HUMANISM AND LOVE OF HUMANITY

Love is not only one of the most frequently talked about issues today, it is also one of the most essential issues. Actually, love is the rose in our belief, a realm of the heart that never withers. Above all else, just as God wove the universe like lace on the loom of love, the most magical and charming music in the bosom of existence is always love. The strongest relationship among individuals that forms family, society, and nation is love. Universal love shows itself throughout the cosmos in the fact that each particle helps and supports every other particle.

This is true to such an extent that the most dominant factor in the spirit of existence is love. As an individual of the universal chorus, almost every creature acts and behaves in its own style, according to the magical tune it has received from God, in a melody of love. However, this exchange of love from existence to humanity and from one creature to another takes place beyond their will, because the Divine Will completely dominates them.

From this perspective, humankind “consciously” participates in this symphony of love that is being played in existence. By developing the love in their true nature, human beings investigate how they can demonstrate it in a human way. Therefore, without misusing the love in their spirit and for the sake of the love in their own nature, every person should offer real help and support to others. They should protect the general harmony that has been put in the spirit of existence, considering both the natural laws and the laws that have been made to govern human life.

Humanism is a doctrine of love and humanity which is articulated recklessly these days, and it has a potential to be easily manipulated through different interpretations. Some circles try to impose an abstract and unbalanced understanding of humanism by confusing people about jihad in Islam and awakening suspicion in their hearts. It should be difficult to reconcile with humanism the strange behavior of championing  “pity and mercy” for those who are involved in anarchy and terror to demolish the unity of a country, for those who have heartlessly murdered innocent people as a part of centuries-long activities that are aimed at destroying the welfare of a nation, and even more horribly, for those who do this in the name of religious values, and those who recklessly accuse Islam of allowing terrorist attacks.

Every believer should follow God’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, in communicating the truth. They should never give up conveying to people the principles of happiness in both worlds. The Companions, who as a community were a vivid example of the truth embodied by the Prophet, became examples of moderation and balance in every matter.

Some remarkable people from the fortunate generation that immediately followed the Companions went to the Caliph to learn what their punishment would be if they accidentally stepped on a grasshopper. When we look at the outer walls of our mosques and minarets that radiate light, we see tiny holes made for birds to nest in; this is an expression of the depth of the love of our ancestors. History is intertwined with such tremendously humane acts; acts that protected animals as well as people.

In the framework of Islam’s universal principles, the consideration and idea of love is very balanced. Oppressors and aggressors have denied this love, because just as love and mercy shown to oppressors makes them more aggressive, it also encourages them to violate the rights of others. For this reason, mercy should not be shown to people who threaten universal love. Mercy shown to an oppressor is the most merciless act toward the oppressed. However, we should show mercy for those who lapse unintentionally or feel remorse for their wrong. The Prophet said:

Help your brothers whether they are oppressors or victims. You can help oppressors by making them stop their oppression (to others).

1 Love and Mercy 9 1 Bukhari, Mazalim, 4; Tirmidhi, Fitan, 68.