The Verses of Jihad: Meaning, Denotation, Reason of Revelation and Background- Part 2
By
Badruddoja Razvi Misbahi, New Age Islam
6
April 2021
The
Verse of Jihad (9:5) Out of 26 Verses Presented by Wasim Rizvi in Supreme
Court: Meaning and Context
Main
Points Discussed in This Part
1. The Verses of the Quran are Unchangeable
2. The Qur'an does not involve any
interference of the three caliphs
3. Reason of revelation and background of the
Quranic verse 9:5
4. Mushrikin mentioned in the Quranic verse
9:5 do not refer to the common infidels and polytheists, but only to the Arab
polytheists
5. Proofs from the Reliable sources of Tafsir
on the meaning of Mushrikin
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Wasim
Rizvi has recently filed a PIL in the Supreme Court against the 26 verses of
jihad mentioned in the eternal unchangeable Holy Qur'an and made an
illegitimate demand to remove these verses from the Holy Qur'an by declaring
these verses as the result of a mixture of the three caliphs (May Allah be
pleased with them). This is not a new stratagem. This is what the Vishwa
Hindu Parishad did two decades ago by publishing and distributing
a pamphlet on a large scale from its office. But the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad also did not dare to go to the Supreme Court and challenge the
holy Qur'an, but today its follower Wasim Rizvi has filed a petition in the
Supreme Court against these verses, which not only surprised the Muslim world
but also stirred up their quiet emotions.
By
denying the basic beliefs of the Deen (Religion of Islam), he has made
it clear that he is not a Muslim anymore. Today, even the centers of Shiite
scholars and Shaykhs are massively calling him an apostate for his immoral
act. Therefore, they are worthy of congratulations. Even Wasim Rizvi’s younger
brother gave a speech in a very heartfelt tone with his family, mother,
brother, and sister and announced his no-relation with him, which we welcome.
Now
we will present these objectionable verses one after the other, then in the
light of the authentic commentaries, we will shed light on their meanings and
denotations, reason of revelation, and background so that it becomes clear that
Islam is the religion of humanity and divine law. This is not the manipulated
work of any human being. The Qur'an is an eternal unalterable book revealed by
God Almighty which is free from all kinds of additions and addendum.
Absolutely, the Qur'an does not involve any interference of the three
caliphs or the four or any other human being. All its provisions, generalities,
and details are in accordance with the requirements of nature and this is safe
from any kind of cutting, trimming, excess, and loss. This will always be safe
from any fabrication. The Qur'an calls for reconciliation, tranquility, peace,
and order. This has nothing to do with terrorism and terror.
Contradictory
verses of jihad and their meaning
فَاِذَا انۡسَلَخَ الۡاَشۡھُرُ
الۡحُرُمُ فَاقۡتُلُوا الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ حَیۡثُ وَجَدۡتُّمُوۡھُمۡ وَ
خُذُوۡھُمۡ وَ احۡصُرُوۡھُمۡ وَ اقۡعُدُوۡا لَھُمۡ کُلَّ مَرۡصَدٍ ۚ فَاِنۡ
تَابُوۡا وَ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اٰتَوُا الزَّکٰوۃَ فَخَلُّوۡا
سَبِیۡلَھُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ (Tawbah,
verse 5) Then when the sacred months have passed, strike the polytheists
wherever you find them, and seize them and imprison them, and watch over them
everywhere. Then if they repent and perform prayer and pay the alms, then leave
them alone. Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (Kunzul Iman)
Here
you should know that most of the verses related to jihad objected by the
anti-Islamic forces are connected to Surah At-Tawbah. So, first of all,
it is important to know here the circumstances and reasons for the revelation
of Surah At-Tawbah.
The revelation
of the first 30 or 40 verses of Surah At-Tawbah took place in 9th AH
after the conquest of Makkah. The Muslims, with the permission of Allah
Almighty and the consent of the Holy Prophet had made a truce with the
polytheists of Makkah and other Arab tribes. It was necessary for both
sides to abide by this covenant. Muslims kept this promise. But the polytheists
of Makkah and the Arab tribes broke the covenant except for the Banu
Zamra and the Banu Kanana, which are explicitly mentioned in verse 4
of Surah At-Tawbah. Even they also set aside the last treaty of the
Peace of Hudaybiyyah. The provisions of the Peace of Hudaybiyyah
were apparently pointing to the weakness of the Muslims.
