by Silas
On September 11, 2001, Muslims carried out an act of brutal terrorism and murdered some 3000 people in America. They hijacked 4 planes, slit the throats of stewardesses, destroyed the World Trade Center and a part of the Pentagon. America and other nations responded and went after the Muslim terrorist groups in Afghanistan. Elsewhere in the world various governments arrested Muslims associated with Islamic terrorist organizations.
Following September 11th, most Muslims living in the West defended Islam and stated that Islam is a religion of peace, while many Muslims living in the Islamic world and some Muslims in America (living in predominately Muslim communities) and Muslim students on American campuses openly celebrated the deaths and destruction of the WTC. Many in the Islamic world rejoiced and shouted “Death to America”, and “America is the Great Satan”, and called for the continuing destruction of America, while in the West Muslim spokesmen proclaimed that the Muslim terrorists have hijacked their faith and that real Islam is a kind religion, and is not associated with the terrorist events. The two camps completely contradict each other. They both cannot be correct. So, what’s the bottom line according to real Islam?
Since Sept 11, the religion of Islam has made the news and is now frequently discussed. One question commonly asked is “why is this religion so violent?” Trying to secure the support of the Islamic world the American political machine has gone out of its way to stress that America and her allies are not fighting Islam, but rather, they are fighting Muslim terrorists who have perverted the true teachings of Islam. On the other hand, other voices have raised concerns that indeed there is a violent component within the religion of Islam and Islam itself is part of the problem. Thus there has been much discussion around terms like “jihad” these days.
If you’re going to truly understand “jihad” and Islamic violence in today’s time you must examine the Islamic texts. A 30 second sound byte from some “expert” be they Muslim, Christian, Hindu, or otherwise is not sufficient. You will have to investigate the Quran, Hadith, and Sira. And, you will have to understand the context, background, scope, and applicability of the various passages related to jihad and violence in Islam. Otherwise, you will be left with many passages that seemingly contradict each other, and be no closer to truly understanding “jihad”, and the application of Islamic violence today. A mere phrase such as “Islam means peace”, or “jihad is an internal struggle against internal, sinful desires”, or, “Islam is violent” has little support if one does not know the actual teachings of Islam.
Since the death of about 3000 Americans has just occurred at the hands of Muslims, and since these Muslims have vowed to continue to murder Americans, be they men, women, or children, it is incumbent upon us to examine the fundamental teachings of Muhammad, found in these texts, and see how they apply today. Not only are American lives at stake, but actually, the lives of anyone living in a free, or non-Muslim society. Therefore, I want the readers to understand that when I state “America”, or “American”, I am also including Britons, Mexicans, French, Germans, Japanese, Brazilians, Russians, Chinese, Australians, and so forth. All non-Muslim peoples are at risk. For us to not thoroughly investigate what Islam is truly all about would blindly invite the disaster that has been perpetrated upon us to occur yet again and again.
For ourselves, and our future, we need to answer the following three questions:
1) What are the teachings of real Islam found in the Quran, Hadith, and Sira with respect to the use of violence, call it jihad if you like, to aggressively spread it’s power over non-Muslims, and are these teachings valid and applicable today?
2) Is real Islam behind and does it condone the murder of 3000 Americans and the destruction of the WTC, or are these Muslim terrorists doing something well outside Muhammad’s religion?
3) What does the future hold for Islam and America, Britain, China, and so on?
I define “real” Islam as the Islam Muhammad practiced and taught. Real Islam is based upon Muhammad’s final teachings and deeds. These final teachings are recorded in the Quran, Hadith (Hadith are the traditions and sayings of Muhammad), and Sira (sira is biographical material).
