Jalal Abualrub wrote a response (*) to an Arab Christian whom he accuses of lying about what the Quran says concerning fighting and killing the infidels:
Gamil Farah, a fanatical Arab Christian who does not seem to have a clue as to what the Arabic Quran is talking about but who would like to forget what the Bible does talk about, wants us to distribute an article filled with lies:
As we shall see here it is Jalal who is the fanatic, fanatical about defending a false prophet and a false book, and doesn’t hesitate to lie in order to cover up the true evil of his religion.
Here is an example of how Jalal distorts the facts:
Gamil: "Terrorize the enemies of Allah (non-Muslims)" (K 8:12)
The Arabic Quran (as it translates into English): {Your Lord revealed to the angels, "Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes"}; [8:12].
1. Gamil used the wrong Ayah! Ayah 8:12 is about Allah throwing fear into the hearts of the combatant enemy and the angels helping in defeating them.
It seems that Jalal thinks that his readers are really naïve and won’t see through his smokescreens. He doesn’t inform his audience that the people brandishing the swords at Badr wasn’t the angels, but the Muslims since they were the ones striking at the necks and fingertips of the Meccans.
We know that Allah claims that the angels were assisting the Muslims but the fact remains that the people who were fighting and killing the disbelievers were Muhammad’s companions. What this means is that Allah and the angels supposedly did their dirty work of murdering those who did not believe in the false prophet Muhammad through the mediation of the Muslim fighting men, that Allah used the Muslims as his instrument of murder and terror.
The Quran acknowledges this very point since a little later in the same chapter it says that:
You killed them not, but Allah killed them. And you (Muhammad SAW) threw not when you did throw but Allah threw, that He might test the believers by a fair trial from Him. Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. S. 8:17 Hilali-Khan
It wasn’t the Muslims who killed the Meccans, nor Muhammad who threw whatever he threw, but it was Allah who did so. Now how did Allah do this? Through these very same Muslims, of course, which means that Gamil was correct in understanding that Q. 8:12 is an exhortation to the Muslims to strike and behead the enemies of Islam, just as we find in the following:
When you meet the unbelievers, smite their necks, then, when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds; then set them free, either by grace or ransom, till the war lays down its loads. So it shall be; and if God had willed, He would have avenged Himself upon them; but that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of God, He will not send their works astray. S. 47:4 Arberry
Jalal continues with his deceptions and lies:
Gamil: "Kill the infidels (non-Muslims) wherever you find them" (K 9:5)
The Arabic Quran is talking about Arab idol worshippers; Ayah 9:5 is not about Christian and Jews; Christians and Jews did not believe in the sacred months, Arab idol-worshippers did: {Then when the Sacred Months have passed, then kill the Mushrikûn wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush. But if they repent [by rejecting Shirk (polytheism) and accept Islamic Monotheism] and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) , and give Zakât, then leave their way free. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful}; [9:4-5].
There are several comments that we need to make in order to expose Jalal’s deliberate distortion of the facts. First, Q. 9:5 was composed after the pagan Meccans had been conquered by the Muslims and therefore no longer posed any real threat to Muhammad and his thugs:
Discourses and Periods of Revelation
This Surah comprises three discourses:-
The first discourse (vv. 1-37), was revealed in Zil-Qa'adah A. H. 9 or thereabout. As the importance of the subject of the discourse required its declaration on the occasion of Haj the Holy Prophet dispatched Hadrat Ali to follow Hadrat Abu Bakr, who had already left for Makkah as leader of the Pilgrims to the Ka'abah. He instructed Hadrat Ali to deliver the discourse before the representatives of the different clans of Arabia so as to inform them of the new policy towards the mushriks…
Historical Background
Now let us consider the historical background of the Surah. The series of events that have been discussed in this Surah took place after the Peace Treaty of Hudaibiyah. By that time, one-third of Arabia had come under the sway of Islam which had established itself as a powerful, well organized and civilized Islamic State. This Treaty afforded further opportunities to Islam to spread its influence in the comparatively peaceful atmosphere created by it. After this Treaty, two events took place, which led to very important results:
Conquest of Arabia
The first was the Conquest of Arabia. The Holy Prophet was able to send missions among different clans for the propagation of Islam. The result was that during the short period of two years, it became such a great power that it made the old order of ignorance' feel helpless before it. So much so that the zealous elements from among the Quraish were so exasperated that they broke the Treaty in order to encounter Islam in a decisive combat. But the Holy Prophet took prompt action after the breach so as not to allow them any opportunity to gather enough force for this. He made a sudden invasion on Makkah in the month of Ramadan in A. H. 8 and conquered it. Though this conquest broke the backbone of the order of ignorance, it made still another attack on Islam in the battle-field of Hunain, which proved to be its death-knell. The clans of Hawazin Thaqif, Naur, Jushm and others gathered their entire forces in the battle field in order to crush the reformative Revolution, but they utterly failed in their evil designs. The defeat of 'ignorance' at Hunain paved the way for making the whole of Arabia the 'Abode of Islam' (Dar-ul-Islam). The result was that hardly a year had passed after the Battle of Hunain, when the major portion of Arabia came within the fold of Islam and only a few upholders of the old order remained scattered over some corners of the country…
Problems of the Period
If we keep in view the preceding background, we can easily find out the problems that were confronting the Community at that time. They were:
1. to make the whole of Arabia a perfect Dar-ul-Islam,
2. to extend the influence of Islam to the adjoining countries,
3. to crush the mischiefs of the hypocrites, and
4. to prepare the Muslims for Jihad against the non- Muslim world.
