Page 178 - Seekers Guide Book

Islam and the Quran
which only a scholar (alim) is qualified to do. A common
man can interpret in non-basic matters of religion or
matters which do not constitute the core of religion. In
matters which are fundamental to religion, we have to
listen to the scholars.

110 Muslims break idols and cite what
had happened during the days of the
–
Prophet is this justified?

o, this is not at all justified. The demolishing of
NBamyan statues and the propaganda to demolish the
Pyramids are all examples of extremism. According
to Islam, there is no one except God that you should
worship but if someone else worships others, you cannot
go about killing them or harming their deities. Haram
(the Kabah, and Makkah and Madinah in the extended
sense) is an exception and is a preserved sanctuary where
any encroachment is prohibited. Thus no idols are kept
in this area. But what is applicable to this area is not a
general rule that can be applied elsewhere – the idols in
the rest of the world do not have to be broken down.
Mahmud Ghazanvi broke down the idols of the Somnath
Temple, which according to me was an un-Islamic act.

At the time of the caliph Umar, Muslim rule extended
to Palestine and a written treaty was signed between
Umar and the rulers of Palestine. One of the clauses of
the treaty read:

177