These foundational texts of Islam contain Muhammad’s words and deeds over a 23 year period, the Quran being dominant in Islamic theology. Many of his words apply to a specific people for a specific time or event. As Muhammad’s circumstances changed, his words, teachings, commands, and attitudes changed. Thus, as situations changed over time, Islam changed over time. Therefore, to determine what real Islam teaches regarding jihad and violence, we must examine these text’s chronology, context, scope, and applicability. It is either mistaken or dishonest to take one passage out of context and apply it to a set of circumstances for which it was not meant.
What I am going to do is examine a number of Quranic passages related to jihad and violence. In this I will cite from related Islamic texts, i.e., the Hadith and Sira to provide the context and background. Additionally I will reference various early Islamic scholar’s commentary (tafsir). When appropriate, I will also quote from other books written by scholars or experts on Islam be they Muslim, Christian, or secular.
And, I am going to go a step further: I am also going to examine Muhammad’s actions. Actions ever speak louder than words; therefore, let us lend an ear to hear his deeds speak. What do they say? – for they truly portray his heart. A wise sage said, “A man is defined by what he does.” Thus, Muhammad’s works must be thoroughly scrutinized for they show us who he truly was and what he truly believed.
1) NOTES FOR TEXT COLOR BREAKDOWN:
a) I have tried to make all book or article quotations as either medium or dark blue text, sometimes in bold.
b) References to various books and articles are in green.
c) Issues or points that I want to stress are in red.
d) Critical thoughts, statements, or events that bear upon my conclusions will be in orange, and usually bold. These passages in orange are ones that I want you, the reader, to especially take note of.
e) Section headings will be in either black or dark red.
f) Near the end of this article I present several pages of Muhammad’s sayings (Hadith). These are in black text, except for key sentences that I’ve highlighted in red.
Keeping track of all quotes and references is difficult, so, if I miss a few colors, please forgive.
2) Around May of 1999 I wrote an article on Islamic terrorism. I have copied some of the information from that article into this one. I saw no reason to re-create the information. The article can be accessed at [1]
http://answering-islam.org/Silas/terrorism.htm
The article above contains a great deal of relevant information that is not quoted here. If you want to obtain a broader scope in understanding Islam and terrorism, please read that article as well.
We must start with the Quran because the Quran is one of the foundations of Islam. Islam is built upon the Quran and “Sunnah”, or lifestyle of Muhammad. Now many Western readers will be tempted to apply their methods of logic and understanding of Biblical Scriptures to the Quran. They will take various Quranic verses at face value thinking that all the verses in the Quran are applicable today. They may reason that since the Quran says, “there is no compulsion in religion”, it means that Muslims are not to force people into Islam.” This approach is erroneous. One of the odd facets of the Quran is that some verses “abrogate” other verses, i.e. they cancel them, or render them null and void, no longer applicable. “Abrogation” means the canceling or replacement of one Quranic passage by another. Things changed during the 23 year period that Muhammad spoke the Quran. As circumstances changed Muhammad’s precepts found in the Quran changed accordingly. Thus the Quran abrogates or cancels itself in various passages and presents seemingly conflicting statements. These abrogations are not viewed as contradictions by Muslims, but rather, as improvements, to better suit the varying circumstances or needs, of the Muslims, or to fit Muhammad’s religious concepts. For example, many Islamic scholars consider that the verse reference above “there is no compulsion in religion”, found in 2:256, has been abrogated by the passage found in 9:5, (more on this later). [The verse in chapter 2 was spoken about 7 - 8 years earlier than the one spoken in Chapter 9.]
The "Dictionary of Qur'anic Terms and Concepts", pages 5 and 6, [2], state: "Quranic injunctions themselves may be abrogated, as has happened in a few cases. An example of this abrogation is 24:2 which abrogates the punishment of adultery, (q.v.) stated in 4:15-16. A study of the Quran shows first, that only a limited number of Quranic verses have been abrogated, and second, that the abrogation pertains to legal and practical matters only, and not to matters of doctrine and belief."