1. Now that the administration of the whole of Arabia had come in the hands of the Believers, and all the opposing powers had become helpless, it was necessary to make a clear declaration of that policy which was to be adopted to make her a perfect Dar-ul-Islam. Therefore the following measures were adopted:
1. A clear declaration was made that all the treaties with the mushriks were abolished and the Muslims would be released from the treaty obligations with them after a respite of four months.(vv. 1-3). This declaration was necessary for uprooting completely the system of life based on shirk and to make Arabia exclusively the center of Islam so that it should not in any way interfere with the spirit of Islam nor become an internal danger for it.
2. A decree was issued that the guardianship of the Ka`abah, which held central position in all the affairs of Arabia, should be wrested from the mushriks and placed permanently in the hands of the Believers, (vv. 12-18) that all the customs and practices of the shirk of the era of 'ignorance' should be forcibly abolished: that the mushriks should not be allowed even to come near the "House" (v. 28). This was to eradicate every trace of shirk from the "House" that was dedicated exclusively to the worship of Allah.
3. The evil practice of Nasi, by which they used to tamper with the sacred months in the days of 'ignorance', was forbidden as an act of kufr(v. 37). This was also to serve as an example to the Muslims for eradicating every vestige of the customs of ignorance from the life of Arabia (and afterwards from the lives of the Muslims everywhere). (Syed Abu-Ala' Maududi's Chapter Introductions to the Qur'an; source; underline emphasis ours)
And:
… The first part of this honorable Surah was revealed to the Messenger of Allah when he returned from the battle of Tabuk, during the Hajj season, which the Prophet thought about attending. But he remembered that the idolators would still attend that Hajj, as was usual in past years, and that they perform Tawaf around the House while naked. He disliked to associate with them and sent Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, to lead Hajj that year and show the people their rituals, commanding him to inform the idolators that they would not be allowed to participate in Hajj after that season. He commanded him to proclaim..,
<Freedom from (all) obligations (is declared) from Allah and His Messenger…>, to the people. When Abu Bakr had left, the Messenger sent `Ali bin Abu Talib to be the one to deliver this news to the idolators on behalf of the Messenger, for he was the Messenger's cousin. We will mention this story later. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Q. 9:1-2: source; underline emphasis ours)
This clearly proves that the pagans posed no serious challenge to Muhammad since he had already subjected them to his rule. Yet it wasn’t enough for Muhammad that the disbelievers were under his control, he had to force them to become Muslims. And if they refused he would have them brutally murdered.
Second, this one verse canceled out every agreement and treaty Muhammad had with the pagans:
This is the Ayah of the Sword...
<But if they repent and perform the Salah, and give Zakah, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.>
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq used this and other honorable Ayat as proof for fighting those who refrained from paying the Zakah. These Ayat allowed fighting people unless, and until, they embrace Islam and implement its rulings and obligations... In the two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn ‘Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,
<I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay Zakah.>
This honorable Ayah (9:5) was called the Ayah of the Sword, about which Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said, "It abrogated every agreement of peace between the Prophet and any idolator, EVERY TREATY, AND EVERY TERM." Al-‘Awfi said that Ibn ‘Abbas commented: "No idolator had any more treaty or promise ever since Sura Bara’ah was revealed. The four months, in addition to, all peace treaties conducted before Bara’ah was revealed and announced had ended by the tenth of the month of Rabi’ Al-Akhir." (Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged), Surat Al-A’raf to the end of Surah Yunus, abridged by a group of scholars under the supervision of Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh, Houston, New York, Lahore; First Edition: May 2000] Volume 4, pp. 375, 377; source; capital and underline emphasis ours)
Another famous Muslim commentator, as-Suyuti, confirms Ibn Kathir’s interpretation:
This [Q. 9:5] is an Ayat of the Sword WHICH ABROGATES PARDON, TRUCE AND OVERLOOKING. (seize them) is used as evidence for the permission to take captives. (and besiege them) is permission for besieging and raiding and attacking by night. Ibn Abi Hatim reported that Abu 'Imran al-Jawfi said that ribat in the way of Allah is found in the words, "lie in wait for them on every road." (if they make tawba and establish the prayer and pay the zakat, let them go on their way) Repentance from shirk is not enough to let them go their way until they establish the prayer and pay the zakat. Ash-Shafi'i took this as a proof FOR KILLING ANYONE WHO ABANDONS THE PRAYER and fighting ANYONE WHO REFUSES TO PAY ZAKAT. Some use it as a proof that they are kafirun… (Aisha Bewley, Tafsir – Surat at-Tawba: Repentance; source; capital and underline emphasis ours)
The foregoing makes it clear that Muhammad had no intention of allowing the pagans to coexist with the Muslims, despite the fact that they were already under his rule. His desire was to force them to become Muslims or murder them in cold blood if they didn’t embrace his false religion.
