Page 200 - Islam Denounces Terrorism

198 Islam Denounces Terrorism

Rallying to a Common Formula

Concerning the People of the Book, God gives Muslims a com-
mand in the Qur'an; to rally to a common formula:

Say, "O People of the Book! Let us rally to a common formula to be
binding on both us and you: That we worship none but God; that we
associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among our-
selves, Lords and patrons other than God." (Qur'an, 3:64)

This is indeed our call to Christians and Jews: As people who
believe in God and follow His revelations, let us rally to a common for-
mula – "faith". Let us love God, Who is our Creator and Lord, and fol-
low His commands. And let us pray to God to lead us to an even
straighter path.

When Muslims, Christians and Jews rally to a common formula
this way; when they understand that they are friends not enemies, then
the world will become a very different place. The wars in many parts
of the world, enmities, fears and terrorist attacks will come to an end,

and a new civilisation based on love, respect and peace will be estab-
lished upon this "common formula" once an intellectual struggle is
waged against radical ideas and ideologies that lead to denial of God.

There are important facts to consider for Muslims. What God
teaches us in the Qur'an about different peoples and creeds is clear:
The morality of the Qur'an excludes every kind of racism.

It is evident that some of the Jews who lived in the past have com-
mitted many errors which are stated and criticized in the Qur'an. But
all this must not be taken by Muslims as a cause to feel hostility against
all Jews. The crime committed by some Jews cannot be ascribed to
Judaism and the Jewish nation.

Again a basic vantage point prescribed in the Qur'an is not to
make judgements about people just because they belong to a particular
race, nation or religion. In every community, there are good people as