The Month of the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) Birth - Live and Let Live: A Qur’anic Perspective on Judgment and Mercy

Epigraph

“And they rejected them, though their souls were convinced thereof, out of injustice and arrogance. So see how was the end of the corrupters.”
— Qur’an 27:14

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Human history is full of examples where judgments about faith, loyalty, and sincerity were misused by people against one another. Yet, the Qur’an reminds us that the matters of the heart are known only to Allah. No human being — regardless of knowledge or authority — has access to the unseen reality of another person’s belief. 

One of the most telling episodes in early Islamic history comes from the time when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself was faced with the death of ʿAbdullāh ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl, the leader of the hypocrites in Medina. Despite ibn Ubayy’s notorious opposition to the Prophet and his role in spreading hypocrisy, the Prophet ﷺ led his funeral prayer and even gave his cloak to shroud him. This act demonstrated the Prophet’s boundless compassion and his hope for reconciliation, even for those who hurt him most.

Shortly afterward, revelation came:

“And never offer the prayer over any of them who has died, and do not stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.”
— Qur’an 9:84

Why was the Prophet prohibited in this specific case? The Qur’an itself makes it clear: Allah alone knows the matters of the heart. The Prophet ﷺ received revelation that exposed the inner reality of certain individuals, and as a Messenger, he was guided directly by divine knowledge.

But this leads us to a profound realization for today: revelation has ended. In 2025, the institution of prophethood is closed in all its manifestations. No one today receives divine revelation to know who a believer, a hypocrite, or an apostate is truly. That door is forever closed.

This means that while in the Prophet’s time hypocrisy was identified by revelation, in our age, we cannot and must not declare anyone an infidel, hypocrite, or apostate. All such verdicts require knowledge of the heart — and the heart is the domain of Allah alone.

Moreover, we must acknowledge that many people today may struggle with doubts — not always from malice, but because of the poor presentation and representation of Islam by Muslims and even by some scholars. Faith is delicate, and its flame must be nurtured with compassion, not extinguished with judgment.

The Qur’an’s lesson is timeless: our role is not to declare and condemn, but to live with mercy, patience, and tolerance. Instead of imitating the harshness of those who take it upon themselves to excommunicate others, we should adopt the Prophet’s generosity of spirit.

As the Qur’an shows in the case of Pharaoh — “They rejected them, though their souls were convinced thereof…” (27:14) — it is only Allah who knows the inner testimony of a person’s conscience. Humans see only words and actions, but God alone sees the hidden truth of belief.

In a world already torn by division, perhaps the truest Islamic ethic we can embody is not “Live and Let Die” — as the famous movie title suggests — but “Live and Let Live.” To allow space for others, to tolerate difference, and to leave ultimate judgment to the One who alone knows the hearts.

Aamir Yazdani
MPhil Islamic Thought & Civilization (Pakistan)
MSc Irrigation Engineering (UK)

Hagia Sophia and God’s Spirit of Coexistence

 Epigraph:

“…monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, wherein the name of God is much celebrated, would surely have been destroyed…” (Qur’an 22:40)

Reading Time: 6 minutes

During my visit to Istanbul, I visited Hagia Sophia and had some thoughts to share with you. 

The majestic dome of Hagia Sophia has witnessed over fifteen centuries of human devotion. Originally constructed as a church under Emperor Justinian I in 537 AD, this sacred space later became a mosque during the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. For nearly a century, from 1935 to 2020, it served as a museum, a neutral ground where all could appreciate its beauty. Today, as visitors enter this historic structure, the image of Christ still greets them at the entrance, creating a poignant reminder of the building's layered spiritual heritage.

History offers us remarkable examples of religious tolerance, particularly in the figure of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab. Under his leadership, as both the Roman and Persian Empires came under Islamic rule, not a single church was forcibly converted into a mosque. This approach wasn't merely political pragmatism; it reflected a deeper understanding of divine will and human dignity.

A striking example of his foresight is found in Jerusalem. When offered the chance to pray inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Caliph Umar declined—not because he could not, but because he feared that future generations might misuse his action as a precedent to claim the Church as a mosque. Instead, he prayed outside, and the small Mosque of Umar was later built at that very spot. To this day, it stands beside the Church as a living testament to his vision of coexistence and his commitment to protecting the sanctity of Christian worship.

Caliph Umar's restraint demonstrates that true strength lies not in the ability to dominate others' sacred spaces, but in the wisdom to preserve them. His reign showed that Muslims could expand their faith while simultaneously protecting the religious heritage of others, creating a model of coexistence that honored the sanctity of all genuine worship.

God makes this a topic in the Qur’an when He mentions the places of worship of Christians and Jews before naming mosques in (22:40), emphasizing that these are places where God’s name is much celebrated (refer Epigraph above). It is pertinent to note that God mentions ‘mosques’ at the end of this Qur’an verse.

This Quranic acknowledgment suggests that the conversion of churches, synagogues, or monasteries into mosques may actually contradict the very principle the Quran establishes: that God's name finds expression in diverse forms of worship across different faith communities.

The Quran offers profound insight into why religious diversity exists in the first place. Allah tells us that had He willed, He could have made all humanity one ummah (community), but He chose diversity as a test for us. This divine choice suggests that our differences—including our religious differences—serve a purpose in the greater scheme of creation:
“Had God willed, He could have made you one community, but [He did not] in order to test you in what He has given you. So compete with one another in good works. To God you will all return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you differed.” (Qur’an 5:48)

The famous verse "There is no compulsion in religion, for truth stands out clear from error" (2:256) reinforces this principle. If God Himself has decreed no compulsion in matters of faith, how can we justify actions that effectively erase or diminish the sacred spaces of other faith communities?

The most profound act of faith may well be recognizing that God's name is truly celebrated in many forms, across many traditions, and within many sacred walls. Our task is not to homogenize these expressions but to ensure they all have space to flourish.

In doing so, we honor not only the divine principle of diversity but also the trust that sacred spaces represent, a trust that transcends any single faith community and speaks to our shared humanity before the Divine.

True tolerance isn't just about allowing others to exist; it's about actively protecting their right to worship God according to their conscience, in spaces that hold deep meaning for their communities. This is the test of our time, and how we respond will define our spiritual legacy for generations to come.

Our domain is clearly defined by God:
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.” (16:125)

Faith is strong when it respects the faith of others. The vision of Caliph Umar—who safeguarded churches and even chose to pray outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre so its sanctity would never be compromised—remains a shining example. If only we, in our own age, could embody that same wisdom.

I wish the Turks would restore the Hagia Sophia to its original status as a church, not as a sign of weakness but as the highest expression of strength: a strength that comes from faith, respect, and trust in God’s will for human diversity.

— Aamir Iqbal Yazdani
MPhil in Islamic Thought and Civilization (Pakistan)
MSc in Irrigation Engineering (UK)