In
this advanced age, the non-Muslim world also respects the treaty and makes the
treaty obligatory in all circumstances. In Islam, the treaty has been strongly
emphasized. The holy Qur'an has commanded to fulfill the covenant
several times. Even it has also been said that you should fulfill the covenant.
Surely the covenant will be questioned. وَاَوۡفُوۡا
بِالۡعَهْدِ لأنَّ الۡعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسۡؤُلًا
(Bani Isra'il, verse 34).
But
obviously, when one party breaks the covenant, the covenant is automatically
broken, and the same thing happened to the peace-treaty of Hudaybiyyah.
When the pagans of Makkah broke their promise, the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) sent Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi allahu anhu)
to Makkah on the occasion of Hajj in 9th, AH, making him the Emir of Hajj.
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered a sermon on
the day of Tarwiyah (8th / Dhul-Hijjah) in which he explained the
rites of Hajj. On the day of Nahr 10th / Dhul-Hijjah, addressing the
polytheists of Makkah at the valley of Jamrah, Hazrat Ali (May
Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “O people! I have come to you as the
messenger of the Prophet (peace be upon him)”. The polytheists said: “What
message have you brought for us?” In response, Hazrat Ali recited the first 30 or
40 verses of Surah At-Tawbah and said: “I have come to you
with the command of four things. (1) After this year, no polytheists will come
to the Ka'bah. (2) No one should circumambulate the Ka'bah being
naked. (3) No one will enter Paradise except the believers. (4) The covenant of
every Dhimmi will be fulfilled.”
The
above statement makes it clear that the polytheists who are commanded in verse
5 to be killed or fought after the passing of holy months do not refer to the
common infidels and polytheists, but only to the Arab polytheists who not only
broke the covenant with the Muslims but also spent their filthy efforts to
violate the call of Islam, as the commentator Abi Saud in his commentary on the
verse “فاقتلوا المشرکین” says, “الناكثين خاصة
فلا يكون قتال الباقين مفهما عن عبارة النص بل من دلالته”,
that is, “the word Mushrikin in the verse 9:5 specifically refers to Nakithin,
those who violated peace treaties by violating war against the Muslims. So
other Mushrikin will not be fought as it is clear from the direct
meaning of the text of the verse, as well as from the Dalalat al-Nass’
(i.e. a situation where the literal meaning of any word is dropped due to the
context and structure of the text) [Tafsir Abi Saud vol. 4,
p. 43]
Sahib-i-Madarik
has also given the same commentary on it, saying: “الذین
نقضوکم و ظاھروا علیکم” Those who
violated you and attacked upon you" [Tafsir al-Nusafi, vol.
2, p. 166, Asahhul Mata'biy, Mumbai]
Rather,
in this Surah, from the beginning to the end, the address is meant for the
disbelievers and the polytheists who did not keep their promise of
peace-treaty. The commentator Abi Saud says in the commentary of the next
verse: المراد بالمشرکین الناکثون لان
البراءۃ انما ھی فی شانھم, What is meant by
the polytheists are truce violators because innocence is only in their affairs.
[ Also, p. 44]
From
these authentic and reliable commentaries, it becomes clear that the command to
kill the polytheists and infidels, mentioned in the verse 9:5 does not refer to
the common infidels, polytheists, and fellow citizens and brothers of India, as
Wasim Rizvi and anti-Islamic elements are propagating, but it refers to the
polytheists of Makkah and the Arab tribes of the Covenant who committed
heinous crimes such as murder, betrayal, and breach of covenant with the
Muslims. The Qur'an does not advocate shooting with AK-47 at innocent people or
other people while walking for no reason, making hundreds of children orphaned
and snatching honeycomb from the heads of hundreds of women. The Qur'an claims
that if a human being took the life of any human being for no reason,
regardless of his religion, as if he was the killer of all human beings on
earth, and if anyone saved the life of any oppressed, weak and feeble human
being, so it is as if he worked to save the lives of all human beings on earth.
