Debunking Islamophobic and Jihadi Myths About 26 Wartime Verses Of Quran Considered Militant And Exclusivist: Part 2 On Verse 9:28
Responding
To Questions About The Impurity Of The Polytheists As Stated In Verse 9:28
Main
Points:
1. That the
polytheists are unclean refers to the polytheists of Makka.
2. The divine
declaration that "polytheists are unclean" alludes to their
polytheism, betrayal of peace treaties, and religious persecution.
3. This
prohibition has been interpreted by Hanafi, Shafii, Maliki and Hanbali in a
variety of ways.
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By
Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
30 March
2022
The
following verse is also used to incite anti-Islamic sentiment: “O you who
have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach
al-Masjid al-Haram after this, their [final] year. And if you fear privation,
Allah will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and
Wise”. (9:28)
Several
questions are raised with regard to the aforementioned verse. In this verse,
who are the polytheists mentioned? Why is it that polytheists are described as
unclean in this verse? Are they unclean physically or spiritually? Or are they
unclean only because of their polytheism and infidelity beliefs? Is it simply
forbidden for polytheists to enter al-Masjid al-Haram or all Masajid all over
the world? Is it permissible for them to attend al-Masjid al-Haram only on Hajj
and Umrah days, or also on other days? These are the questions I've addressed
in this section after reviewing the accessible materials, and none of the
points is mine; they're all drawn from popular Quranic interpretations.
Who are the
polytheists specifically mentioned in this verse? They are the polytheists of
Makkah who did not keep their peace deal, as indicated in the previous part.
Why is it
that polytheists are described as unclean in this verse? Why is it that
polytheists are described as unclean in this verse? Are they unclean physically
or spiritually? Or are they unclean only because of their polytheism and
infidelity beliefs? If you examine the various Quranic interpretations to
discover answers to these questions, it will become evident that the divine
declaration that "polytheists are unclean" alludes to their
polytheism, betrayal of peace treaties, and religious persecution.
Is it
simply forbidden for polytheists to enter al-Masjid al-Haram or all Masajid all
over the world? Is it permissible for them to attend al-Masjid al-Haram only on
Hajj and Umrah days, or also on other days? Yes, it was prohibited for
Mushrikin/Polytheists to enter al-Masjid al-Haram. This prohibition has been
interpreted in a variety of ways. According to Imam Abu Hanifah, it simply
prevents them from performing Hajj and Umrah, as well as from performing the ceremonies
of ignorance in the sacred precincts. However, Imam Shafii believes that they
have been barred from entering the Al-Masjid-Al-Haram for any reason. According
to Imam Malik, they are not only forbidden to enter Al-Masjid-Al-Haram but any
mosque. The latter viewpoint is not accepted by the majority of scholars and
Ulama.
According
to Mufti Badruddoja Razvi,
Impurity in this Quranic verse does not refer
to what comes to mind, such as urinating and excrement, as anti-Islamic
elements spread. Instead, impurity refers to their polytheism, which is
spiritually filthy, or it could be interpreted as they have been labelled
‘unclean’ because they do not perform proper purification and bathing (Taharat
and Ghusl, specific modes of purification described in Islam), and they do not
avoid impurity, as it is common to see them urinate standing up and without
avoiding urine splashes. They defecate in a small amount of water. Impurity has
been applied to them as a result of these factors. This verse does not imply that
they are as filthy as urination and excrement, as Abi Saud clarifies in his
commentary. (Tafsir Abi Saud vol. 4, p. 57)
In his
commentary on Sahih Muslim, under the chapter "The evidence that a Muslim
is not unclean," Imam Nawawi said, "The disbeliever has the same
decree as the Muslim." This is also the Shaafii view and the majority of
the pious predecessors and successors (Salaf and Khalaf).
"Polytheists are unclean" the scripture adds, referring to the
impurity of polytheism and infidelity of the polytheists and disbelievers. This
isn't to say that their limbs are unclean, as urine and excrement are.”
In the
verse “So after this year they would not be allowed to come near the Sacred
Mosque after this year (9:28),” the Quran commands Muslims to keep infidels and
polytheists of the Makka from entering the Sacred Mosque.
This rule
is based on the "impurity of polytheism" and the prohibition on
accessing al-Masjid al-Haram is based on hyperbole. The prohibition in this
verse, according to Imam Abu Hanifa, is intended to prevent polytheists from
doing Hajj and Umrah, not from the Haram, al-Masjid al-Haram and other mosques.