In “Islam: Muhammad and His Religion”, page 66, [3], the great Islamic scholar Arthur Jeffery wrote: "The Quran is unique among sacred scriptures in teaching a doctrine of abrogation according to which later pronouncements of the Prophet abrogate, i.e.: declare null and void, his earlier pronouncements. The importance of knowing which verses abrogate others has given rise to the Quranic science known as "Nasikh wa Mansukh", i.e.: "the Abrogators and the Abrogated".”
The Encyclopedia of Islam, [4], states on abrogation:
Rather than attempting to explain away the inconsistencies in passages giving regulations for the Muslim community, Kuran scholars and jurists came to acknowledge the differences, while arguing that the latest verse on any subject "abrogated" all earlier verses that contradicted it. A classic example involves the Kuranic teaching or regulation on drinking wine, where V, 90, which has a strong statement against the practice, came to be interpreted as a prohibition, abrogating II, 219, and IV, 43, which appear to allow it.
Consequently, as a result of changing circumstances, various Quranic passages were abrogated and Islam changed over time. The rules that applied at one point in time did not necessarily apply at another.
Therefore, when discussing Islam, jihad, and terrorism, what must be considered are Muhammad’s final teachings and the commands that he wanted obeyed. What were his last wishes and instructions regarding jihad and violence? Which Quranic passages are in force today for the Muslim and the Muslim community? Earlier statements related to peace may or may not have been abrogated by later statements related to violence. We will have to examine the context of the texts to know which are in place today.
Now then, if Muhammad’s calls to violence found within the texts were only for a specific period of time, against a specific people, for an understandable cause such as self defense, or to alleviate the oppression of an oppressed people, then the critics of Islam could not honestly say that Islam is a religion that condones aggressive violence and terrorism. On the other hand, if it can be shown that Muhammad’s final intentions for Islam were to attack, conquer, and rule all other peoples, and that the use of violence, in various forms including terrorism, were justified towards installing Islam as the dominant power, then Islam should be called an evil religion. Accordingly, the actions of the murderous Muslims should be identified as truly Islamic and done in the spirit of real Islam.
I will also briefly review what Muhammad’s closest “companions” understood to be his final wishes, i.e. the commands of God and of His messenger or apostle. I refer to the four “rightly guided” Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. These four hold a special place in Islamic theology and history. If anyone knew what Muhammad truly wanted, they did. Following Muhammad’s death (poisoned by a Jewish woman – see my article “The Death of Muhammad” [5]), they continued to obey his commands and fulfill his wishes. They loved Muhammad, obeyed his commands, and put their lives on the line for him time and again. Hence their actions depict their understanding of what Muhammad wanted, i.e. real Islam.
Below are several classical definitions of jihad. Thereafter we will examine passages from the Quran, Hadith, and Sira related to jihad and violence in Islam. “Jihad” or a form of the word occur in the Quran about 35 times. Additionally throughout the Quran there are other words used for various forms of violence.
From the “Concordance of the Quran”, by Hanna Kassis, published by University of California Press, Los Angeles, CA, 1983, [6]:
JIHAD = JAHADA (verb). To struggle, strive, fight for the faith.
The above definition is the simplest, most straightforward definition I’ve found. Kassis essentially derived it from the Quranic context of the word.
A more detailed definition of jihad from the Shorter Encyclopaedia of Islam, page 89, [7]:
DJIHAD, holy war. The spread of Islam by arms is a religious duty upon Muslims in general. It narrowly escaped being a sixth “rukn”, or fundamental duty, and is indeed still so regarded by the descendants of the Kharidjis. The position was reached gradually but quickly. In the Meccan Suras of the Kur’an patience under attack is taught; no other attitude was possible. But at Madina the right to repel attack appears, and gradually it became a prescribed duty to fight against and subdue the hostile Meccans. Whether Muhammad himself recognized that his position implied steady and unprovoked war against the unbelieving world until it was subdued to Islam may be in doubt. Traditions are explicit on the point; but the Kuranic passages speak always of the unbelievers who are to be subdued as dangerous or faithless. Still, the story of his writing to the powers around him shows that such a universal position was implicit in his mind, and it certainly developed immediately after his death, when the Muslim armies advanced out of Arabia. It is now a “fard ‘ala ‘l-kifaya, a duty in general on all male, free, adult Muslims, sane in mind and body and having means enough to reach the Muslim army, yet not a duty necessarily incumbent on every individual but sufficiently performed when done by a certain number. So it must continue to be done until the whole world is under the rule of Islam.”