Third, it seems that Jalal’s colleagues, his fellow Salafi scholars, are not as bright as he is since they actually have the audacity to quote Q. 9:5 to prove that Islam mandates offensive jihad, e.g. attacks on peoples, tribes, and groups who have done nothing against Muslims in order to expand Islam politically and geographically:
Physical jihad is the pinnacle of Islam, and some scholars regarded it as the sixth pillar of Islam…
One of the strangest things to note is that we are living in a time when some of the Muslims are embarrassed to quote the verses and ahaadeeth on jihad in front of their kaafir friends. Their faces turn red because they are too shy to mention the rulings on the jizyah, slavery and killing prisoners of war. They wish that they could erase these verses and ahaadeeth from the Qur’aan and Sunnah so that they would not be criticized by this world with its backward principles despite its claims to be civilized. If they cannot erase them then THEY TRY TO MISINTERPRET THEM and distort their meanings so that they suit the whims and desires of their masters. I will not say so that they suit their whims and desires, for they are too weak to have their own whims and desires, and too ignorant. Rather it is the whims and desires of their masters and teachers among the missionaries and colonialists, the enemies of Islam."
‘Umdat al-Tafseer, 1/46…
Those who proclaim the verses and ahaadeeth of jihad nowadays are subject to a number of accusations. They are called terrorists, extremists, enemies of peace and bloodthirsty, and are accused of wanting to destroy twentieth century civilization…
Allaah has commanded us to support His religion and to wage jihad against His enemies.
There are so many verses that enjoin jihad against the mushrikeen and fighting them until all submission is for Allaah alone; they clearly state that it is obligatory and is prescribed and is compulsory. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning):
"Jihaad holy fighting in Allaah’s Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah knows but you do not know"
[al-Baqarah 2:216]
Rulings on jihad
The scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them) have mentioned the rulings on jihad and have stated that jihad is of two types:
1 – Taking the initiative in fighting
This means PURSUING THE KAAFIRS IN THEIR LANDS and calling them to Islam and fighting them if they do not agree to submit to the rule of Islam.
This kind of jihad is fard kifaayah (a communal obligation) upon the Muslims. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allaah), and the religion (worship) will all be for Allaah Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allaah), then certainly, Allaah is All-Seer of what they do"
[al-Anfaal 8:39]
"Then when the Sacred Months (the 1st, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikoon (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush. But if they repent [by rejecting Shirk (polytheism) and accept Islamic Monotheism] and perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and give Zakaah, then leave their way free. Verily, Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful"
[al-Tawbah 9:5]
"and fight against the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah) collectively as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allaah is with those who are Al-Muttaqoon (the pious"
[al-Tawbah 9:36]
"March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), and strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allaah. This is better for you, if you but knew"
[al-Tawbah 9:41]It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "I have been commanded to fight the people until they bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and establish regular prayer, and pay zakaah, If they do that then their blood and wealth is safe from me, except by the laws of Islam, and their reckoning will be with Allaah."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 24; Muslim, 29.
Muslim (3533) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever dies without having fought or thought to himself about fighting has died following one of the branches of hypocrisy."
All of these texts – and many others in the Qur’aan and Sunnah – mean that it is obligatory for the Muslims to wage jihad against the kuffaar AND TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN THAT. The scholars are unanimously agreed that jihad against the kuffar, AND SEEKING THEM IN THEIR LANDS, and calling them to Islam, and waging jihad against them if they do not accept Islam or accept paying the jizyah, IS OBLIGATORY AND HAS NOT BEEN ABROGATED.
Shaykh al-Islam (28/249) said:
Everyone who hears the call of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to the religion of Allaah with which he was sent and does not respond to it must be fought so that there will be no fitnah and so that submission will all be for Allaah…
This is the ruling on physical jihad in Islam, whether that is TAKING THE INITIATIVE to call the kuffaar to enter this religion AND SUBJUGATE THEM to the rule of Islam, or jihad to defend the religion and honour of the Muslims. (Question No. 34830: Is it obligatory for every Muslim to go out for jihad? Or is jihad mustahabb and not obligatory?; source; bold, capital and underline emphasis ours)
Again:
The scholars explained that these two verses, and other similar verses, have to do with those from whom the jizyah may be taken, such as Jews, Christians and Magians (Zoroastrians). They are not to be forced, rather they are to be given the choice between becoming Muslim or paying the jizyah.
Other scholars said that this applied in the beginning, BUT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ABROGATED by Allaah’s command to fight and wage jihad. So whoever refuses to enter Islam should be fought WHEN THE MUSLIMS ARE ABLE TO FIGHT, until they either enter Islam or pay the jizyah if they are among the people who may pay jizyah. The kuffaar should be compelled to enter Islam if they are not people from whom the jizyah may be taken, because that will lead to their happiness and salvation in this world and in the Hereafter. Obliging a person to adhere to the truth in which is guidance and happiness is better for him than falsehood. Just as a person may be forced to do the duty that he owes to other people even if that is by means of imprisonment or beating, so forcing the kaafirs to believe in Allaah alone and enter into the religion of Islam is more important and more essential, because this will lead to their happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. This applies unless they are People of the Book, i.e., Jews and Christians, or Magians, because Islam says that these three groups may be given the choice: they may enter Islam or they may pay the jizyah and feel themselves subdued.
