I just watched the interview by a guy who claimed that he was rejected by the MD of the collapsed Ikoyi building for being a Muslim. I heard him say things like, “humanity above religion”, “love above religion”. Obviously, when a supposed Muslim makes comments like these, it shows how shallow his knowledge of Islām is. Islām is the Fitrah (nature) on which man is created. Every newborn is birthed on that Fitrah until his/her parents change it. Humanity and love are concepts advocated by Islām and not something independent of religion. Thus, placing them above religion is shallow thinking and plain ignorance. Allāh says:
لَّا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
“Allāh does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allāh loves those who act justly.” (Qur’ān 60:8)
In fact, during war, the Muslim is commanded to grant asylum to an enemy who seeks it. Irrespective of whether he accepted Islām or not,he must be granted safety back to his people. He says:
وإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ٱسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُۥ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ
“And if any of those who associate others with Allāh in His Divinity seeks asylum, grant him asylum that he may hear the Word of Allāh, and then escort him to safety for they are a people who do not know.” (Qur’ān 9:6)
Which love and humanity does one seek that’s not in Islām?
Islām is love. Islām is humanity. Both are encouraged within the limits permitted by Allāh. Islām comes before both at all times!
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