Ajami in the Senegambia

by Fallou Ngom

Matar Kamara's Mandinka Ajami Video

Peace, forgiveness, and tolerance in Islam

Written by: Matar Kamara
Date written: 2006

In this gallery, Matar Kamara discusses the importance of peace, tolerance and forgiveness in Islam. Using examples from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, he discusses the tradition of tolerance, peace, forgiveness, and compromise that was characteristic of early Muslims.

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Page 1: Introduction

Dear fellow Muslims, today I want to discuss with you the characteristics of a Muslim and the issues of peace and tolerance. In the name of God, the Merciful, The Beneficent, we are grateful to God, the Creator of all creatures on earth, to whom we all belong. Our guide Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the one sent by God for all beings on earth. Having said that, dear Mandinka brothers and speakers of the language, I send you my most sincere Islamic greetings.

Page 2: Islam and tolerance

The first theme of my discussion focuses on Islam and tolerance. Before dealing with the topic, we pray that God protect us, give us a good heart, and unity. Dear friends, Islam is a religion of peace as illustrated by its original Arabic name which is synonymous to "peace."

Page 3: Tolerance and compromise

Prophet Muhammad Lamin, in whose care God left Islam so that he may transmit it to all creatures, when his disciples asked him the following question: Who is a good Muslim?

He answered: "It is someone who does no harm, does not do wrong deeds to any fellow Muslim, either with his tongue or with his hand. Therefore, dear listeners, anyone who ponders over this teaching of the Prophet, will easily realize that it is the duty of every Muslim to learn to be tolerant and to compromise with other creatures on earth. This is what is consistent with the recommendations of Prophet Muhammad that every Muslim must follow.

Page 4: "Human limbs must not be used to harm"

This is what is consistent with Prophet Muhammad's recommendation. God said that, if He wants someone to be a person of peace, He would inject Islam in the person's heart. In so doing, the person will no longer be able to harm anyone, neither with his tongue nor with his other limbs, because Islam is in his heart. The human limbs such as the tongue, the arms, and other limbs that God gave human beings must not be used to harm others. Nonviolence must be an important feature of a Muslim. He must not use any of his limbs to cause harm. He must control his/her limbs.

Page 5: Introduction: Tolerance

A Muslim must not use any of his limbs to do harm, including his tongue, hands, and feet or by using any other means. Dear brothers, the second theme of our discussion focuses on the issue of tolerance, because it is difficult to do. If one is asked to tolerate something, it is generally because the person has experienced something hurtful. A Muslim must not hurt anybody. He must be tolerant even when he is hurt.

Page 6: Tolerance in the times of the Prophet

The Prophet, peace be upon him, who taught us Islam has also taught us to be tolerant. He has experienced himself painful periods when he started to spread Islam in his own birthplace. He was victim of numerous hardships but he was always tolerant. Only tolerance was his strength. The first people who joined him in his mission of spreading Islam were also tolerant people. There were among them an old person called Amari Ibn Yasir and his people who endured numerous hardships.

Page 7: Pain and tolerance in Islam

They have suffered a great deal from the pagans, but the prophet asked them (his followers) to be tolerant. He told them to be tolerant because their reward will be paradise. Therefore, if you are aware of this story, and you consider yourself a Muslim, you have to be tolerant. The Prophet used to say that the beginning of the religion was painful and that its evolution will also be painful.

Page 8: Introduction: Forgiveness

Muslims today must be inspired by the spirit of tolerance of the first Muslims who spread the religion with suffering because they share the same goals. The beginning, the development and the end of every enterprise involves difficulties and hardships. Therefore, the tolerance that the first Muslims showed must be used by Muslims today. Dear listeners, the third point of this discussion, which is the last one, deals with the issue of forgiveness.

Page 9: Forgiveness in times of hardship

Forgiveness is what the Prophet taught. We must follow his teachings and his steps. He experienced numerous hardships in his life, but he always advocated forgiveness. There is no creature who loved to forgive more than him. One day, he was chased away from Mecca, his place of birth, to go to Medina. They (the people from Mecca) wanted to kill him, and God ordered him to leave the city and to go away.

Page 10: Forgiveness and the Prophet's exile

It is this trip that is referred to as "al-hijratu." When he left Mecca, God gave him strength as well as manpower and means, and told him: "Now, I am ready to open the gates of Mecca to you and your men. You will enter the city with power. It is up to you to decide what to do." The day when the Prophet arrived in Mecca, those who had chased him away gathered and came to him. They kneeled down to him to ask his forgiveness.

Page 11: The Prophet's teachings and human rights

When they asked him to forgive them, the Prophet looked at them and said: "You are nothing but good relatives and good neighbors. Go! You must be forgiven." This is what is referred to in Arabic as "antumul-tulaqaa." Therefore, he was a very forgiving person. Even before the creation of the organization for the defense of human rights today called "Amnesty International," the Prophet had already taught these values.

Page 12: The Prophet and peace

Nowadays, there is no organization that advocates peace which has not in one way or another imitated or is not inspired by the teachings of the Prophet. He is the first to do it to show that he is a man of peace. The religion of Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. A Muslim must not do harm to a fellow human being. Anyone who considers the Prophet a reference or a role model will see that he has taught during his life all the three values discussed here.

Page 13: Conclusion

He has taught about peace, tolerance, and forgiveness. Therefore, dear friends, our discussion will end here. The author of this discussion is Ustaaz Mataar Kamara from Ziguinchor, Casamance, Senegal