Some of the scholars are of the view that others may also be given the choice between Islam and jizyah, but the most correct view is that no others should be given this choice, rather these three groups are the only ones who may be given the choice, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fought the kuffaar in the Arabian Peninsula AND HE ONLY ACCEPTED THEIR BECOMING MUSLIM. And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"But if they repent [by rejecting Shirk (polytheism) and accept Islamic Monotheism] and perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and give Zakaah, then leave their way free. Verily, Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful"
[al-Tawbah 9:5]
He did not say, "if they pay the jizyah". The Jews, Christians and Magians are to be asked to enter Islam; if they refuse then they should be asked to pay the jizyah. If they refuse to pay the jizyah then the Muslims must fight them IF THEY ARE ABLE TO DO SO. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allaah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allaah and His Messenger (Muhammad), (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued"
[al-Tawbah 9:29]
And it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) accepted the jizyah from the Magians, but it was not proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) accepted the jizyah from anyone except the three groups mentioned above.
The basic principle concerning that is the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):
"And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allaah), and the religion (worship) will all be for Allaah Alone [in the whole of the world]"
[al-Anfaal 8:39]
"Then when the Sacred Months (the 1st, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikoon (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush. But if they repent [by rejecting Shirk (polytheism) and accept Islamic Monotheism] and perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and give Zakaah, then leave their way free. Verily, Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful"
[al-Tawbah 9:5]
This verse is known as Ayat al-Sayf (the verse of the sword).
These and similar verses ABROGATE the verses which say that there is no compulsion to become Muslim.
And Allaah is the Source of strength. (Question No. 34770: There is no compulsion to accept Islam; source; bold, underline and capital emphasis ours)
These poor ignorant Salafis. Didn’t they know of the view of their colleague Jalal Abualrub that Q. 9:5 is referring only to those pagan Arabs around the Arabian Peninsula since they are the ones who observed the sacred months mentioned in Q. 9:4? If so how dare they use this verse to justify attacking other lands and peoples in order to subjugate them to the rule of Islam when these other nations didn’t observe the sacred months of the Arab idolators? Didn’t they bother contacting Jalal before they issued their fatwa? After all, he could have set them straight and corrected the error of their ways!
Fourthly, the term used in Q. 9:5 isn’t idolators but associators or mushrikun:
Then when the Sacred Months (the 1st, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikun (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Hilali-Khan
A mushrik is one who associates partners with Allah by claiming that Allah has a son or that there are other gods and lords besides him:
Praise belongs to God who created the heavens and the earth and appointed the shadows and light; then the unbelievers ascribe equals to their Lord. S. 6:1 Arberry
Yet they ascribe to God, as associates (shurakaa), the jinn, though He created them; and they impute to Him sons and daughters without any knowledge. Glory be to Him! High be He exalted above what they describe! S. 6:100 Hilali-Khan
And according to the Quran this sin (which is known as shirk) is such a heinous crime that Allah will not pardon those guilty of committing it:
Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed unto Him (an yushraka bihi). He forgiveth (all) save that to whom He will. Whoso ascribeth partners (yushrik) to Allah, he hath indeed invented a tremendous sin. S. 4:48 Pickthall; cf. 4:116
And (remember) when Luqman said to his son when he was advising him: "O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah (la tushrik biAllahi). Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah (al-shirka) is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed." S. 31:13 Hilali-Khan
The relevance that these texts have on the issue of the status of the Jews and Christians in Islam is that the Muslim scripture accuses these two communities of committing this transgression, that they are mushrikin (associators) for believing that Allah has sons and for taking their rabbis and monks as lords in the place of Allah:
And the Jews say: 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the disbelievers (kafaroo) of old. Allah's Curse be on them (qatalahumu Allahu – lit., "Allah fight them"), how they are deluded away from the truth! They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) to worship none but One Ilah (God - Allah) La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (yushrikoona) (with Him)." They (the disbelievers, the Jews and the Christians) want to extinguish Allah's Light (with which Muhammad SAW has been sent - Islamic Monotheism) with their mouths, but Allah will not allow except that His Light should be perfected even though the Kafirun (disbelievers) hate (it). It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad SAW) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), to make it superior over all religions even though the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) hate (it). S. 9:30-33 Hilali-Khan
In fact, one Muslim commentator named al-Tabari reported that one of Islam’s premiere scholars and Muhammad’s first cousin, Ibn Abbas, applied Q. 12:106 to the Christians, thereby identifying them as "idolators":
Haddathanî muHammad bnu sa‘d, qâla: [Hadda]thanî abî, qâla: [Hadda]thanî ‘ammî, qâla: [Hadda]thanî abî ‘an abîhi, ‘an ibni ‘abbâs, qauluhu: {wa mâ yu’minu aktharuhum bi-llâhi illâ wa hum mushrikûna} ya‘nî n-naSârâ
Muhammad b. Sa‘d handed down to us, he said: My father handed down to us, he said: My uncle handed down to us, he said: My father handed down to us from his father from Ibn ‘Abbas: His [God's] speech {And most of them don't believe in God unless they associate [other gods to God] = And most of them believe in God, only that they associate [other gods to God]} means the Christians. (Source; Arabic text found here)
The ahadith go so far as to say that Allah will actually send Jews and Christians to hell for worshiping Ezra and Jesus:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
