مقدسات کا احترام اور امنِ عالم میں اس کا کردار: جرمِ توہینِ رسالت کے خصوصی مطالعے کی روشنی میں

Respect of Sanctities and its Role in Peace Making with Specific Reference to Blasphemy against the Prophet (SAW)

Abstract

Just like Islam, all religions have a set of beliefs and tenets. Islamic beliefs are sacred for Muslims, Moses and Torah are sacred for Jews, Jesus and Gospel are sacred for Christians. The same applies in the case of other religions too. Peaceful coexistence in a multi-religious and multicultural society necessitates refraining from insulting each other's sanctities. The Holy Qur'an forbids Muslims from abusing the gods of the polytheists, so that they would not pass insulting comments regarding Allah Almighty. On the other hand, the recent past has witnessed unexpected increase in the crimes of blasphemy at both national and international levels, which leads to riots every now and then. Accomplishing the mission of peace requires that all must hold respect for each other's sanctities and take care of their feelings towards their religious tenets.  Similarly, the members of the minority community living in Pakistan also have the responsibility to hold respect for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the Muslim community owes the responsibility to pay respect to their beliefs. It is also the duty of the international community to refrain from any action that hurts the feelings of one and a half billion Muslims for the sake of global peace. This paper discusses the principle of “respect of sanctities” in Islam and its role in peace-making in the multicultural world. In addition, in order to stop committing blasphemous acts, this paper will come up with certain measures and recommendations under the pretext of this principle. It will conclude the discussion with the responsibilities of individual Muslims, minority people, government and religious leaders in this regard.