Page 6 - Pakistan Link - October 20, 2023

P6 - PAKISTAN LINK - OCTOBER 20, 2023 OPINION
n By Craig Considine Illuminating Book Spotlights Furthermore, the Messenger of Allah
Trinity College/ Dublin has exempted you from jizyah (a tax)
and compulsory labor."
o other leader in world histo- Prophet Muhammad’s Interfaith Views In touching upon the Prophet's
ry has been more scrutinized covenants with Christians and Jews,
Nand ridiculed than Prophet Morrow makes it clear that Muham-
Muhammad. Since the founding of religion. Be they heathen, People of the mad did not try to make the Islamic
Islam in 632 AD, Christians and Jews Book, or Muslims, all those who were world only Muslim. He adds: "... the
have described the Prophet of Allah subject to the Constitution belonged to Prophet recognized that there were na-
as a blasphemer, bigot, terrorist, and the same ummah. In doing so, he cre- tions and peoples within the Muslim
pedophile, among other slurs. How- ated a tolerant, pluralistic government ummah... Whether they were Jews or
ever, according to a recent book The which protected religious freedom. Christians, and later Hindus and Bud-
Covenants of the Prophet Muham- The importance of this is so extraor- dhists, these communities represented
mad with the Christians of the World dinary that it is often misunderstood." a kind of United Nations under Islamic
(published by Angelico Press, 2013), Moreover, Prophet Muhammad's rule." Morrow's point is significant as it
these accusations are found to be dis- "Medina Constitution" created a so- alerts us to the idea that Christians and
honest, prejudiced, and not based on ciety which, Morrow claims, is one Jews were intended to be a part of - and
sound scholarship. where "every single member... enjoyed protected by - the global Muslim com-
Dr John Andrew Morrow, author equality before the law as all privileges munity.
of The Covenants of the Prophet Mu- of class were abolished. The rich and Perhaps the greatest strength of
hammad, is a scholar who received his the poor; the noble and the laymen; the Morrow's brilliant piece of scholar-
PhD from the University of Toronto Arabs and the non-Arabs; the blacks ship lies in its ability to reach the hearts
and completed the full cycle of Islamic these experiences confirm that Mu- sengers, and Imams." and the whites; the men and the wom- and minds of Muslims, Christians, and
seminary studies. He was raised in a hammad had "confidence in his ability Saint Catherine's Monastery is con- en; and the children and the adults all Jews. He teaches us that Muslims must
multilingual family in Montreal and to count on the spiritual solidarity of sidered to be the only monastery in had the same rights. Even Muhammad, do a better job of protecting their non-
Toronto, Canada. Morrow is also a Na- the People of the Book," or members of the world to serve both a church and as the Messenger of Allah, was not Muslim minority populations, or else
tive North American of the Metis na- the Abrahamic tradition. Morrow also a mosque. Morrow writes that for cen- above the law." they risk apostasy in violating Muham-
tion and proudly identifies himself as affirmed that Muhammad "had much turies "the sound of ringing church In this context, the "Medina Con- mad's teachings on religious tolerance.
an "Aboriginal Person." more in common with the followers of bells came from the monastery's tower stitution" was not only a revolutionary The Covenants of the Prophet also
In his book, Morrow applies a doc- Christ than with the idol-worshippers while the Muslim call to prayer was document for human rights, but it also instructs Christians to carefully con-
umentary analysis of textual and his- who surrounded him." emitted from the minaret." Morrow expresses a democratic spirit. Morrow sider Muhammad's covenants, which
torical research to the covenants cre- One of the covenants analyzed describes the location of these two reli- believes that Muhammad was an ulti- provide examples to counter popular
ated by Prophet Muhammad. Notable by Morrow is the "Covenant of the gious buildings an "aural manifestation mate defender of diversity, as he men- stereotypes of the Prophet as a crazy
American poet, Charles Upton, notes Prophet Muhammad with the Monks of monotheistic unity [which] would tions that the Prophet "established a and violent leader. Similarly, Jews are
in the foreword that these documents of Mount Sinai." This agreement cham- have made the Messenger of Allah form of social justice rare in any time." encouraged to consider the Prophet of
-- letters, covenants, treaties -- which pioned universal peace and harmony [Muhammad] proud." The Covenants of the Prophet also Allah's legacy, as they can learn that he
Morrow accesses "have largely been between Christians and Muslims. In In addition to the covenant with offers an analysis of how Prophet Mu- had reverence and respect for their an-
neglected by both traditional Muslim the text, Prophet Muhammad calls on the Christians at Mount Sinai, Morrow hammad embraced Jews. Morrow cient faith, Judaism.
and modern Western scholarship and Muslims to respect Christian judges examines "The Constitution of Me- argues that Muhammad's stay in the The Covenants of the Prophet
are practically unknown to the mass of and churches, and for no Muslim to dina," a key document of the Prophet's Cave of Moses at the top of Mount Sinai Muhammad with the Christians of
believers." In reviewing Muslim, Chris- fight against their Christian brother. concerning the importance of human shows that he had a deep connection to the World recognizes that although
tian, and secular documentary sources, As Morrow rightly claims, the Cov- rights in Islam. According to Morrow, Moses. Morrow writes: "Muhammad there are differences between Islam,
Morrow's study of the covenants of enant with the Monks of Mount Sinai the "Constitution" created a commu- also insisted that the Law of Moses Christianity, and Judaism, Muslims
the Prophet brings "out their light in is "a clear rejection of classism, elitism, nity out of "a unique system which had remained binding with some minor are nonetheless advised by Prophet
this period of darkness in which the and racism... all are equal before God never existed before and which has modifications which resulted from the Muhammad to respect and embrace
People of Scripture, Jews, Muslims, for whom the most important thing is never been since despite honest efforts final revelation." Furthermore, in the Christian and Jewish communities.