The “Dictionary of the Quran”, op cit, defines Jihad as,
“The literal meaning of jihad is “to strive”. Technically, jihad is any endeavor that is made to further the cause of God, whether the endeavor is positive (e.g. promoting good) or negative (e.g. eradicating evil) in character, takes the form of social action or private effort, involves monetary expenditure or physical struggle, or is made against the enemy without or the enemy within (i.e. against “the bidding self”). The reduction of jihad to “war” is thus unjustified, though war is an important form of jihad, and a number of Quranic verses about jihad (e.g. 8:74, 75, 9:44) refer primarily to fighting. The comprehensive nature of jihad is evidenced by such verses as 29:69: “Those who strive in Us (= Our way), We guide them to Our ways.” When jihad takes the form of war it is known as qital (“fighting”).
Regarding jihad, the “Tafsir of Ibn Kathir”, volume 2, pages 116, 117 on verse 2:191, [8], states:
As Jihad involves death and the killing of men, Allah draws our attention to the fact that the disbelief and polytheism of the disbelievers, and their avoidance of Allah’s path are far worse than killing. Thus Allah says, “And Fitnah is worse than killing.” This is to say that shirk (Polytheism) is more serious and worse than killing.
The “Reliance of the Traveler, (the Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law)”, page 599, [9], is one of the more respected, classical works in Islamic theology. This 1200+ page volume contains fundamentals of Islamic jurisprudence compiled by “the great 13th century hadith scholar and jurisprudent”, Imam Nawawi, and others. This work was not written with a Western audience in mind. Nawawi wanted to produce a book on Islamic law that was precise, and accurate; one that taught true Islamic values. The following is a long quote on jihad:
“Jihad means to war against non-Muslims, and is etymologically derived from the word “mujahada”, signifying warfare to establish the religion. And it is the lesser jihad. As for the greater jihad, it is spiritual warfare against the lower self, (nafs), which is why the Prophet said as he was returning from jihad.
The scriptural basis for jihad, prior to scholarly consensus is such Koranic verses as:
1) Fighting is prescribed for you (2:216)
2) Slay them wherever you find them (4:89)
3) Fight the idolaters utterly (9:36)
and such Hadiths as the one related by Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet said:
“I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and perform the prayer, and pay zakat. If they say it, they have saved their blood and possessions from me, except for the rights of Islam over them. And their final reckoning is with Allah.”
And the hadith report by Muslim
“To go forth in the morning or evening to fight in the path of Allah is better than the whole world and everything in it.”
Jihad is communal obligation. When enough people perform it to successfully accomplish it, it is no longer obligatory upon others. And Allah Most High having said:
Those of the believers who are unhurt but sit behind are not equal to those who fight in Allah’s path with their property and lives. Allah has preferred those who fight with their property and lives a whole degree above those who sit behind. And to each Allah has promised great good.” 4:95
Jihad is also obligatory for everyone able to perform it, male or female, old or young when the enemy has surrounded the Muslims.
The Caliph makes war upon the Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians, provided he has first invited them to enter Islam in faith and practice, and if they will not, then invited them to enter the social order of Islam by paying the non-Muslim poll tax Jizya…in accordance with the word of Allah Most High:
“Fight those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day and who forbid not what Allah and His messenger have forbidden – who do not practice the religion of truth, being of those who have been given the Book – until they pay the poll tax out of hand and are humbled.” 9:29
The Caliph fights all other peoples until they become Muslim ....”