Imam Shafii believes that the restriction here refers to preventing polytheists
from entering al-Masjid al-Haram. It has been commanded here, according to Imam
Malik, to expel polytheists from all mosques. The viewpoints of these Imams and
Jurists are mentioned in Abi Saud's commentary. (Tafsir Abi Saud, Vol:4, 57)
The
preferred view among Hanafi and Shafii scholars was not clarified by the author
of Tafsir Abi Saud. Mufti Badruddoja Razvi examines the viewpoints of Hanafis
and Shafiis, citing what is found in Sharh—E-Sahih Muslim, a commentary book of
Allama Ghulam Rasool Saeedi.
According
to the Shafiis, infidels and polytheists are not permitted to visit the Haram,
although they are permitted to enter other mosques with the permission of
Muslims. Allama Taqi al-Din al-Subki, a great Shafii jurist, says, “The
Infidel, in general, will be barred from entering the Haram, be he a Dhimmi or
a Musta’min.” Dhimmi is a non-Muslim living in a Muslim country, and a
Musta'min is a non-Muslim who comes to a Muslim country with a temporary
passport or visa.
Another
Shafii scholar, Imam Nawawi says, “It is permissible for a disbeliever to enter
mosques other than the Haram with the permission of Muslims, no matter whether
he is a dhimmi or Musta’min, idolater, or from the people of Book or Ahle
Kitab. The reason is that when a delegation of Thaqif came to the Prophet
(peace be upon him), he set up a tent for them in the mosque. When they
accepted Islam, they fasted. Imam Tabrani has recorded this hadith with the
authentic chain. There is another report narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (May
Allah be pleased with him), which mentions the arrest of Thumama ibn Athal and
tying him to the pillar of the mosque. That is why Imam Shafai' ruled that an
infidel is allowed to enter a mosque with the permission of Muslims even if he
is not from the People of the Book. However, an infidel is not allowed to enter
the mosques and Haram of Makkah. Allama Nawawi has written in his book
"Majmoo" that our companions have stated that no infidel should be
allowed to enter the Haram but it is permissible for the infidel to enter every
mosque outside the Haram, and with the permission of the Muslims he can stay in
the mosque at night.”(Tikmilah Sharh -e-Tahzib, Vol. 9, p. 436, 437 Published
by Dar al-Fikr, Beirut)
Non-covenanted
polytheists, i.e. those with whom there is no agreement or law of peace, shall
be barred from visiting the Haram and the rest of the mosques, according to
Hanafi authorities. Similarly, covenanted non-Muslims with whom there is an
agreement or constitution of peace will not be denied access to the Haram or
the other mosques.
Imam
Muhammad (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) writes in his book
"al-Sayr al-Kabeer,
“Zuhri has narrated that Abu Sufyan used to
come to the mosque during the peace-treaty days of Hudaybiyyah, while he was a
disbeliever at that time. However, it is not permissible for an infidel to
enter al-Masjid al-Haram because Allah Almighty says, “The polytheists are
impure and they should not come near Al-Masjid al-Haram.”
From Imam
Mohammad's words, it appears that polytheists will be barred from entering
al-Masjid al-Haram in general, but he has made it clear in his Jami' Saghir
that there is no prohibition for the covenanted infidels or people living under
the protection of peace or peace-constitution. He says, “The people of the
covenant are permitted to enter the Sacred Mosque (al-Masjid al-Haram)”.
(al-Jami' al-Saghir, p. 153, published by Mustafai Hind)
Following
Imam Muhammad's reasoning, Hanafi jurists believe that covenanted unbelievers
or Mushrikin with whom there is a peace accord will not be prevented from
accessing the Kaaba and the other mosques. This prohibition is only applicable
to non-covenanted polytheists.
The Fatawa
Alamgiri says, “There is no barrier for the covenanted people to enter
al-Masjid al-Haram and other mosques, and this is the true position, as stated
in Imam Sarkhasi's book ‘Al Muheet.’” [Fatawa al-Alamgiri, vol. 5, p. 346,
published by Kubrah Aamiriyah, Bulaq, Egypt]
Imam Malik
opines that non-Muslims of any kind are not allowed to enter any mosque,
whether it is al-Masjid al-Haram or otherwise. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal holds the
view that it is forbidden for polytheists to enter any part of the Sacred land
(Haram Sharif, i.e. the part of Makkah which comes under the land of Haram).
There is no specification for Masjid-e-Haram. As for the mosques located outside
Haram, there are two types of statements narrated by him.
(Allama
Ghulam Rasool Saeedi, Sharh-e-Sahih Muslim, vol. 3, pp. 681, 682, 683)
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1. The Verses of Jihad: Meaning,
Denotation, Reason of Revelation and Background- Part 3
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Kaniz
Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
Related
Article: Debunking
Islamophobic Myths about 26 Wartime Verses: Part 1 on Verse 9:5