DO NOT CAUSE HARM TO OTHER PEOPLE: 16

THE EVIDENCE FOR PROHIBITION OF CAUSING HARM TO NON-MUSLIMS

It is narrated in the Holy Quran that when Hazrat Musa AS (Moses) lived in Egypt under the reign of Pharaoh, and the whole nation besides Hazrat Musa AS was involved in disbelief (Kufr), there was a fight between an Israelite and an Egyptian. Hazrat Musa AS punched that Egyptian which unintentionally resulted in his death. Even though that Egyptian was a non-believer Hazrat Musa deemed his death a sin for himself and said,

“Moreover, they have (levelled) a charge of offence against me, and I fear they will kill me;” [26:14]

The question is that the Egyptian was a non-believer, and killing a non-believer is part of Jihad. Then why did Hazrat Musa AS deem it a sin for himself and did Istighfar (asking Allah Ta’alah for forgiveness)? The reason was that even though that Egyptian was a non-believer but at that time the Israelites and the Egyptians were living in peace with each other. If Muslims and non-Muslims are living with each other and there is peace between them, then non-Muslims have all the same rights under Shariah for their worldly affairs as do Muslims. Just like it is unlawful under Shariah to cause any sort of harm to a Muslim, similarly it is unlawful under Shariah to cause any sort of harm to a non-Muslim, as it is their basic right as a human being. The first duty of a person is to become a good human being. Becoming a Muslim and a Sufi comes next, and it is a basic rule of humanity that a human being should not cause harm to another human being. The rights of Muslimas and non-Muslims are no different in this regard.

From the talk “Do not cause harm to other people” by Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani DB