Sunday Times 2
The Easter Sunday massacre – A critique
In 2014 when Iraq was in turmoil, I was attached to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Baghdad. Unable to comprehend the rationale behind the numerous suicide bombings, I queried from one of the local staff members, “Why were these suicide bombers bent on killing and maiming their own fellow citizens, and in the process killing themselves?” She replied that most of the suicide bombers were forlorn drug addicts and did not see any purpose in life. When they were offered assurance of support for their immediate families by the ISIS, they accepted the offer gladly. A plausible reason, I thought.
Muslims pray at the Dawatagaha Mosque
Then I wondered why the Easter Sunday suicide bombers, hailing from wealthy families and with prospects of a bright future, should commit this dastardly act. “Were they psychopaths or brainwashed?” Many shocked and bewildered Muslims and non-Muslims probing and speculating about the state of mind of these terrorists keep questioning: Why?
In the aftermath of 9/11, US journalist Todd Gitlin expressed his bewilderment in the following words, “How does a man convert himself into the instrument of a massacre? What goes on in his mind when he sets out to smash a jetliner into a skyscraper? How does it happen that they have been called in to demonstrate their piety by obliterating their enemies… and nothing will stand in their way, not even their own earthly existence?”
Amin Maalouf, the Lebanese author, in his book ‘In the Name of Identity’ endeavours to unravel this conundrum. “If the men of all countries, of all conditions and faiths, can so easily be transformed into butchers, if fanatics of all kinds, manage to pass themselves off as defenders of identity, it’s because the ‘tribal’ concept of identity still prevalent all over the world facilitates such a distortion… through habit, from lack of imagination or resignation, thus inadvertently contributing to the tragedies by which, tomorrow we shall be genuinely shocked.”
Shocked indeed we are and remain. Perpetrators of this heinous crime were followers of a noble religion that preaches mercy, compassion, love and peace. In the Holy Quran, at the beginning of each chapter, the Lord calls Himself the Merciful, the Compassionate. “Mercy” is mentioned 167 times in the Holy Book. Almighty God reiterates in the Holy Quran “To take the life of a human being is equivalent to having eliminated the whole of humanity; and restoring and safeguarding the life of one living being is tantamount to having restored the whole of humanity.” Such is the importance attached to human life in Islam.
The Prophet of Islam was sent as “Mercy unto God’s creation”. The Holy Prophet’s mercy and compassion was thus universal and permeated to all of creation. In a brief article it would suffice to mention a few instances of the Messenger’s mercy and kindness towards believers of other religions. The first ever recorded Declaration of Human Rights was issued by the Holy Prophet when he gave the right to Jews to practice their religion and the right to peaceful existence in the City State of Medina.
History also records that the Holy Prophet bequeathed the covenant known as ‘Asthinaime’ of Muhammed – a charter granting protection and other privileges to the followers of Jesus Christ – which was handed over to the Christian monks of St. Catherine’s Monastery.
Professor Ramakrishna Rao in his book ‘Muhammed the Prophet of Islam’ mentions as follows:
“During the time of the Holy Prophet, the battlefield itself was humanized. Strict orders were issued not to break trust, not to mutilate nor to kill a child or woman or an old man, nor hew down a fruit tree or burn, not to molest a monk and persons engaged in worship. His own treatment of his bitterest enemies was the noblest example for his followers. At the conquest of Makkah, he stood at the zenith of his power. The city which had tortured him and his followers, which had driven him and his people into exile and which had unrelentingly persecuted and boycotted him even when he had taken refuge in a place more than 200 miles away, that city now lay at his feet. By the laws of war he could have justly avenged all the cruelties inflicted on him and his people. But what treatment did he mete out to them? Muhammad’s heart overflowed with the milk of love and kindness as he declared: “This day there is no reproof against you and you are all free”.”
Another exemplary disposition by Muslim leaders towards other religions is the precedent set by the second Caliph of Islam, Umar. When Jerusalem was captured and Umar personally travelled to take over the city, whilst inside the Church of Resurrection, the call for prayer was pronounced. The Bishops in attendance requested Umar to conduct his prayers inside the church. But he politely turned down the offer stating that it could set a precedent and inconvenience Christian worshippers.
Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam once declared: “Muslims are my brothers in faith. Non-believers are my equals in humanity.” How then could these barbarians who killed the innocents, who are equals to us in humanity, be considered as our brothers in faith?
(The writer is a former banker and diplomat. aroozeldeen@hotmail.com)