Debunking Islamophobic and Jihadi Myths about 26 Wartime Verses: Part 1 on Verse 9:5
Removing
Misconceptions about 26 Wartime Verses of the Quran
Main
Points:
1. Verse 9:5
was revealed in the historical context of war between Muslims and the Pagans of
Makkah.
2. Verse 9:5 is
not to be applied to the present circumstances where there is the rule of law
that does not allow religious persecution.
3. The word
Mushrikin in verse 9:5 refers to those who violated the peace treaty and
attacked Muslims.
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By
Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
26 March
2022
Some people
have recently objected to the 26 verses of the Holy Quran, despite the fact
that they were revealed in the historical context of war between Muslims and
the Pagans of Makka. Despite the fact that their appeals were rejected by the
Supreme Court, some social media users continue to circulate misleading
information about these verses. An ordinary student of theology, I have based my research and understanding of
these verses on articles and interpretations found on New Age Islam and other
publications. I hope people become more aware of the truth and refrain from spreading
false information, as lying is forbidden in all Dharmas and Belief systems.
The most
common and first verse used to spread false information is as follows:
“And when
the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them
and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of
ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give Zakah, let them
[go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (9:5)
This is one
of the verses of Surah Tawbah. It is necessary to comprehend the circumstances
and reasons for the revelation of Surah At-Tawbah before understanding this
verse.
According
to Mufti Badruddoja Razvi,
The first
30 or 40 verses of Surah At-Tawbah were revealed in the 9th AH after the
conquest of Makkah. With Allah Almighty's permission and the Holy Prophet's
approval, the Muslims arranged a peace covenant with the polytheists of Makkah
and other Arab tribes. Both sides had to adhere to this covenant. Muslims were
true to their word. The polytheists of Makkah and Arab tribes broke the
contract, with the exception of the Banu Zamra and Banu Kanana, who are
expressly listed in verse 4 of Surah At-Tawbah. They also disregarded the
Hudaybiyyah Peace-Treaty. The Hudaybiyyah Peace Conditions appeared to be
pointing to the vulnerability of the Muslims.
In the
current day and age, the non-Muslim world accepts the pact and considers it
binding in all circumstances. The treaty has received a lot of attention in
Islam. Several times in the Holy Qur'an, it is ordered to keep the covenant. It
has also been stated that you must keep the covenant. The covenant will
undoubtedly be called into question. (17:34)
However,
when one side breaks a covenant, the covenant is immediately broken, as was the
case with the Hudaybiyyah peace contract. When the pagans of Makkah failed to
keep their commitment, the Prophet (peace be upon him) dispatched Hazrat Abu
Bakr to Makkah on the occasion of Hajj in the ninth Hijra, appointing him Emir
of Hajj. On the day of Tarwiyah (8th Dhul-Hijjah), Hazrat Abu Bakr
Siddiq preached a discourse in which he detailed the Hajj procedures.
Addressing the polytheists of Makkah in the valley of Jamrah on the 10th of
Dhul-Hijjah, Hazrat Ali said:
“O People!
I have come to you as the Messenger of the Prophet (peace be upon him)."
The polytheists enquired, "What message have you brought for us?"
After reciting the first 30 or 40 verses of Surah At-Tawbah, Hazrat Ali
announced, "I have come to you with the command of four things." (1)
After this year, no polytheists will visit the Kaaba. (2) Circumambulating the
Kaaba while naked is prohibited. (3) Only those who believe will be permitted
to enter Paradise. (4) Each Dhimmi's covenant must be honoured.”
The above
statement clarifies that the polytheists who are commanded in verse 5 to be
killed or fought after the passing of holy months refer 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
writes in his commentary on the verse, "the word Mushrikin in verse 9:5
specifically refers to Nakithin. As it is obvious from the straight
meaning of the verse, as well as the Dalalat al-Nass' (i.e. a scenario
in which the literal meaning of any word is discarded due to the context and
structure of the text), no other Mushrikin will be battled.” [Abi Saud's
Tafsir, vol. 4, p. 43]
The author
of Tafsir-e-Madarik commented on it as well, saying, "The word Mushrikin
refers to those who violated the peace treaty and attacked upon you.” [Tafsir
al-Nusafi, vol. 2, p. 166]
The
instruction to murder the polytheists and infidels contained in verse 9:5 does
not pertain to common infidels, polytheists, and fellow citizens and brothers
of India, according to these legitimate and credible commentators. However, it
refers to the polytheists of Makkah and the Covenant Arab tribes who committed
horrific crimes against the Muslims, such as murder, treason, and breach of
covenant.
The Qur'an
does not encourage shooting individuals with AK-47s while walking for no
reason, or orphaning hundreds of children, or plucking honeycomb off the heads
of hundreds of women. According to the Qur'an, if a human being kills another
human being for no reason, regardless of religion, he is a killer of all human
beings on earth, and if a human being saves the life of an oppressed, weak, and
feeble human person, he is a saver of all human beings on earth.
The lives,
property, and rights of non-Muslim minorities are as secure as the lives,
property, and rights of the Muslim majority wherever the Islamic system of
governance is in effect. They must have the same freedom to exercise their
religion and construct a house of worship as the Muslim majority, since the
Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, “Whoever murders a person of a treaty
other than his own, God prevents him from entering Paradise.” (Al-Mustadrak
Lil-Hakim, V: 2, p. 142)
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) also said, “He who kills a person with whom there is a
peace pact will not take the smell of paradise, which is found after a
five-hundred-year voyage.” (Al-Jawami` Lil-Suyuti, V: 9, p. 721)
“Indeed, a
sign will be raised on the Day of Resurrection for the one who violated the
covenant, and it will be claimed that he betrayed such and such a person,” the
Prophet (peace be upon him) says of the one who breaks covenant after forming
it. (Al Jawami` Lil-Suyuti, V: 8, p. 370)
A Muslim
who had killed a non-Muslim with whom there had been a peace accord was once
brought before Hazrat Ali (May Allah be pleased with him). When the evidence of
murder was revealed, Hazrat Ali ordered that this Muslim be put to death.
"Don't kill him!" exclaimed the victim's brother. “I'm sorry, but
I've forgiven him.” Hazrat Ali speculated, “Perhaps these guys have intimidated
and terrorised you?” He responded, “No, they murdered my brother, and now I
can't bring him back. They offered me blood money, which I gladly accepted.”
Hazrat Ali explained to the non-Muslim, “You know well well that a person under
our protection has the same sanctity as we do, 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)
See: The Verses of Jihad: Meaning,
Denotation, Reason of Revelation and Background- Part 2
In his
article consisting of five parts, Islamic scholar Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi says
This verse
“And kill them [Mushrikin] wherever you overtake them... (2:191)” was
revealed for the Makkans who tortured and persecuted the Muslims for about 14
years. The verse right before it says, “Fight in the cause of God only those
who fight you and do not commit aggression” (2:190). And the verse right after
it says, “But if they cease fighting, then let there be no hostility except
against the oppressors” (2:192). These verses were revealed because the Muslims
were afraid they would be attacked while on their sacred pilgrimage when
fighting is prohibited. The passage in context clearly prohibits fighting those
who are not fighting.” (Summarized: 'Kill Them Wherever You Find Them (2:191)': What Quran
Actually Means By This Command?)
Also Read: Refuting ISIS While Interpreting the Quranic Verse
‘Kill the Mushrikin Wherever You Find Them’
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Kaniz
Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/debunking-islamophobic-myths-wartime-/d/126653
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