Aslim Taslam
Aslim Taslam (Arabic: أسلم تسلم) is a phrase meaning "accept Islam and you will be at peace".[1] that was taken from the letters sent by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad to various kings and rulers in which he urged them to convert to Islam in order to spare their lives.
Muhammad sent ambassadors with such letters to Heraclius the emperor of Byzantium, Chosroes II the emperor of Persia, the Negus of Ethiopia, Muqawqis the ruler of Egypt, Harith Gassani the governor of Syria and Munzir ibn Sawa the ruler of Bahrain. The account as transmitted by Muslim historians reads as follows[2]:
In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful:
(This letter is) from Muhammad the slave of Allah and His Apostle to Heraclius the ruler of Byzantine. Peace be upon him, who follows the right path. Furthermore I invite you to Islam, and if you become a Muslim you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward, and if you reject this invitation of Islam you will be committing a sin by misguiding your Arisiyin (peasants). (And I recite to you Allah's Statement:)
Say (O Muhammad): 'O people of the scripture! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship none but Allah and that we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none of us shall take others as Lords beside Allah.' Then, if they turn away, say: 'Bear witness that we are Muslims' (those who have surrendered to Allah)."
The letter to Chosroes II is reported to be similar except that instead of referring to the sins of the Arisiyin it reads, sins of the Magians.[5]
References in Hadith
Sahih Muslim narrates in Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar (The Book of Jihad and Expedition) Book 19, Number 4294, Chapter 2: Appointment of the Leaders of Expeditions by the Imam and His Advice to Them on Etiquettes of War and Related Matters: "Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them."[6]
In Kitab Al-Iman (The Book of Faith), Book 1, Number 29, Chapter 9, the same author narrates: Command for Fighting Against the People So Long as They Do Not Profess That There is No God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger: 'Umar b. Khattab said to Abu Bakr: "...the Messenger of Allah Muhammad declared: I have been directed to fight against people so long as they do not say: There is no god but Allah..."[7]
Sahih Bukhari states in Volume 4, Book 52, Number 187 and 191, that 'Abdullah bin Abbas narrates: "Allah's Apostle (Muhammad) wrote a letter to Caesar saying, 'If you reject Islam, you will be responsible for the sins of the peasants (i.e. your people).'"[8]
Sahih Bukhari also states in Volume 4, Book 52, Number 196, that 'Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' and whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' his life and property will be saved by me except for Islamic law, and his accounts will be with Allah, (either to punish him or to forgive him.)"[9]
Imam Malik narrates in al-Muwatta, Book 21, Number 21.3.11: "Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz wrote to one of his governors, It has been passed down to us that when the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad), may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent out a raiding party, he would say to them, 'Make your raids in the name of Allah in the way of Allah. Fight whoever denies Allah'".[10] (See also Itmam al-hujjah.)
Modern references
In response to the aslim taslam invitation to submit to Islam, the Italian author and journalist Oriana Fallaci (June 29, 1929 - September 15, 2006) popularized the rejoinder lan astaslem (Arabic: لن استسلم ) meaning "I will not surrender". [11] [12] Michelle Malkin has taken up this slogan as a response to the WTC terrorist attacks[13]
On September 17, 2006, in response to the Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy, Imad Hamto, a Palestinian religious leader, said: "We want to use the words of the Prophet Muhammad and tell the pope: Aslim Taslam." This was interpreted as a warning. [14][15]
Dawa/Dawah
The word "Da'wah" in Arabic simply means to invite (call) to something. When it is used in conjunction with Islam it is understood to mean "Inviting to the Way of submission and surrender to Allah." Dawah is an obligation for all Muslims. [16][17][18]
Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance..
You are the best of people raised up, for you call to all that is right and righteous and you forbid the evil, and you believe in Allah.
From dawa to jihad [20]
See also
References
- ^ Abidullah Ghazi & Tasneema K Ghazi, "Teachings of Our Prophet: A selection of Hadith for Children",IQRA International Education, ISBN 1563161591 pg 3.
- ^ a b Muhammad and Heraclius: A Study in Legitimacy, Nadia Maria El-Cheikh, Studia Islamica, No. 89. (1999), pp. 5-21.
- ^ Sahih Bukhari 1.1.6
- ^ Gerrit Jan Reinink, Rijksuniversiteit Te Groningen, "The Reign of Heraclius (610-641): crisis and confrontation", Peeters Publishers (2002), ISBN 9042912286, pg. 125
- ^ Gerrit Jan Reinink, Rijksuniversiteit Te Groningen, "The Reign of Heraclius (610-641): crisis and confrontation", Peeters Publishers (2002), ISBN 9042912286, pg. 128
- ^ Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 19, Number 4294, The Book of Jihad and Expedition (Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar)
- ^ Sahih Muslim Book 1, Number 29, Chapter 9
- ^ Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 187 and 191
- ^ Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 196
- ^ Malik Muwatta Jihad Book 21 Number 21.3.11
- ^ Fallaci, Oriana The Rage and The Pride (La Rabbia e l'Orgoglio, 2001) ISBN 0-8478-2504-3.
- ^ "Oriana Fallaci, R.I.P., and the Religion of Perpetual Outrage". Townhall.com. Retrieved October 14.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) by Michelle Malkin September 15, 2006 - ^ "9/11 pledge: "I will not submit". Townhall.com. Retrieved October 14.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) by Michelle Malkin September 11, 2006 - ^ "Gazans warn pope to accept Islam". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved October 14.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)by Khaled Abu Toameh September 18, 2006 - ^ "Submit or Die: Protesters are laying down the law". National Review. Retrieved October 14.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) by Clifford D. May September 25, 2006 - ^ Abu 'Abdil Kareem
- ^ http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Lectures&d_op=viewdownload&cid=17
- ^ http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Lectures&d_op=viewdownload&cid=22
- ^ http://islamtomorrow.com/dawah/
- ^ http://english.nctb.nl/publications/reports/aivd/