I refer to "One world" by Carmel Vassallo (September 15). As a Muslim, I would like to point out that Islam considers the whole of humanity as one large family which goes back to the same origin - Adam and Eve. All humans are brothers and sisters, they are one family spread all over the world.
In the Holy Qur'an, God tells us:"Oh Mankind! Have fear of your Lord who created you from a single self and created its mate from it and then disseminated many men and women from the two of them. Have fear of Allah in whose name you make demands on one another and also in respect of your families. Allah watches over you continually" (Holy Qur'an 4:1).
Islam teaches that God made humanity, nations and people so that they could get to know one another, recognise one another, co-exist in peace and cooperate for the welfare of all.
"Oh Mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you might come to know each other. The noblest among you in Allah's sight is the most righteous of you. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware" (Holy Qur'an 49:13).
The terms Dar al-Harb (The House of War) and Dar al-Islam (The House of Islam) do not exist in the Holy Qur'an. These two phrases are rather jurisprudential terms dependent on the circumstances of the time. Thus, it is a term that was only applicable to the times when there was war between Muslim states and non-Muslim ones. In times of war, what do you call the state you are fighting? Dar al-Harb! You could not go to live there because they would kill you, whether your state is in the right or otherwise. These two phrases are simply circumstantial terms and not something by which Muslims divide and recognise the world.
Islam forbids war so long as people are not subjected to persecution, oppression or aggression from others. War in Islam is only permitted for self-defence or a just cause, otherwise Muslims are instructed to live in peace with everybody, no matter what religion they adhere to.
"Fight in the Way of Allah against those who fight you, but do not be aggressive. Allah does not love the aggressors" (Holy Qur'an 2:190).
Jihad means to struggle for a noble and just cause and for self-purification. The term "Holy War" does not exist in Islam. It is mentioned nowhere in the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah (the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of God be upon him). Muslims do not create wars because they like them but they fight because wars are imposed upon them and they fight after exhausting all peaceful means to solve conflicts. These are the true teachings of Islam.
In Islam, it is not permitted to wage war to force people to embrace Islam. God teaches in the Holy Qur'an:"There shall be no compulsion in religion. True guidance is now distinct from error. He that renounces the idols and puts his faith in Allah shall grasp the firmest handhold, that will never give way. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing" (Holy Qur'an 2:256).
Muslims never fought to force non-Muslims to become Muslims. They fought to liberate the world from oppression and enslavement, to set people free so that they could choose their own faith without any pressure or blackmail from anybody. The proof of this is that many people, under Muslim rule, kept their own faith. The presence of millions of Christians and Jews in the Islamic world is clear evidence of this fact.
Islam believes in the plurality of faiths and cultures. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him), Jews, Christians and Muslims lived and traded together. The Prophet used to receive them in his mosque and they dialogued together regarding their respective religions. The Prophet once allowed a Christian delegation to perform their prayers in the mosque in Medina.
Nowadays, because many Muslim countries live at peace with non-Muslim ones, the term Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Harb is not applicable. We can describe the present situation as Dar ad-Da'wa, meaning the House where people are peacefully invited to Islam.