There are additional statements regarding the rules of jihad found in “Reliance of the Traveler”, but I quote only the relevant statements that portray jihad’s scope and application.
Based upon Islamic scholars' writings, violent jihad is permitted in Islam for both offensive and defensive purposes. It was commanded by, and praised by, Muhammad as being one of the greatest forms of true Islamic spirituality. It is to continue until all people are subjected to Islamic rule.
Aggression toward non-Muslims is allowed but prior to attacking, the Muslims are to offer them a choice:
1) Become Muslim
2) Do not become Muslim but pay the extortion (jizya) tax
3) Defend yourselves unto death
As stated earlier, we must explore the context and chronology of the Quran’s passages. This is challenging because the Quran is not arranged chronologically and no one knows its complete chronology. There is no standard chronological agreement among scholars, be they Muslim, Christian, or secular, as to when chapters or even portions of chapters were revealed during Muhammad’s life. Some of Muhammad’s words, spoken as the Quran near the end of his life, were folded into passages he spoke near the beginning of his declared prophethood. Therefore, the Quran is a jumbled chronological hodgepodge. In and of itself, the Quran is practically worthless when it comes to determining its chronology. (Another one of the Quran’s many weaknesses). The only corroborating references that are able to provide us a guide as to when certain passages were spoken are the Sira and Hadith. Sometimes they provide chronological details behind the Quran’s verses. However, as a whole, scholars are unable to completely determine the Quran’s chronology. Consequently, they only offer their best, educated, opinions.
This Quranic chronology is important because what Muhammad said earlier in his life did not necessarily apply to later events (due to “abrogation” mentioned above). He was always prepared to change his mind, vows, and rules. (See the selection of Hadiths from Sahih Muslim, [10], book 15, #s 4044 – 4062). If we are to understand true Islamic jihad then we need to establish his final position with respect to jihad and aggression. Hence the importance of the last few chronological passages of the Quran, and the following actions of his closest companions and followers.
At the end of this article, I have two appendices – 1 and 2, taken from two books that detail various passages related to jihad and violence. Note that from both of these books the majority of passages relative to “jihad” or violence in Islam’s name come from chapter nine. Most scholars agree that chapter nine is from a very late period - near the end of Muhammad’s life. The great Muslim historian Tabari, in volume 8, (who wrote a 39 volume Islamic history and an extensive commentary on the Quran), [11], shows that the conquest of Mecca occurred in 630, and Ibn Ishaq documented in his “Sirat Rasulallah”, page 617, [12], (this work is the most authentic biographical material still extent today), states that the main jihad section of chapter 9 was revealed in AH 9, i.e. 631. Muhammad died in 632. Therefore, chapter 9 was revealed during Muhammad’s last two years, if not in the last year. Chapter 5 is usually thought to be the last chronological chapter, but it does not have many references to jihad.
The following is a quote from the Encyclopaedia of Islam, op cit, with respect to the problems of Quranic chronology. At the end of the quote are its chronological lists taken from several different scholars of Islam.
The Kuran responds constantly and often explicitly to Muhammad's historical situation, giving encouragement in times of persecution, answering questions from his followers and opponents, commenting on current events, etc. Major doctrines and regulations for the Muslim community, which are never stated systematically in the Kuran, are introduced gradually and in stages that are not always clear. There are apparent contradictions and inconsistencies in the presentation of both the beliefs and the regulations, and the latter are sometimes altered to fit new situations. Thus it is essential to know the approximate dates or historical settings of some passages, and at least the chronological order of others, if they are to be understood fully. This problem was recognized by early Muslim scholars who devoted much attention to it in the first few centuries, until a fairly rigid system of dating was established and given the imprimatur of orthodoxy. In modern times the study of the chronology of the Kuran has been almost exclusively a domain of Western scholars, who have not however been able to reach a consensus on a dating system, or even on the possibility of establishing one.
