DR M HARIS Z DEEN
DOHA- The statement attributed to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith that “investigations on the Easter Sunday attacks has shown that Sharia Law and institutions that advocate or preach Sharia Law have played a major part on the attacks” – referring to the Easter Sunday attacks. (Ceylon Today – 04th December 2020). This is certainly a misstatement of facts obviously designed to mislead and promote hatred. The purported, Ceylon Today interview apparently was regarding a request to the Cardinal by a Samagi Balawegaya Parliamentarian for intervention to pressurise the Government to take over the Batticaloa campus owned by the former Governor of the Eastern Province M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, thus clearly suggesting the communal connotations to a political issue. Also, we fail to understand the relevance of a reference to Sharia Law by His Eminence the Cardinal to an issue completely unrelated. If terrorist Zahran’s Easter Sunday Kocchikade church attacks are influenced by “Sharia Law” as suggested by Cardinal Ranjith, then may we question as to what law influenced the Christian Brenton Tarrant of killing 51 innocent worshippers in a mosque in Christ Church, New Zealand.
It appears that the Cardinal was ignorant of the nature of Sharia Law, purely because terrorist organisations under different names, Al-Qaida, ISIL, “Thawheed” are organisations professing to be Muslim leveraging Sharia for ideological and recruiting purposes and misleading these young recruits into committing acts of terrorism. They have their own reasons and agenda not condoned by the majority Muslims. Sharia is a way of life – it is a “path” as the Arabic word suggests and contains a complete flexible, rights oriented and equality minded ethical order derived from the Qur’an, the manner which the Prophet of Islam interpreted the Qur’an and his traditions – the Ahadith. It contains sanctions for those who commit theft and for those committing murder. The measures contained in the Sharia for dealing with theft, murder, rape and fornication are definitely extreme measures expected to be a deterrent. It certainly does not promote terrorism rather is expected to deter Muslims from engaging in terrorism. The Qur’an says in emphatic terms “If anyone slays a person -unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land, it would be as if he slew all the people, And if anyone saves a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all people” 5:32.
The instructions are clear, death sentence for a murderer or for treason (spreading mischief in the land). If one kills for any other reason it would amount to killing all innocent people. This is the basic concept and one can see that it promotes peace and expected to deter terrorism rather than promote it.
The Cardinal seems to suggest that Muslims are trying to “force down the throat of people of other faiths” their religion. The Qur’an says “Invite all to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching. And argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious – And if you punish let your punishment be proportional to the wrong that has been done to you. But if you show patience, that is indeed the best course. Be patient, for your patience is from God. And do not grieve over them or distress yourself because of their plots. For Gad is with those who restrain themselves and those who do good” 16 :125 to 128.
His Eminence is obviously ignorant of these facts or he is deliberately displaying ignorance in order to whip up hatred.
In respect justice and fairness the Qur’an asserts “Oh you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor, for God can best protect both. Follow not the cravings of your hearts, lest you swerve, and if you distort justice or decline to do justice, verily God is well acquainted with all that you do.” 4:135.
“The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree), but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from God, for God loves not those who do wrong. But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong done to them, against such there is no cause of blame. The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrongdoing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice. For such there will be a penalty grievous (in the hereafter). But indeed, if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an affair of great resolution” 42 : 40 to 43
“Goodness and evil are not equal. Repel evil with what is better. Then that person with whom there was hatred, may become your intimate friend! And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but the people of the greatest good fortune” 41 : 34 to 35
The Prophet, (Peace be upon him) is reported by Jarir (May Allah be pleased with him) “said to me during Hajjat-al-Wida: ‘Let the people keep quiet and listen. Then he said (addressing the people), “Do not revert to disbelief after me by striking the necks of one another”. Sahih Al Bukhari, Hadith 1:122
I believe I have given adequate evidence from the greatest original sources that Islam does not promote terrorism as the subtle mention of the Cardinal suggests and there is not a shred of evidence in any of the Islamic scriptures to suggest what the Cardinal asserts. Email: deenmohamed835@gmail.com
