In the Name of Allah

“The Religious Minorities in Muslim

Countries”

“Islam was spread by the sword and is intolerant of other faiths.” • FALSE!

• This is an ideology many in the west are finding of Islam. Many social studies textbooks for students show Islam through portraying the image of an Arab horseman carrying a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other conquering and forcibly converting people to Islam.

HOLY QURAN: 60:8

• "God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just.”

Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself

• "There is no compulsion (or coercion)  in the religion (Islam).  The right direction is distinctly clear from error". (2:256)

Christian missionary, T.W. Arnold had this

opinion on his study of the spread of Islam:

• ".. of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim  population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear  nothing. Had the Islamic leaders chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away  Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain…”

Islamic Law

• Function: to protect the privileged status of minorities

• Permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts,

• Creates security for Muslim/Non-Muslim

• Does not permit racism

Imam Ali’s (PBUH) view on minority

• if, on account of their paganism they do not deserve any favorable treatment of extra privileges, they do not deserve to be treated cruelly and harshly either.

• They are governed by us, they have made certain agreements with us and we are obliged to respect and honor the terms of those agreements.

• Therefore, be kind to them in future, tolerate them and give them due respect,

• Always govern with a soft but strong hand. Treat them as they individually deserve, kindly or harshly and with respect or with contempt”

• (Nahjul Balagha, Letter #19).

Imam Ali’s (PBUH) letter to collector of taxes

• “Treat the tax-payers with equity and justice• Do not force anybody to forsake his

requirements and to do without his necessities (so that he may pay the taxes).

• In collection of taxes and revenues do not sell their winter and summer clothing, their slaves or such of their animals as are of service to them, do not resort to whipping, do not touch their property, be they Muslims or non-Muslims..”

• Nahjul Balagha; letter #51

If present day Muslim countries had followed the path of Ahlul bayt.....If after the demise of the prophet, people had allowed for the true

Islam to strengthen through its light and not through the force of

others…

• Then the west would not be seeing such false Islamic governments today.

An example can be seen in Saudi Arabia, publicized in the

west to be the largest representative of an Islamic kingdom. But is this truly an

Islamic government?

According to Saudi institute website report:

• attack on the main Ismaili mosque in the southern city of Najran,

• closure of several Shia mosques and community halls (husayniahs),

• arrest of several Shia clerics, • the proliferation of hateful religious web sites

that promote sectarian hatred• Mosques built by private citizens must be

handed over to government control and people are not able to worship as they wish

For more information on governmental control in Saudi Arabia on many other private

affairs, please visit

• http://www.saudiinstitute.org/Reports/Religious_Freedom/rlgfrdm_en.html

These aspects are what prevent a majority from learning the true

Islam

Islam has been publicized through media as a terrorist religion who

gives no right to individuals.

• This is not so. • We pray for a time where the veils

covering Islam will be removed, • We further pray for the hastening in

the appearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) who will eventually come and show Islam in its true form