A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
(Full Story)
Search This Blog
Back to 500BC.
==========================
Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Sri Lanka: Be Just Even to the Enemy — Why did not the Muslims attack?
The meaning of the word ‘Islam’ is ‘Peace’. Islam teaches several moral and ethical values which guides human beings towards living in society with peace and tolerance. Muslims believe that Allah is the Most Merciful; that Allah is the Most Forgiving; That Allah is the Pardoner of sins.
Viewes expressed in this article are author own
( March 20, 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Very
unexpectedly a close Sinhalese friend of mine asked me why did not the
Muslims retaliate when they were attacked? I was perplexed. Firstly,
because he is a Sinhalese and, secondly, the thought of attacking people
never occurs in the mind of a practising Muslim. Out of curiosity, I
asked him “What do you mean by retaliate?” He said, “You all should have
attacked business premises of the Sinhalese people in areas where you
all are in majority.” Now, I became curious, since this is a Sinhalese
speaking about attacking the Sinhalese. I asked him “What the hell is
wrong with you and why are you talking like this?” He replied, “I am
disgusted with these fellows. Believe me, after university I have never
stepped into a temple.” Him mentioning ‘temple’ reminded me of our
youthhood. I humorously reminded him how both of us used to hang around
in the temple compound to catch a glimpse of his girlfriend. I said
“Machan api bodhi pooja atha gaanawa mathakada, hebai esdeka wena
kohedo neda.” He replied, “Those days are now gone. I really feel sorry
for our growing up kids”
The question as to why the Muslims did not retaliate by attacking
Sinhala houses or business premises requires an explanation. I have to
distinguish here between a practising Muslim and a non-practising
Muslim. The majority are generally, practising Muslims. In fact, the
only religion in the world which has the largest number of practising
followers is Islam. Anyway, we have our quota of black sheep like in
any other community. A realistic comparison would be the Sinhalese
racists who perpetrated the recent violence. They do not represent the
majority of the respectable Sinhalese people. In fact, their criminal
behaviour has embarrassed many Sinhalese people who feel ashamed.
Be Just Even To The Enemy
Self-defence is a religious obligation in Islam. Also, retaliating when
attacked or repulsing an attack form part of this obligation. However,
this obligation is restricted by several conditions. According to
Islamic teachings, it is strictly prohibited for a Muslim to harm
another innocent person for no reason. It is, also, strictly prohibited
for a Muslim to wantonly take the life of another human being, whether
Muslim or non-Muslim. Therefore, in response to the attack on Muslims
in Digana, one cannot attack an innocent Sinhalese person in the streets
of another part of Sri Lanka. Just because that person happens to be a
Sinhalese. In the same manner, a Muslim cannot burn a house or a shop of
an innocent Sinhalese person elsewhere. He would be committing a grave
sin according to the teachings of Islam. Even at times like this Islam
teaches equity and justice to be applied to all including the enemy.
This partly explains why there were no such reprisals. The Quran
states:
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well Acquainted with what you do.” (Chapter 5 Verse 8).
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as
witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your
parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor,…” (Chapter 4 Verse 135).
‘Islam’ Means ‘Peace’
Islam also enjoins the Muslims to respect the law of the country in
which they live so long as it does not violate the teachings of Islam.
On that basis, Muslims as citizens of this country would expect the law
enforcement authorities to establish law and order, prevent violence
against persons and property and provide protection to the public. The
requirement of taking the law into one’s hand does not arise under these
circumstances.
The meaning of the word ‘Islam’ is ‘Peace’. Islam teaches several moral
and ethical values which guides human beings towards living in society
with peace and tolerance. Muslims believe that Allah is the Most
Merciful; that Allah is the Most Forgiving; That Allah is the Pardoner
of sins. Therefore, a good Muslim is never revengeful, is never
unforgiving or is never unpardoning. On the contrary, a Muslim goes on
the premise that when Allah, the Almighty is the Most Forgiving and the
Most Merciful why should not I be merciful and forgiving towards another
human being. After all, according to Islam it is our belief that Allah
is the Creator of all mankind which obviously includes the Sinhalese
people too.
“O mankind, worship your Lord who created you and those who lived before you, so that you may become righteous.” (Chapter 2 Verse 21)
Patience An Exalted Quality
A practising Muslim always strives to be patient to the best possible
extent in any given situation. This also constitutes the part of the
Islamic ethics which exalts the conduct of patience in a Muslim. The
behaviour of the Muslim is what it is because of the act of forgiveness,
mercy and the practise of patience at times of trials and
tribulations. The Quran states:
“We shall test you through fear, hunger, loss of life, property, and crops. Give glad news to the people who have patience.” (Chapter 2 Verse 155)
There is a misconception amongst the Sinhalese racists who always
alleges especially, in the social media that the Muslims act innocent
and harmless when they are weak but will not hesitate to kill someone if
they are in power. Therefore, the Muslims cannot be trusted. This is an
utterly false statement and by this these racists are deceiving the
Sinhalese people. They want to sow the seed of hatred in the minds of
people and to this end would not stop at anything good or bad, right or
wrong, moral or immoral. Shameless creatures, aren’t they?
Boastful Cowards
A distinction has to be drawn between being a coward and being an
individual who practises patience. It is not an act of bravery but
absolute cowardism to come in organised groups, armed with weapons and
then attack unarmed innocent men, helpless women and traumatised
children. Not only that, to solicit the support and complicity of the
Police and the Special Task Force, to set alight closed shops, places of
religious worship and houses of people who have not done any wrong to
anyone. The lack of conscientiousness in these sick people is further
amplified by their claim of heroism or boast as seen in Venerable
Gnanasara Thero recent statement for example.
On the other hand, a person practising patience should not be
misunderstood as being cunning or pretentious or as being a coward. The
Muslims have shown great maturity on the face of the puerile behaviour
of the ‘grown up’ racists and some self-deluded racist politicians, who
think that they are smarter. The Muslims would not want to exacerbate a
given situation by acting on their own. These are some of the virtues
and values that restrains the practising Muslims from retaliating. As
peace loving and law-abiding citizens, I think the Muslims are a great
asset to this island, as part of a community showcasing multi-cultural,
multi religious and multi ethnic diversity in unity.
“O you who believe! have patience, help each other with patience, establish
good relations with one another, and have fear of God so that you may
be successful..” (Quran : Chapter 3 Verse 200)
End.