Islam preaches a system of love of all mankind to nations

" Islam preaches a system of love of all mankind to nations"

By: Riaz A. Siddiqui

Source : http://www.islamic- ef.org/english/ love.htm

AN INDIVIDUAL establishes an identity of his own through his appearance,
disposition and his behaviour. So do nations. A nation becomes a distinct entity through its special characteristics and collective attitudes. Every nation has its own identity, which distinguishes it from other nations. A host of factors combine to determine the special disposition of a nation.
The territory that is the habitat of the nation is an important factor, its climate, its topography, its modes of production, its natural resources and its crops - all of these are determinants. But the single most important
factor that establishes a nation's identity is its collective ethos.
Whether a race is earmarked for ascendancy or decadence depends upon
the character of its people.
A dynamic, patriotic and altruistic nation is generally expected to achieve eminence and glory. A listless and insensitive nation, on the other hand, is bound to become a victim of its inertia and end up in ignominy.
It is the law of nature and the will of Almighty Allah to give to nations what they have earned through ceaseless efforts or inertia or lack of moral strength. The return of the righteous work is honour and glory and the retribution of evil deeds is shame and deprivation. In the eyes of God, all nations and races are equal. No nation is supreme as compared to another.
If there is any criterion for ascendancy, it is true faith and righteousness.
The Holy Quran testifies: "We destroyed the generations before you when
they did wrong; and their messengers (from Allah) came unto them with
clear proofs (of His sovereignty) but they would not believe. Thus do
we reward the guilty folk" (10:13).
In the same chapter, the next verse says "Then We appointed you viceroys in the earth after them, that We might see how ye behave" (10:14).
Exegesis of the Holy Quran says that annihilation does not necessarily mean that a particular race will be totally destroyed. What it means is that a nation that forgets the lessons of the Holy Book will be consigned to the dustbin of the history with its culture and achievements made ineffective. It will be forced to lose its identity and will have to merge with other nations having forfeited its right to exist on its own.
It is the law of Allah as the second verse quoted above has revealed that once a race or a nation falls below the minimum level of moral rectitude, God brings forward another nation to take its place.
The Holy Quran in many verses ascribes the fall of the nations to their
addictions to injustice and cruelty - which shows that the worst crime
that nations can commit is callousness which means 'injustice'.
Those who are addicted to cruelty and injustice find little that is worth in
other people. They are not prepared to stand anything against their whim or disposition, however, wholesome or healthy it may be.
As opposed to this, nations that do not practice cruelty or transgress the
laws of nature and instructions conveyed through the Holy Book and the
Prophets, do not trip and fall into the mire of inequity and moral debasement. They defend virtue and truth and follow the path of justice
and moderation.
Self sacrifice, sympathy, compassion and giving of succour to the needy are an integral part of a nation's collective conduct and character.
Forgiveness and understanding of human frailty are high among values that constitute a nation's ethos.
Islam teaches high ideals of forever engagement in righteous and ennobling
endeavour. Members of each nation are like brothers unto one another. And in their war against untruth and injustice, they are hard as steel. They always speak the truth, and they are willing to hear the truth,howsoever bitter or contrary to their own perspective it may be. Muslim nations should subscribe to the concept of human equality and brotherhood. They should not hurt each other by word or deed. They should think of themselves as servants, and not masters.
A brief purview of the history of different nations will bring into focus the fact that harsh, unkind, and proud nations have been punished with the wrath of nature and whatever noble deeds they might have committed
are forgotten by the incumbent generations. The gist of all the commandments of Almighty Allah is to establish justice and truth in our
society and to show to the world that God has given to humans a system
which is eternally viable and based on the principles of human equality, social justice and universal love for all of mankind.
Men and women are bestowed with wisdom which enables them of doing both the good and the evil. If one shows a charitable disposition and guards
against evil and adopts the path of righteousness, he should be facilitated to achieve good ends, but if he behaves otherwise, it will inevitably lead to his ruin and destruction.
A person's destiny is within the knowledge of God. He knows for sure
which course a person should adopt on a particular occasion but he is not forced to act in a specific manner. This confirms that men and women are ultimately responsible for their own behaviour and since a society or nation comprise of individuals, instead of throwing blame on the lot, we should, as individuals strive to remain pious throughout our lives and pray for a good end thereof.

Source : http://www.islamic- ef.org/english/ love.htm