Sharing Love: Puspita East & West
There is No Coercion in Religion
Anastasia had just finished preparing lunch when Amir arrived at her residence. She has put all her ability to cook the best food for her husband who just returned from Friday prayers. With a beautiful smile, Asya greeted her husband warmly.
“Where are the streets the same as the children?” tanya Asya filled the silence at the dining table. Amir also looked. Friday is his day off. This morning, he went for a walk with Hanif and Sharif for hunting practice. This is a sport he has loved since childhood.
“Yes, they are busy playing, so do not get a single hunted animal,” replied Amir with a thin smile, “But, they can fish quite a lot of time fishing in the lake.”
“What are these fish also the result of their fishing?”Asya pointed at the grilled fish that was still warm at her dining table. Amir also nodded, “Iya, Syarif was very excited when he got it.She who can fish the most.”
“Wah, will I not be scolded by him?” Asya recalled the boy who was still not willing to let go of the enmity from her. In fact, he has often given Sharif snacks and delicious foods. Well, hide-and-seek.
“Ngak will really, especially if he tasted your delicious cuisine,” said Amir casually. Asya smiled hearing that. His heart always flowered every time he got that compliment. In silence, he was grateful to God for being given a good husband and care like Amir. He was happy even though he was second.
The lunch was finished quickly. After tidying up the dining table, Amir and Asya sat together in the living room while chatting casually. Holidays are the right days to release fatigue.
“It feels calm,” muttered Amir in a soft voice, “Usually children are still playing here right if the clock is this?”
“Yes, usually they just come home late in the afternoon if Kangmas is not here,” Asya replied while twisting his blonde hair. It felt a bit lonely because the two noisy boys did not visit here.
“Haha, they must have sapped out all day playing in the same forest lake,” Amir smiled calmly imagine his children are asleep, “They may have slept read the same story Ami.”
“Kids love stories huh?” Asya was curious. He again asked after Amir nodded, “What news usually?”
“At home there are many stories of prophets and apostles. There is also the saga of the friends,” Amir took a poci cup available at the table. After drinking a sip, he continued, “Hanif likes Sayyid Hamzah the most. If Syarif likes Hikayat Sahabat Uthman.”
“Emang story how?” Asya came up with a plan for Hanif and Sharif. He was still unable to get completely close to the two boys. They still emit an aura of hostility to him, especially Sharif who is very dear to his ummanya.
Amir did not answer Asya's question directly. He asked his second wife to slide a little to the corner of the long bench in the living room. After there was a place to spare by his side, Amir put his head in Asya's lap. His sudden actions left Asya a little surprised, but not protesting at all.
“Sayyid Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib is the uncle of Rasulullah SAW.,” Amir started his story. His eyes stared at the ceiling of the house as if his gaze could penetrate the time horizon. “He was a strong, strong, and respected person by the Quraysh, the largest tribe in the Arabian Peninsula at that time. His words will be heard by them and he is a firm man of his stance and speech.”
The news spread very quickly because Hamzah was a very influential person in Makkah City. Since his Islam with Umar bin Khattab, Islam began to be broadcast openly.
Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib participated in the most influential war in human history as a leader. It was a war of badr that had Allah not won Islam on that day, there would never have been a history of Islam. Persia will continue to compete with Rome. Perhaps they would have lasted longer had they not been arrogant against the Arabs under the auspices of Islam.
In the most historic war, Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib became one of the soldiers who participated in the duel at the beginning of the war. His victory raised the morale of the Muslim army and shook the hearts of the infidels.
In the next war, the Battle of Uhud which ended in a series, Hamzah also plunged there leading the army of the Muslims. Unfortunately, he was killed on the spearhead of a slave and brutally mutilated.
“He was the most dashing lion of Allah as well as the leader of the martyrs,” Amir closed his eyes, imagining how glorious Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib was by Allah's side, “Therefore, Hanif was very fond of his story. He wants to be a great commander like Hamzah.”
Asya so remember a doctrine about Islam that exhaled the religious leaders in his hometown first because Amir discussed about the war. However, she found that the doctrine was not true after living in the midst of the Muslims, let alone her husband who was a Muslim.
To this day, Asya has never been forced to convert to Islam. In religion there is no compulsion. He learned little by little about Islam by listening to Aminah and Amir. Now he is interested in learning more.
“Then people said that Islam was spread by sword and war. Is that true?” ask Asya spontaneously. He was never afraid again every time he asked something because he was sure that his new family was friendly and tolerant people.
“Obviously it is wrong,” replied Amir firmly, “Islam is spread with peace. Its spread is very massive along the trade route, even since ancient times in the early centuries the spread of Islam. Shiar tawhid religion that has touched every inch of the world, including the land of Java is very far from the Arabian Peninsula.”
“Then, what about the wars and conquests waged by the caliphs to date?” Asya asked for further explanation.
“War between Islam and the Persian Empire until they collapsed due to the tyranny of the kisra itself. He tore up the surah from the Prophet of Islam SAW., because of a trivial problem in the order of name,” explained Amir, “Kisra even declared war on Islam because he believed in his power, because he was afraid, the real power belongs only to God. Allah gives power to whomever he wills and takes power away from whomever he wills.”
“As for the war with Rome,” continued Amir after a moment of silence, “It started from the murder of an Islamic ambassador who the Prophet Muhammad SAW, sent to broadcast Islam to the Bushra leader. In international law, both past and present, the assassination of a country's ambassador is tantamount to the announcement of war. Therefore, the Prophet SAW., sent three thousand Muslim soldiers to fight against the Romans at Mu’tah. It was the first war between Rome and Islam in which three commanders of the Prophet Muhammad, died as martyrs and were replaced by Khalid bin Walid, the most brilliant commander who never lost in any war he led.”
“That is, had Islam not advanced at that time, surely Rome would have first sent an army to conquer Medina as the Persians intended,” Amir rose from the lap of his wife, “Islam does not impose its religion by the sword. War in Islam is an effort to defend yourself from the great enemies around it. In every city it opens, Islam guarantees the lives of its inhabitants. There will be no bloodshed. They simply convert to Islam or pay jizyah according to the law set.”
Asya blinked her eyes a few times after hearing the story. He also looked out the window. His eyes immediately swept over the beautiful scenery out there. There was a continuous peace going into his chest. As a soerang who has lived around the Muslims, he has felt that there is never any compulsion in their religion.