The Egyptian standard edition gives the following chronological order of the suras, with the verses said to date from a different period given in parentheses: XCVI, LXVIII (17-33, 48-50 Med.), LXXIII (10 f., 20 Med.), LXXIV, I, CXI, LXXXI, LXXXVII, XCII, LXXXIX, XCIII, XCIV, CIII, C, CVIII, CII, CVII, CIX, CV, CXIII, CXIV, CXII, LIII, LXXX, XCVII, XCI, LXXXV, CVI, CI, LXXV, CIV, LXXVII (48 Med.), L (38 Med.), XC, LXXXVI, LIV (54-6 Med.), XXXVIII, VII (163-70 Med.), LXXII, XXXVI (45 Med.), XXV (68-70 Med.), XXXV, XIX (58, 71 Med.), XX (130 f. Med.), LVI (71 f. Med.), XXVI (197, 224-7 Med.),XXVII, XXVIII (52-5 Med., 85 during Hijrah), XVII (26, 32 f., 57, 73-80 Med.), X (40, 94-6 Med.), XI (12, 17, 114 Med.), XII (1-3, 7 Med.), XV, VI (20, 23, 91, 114, 141, 151-3 Med.), XXXVII, XXXI (27-9 Med.), XXXIV (6 Med.), XXXIX (52-4 Med.), XL (56 f. Med.), XLI, XLII (23-5, 27 Med.), XLIII (54 Med.), XLIV, XLV (14 Med.), XLVI (10, 15, 35 Med.), LI, LXXXVIII, XVIII (28, 83-101 Med.), XVI (126-8 Med.), LXXI, XIV (28 f. Med.), XXI, XXIII, XXXII (16-20 Med.), LII, LXVII, LXX, LXXVIII, LXXIX, LXXXII, LXXXIV, XXX (17 Med.), XXIX (1-11 Med.), LXXXIII Hijrah II (281 later), VIII (30-6 Mec.), III, XXXIII, LX, IV, XCIX, LVII, XLVII (13 during Hijrah), XIII, LV, LXXVI, LXV, XCVIII, LIX, XXIV, XXII, LXIII, LVIII, XLIX, LXVI, LXIV, LXI, LXII, XLVIII, V, IX (128 f. Mec.), CX.
(NOTE that sura 9, (IX), is the second to last.)
The Encyclopaedia of Islam, op cit, also details three Western Islamic scholars chronology of the Quran. (Noldeke was one of the greatest Quranic scholars from the West). Below is its listing of the last Medinan suras:
Weil: 2, 98, 62, 65, 22, 4, 8, 47, 57, 3, 59, 24, 63,
33, 48, 110, 61, 60, 58, 49, 66, 9, 5.
Noldeke and Blachere: 2, 98, 64, 62, 8, 47, 3, 61, 57, 4, 65, 59, 33, 63, 24,
58, 22, 48, 66, 60, 110, 49, 9, 5.
[NOTE, traditional Western dating breaks the chronological order of the Quran up into 3 or 4 groups. The last group (sometimes called “late Medinan”) is presented above. There are earlier suras in both lists above, however, for space’s sake, and editing time, I only presented the last sura grouping.]
[NOTE that sura 9 is the second to last in these three scholar’s groupings as well.]
Canon Sell in “The Historical Development of the Quran”, page 204, [13], details that Jalalu-d-Din as-Syuti (a great Muslim Quranic scholar) lists chapter 9 second to last, and Sir William Muir (a great Western Islamic scholar) lists chapter 9 as last. All of the above mentioned references also list chapter 5 near the chronological end, if not at the very end.
The Hadith of Sahih Bukhari, volume 4, # 129, [14], the Hadith states that “The last Sura that was revealed was Bara’a…”. Some scholars have questioned exactly how this fits with other texts’ assertions, but, suffice it to say, Sura 9 was considered to be one of the last, if not the last revealed chapters of the Quran.