During the lifetime of the Prophet some people said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?” The Prophet said, “Yes; do you have any difficulty in seeing the sun at midday when it is bright and there is no cloud in the sky?” They replied, “No.” He said, “Do you have any difficulty in seeing the moon on a full moon night when it is bright and there is no cloud in the sky?” They replied, “No.” The Prophet said, “(Similarly) you will have no difficulty in seeing Allah on the Day of Resurrection as you have no difficulty in seeing either of them. On the Day of Resurrection, a call-maker will announce, ‘Let every nation follow that which they used to worship.’ Then none of those who used to worship anything other than Allah like idols and other deities but will fall in Hell (Fire), till there will remain none but those who used to worship Allah, both those who were obedient (i.e. good) and those who were disobedient (i.e. bad) and the remaining party of the people of the Scripture. Then the Jews will be called upon and it will be said to them, ‘Who do you use to worship?’ They will say, ‘We used to worship Ezra, the son of Allah.’ It will be said to them, ‘You are liars, for Allah has never taken anyone as a wife or a son. What do you want now?’ They will say, ‘O our Lord! We are thirsty, so give us something to drink.’ They will be directed and addressed thus, ‘Will you drink,’ whereupon they will be gathered unto Hell (Fire) which will look like a mirage whose different sides will be destroying each other. Then they will fall into the Fire. Afterwards the Christians will be called upon and it will be said to them, ‘Who do you use to worship?’ They will say, ‘We used to worship Jesus, the son of Allah.’ It will be said to them, ‘You are liars, for Allah has never taken anyone as a wife or a son,’ Then it will be said to them, ‘What do you want?’ They will say what the former people have said. Then, when there remain (in the gathering) none but those who used to worship Allah (Alone, the real Lord of the Worlds) whether they were obedient or disobedient. Then (Allah) the Lord of the worlds will come to them in a shape nearest to the picture they had in their minds about Him. It will be said, ‘What are you waiting for?’ Every nation have followed what they used to worship.’ They will reply, ‘We left the people in the world when we were in great need of them and we did not take them as friends. Now we are waiting for our Lord Whom we used to worship.’ Allah will say, ‘I am your Lord.’ They will say twice or thrice, ‘We do not worship any besides Allah.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 105)
Thus, Gamil was correct in applying Q. 9:5 to the Jews and Christians since they too are considered "idolators" according to the Quran.
However, the Quran does allow the Jews and Christians to retain their beliefs provided they pay the jizya, or a sum of money, as a sign of their degradation and humiliation:
Fight those who believe not in God and the Last Day and do not forbid what God and His Messenger have forbidden -- such men as practise not the religion of truth, being of those who have been given the Book -- until they pay the tribute out of hand and have been humbled (saghiroona). S. 9:29 Arberry
Here is how one lexical source defines the term saghiroona:
Sad-Gh-Ra = to be small/little. saaghirun - one who is small/little/subdued/abject or in a state of subjection. saghiir - small. asghar - smaller. saghaar - vileness, contempt, humiliation.
saghara vb. (1) pcple. act. 7:13, 7:119, 9:29, 12:32, 27:37
saghar n.m. 6:124
saghir n.m. (adj. comp. asghar) 2:282, 9:121, 10:61, 17:24, 18:49, 34:3, 54:53
LL, V4, p: 415, 416 (Project Root List; source)
Ibn Kathir confirms the meanings found in the above lexicon since this is how he explained Q. 9:29:
The Order to fight People of the Scriptures until They give the Jizyah
Allah said …
<Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth among the People of the Scripture, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.>
Therefore, when People of the Scriptures disbelieved in Muhammad, they had no beneficial faith in any Messenger or what the Messengers brought. Rather, they followed their religions because this conformed with their ideas, lusts and the ways of their forefathers, not because they are Allah's Law and religion. Had they been true believers in their religions, that faith would have directed them to believe in Muhammad, because all Prophets gave the good news of Muhammad's advent and commanded them to obey and follow him. Yet when he was sent, they disbelieved in him, even though he is the mightiest of all Messengers. Therefore, they do not follow the religion of earlier Prophets because these religions came from Allah, but because these suit their desires and lusts. Therefore, their claimed faith in an earlier Prophet will not benefit them because they disbelieved in the master, the mightiest, the last and most perfect of all Prophets . Hence Allah's statement …
<Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth among the People of the Scripture,>
This honorable Ayah was revealed with the order to fight the People of the Book, after the pagans were defeated, the people entered Allah's religion in large numbers, and the Arabian Peninsula was secured under the Muslims' control. Allah commanded His Messenger to fight the People of the Scriptures, Jews and Christians, on the ninth year of Hijrah, and he prepared his army to fight the Romans and called the people to Jihad announcing his intent and destination. The Messenger sent his intent to various Arab areas around Al-Madinah to gather forces, and he collected an army of thirty thousand. Some people from Al-Madinah and some hypocrites, in and around it, lagged behind, for that year was a year of drought and intense heat. The Messenger of Allah marched, heading towards Ash-Sham to fight the Romans until he reached Tabuk, where he set camp for about twenty days next to its water resources. He then prayed to Allah for a decision and went back to Al-Madinah because it was a hard year and the people were weak, as we will mention, Allah willing. (http://tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=9&tid=20980; underline emphasis ours)
And:
Paying Jizyah is a Sign of Kufr AND DISGRACE
Allah said …
<until they pay the Jizyah>, if they do not choose to embrace Islam …
<with willing submission>, in defeat and subservience …
<and feel themselves subdued.>, DISGRACED, HUMILIATED AND BELITTLED. Therefore, Muslims are not allowed to honor the people of Dhimmah or elevate them above Muslims, FOR THEY ARE MISERABLE, DISGRACED AND HUMILIATED. Muslim recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said …
<<Do not initiate the Salam to the Jews and Christians, and if you meet any of them in a road, FORCE THEM TO ITS NARROWEST ALLEY.>>
This is why the Leader of the faithful `Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, demanded his well-known conditions be met by the Christians, THESE CONDITIONS THAT ENSURED THEIR CONTINUED HUMILIATION, DEGRADATION AND DISGRACE. The scholars of Hadith narrated from `Abdur-Rahman bin Ghanm Al-Ash`ari that he said, "I recorded for `Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, the terms of the treaty of peace he conducted with the Christians of Ash-Sham:
‘In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. This is a document to the servant of Allah `Umar, the Leader of the faithful, from the Christians of such and such city. When you (Muslims) came to us we requested safety for ourselves, children, property and followers of our religion.
