Regard for Sentiments

The relationship between emotions and sentiments is a very delicate one, and victorious and triumphant nations generally exhibit extreme disregard in this matter, because this has nothing to do with a specific law. Rather, this issue relates to the spirit, which is hidden in the hearts of people and which no worldly law can govern. However, even in their era of dominance and rule the Holy Prophet(sa) and his Companions would take great care of the sentiments of non-Muslims. As such, on one occasion, a young Jewish man of Madīnah fell ill. When the Holy Prophet(sa) was informed of this, he went to visit him. Upon finding his state to be weak, the Holy Prophet(sa) preached the message of Islām to him. He became influenced by the preaching of the Holy Prophet(sa) but since his father was still alive and standing nearby, he looked towards him as if to seek approval. The father said, “My son! (If you are satisfied then undoubtedly) accept the message of Abūl-Qasim.”1 The boy recited the Kalimah and became a Muslim. The Holy Prophet(sa) became overjoyed and said, “Gratitude is due to God who has delivered a soul from the fire of hell.”2

When the land of Syria was conquered and the Christian population that lived there came under the Islāmic State, one day it so happened that two Companions of the Holy Prophet(sa), Sahl bin Ḥunaif(ra) and Qais bin Sa‘d(ra) were sitting somewhere in the city of Qādsiyyah when a Christian funeral procession happened to pass by. Upon witnessing this, both Companions stood up in reverence. Another Muslim who had not remained in the company of the Holy Prophet(sa) and was unaware of the moral qualities taught by Islām, became very amazed and addressed Sahl(ra) and Qais(ra) in astonishment saying, “This is the funeral procession of a Dhimmī.” They responded “Indeed! We are aware, but the practice of the Holy Prophet(sa) was that he would stand up even for the funeral procession of a non-Muslim, and he would say, ‘Do they not possess a soul created by God?’”3