Sentencing of Toledo Mosque Vandal and Responsibility of Muslims
By Dr Basheer Ahmed Khan
Garden Grove, CA
The law enforcement machinery and the judiciary of Ohio State must be commended for apprehending and sentencing the person who vandalized a Toledo mosque about ten months back.
Those Muslims who came to America either for education or to escape the anarchy in their countries, and who had a chance to see this great mosque while commuting on HW 75, found not only spiritual solace but also a sense of belonging and deep love and admiration for their new land of adoption. But those who were fed on hate propaganda against the Muslims also nursed a feeling of threat and hate when they saw this edifice modeled on Muslim architecture. Enraged by the first bombing of twin towers, an angry person ran his vehicle into one of the walls and damaged the building. This was the second episode in which the person who attempted to burn the mosque was sentenced to a prison term of twenty years.
While an angry and misguided person is now sentenced to suffer his dark days in prison for twenty long years, and his family and dependents suffer even more in his absence, those who were responsible to spread hatred and misguide people to advance their agendas continue to churn their hate machine 24x7 in the name of free speech.
While the Muslims take satisfaction in the restitution of their legal rights and restore their confidence in the American way of life in light of this case, they should also reflect on their responsibility towards this hapless person who is suffering the consequences of his injudicious act. This we should do not to prove that we are great Samaritans, but to do what is right in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the life of Muhammad SA. After all, Islam is not about keeping the name of Abdullah and Muhammad but submitting to the teachings of Allah and His messengers.
Even though the Qur’an gives its followers the right of revenge, it encourages them to forgive their tormentors. You are permitted to avenge equally for the hurt caused to you, but if you forgive and make peace your reward is with Allah, says Qur’an (Ch 42 V 40). While giving the right to kill the person who kills another one, Allah has granted the power of amnesty to the relatives of diseased to forgive the assassin because of His infinite mercy on mankind (Ch 2 V 178). Allah swt further says that evil and good are not the same therefore respond with what is good for the evil done to you. By doing this you will turn your worst enemies into the best friends (Ch 41 V 34). In light of the above verses forgiving is more virtuous than avenging. Therefore Muslims should show this forgiving nature if they are obedient to the command of Allah.
Allah says in the Qur’an: In the life of the prophets is an example for those who expect their reward in the hereafter. (If you follow the example of prophet you will be rewarded in this world also and that reward is) it is likely that Allah will create love between you and your enemies. Allah is Omnipotent, Forgiving and Merciful. If you turn away (from the example of prophets) Allah is not in need of you and is praiseworthy in Himself (Ch 60 V 6-7). It is therefore necessary for us to follow the example of our Prophet Muhammad SA.
There are hundreds of instance in life of prophet SA in which he has taught us as to how we should deal with those who harm us either in ignorance or hate. But one that comes to my mind right now is this.
As Nabi SA was sitting with his companions in his mosque a Bedouin entered the mosque and started to urinate in the mosque. While his companions ran to assault him, Nabi SA stopped them and asked the Bedouin to complete his process. After he was done, Nabi SA asked his companions to bring some water and wash the place. Nabi SA further said to his companions: You have been sent to make things easy and not difficult (Bukhari 6128).
Mosques are no doubt sacred places and their sanctity is sacrosanct, but the life and honor of human beings is more sacred because it is so decreed by Allah himself (Ch 17 V 70). A person in his outrage has desecrated it. He and others like him now know that the law takes serious action on such acts. Now Muslims should act in the light of the teachings of the Qur’an and the example of Muhammad SA as explained above to ameliorate the suffering of this man and I suggest two things to Muslims of Toledo in this regard.
One is to approach and appeal to the Governor of Toledo to commute the sentence of this man. Till this happens and this man is set free, try to meet the financial needs of his family that is suffering for no fault of their own. Muslims should also work to educate fellow Americans over the need of restraint in exercising our freedoms not just in matter of speech but also on social, economic and moral issues which are hurting the nation.
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