Any law or commandment we find in the Holy Qurโan or the Holy Bible should teach us how to live together peacefully and maintain good relationships with one another. Religion should promote peace, morality, justice, and mutual respect rather than hatred and division.
Consider the commandment, โThou shalt not steal.โ What exactly does God possess that human beings can steal from Him? Stealing is wrong because it violates another person’s rights and undermines peaceful coexistence.
Similarly, consider the commandment, โThou shalt not commit adultery.โ Does God have a wife whom anyone can commit adultery with? No. Marriage and the responsibilities that come with it are human institutions through which people establish families and relationships. The commandment therefore guides human conduct and protects the values that sustain society.
The point is that many religious commandments provide moral guidance for human beings to live responsibly, respect one another, and maintain order in society.
Therefore, when we are encouraged to obey established laws and regulations, we must understand that such laws are intended to promote peaceful coexistence, protect people’s rights, and maintain order. We should not automatically interpret every law as an attempt to fight for God; rather, we should examine its purpose and understand how it affects human society.
To those who argue that nobody can fight for God, I ask: can we not see the importance of applying logic and reasoning when discussing religion, morality, and the law? We must learn to distinguish between defending our personal religious beliefs and respecting the laws that govern a country.
Both the Holy Bible and the Holy Qurโan contain teachings about respecting authority and maintaining order. The Bible, for example, speaks about respecting governing authorities in Romans 13:1, while the Qurโan, in Surah An-Nisa 4:59, instructs believers to obey Allah, the Messenger, and those in authority.
However, respecting authority does not mean that every action taken by those in power is automatically right. Laws and the actions of authorities can also be examined against the principles of justice, fairness, and human dignity.
My message is simple: let us learn to respect the laws of our country and stop encouraging people to defy the law without considering the consequences. The law should apply fairly to everyone, regardless of religion, tribe, social status, wealth, or political position.
Nobody should consider themselves above the law. Whether you are rich or poor, a religious leader or an ordinary citizen, a politician or a member of the public, the law should be administered fairly and impartially.
Religion should not be used as an excuse to promote disorder, hatred, or lawlessness. Instead, let us embrace wisdom, mutual understanding, justice, and peaceful coexistence.
After all, a society where people respect one another and obey just laws is a society where peace has a better chance of prevailing.