We made a condition on ourselves that we will neither erect in our areas a monastery, church, or a sanctuary for a monk, nor restore any place of worship that needs restoration nor use any of them for the purpose of enmity against Muslims.
We will not prevent any Muslim from resting in our churches whether they come by day or night, and we will open the doors [of our houses of worship] for the wayfarer and passerby.
Those Muslims who come as guests, will enjoy boarding and food for three days.
We will not allow a spy against Muslims into our churches and homes or hide deceit [or betrayal] against Muslims.
We will not teach our children the Qur'an, publicize practices of Shirk, invite anyone to Shirk or prevent any of our fellows from embracing Islam, if they choose to do so.
We will respect Muslims, MOVE FROM THE PLACES WE SIT IN IF THEY CHOOSE TO SIT IN THEM.
We will not imitate their clothing, caps, turbans, sandals, hairstyles, speech, nicknames and title names, or ride on saddles, hang swords on the shoulders, collect weapons of any kind or carry these weapons.
We will not encrypt our stamps in Arabic, or sell liquor.
We will have the front of our hair cut, wear our customary clothes wherever we are, wear belts around our waist, refrain from erecting crosses on the outside of our churches and demonstrating them and our books in public in Muslim fairways and markets.
We will not sound the bells in our churches, except discretely, or raise our voices while reciting our holy books inside our churches in the presence of Muslims, nor raise our voices [with prayer] at our funerals, or light torches in funeral processions in the fairways of Muslims, or their markets.
We will not bury our dead next to Muslim dead, or buy servants who were captured by Muslims. We will be guides for Muslims and refrain from breaching their privacy in their homes.’
When I gave this document to `Umar, he added to it, `We will not beat any Muslim. These are the conditions that we set against ourselves and followers of our religion IN RETURN FOR SAFETY AND PROTECTION. If we break any of these promises that we set for your benefit against ourselves, then our Dhimmah (promise of protection) is broken and you are allowed to do with us what you are allowed of people of defiance and rebellion.’" (source; capital and underline emphasis ours)
How wonderful and merciful of Allah to send his messenger of peace to give Jews and Christians the option of retaining their beliefs provided they accept being humiliated, degraded, and subjugated by their Muslim overlords! What a joyous privilege it is to not be allowed to build new Churches or Synagogues, or rebuild old ones, and not being able to worship freely and openly! In fact, one of the most exhilarating feelings a Jew or Christian can ever experience is to be shoved to the narrow part of the road in order to make room for his/her Muslim captor or to stand up and give his/her seat to his/her Muslim overlord! Foolish Jews and Christians, how dare they complain about the tyranny of Islam in light of these great privileges and honor that Islam accords them? After all, what greater honor and privilege can there be than to live under the humiliation and subjugation of Islamic rule?
Jalal whines that:
Gamil sympathizes with idol-worshipers against believers in Allah’s Oneness.
Gamil sympathizes with them because Muslims are anything but true monotheists. They have been deceived into thinking that the Allah of Islam is the one true god and that Islam is a true monotheistic religion. The facts show that Islam is nothing more than repackaged paganism masquerading itself as the religion of Abraham:
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/allah_swearing_by_idols.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/idolatry.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Menj/idolatry1.htm
Jalal goes on:
Gamil: Jihad, the holy war
(Jalal said: even you, Gamil, call Jihad ‘holy war’?) of Islam against non-Muslims (infidels), is the most sacred duty of Muslims. Dying for Allah in Jihad is the only assurance Muslims have of getting into Paradise.
Islam’s Prophet, salla-llahu `alaihi wa-sallam, declares Gamil as a dishonest man: "He who dies while not associating anyone or anything with Allah in worship will enter Paradise"; [Bukhari & Muslim]; "He who offers the two Bardain (Fajr and Asr) Prayers will enter Paradise"; [Bukhari & Muslim]; "Allah has ninety-none names, he who memorizes them will enter Paradise"; [Bukhari & Muslim], etc.
