A Hadith, which appears in several traditions, is cited in the Sahih al-Bukhari as follows:

Khabbab, a Companion, complained to the Prophet about the oppression and persecution by the unbelievers of Makkah. The Prophet said, that the believers of earlier times faced much greater persecution and oppression. But these difficulties did not prevent them from following the religion of God, By God! there will come a time which will be in favour of the religion of God. During this time a traveller will make a journey from Sana’a to Hadramaut (a distance of about 1000 miles) alone without any fear except the fear of God. This time is sure to come by the will of God but you are hastening for this period.

THIS Hadith highlights the mission of the Prophet of Islam to usher in a revolution resulting in establishing religious peace in the world. Religious intolerance and persecution of earlier times were to end. The results of his mission were to appear in stages, and not fully during the Prophet’s time.

The process began during the time of the Prophet. Religious persecution was sorted out first at the tribal level. It was gradually abolished de facto at the government level, through several stages. In the mid-20th century, the United Nations Organisation (UNO) was established. Under its aegis, representatives of every country pledged religious tolerance at the international level and ensured that no one would be made a victim of religious persecution.

Violence involves two (or more) people—one who engages in violence, and one who is victimised. Earlier, religion was considered as a state subject and the only legitimate religion was the official religion, the religion of the state. Practicing any other religion was considered a crime synonymous with rebellion against the state. Such bigoted attitudes perpetrated religious persecution.

Monarchs did not allow dissension, with any opposition being perceived as a threat to their rule; and hence did not tolerate it. This state of affairs was against God’s Creation Plan. God wants that in matters of religion, every person should enjoy freedom to choose their own path. The Prophet of Islam and his followers were commanded to end religious persecution (THE QURAN 8:39), and allow such natural conditions that God desires to prevail among people.

This plan of God is referred to in the above-cited Hadith. It says that in accordance with God’s decision, religious freedom must be established and religious persecution be rooted out for ever. With the age of religious freedom well established in the 20th century, no one faces persecution any more. Only those individuals or groups engaging in unnecessary violence will face violence, giving their opponents the opportunity to engage in retaliatory violence. One who engages in violence will face retaliatory violence, irrespective of whether he does it in the name of religion or any other name.