Debunking Islamophobic and Jihadi Myths about 26 Wartime Verses: Part 3 on Verse 9:123
Removing
Misconceptions About The Close Infidels Mentioned In 9:123
Main
Points:
1. It was
commanded in the verses of Surah Taubah to wage jihad against religious
persecutors and tyrants of Makkah, not peace-loving Indians or non-Muslims.
2. The
disbelievers in Surah At-Tawbah verse 123 can be identified, indicating that
this passage is not intended for all disbelievers.
3. When the
Jews plotted to assassinate the Holy Prophet of Islam, verse 9:123 was
revealed.
-----
By
Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
5 April
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. As an ordinary student of theology, I have
based my research and understanding of these verses on articles and
interpretations found in 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 third
verse used to spread false information is as follows:
Allah
Azzawajal says,
“O you
who have believed, fight those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them
find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous.” (9:123)
We learned
in the previous parts that most of the verses of Surah Taubah pertain to Arabs
who not only breached the peace deal but also imposed aggression and religious
persecution on Muslims, forcing them to fight in tragic wars like Badr, Uhud,
and Khandaq. They attacked the Prophet of Islam and martyred his holy teeth in the
Battle of Uhud. Amr Ibn Qumiyah slammed a stone against the Prophet’s face
(peace be upon him), causing his sanctified lips and face to bleed. They acted
with ferocity, martyring 108 companions (Sahaba), including migrants
(Muhajirin) and supporters (Ansar). They were not content with such
heinousness. According to historical records, they attacked Madinah with a
strong force of ten or twenty thousand battalions. The Sahaba protected it by
digging a trench (Khandaq). They also
violated the Hudaybiyyah peace agreement after it had been signed.
In the
passages of Surah Taubah, it was commanded to wage jihad against such
despicable unbelievers and polytheistic Arabs, rather than the peace-loving
Indians or non-Muslims.
Now we need
to figure out who the disbelievers are in Surah At-Tawbah verse 123, which
urges believers to wage jihad against "those adjacent to you of the
disbelievers." There are two points of view on the subject. The first view
is that the close disbelievers refer to the Jews of Madinah, such as the Banu
Qurayzah, Banu Nadhir, and Banu Qainqa'. The second view is that the close
disbelievers in this verse allude to the Romans, who lived in Shaam, now Syria,
which was closer to Madinah than Iraq, as mentioned in Abi Saud's commentary.
(Tafsir Abi Saud, V. 4, p.112)
The Jews of
Banu Qurayzah, Banu Nadir, and Banu Qainqa, who arrived in Madinah and grew so
wealthy that they controlled the trading marketplaces of the city, are most
likely the close disbelievers referenced in the verse. They also had a range of
moral disorders, such as usury, lying, plotting conspiracies at all hours of
the day and night, and distorting divine precepts to further evil purposes and
personal gain. Despising and envying Muslims had become second nature to them.
The Arab tribes of 'Aws and Khazraj, later known as companions' supporters
(Ansar), were always harassed by the Jews due to their economic ruin. They were
regularly in debt to the Jews, and they were obliged to mortgage their women
and children to the Jews of Madinah as a result of the debt. One of the reasons
for the Jews of Madinah's dominance was that they were not only People of the
Book but also bright and wise.
The Muslims
only had to deal with one nation in Makkah, which was idolater, ignorant, and
arrogant, but Madinah was a crossroads for various nations and religions. As a
result, after migrating to Madinah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) forged an
agreement with the Jews of Madina, which has come to be known as 'Saheefa' in
history and biographies. Its provisions were extensive, and they were important
for the restoration of peace and order. Its objective was to keep the internal
peace and order of the city intact. If a threat came from the outside, it was
decided that all the tribes of Madinah would unite together and combat it.
This pact
was founded on the principle of equality. The provisions of this treaty ensured
that all the civil and religious rights of the people of Madinah were protected
without discrimination. However, the Jews did not abandon their nature and
began a covert campaign against Islam and its adherents. For example, the two
Madinah tribes, 'Aws and Khazraj (Ansar of Companions), had been battling for
decades before the Prophet's migration (peace be upon him). When they were
reconciled, however, the Jews attempted to rekindle hatred and reignite a civil
war between the two tribes.
As a result
of the civil war that happened prior to the Prophet's migration, both tribes
had become vassals of the Jews. These
Jews devised a covert plot to assassinate the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
The Prophet and his followers were in danger of being killed because of these
Jews. As an illustration, consider the event of Hazrat Talhah ibn Bara. When
his life was about to come to an end, he prepared a will in front of his
companions (Sahaba) saying, "If I die in the night, do not inform the Holy
Prophet (peace be upon him), lest he come to the burial and the Jews attack
him." (Usd ul Ghaba Fi Marfa Al Sahaba, Vol: 3, p.81)
The
hypocrites of Madinah were also at the forefront of this plot. Their leader was
Abdullah b. Ubay. The Jews were his allies. The Makkan polytheists pushed them
to attack our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him), threatening to do such and
such if they did not. Ka'ab b. Ashraf was another thorn. In other words, the
Jews of Madinah were unable to keep their agreement for a long time. When a
Muslim woman went to sell milk in Banu Qainqa', the Jews tormented her and
stripped her naked in front of the market, and when the Prophet (peace be upon
him) asked them to talk about it, they returned the treaty document and decided
to fight. Their cunning and malice had grown to the point that they planned to
assassinate the Holy Prophet quietly (peace be upon him). By divine revelation,
the Prophet, on the other hand, was apprised of their terrible plot.
It was for
these reasons, reasons, and situations that the believers were commanded in
this verse (9:123) to pay attention to “the close disbelievers” and
subsequently deal with those in distant areas. According to the context of this
scripture, the believers should first fight the Jews who live near them, such
as Banu Nadir and Banu Quraiza (The Jews of Madinah).
This verse
(9:123) does not imply that Muslims should unnecessarily line up with guns and
AK 47 against non-Muslim brothers living in their neighbourhoods, localities,
villages, towns, and cities, and shoot their human brothers with bullets, as
Islamophobes are attempting to create such an illusion by provoking Indian
brothers.
According to
the mystical interpretation of Surah Taubah 9 verse 123, believers should first
battle and wage jihad against their closest disbelievers, namely their lower
self (Nafs-e-Ammara), and this combat is regarded as a greater Jihad (Jihad-e-Akbar).
(Continuing)
Bibliography
1. The Verses of Jihad-
Meaning, Denotation, Reason of Revelation and Background- Part 4
4. The Much discussed and
debated Medinian Verses Relating to Fighting
------
Kaniz
Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
Part 1:
Debunking
Islamophobic Myths about 26 Wartime Verses: Part 1 on Verse 9:5
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/islamophobic-myths-wartime-verses-/d/126728
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