Here, we have to side with Jalal since jihad is anything but holy since there is nothing sacred about Muslims spreading their reign of terror and evil upon unsuspecting victims, pillaging their lands and raping their women. Jihad is nothing but evil and tyrannical.
Moreover, it isn’t that Gamil lied about what Muhammad taught concerning salvation since the Islamic corpus is filled with contradictions concerning this issue. For example, both the Quran and the ahadith state that Muhammad was uncertain about his fate:
Say: "I am no bringer of new-fangled doctrine among the messengers, NOR DO I KNOW WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH ME OR WITH YOU. I follow but that which is revealed to me by inspiration; I am but a Warner open and clear." S. 46:9
And couldn’t guarantee the salvation of his companions:
Narrated 'Um al-'Ala:
An Ansari woman who gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet that the Ansar drew lots concerning the dwelling of the Emigrants. 'Uthman bin Maz'un was decided to dwell with them (i.e. Um al-'Ala's family), 'Uthman fell ill and I nursed him till he died, and we covered him with his clothes. Then the Prophet came to us and I (addressing the dead body) said, "O Abu As-Sa'ib, may Allah's Mercy be on you! I bear witness that Allah has honored you." On that the Prophet said, "How do you know that Allah has honored him?" I replied, "I do not know. May my father and my mother be sacrificed for you, O Allah's Apostle! But who else is worthy of it (if not 'Uthman)?" He said, "As to him, by Allah, death has overtaken him, and I hope the best for him. By Allah, though I am the Apostle of Allah, yet I do not know what Allah will do to me," By Allah, I will never assert the piety of anyone after him. That made me sad, and when I slept I saw in a dream a flowing stream for 'Uthman bin Maz'un. I went to Allah's Apostle and told him of it. He remarked, "That symbolizes his (good) deeds." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 266)Narrated Abu Huraira:
When Allah revealed the Verse: "Warn your nearest kinsmen," Allah's Apostle got up and said, "O people of Quraish (or said similar words)! Buy (i.e. save) yourselves (from the Hellfire) as I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment; O Bani Abd Manaf! I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment, O Safiya, the Aunt of Allah's Apostle! I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment; O Fatima bint Muhammad! Ask me anything from my wealth, but I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 51, Number 16)
At the same time Muhammad contradicts himself since he says that a person who dies reciting the pagan, idolatrous creed of Islam, that there is no god but Allah, will enter paradise even if s/he has lived a very wicked and immoral life:
Narrated Abu Dharr:
I came to the Prophet while he was wearing white clothes and sleeping. Then I went back to him again after he had got up from his sleep. He said, "Nobody says: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’ and then later on he dies while believing in that, except that he will enter Paradise." I said, "Even It he had committed illegal sexual intercourse and theft." I said, "Even if he had committed illegal sexual intercourse and theft? He said. "Even If he had committed illegal sexual intercourse and theft." I said, "Even it he had committed illegal sexual intercourse and thefts." He said, "Even If he had committed Illegal sexual intercourse and theft, in spite of Abu Dharr’s dislikeness." Abu ‘Abdullah said, "This is at the time of death or before it if one repents and regrets and says ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’, he will be forgiven his sins." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 717)
This confusion and contradiction may explain why even Muhammad’s best friend was afraid of dying since he didn’t know where he stood before Allah:
"Although he had such a faith, which was too great to suffice all the inhabitants of the earth, he was afraid that his heart might go astray. So, he used to utter, while weeping: ‘Would that I have been a bitten tree!’ Whenever he was reminded of his position in Allah’s sight, he would say: ‘By Allah! I would not rest assured and feel safe from the deception of Allah (la amanu limakr Allah), even if I had one foot in paradise.’" (Khalid Muhammad Khalid, Successors of the Messenger, translated by Muhammad Mahdi al-Sharif [Dar al-Kotob al-Ilmiyah, Beirut Lebanon, 2005], Book One: Abu Bakr Has Come, p. 99; bold and italic emphasis ours)
Abu Bakr seemed to realize that these contradictory teachings concerning the nature of salvation was a result of Allah being a deceiver who couldn’t be trusted to do what he says.
We suggest the following articles for anyone interested in studying the mass confusion and contradictions surrounding the doctrine of Islamic salvation more in-depth:
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Menj/salvation_islam.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/zawadi_salvation.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Main/Shamoun/allah_best_deceiver.htm
Jalal continues:
Gamil also lies when he says that Allah is the moon-god:
1. His Arabic Bible calls Allah, ‘Allah’, not ‘God’, which Esa never uttered!
2. Allah said in the Quran, {And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate yourselves not to the sun, nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allâh Who created them, if you (really) worship Him}; [41:37].
How inconsistent of Jalal to appeal to the "corrupt" Holy Bible, especially the Arabic version of it, to establish his beliefs when he knows full well that this same Book identifies the Lord Jesus as Allah, the God of all creation including Muhammad:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Allah (Greek, ton theon or ‘the God’), and the Word was Allah (Greek, theos or ‘God’)… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory of the One and Only of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1
Thus, if the Arabic Bible is good enough to establish evidence for Jalal’s position then it is also good enough to serve as a witness against his beliefs. Jalal cannot have his cake and eat it too. He either accepts that the true Allah of the Holy Bible is multi-personal, and that Jesus is Allah who became flesh, which therefore means that the Allah of Islam is a false god. Or if he decides to attack the Holy Scriptures for being corrupted at this point then he must stop appealing to the Arabic Bible to prove his case.