and Christians, have strayed from their not language, skin color, social status to emulate it." He adds that through Treaty of Maqnah, which was made The covenants of the Prophet of Al-
sacred traditions of tolerance and co- or class position, which exclude oth- the 'Constitution of Medina' "[i]dentity between Muhammad and Jews in Banu lah, as Morrow notes, paint a clear
existence." ers, but rather the degree of piety, hu- and loyalty were no longer to be based Janbah, a city in the Gulf of 'Aqabah, picture of how Muslims are to treat
The Covenants of the Prophet Mu- manity, love for others (which includes on family, tribe, kinship, or even reli- the Prophet stated that Jews "may be in their minority communities. Mor-
hammad provides a detailed account not only human beings but the entire gion: the overriding identity was mem- peace... When this letter of mine comes row's book reminds us of the possibil-
of the Prophet's character and conduct natural order), sincerity of faith, the bership in the ummah of Muhammad. to you, you are in security [under his ity that Muslims, Christians, and Jews
as seen through his lifelong encounters acceptance of His Commandments, The Constitution of Medina decreed rule] ... Towards you is no wrong and can live side-by-side in peace and
with Christian hermits, monks, priests, and complete certainty as to the special that the citizens of the Islamic state no enmity. After today you will not be harmony if only they heed the advice
and communities. Morrow states that place occupied by His Prophets, Mes- were one and indivisible regardless of subjected to oppression or violence... of Prophet Muhammad.

n By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai Ending Global Poverty Must Be should be the elimination of poverty our commitment to ensure that dignity
Chairman and the securing for every man, wom- in practice for all becomes a reality.”
World Forum for Peace & Justice the Prime Concern of the UN an, and child the right to flourishing ‘The Concept Note’ quotes the “United
Washington, DC health, a clean environment, comfort- Nations, Report of the Secretary Gen-
able housing, healthcare, nutritious eral, A/61/308, para. 58), which says,
hrough resolution 47/196 ad- food and education. The goal is not a “It represents an opportunity to ac-
opted on 22 December 1992, choice but a moral obligation. knowledge the efforts and struggles of
Tthe United Nations General As suggested by the Secretary gen- people living in poverty, a chance for
Assembly (UNGA) declared 17 Oc- eral, we must also focus on universal them to make their concerns heard,
tober as the “Inter- literacy and education. As Socrates and a moment to recognize that poor
national Day for the explained, the unexamined life is not people are in the forefront in the fight
Eradication of Pover- worth living. Or as philosopher Sam against poverty."
ty”. It proclaimed that Johnson amplified, there is the same The ’Concept Note’ further added
“poverty is a violation difference between the learned and that “The World Bank estimates that
of human rights and unlearned as between the living and one billion young people will try to
affirmed the need to the dead. And as Al-Qur’an says, "Are enter the job market, but less than half
come together to ensure that these those who know equal to those who of them will actually find formal jobs.
rights are respected.” do not know? These observations are People directly impacted by extreme
President Nelson Mandela was ab- made not to deride or degrade the un- poverty will face discrimination, un-
solutely right when he said, “Overcom- educated, but to underscore the criti- able to obtain decent work because of
ing poverty is not a gesture of charity. President Nelson Mandela was absolutely right when he said, “Overcoming cality of education to making life mor- their socioeconomic status, lower lev-
It is the protection of a fundamental poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is the protection of a fundamental human ally meaningful and fulfilling between els of education and training received
human right, the right to dignity and right, the right to dignity and a decent life.” – Photo Pakistan Christian Post ashes to ashes and dust-to-dust. as well as the stigma attached to being
a decent life.” The ‘The Concept Note’put forth by poor.”
Csaba Kőrösi, President of UNGA complete eradication.” lenge we can win… On this important the United Nations says, “October 17 I could not agree more with the
(2022) in his message elaborated that Likewise, the message of Mr An- day, let’s renew our commitment to a shines as a ray of hope, a day to honor analysis of the World Bank on this
“In our age, poverty is not a natural tonio Guterres, the Secretary General world free of poverty. Over a billion the millions of people enduring the si- approach. One of the top priorities of
phenomenon. It is now a matter of a of the United Nations is on the mark, people are deprived of basic needs like lent and sustained violence of poverty. world powers should be the ending of
policy choice… It is a matter of choos- “In our world of plenty, poverty should food, water, health care and education.” It's our chance to live up to the promise all racial, ethnic and religious discrimi-
ing to end poverty. Nationally and in- have no home…Ending poverty is the I totally agree with the Secretary of putting the furthest behind first, to nation, like Islamophobia, Xenopho
ternationally… And committing to its challenge of our time. But it is a chal- General that the most urgent approach stand together with them and pledge (Continued on page 23)
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