‘Islam prohibits all forms of violence and aggression’

Abu Dhabi, May 19: Islam is in indeed a religion that promotes peace and understanding among people of all faiths, said B S Sharafuddin Mangalore.

Delivering a lecture on ‘Islam and Peace’ at the weekly gathering conducted by Islamic Cultural Centre (ICC) Kannada wing, Abu Dhabi on Friday, Mr Sharafuddin said Islam strongly prohibits all forms of violence and aggression against people regardless of their faith or race.

Quoting a hadith mentioned in Musnad Imam Ahmad, in which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) predicted that “Prophethood will last among you for as long as Allah wills, then Allah would take it away. Then it will be (followed by) a Khilafah Rashida (rightly guided) according to the ways of the Prophethood. It will remain for as long as Allah wills, then Allah would take it away. Afterwards there will be a hereditary leadership which will remain for as long as Allah wills, then He will lift it if He wishes. Afterwards, there will be biting oppression, and it will last for as long as Allah wishes, then He will lift it if He wishes. Then there will be a Khilafah Rashida according to the ways of the Prophethood…”, Mr Sharafuddin said that this prediction indicates the Arab spring.

Scholars explain this hadith in this way: Prophethood as in the beginning of the hadith ended with the death of Muhammad (pbuh). The next stage was Khilafah Rashida and this was from Abu Bakr Siddiq to Ali ibn Abi Taalib (radi Allahu anhuma). Then the Prophet (pbuh) said it would be Mulkan which was the rule of the Banu Umayyah, Banu Abbas and the Khilafah Uthmaniyyah. Then after that, he said it would be dictatorship, i.e. oppressive rule, which we are living under today. The next stage will be Khilafah Rashida once again insha-Allah, he said.

He also emphasized that The Ottoman Empire is a prime example of the positive treatment of religious minorities in a Muslim majority context. History testifies that Jews were more safe in Muslim society and Islamic countries compare to Christian rules.

Mr. Sharafuddin said that the so called apostles of peace who dominated the world had betrayed the humanity and their deeds and words were proved contradictory.