. He didn't say he would have
nothing to do with it, [since] that was in the pre-Islamic days. He simply
still praised that kind of pact."
Based on this example, Badawi explains that many Muslim scholars are of the
opinion that cooperation with non-Muslims is permissible provided:
1. It is something that is righteous, good and just.
2. Muslims do not compromise their basic principles and stances.
Badawi adds to these conditions:
3. Muslims understand what benefit will come to them as a result of such
cooperation.
4. Muslim participation is not being misused to condone a certain group's
erroneous beliefs.
Badawi gave an example of how this could happen: if a group of homosexuals
hold a rally against secret evidence. While this cause is one both groups
agree with, there are drawbacks to this type of cooperation.
"I think one has to think twice before really being party to that," he says.
"A Muslim participating in a group like that might be misconstrued as
approving of their (homosexuals') particular way of life which we all know
is totally against what the Quran and Sunnah teach".
Areas where Muslims and non-Muslims can work together
Badawi notes that every situation is unique, and Muslims must carefully
weigh the harms and benefits of cooperation before choosing which causes to
work with non-Muslims on.
"One has to look into the given situation because there may be some
organizations who might have a number of causes, one of which is compatible
with Islam, the other is not," he says.
"Is there a possibility of misunderstanding if you participate in that
activity, that you endorse other things that are not Islamic? Or is the
activity basically unique and specified like a coordinated demonstration for
the rights of Palestinians or for other things that affect Muslims and
non-Muslims alike?"
The price Muslims pay for non-participation
While caution must be exercised, Muslims must not shun legitimate
Muslim-non-Muslim cooperation.
"If there is a common cause that is for the benefit of the people and it is
consistent with Islam or even called for by Islam even though there might be
disagreement on some details and Muslims just sit there and watch, there are
a number of prices to be paid."
Badawi gave four possible negative effects of such apathy:
One: Muslims are living in a non-Muslim society where their children and
families are being raised. To not oppose evil and enjoin the good will
affect Muslims and their families sooner or later.
Two: according to the Quran, one of the characteristics of the Muslim Ummah
that made it eligible to be called the best community of believers raised
for humanity is ordaining the good and forbidding the evil. By shunning
legitimate forms of cooperation, Muslims are not fulfilling this duty.
Three: Islam by its nature is not only for Muslims. It is a mercy to all
human beings. So Muslims should have mercy for others, Muslim and
non-Muslim, and care for their well-being and guidance.
Four: by not participating Muslims promote the misunderstanding that they
don't care, even about the common good. Their absence on legitimate issues
of mutual concern will be notable, especially where other groups are
actively involved and supportive.
Talking about the upcoming Million Family March on October 16, spearheaded
by the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan, Badawi, who was one of the
featured speakers at a Nation of Islam conference this summer, emphasized
the importance of using the above-mentioned criteria to make this decision.
Badawi did, however, say, "I would have felt much more assured if the
statement that appears in their paper (the Nation of Islam newspaper the
Final Call) still promoting the old ideas of God incarnating in Fard
Muhammad and so on, if as a show of goodwill and sincere intention, that
this at least should be removed from the paper that's going around the
country."