Islam condemns all acts of violence, scholar says

Abu Dhabi: Although all known religions call for love, peace, tolerance and mutual understanding, many acts of violence are committed by people who call themselves religious, and attribute their evil acts to the religion, a professor of comparative religion told a Ramadan majlis in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

"Almighty Allah condemns all acts of violence in the scriptures. The true religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam forbid the killing of innocent people, irrespective of the cause - religious, political or social beliefs," said Dr Mustafa Bu Hendi, professor of comparative religion and interpretation at the Islamic Studies Department of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.

He was delivering the fifth of a series of Ramadan lectures entitled "Violence and Religions" at the majlis of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Bu Hendi cited the holy Quran.

[Quran 6:151] "...and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause. These are His commandments to you, that you may understand."

He said the laws of the scriptures that apply to the Christians and Jews are emphasised for the Muslims too.

[Quran 5:32] "...we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people. ..."

Dr Bu Hendi said all religions condemn terrorism.

He said religions have common values. "Religions are but a way of life that guides people's actions and forms their character. They are a state of awareness and appreciation of Almighty Allah's boundless attributes."

With the guidance of religions, people are able to practice the meaning of peace, compassion, love, forgiveness and charity that originate from one source.

In Islam, he said, the best among us in the sight of Allah is not a person who calls himself or herself Christian, Jew, or Muslim, but rather, the one who is the most righteous.

There are Submitters to the Creator in every faith. They are those who impose no judgments on the different forms of striving towards attaining Almighty Allah's mercy. This common striving encourages unity within a diverse group of people who advance their personal strides by learning from one another.

Thus, the love of Almighty Allah is not reserved for people of religious sects or denominations that cling to an exclusive belief of guaranteed "salvation." Allah's infinite love flows to the charitable, righteous, benevolent, equitable, and the just: Those who recognise their accountability and work towards being good.

[Quran 2:62] Verily! Those who believe, those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians (the converts); whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, and leads a righteous life, shall have their reward with Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.