subject	Relationships
topic	International
grade	Seven
time	30 minutes
objective	To enable students to understand the Islamic view on International relationships.
instructional material	Info Sheet 7A – International relationships Worksheet 7A – Foreign policies

INTRODUCTION

The sunnah (life/teachings) of Prophet Muhammed tells Muslims a very important principle of Islam, namely, that international matters will be dealt with according to international customs. In every age certain traditions are observed in matters of international relations. In modern times too there are many such customs to which the United Nations has now given a more organised form. All such customs and traditions should be held in the same respect as in non-Muslim countries. However, if any prevalent custom is clearly illegal, in terms of Islam, for instance, the offering of alcoholic drinks at international meetings, then Muslims believe that it should not to be observed.

DEVELOPMENT

Let the students read the Info Sheet.

REINFORCING ACTIVITIES

Let the students do the Worksheet.

INFO SHEET 7A – International Relations

During the final days of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) two Arabs claimed Prophethood. One of them, Musaylema sent a letter to the Prophet in 10 A.H. which read: "From Musaylema, messenger of God to Muhammad, messenger of God, peace be upon you. Later on, there should be no doubt about it that I have been associated with you in the matter of prophethood. Hence half the land belongs to me and half to the Quraysh (the most powerful tribe at that time)." Two messengers, called Ibn an-Nuwana and Ibn Usal, brought his letter to Medina. The narrator of this incident has this to say:

"When the messengers of Musaylema Kazzab, brought this letter, I heard the Prophet ask: ‘Do you also believe what Musaylema has to say?’ They replied in the affirmative. Then the Prophet said, "By God, if it were not the custom that the messengers should not be killed, I would have had you beheaded.’"

The narrator, Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud explained that after this incident a sunnah (custom) was established that messengers were not to be killed (Al-Bidayah wa’n-Nihayah, 5/51-52).

This sunnah of the Prophet tells Muslims a very important principle of Islam, namely, that international matters should be dealt with according to international customs. In every age certain traditions are observed in matters of international relations. In modern times too there are many such customs to which the United Nations has now given a more organized form. All such customs and traditions should be held in the same respect as in non-Muslim countries. However, if any prevalent custom is clearly illegal, in terms of Islam, for instance, the offering of alcoholic drinks at international meetings, then Muslims believe that it should not to be observed.

The basic guidance that is found in the Qur’an, where non-Muslims are addressed, is in these simple, on behalf of the Prophet: "for you your religion, and for me mine." (109)

This verse of the Qur’an coupled with other teachings in this connection amounts to a formula for mutual respect. It means that all believers, whatever their elected religion, must have due reverence for the religions adhered to by others.

The principle of mutual respect is a natural one and is to be found in all areas of civilised living. One of the major demands made by Islam is that this natural principle be upheld and acted upon by the adherents of different religions, so that societal structures may be strengthened by stable and enduring human relationships.

For the greater part of his life, the Prophet of Islam lived in a society where adherents of other religions existed side by side with believers in Islam. The Prophet’s behaviour towards them was invariably that of respect and tolerance.

At a time when the majority of the people of Mecca were still idolaters, his gave them the message of tawheed (unity of God) with love and kindness and, on the other, granted them all of their human rights. That is why the non-Muslims of Mecca had such great confidence in him—to the point of entrusting their belongings to his care. This they continued to do right up to the last days of his stay in Mecca. After he became a Prophet, he lived in Mecca for a period of thirteen years, later migrating to Medina, where he lived for ten years until his death. For about half of this period in Medina, he was living among people belonging to three religions — Muslims, Jews and idolaters. The Prophet devised a constitution for these people, known in history as Sahifa-e-Madina (Madina Charter).

This charter expressly mentioned that issues concerning these three groups living in Medina would be decided on the basis of their own religious traditions — those of Muslims according to their Islamic traditions, and those of idolaters and Jews according to their respective traditions. This principle of Islam was intended to apply at all places where Muslims lived along with adherents of other religions. This Sunnat, or practice of the Prophet, for a plural society carries the same moral authority as other of his practices.

Islam recognises no difference between Muslims and non-Muslims from the ethical standpoint. The rights granted to a Muslim are exactly the same as those granted to a non-Muslim.

A tradition gives an example of how this principle should in practice be followed. According to this tradition, when the Prophet was in Medina, he saw a funeral procession passing along a street. The Prophet was seated at that time. On seeing it, the Prophet stood up in deference to the deceased person. One of his companions said: "O God’s messenger, it was the funeral of a Jew (not a Muslim)." The Prophet replied: "Was he not a human being?"

This tradition of the Prophet of Islam tells us that every human being is worthy of respect. There might be differences between people in religion, culture and traditions but it is incumbent upon everyone to accord equal respect to other, as all men and women are creatures of one and the same God. All are descendants of Adam and Eve.

Everyone has certainly the right to adopt one religion according to his beliefs. But with that choice comes the ineluctable responsibility of giving respect in full measure to adherents of other faiths, giving them what is ethically their due.

Worksheet 7A – “Foreign” Policies

Look up the policies at your school– are all students allowed to perform their religious duties? Are there exceptions, for example in the area of dress code or holidays or in other areas (for example, can a Muslim student pray at school)?