Moreover, what the foregoing shows is just because Arabic speaking Christians and Muslims use the term Allah this doesn’t necessarily mean that they have the same God in view. The Christian Allah is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, whereas the Muslim Allah is not.
This leads us to the next point. Just because Muhammad claimed that Allah was the same God of the Jews and Christians doesn’t mean that the pagans before him thought so. The evidence suggests that the pagan Allah was a high god, possibly the moon god, and that Muhammad transformed him into the one, true universal god worshiped by all.
Finally, it is true that Jesus never used the English word God but neither did he ever use the Arabic word Allah. The Lord would have used the Hebrew words for God, i.e. Elohim, El etc., the Aramaic Alah or Alaha (not the same as Allah), and even the Greek term Theos.
For more on these issues we recommend the following:
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Abualrub/allahs_identity.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/god.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Authors/Perez/name_of_god1.html
http://answering-islam.org/Authors/Perez/name_of_god2.html
http://answering-islam.org/Authors/Perez/name_of_god3.html
http://answering-islam.org/Authors/Perez/name_of_god4.html
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/ishmael-baal.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Contra/allah_high_god.html
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/zawadi_tawhid.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Saifullah/sheba_moon.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Saifullah/rahman_deity.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Saifullah/moonotheism.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/allahs_oaths.htm
http://answer-islam.org/ShowLetter.htm
Jalal mentions Joshua 2:2:1-2, 8-10 and 8:1-27, as well as 1 Samuel 15:3 and misquotes 22:19:
Conclusion: Gamil accuses Islam of what Islam does not say but what the Bible actually says; 1 Samuel 15:3: "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass"; and before Gamil says that this is a figure of speech, his Bible says, 1 Samuel 22:19: "And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword." How Perfect of Nob to fulfill the very violent commandment of the Prince of Peace, so we are told!
We have already addressed the OT wars in these articles (1, 2) and plan on writing an article documenting Muhammad’s approval of these wars in order to expose Jalal’s lies and deception, so we will not address these passages here with the exception of 1 Samuel 22:19. First, the ignorance of Abualrub and his careless reading and quoting of the Holy Bible is rather evident. In his explanation Nob, which is the name of the city, becomes the name of the person who killed the priests! This shows that he hasn’t even bothered reading the text, despite boasting that he has read the Bible in Arabic more than a dozen times (*).
Second, Jalal doesn’t quote the context since this would thoroughly expose his gross misreading of the text:
"Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul, spear in hand, was seated under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing around him. Saul said to them, ‘Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.’ But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's officials, said, ‘I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.’ Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. Saul said, ‘Listen now, son of Ahitub.’ ‘Yes, my lord,’ he answered. Saul said to him, ‘Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?’ Ahimelech answered the king, ‘Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.’ But the king said, ‘You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father's whole family.’ Then the king ordered the guards at his side: ‘Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.’ But the king's officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD. The king then ordered Doeg, ‘You turn and strike down the priests.’ So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep. But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to join David. He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. Then David said to Abiathar: ‘That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family. Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me.’" 1 Samuel 22:6-23
It is clear from the context itself that what Saul did was evil in the sight of God. In his hatred of David Saul not only wanted to kill God’s chosen prophet he even brutally murdered the righteous priests of God since they had provided aid for God’s anointed (i.e. David).
It seems that Jalal has no shame since he will resort to distorting and slandering God’s true Word, even if this means failing to read the verses carefully, due to his extreme hatred of it obviously because it exposes Muhammad as a false prophet.
Jalal concludes with the following challenge:
Gamil Farah is invited to an event that Jalal Abualrub is willing to participate in, providing Gamil Farah does too and proves to be the one Christian who is not afraid to debate with Muslims, or at least with this Muslim:
Jalal Abualrub Challenges Gamil Farah to a debate on this topic:
Warfare: Between the Two Testaments and Islamic Law
Although we do not speak for Gamil we do accept the challenge on his behalf:
Sam Shamoun accepts your challenge to debate on this topic:
Warfare: Between the Two Testaments and Islamic Law
Provided you are able to remain civil and conduct yourself in a manner befitting someone of your age. This means that you need to respect yourself enough during the debate by refraining from assassinating my person and character, e.g. no more name calling such as saying that I am Lucifer’s cousin, liar etc. When you can control yourself long enough to pretend that Islam teaches you to behave as a gentleman I will be more than happy to expose you in a public debate by the grace of the Lord Jesus.
For more on these points and other related issues we suggest reading the following articles and rebuttals:
http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Contra/fight_until.html
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/badawi_mushrik.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Abualrub/mo_mercy.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Abualrub/terrorism1.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Abualrub/terrorism2.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/na_debate.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Silas/swordverse.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q1_7.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Saifullah/ezra.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Versions/009.030.html
Responses to Jalal Abualrub
Articles by Sam Shamoun
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