The Qur'an says مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ
أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِيَ الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ
َأحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا , Whoever kills a
soul without exchange for life or causes corruption on the earth, it is as if
he has killed all the people, and whoever burns one soul, it is as if he has
burnt all the people (Kanzul-Iman). If the Islamic system of governance is in
any place, the lives, property, and rights of the non-Muslim minority is as
secure as the lives, property, and rights of the Muslim majority. They also
have the same right to practice their religion and build a place of worship as
the Muslim majority do have, as the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) said: " مَنْ قَتَلَ
مُعَاهِدًا فِي غَيْرِ كُنْهِهِ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ" (Al-Mustadrak Lil-Hakim, V: 2, p .: 142, Book of the Al
Fai, Dar Al-Maarif, Beirut, Lebanon) Whoever kills a person of treaty other
than his own, God forbids Paradise for him.
In
another place, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
said:" مَنْ قَتَلَ نفسا مُعَاهَدۃ لَمْ
يَرَحْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لیوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ خمسمائۃ
عام " He who kills a person with whom there
is an agreement of peace will not take the smell of paradise, and the smell of
it is found from the journey of five hundred years. (Collection of Al-Jawami`
Lil-Suyuti, V: 9, p. 721, Dar Al-Sa`adah,)
The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reprimanding the one who
breaks covenant after making it, in the following way: " اِن الغادِر یُنصب لہ لواء یوم القیامۃ فیقول ھذہ غدرۃ فلان بن
فلان" , (Collection of Al Jawami` Lil-Suyuti, V: 8, p. 370, Dar
al-Sa`adah,) Indeed, a sign will be raised on the Day of Resurrection for the
one who broke the covenant and it will be said that he betrayed such and such a
person.
Once
a Muslim who had killed a non-Muslim with whom there was an agreement of peace,
was presented before Hazrat Ali (May Allah be pleased with him). When
the evidence of killing was presented, Hazrat Ali commanded this Muslim
to be executed. Then the victim’s brother came and said, “Don’t kill him! I
have forgiven him”. On this Hazrat Ali said, “Maybe that these people
have threatened and terrorized you?. He said, No. they have murdered my brother
and now I can’t get my brother back. They have offered me blood money and I
have accepted it. Then Hazrat Ali told the non-Muslim, “You know very
well that " من كان له ذمتنا فدمه كدمنا وديته كديتنا” that is, for a person who is under our protection, his life
also has the same sanctity that ours has and his blood money is equal to our
blood money” [Al-Sunan Al-Kubra Lil-Baihqi, V: 8, p .: 63, Al-Jarrah Al-Hadith
Book: 15934, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, Lebanon]. The Arabic version of
this narration is: من كان له ذمتنا فدمه كدمنا وديته
كديتنا
(Continuing)
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Maulana Badruddoja Razvi Misbahi,
Principal of Madrasa Arabia Ashrafia Zia-ul-Uloom Khairabad, District Mau, UP
(India) is a Sufi-minded, well-mannered, classical Islamic scholar, an expert
teacher, an excellent writer, a good poet and orator. He has authored numerous
books, some of which are as follows: 1) Fazilat-e-Ramazan, 2) Zad-ul-Haramain,
3) Mukhzin-e-Tib, 4) Tauzeehat-e-Ahsan, the commentary on the well-known logical book “Mulla Hasan” 5)
Muhazarat fi Halle Qutbi Tasawwurat, 6) Tahzib al-Faraid commentary on “Sharh
al-Aqaid”, 7)Atayib al-Tahani fi Halle Mukhtasar al-Ma’ani, 8) Commentary on
Sahih Muslim
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English
Part -1: The Verses of Jihad: Meaning, Denotation,
Reason of Revelation and Background- Part 1
URL: https://newageislam.com/debating-islam/the-verses-jihad-meaning,-denotation,-part-2/d/124657
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