Therefore:
six top scholar’s, or works of scholars, (3 of them Muslim, 3 Western), all agree that chapter 9 is either the last or second to last chapter to be spoken by Muhammad. Consequently, since this chapter contains the largest amount of violent passages this is our focus. As a result of being one of the last chapters revealed, sura 9 will dominate, or abrogate, conflicting quranic passages from an earlier period. That being said, we will review other relevant passages on Islamic violence and jihad found in the Quran.
Below are some of the many Quranic verses that reference violence and jihad. At the end of each passage of selected verses, I will add my comments and reference material. Quranic passages, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Noble Quran, [15]. Note that words in parenthesis are added by the translators for clarification.
22:39 Permission to fight is given to those (i.e. believers against disbelievers), who are fighting them, (and) because they (believers) have been wronged, and surely, Allah is Able to give them (believers) victory
22:40 Those who have been expelled from their homes unjustly only because they said: "Our Lord is Allah." - For had it not been that Allah checks one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, wherein the Name of Allah is mentioned much would surely have been pulled down. Verily, Allah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.
22:41 Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) order for Iqamat-as-Salat. [i.e. to perform the five compulsory congregational Salat (prayers) (the males in mosques)], to pay the Zakat and they enjoin Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islam has forbidden) [i.e. they make the Qur'an as the law of their country in all the spheres of life]. And with Allah rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures).
2:193. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allah (Alone). But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zâlimûn (the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)
2:193 from Dawood’s Koran, [16]:
2:193 Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God’s religion reigns supreme. But if they desist, fight none except the evil doers.
[NOTE: I have grouped these verses together because of Ibn Ishaq’s work - see below.]
COMMENT
The context and background of the above passages can be found in Ibn Ishaq’s and Tabari’s work. What follows is from the biographical work of Ibn Ishaq’s “Sirat Rasulallah”, op cit, pages 212, 213. Words in [ ] type brackets are mine.
"THE APOSTLE RECEIVES THE ORDER TO FIGHT
The apostle had not been given permission to fight or allowed to shed blood before the second Aqaba [a place where a pledge was made between Muhammad and his followers from Medina]. He had simply been ordered to call men to God and to endure insult and forgive the ignorant. The Quraysh [a leading group of Meccans] had persecuted his followers, seducing some from their religion and exiling others from their country. They had to choose whether to give up their religion, be maltreated at home, or to flee the country, some to Abyssinia, others to Medina.
When Quraysh became insolent towards God and rejected His gracious purpose, accused His prophet of lying, and ill treated and exiled those who served Him and proclaimed His unity, believed in His prophet and held fast to His religion, He gave permission to His apostle to fight and to protect himself against those who wronged them and treated them badly.
The first verse which was sent down on this subject from what I have heard from Urwa b. Al-Zubayr and other learned persons was: "Permission is given to those who fight because they have been wronged. God is well able to help them, --- those who have been driven out of their houses without right only because they said God is our Lord. Had not God used some men to keep back others, cloister and churches and oratories and mosques wherein the name of God is constantly mentioned would have been destroyed. Assuredly God will help those who help Him. God is Almighty. Those who if we make them strong in the land will establish prayer, pay the poor-tax, enjoin kindness, and forbid iniquity. To God belongs the end of matters" [a]. The meaning is "I have allowed them to fight only because they have been unjustly treated while their sole offense against men has been that they worship God. When they are in the ascendant they will establish prayer, pay the poor-tax, enjoin kindness, and forbid iniquity, i.e., the prophet and his companions all of them." Then God sent down to him: "Fight them so that there be no more seduction," [b] i.e. until no believer is seduced from his religion. "And the religion is God's,", i.e. Until God alone is worshipped."
When God had given permission to fight and this clan of the Ansar had pledged their support to him in Islam and to help him and his followers, and the Muslims who had taken refuge with them, the apostle commanded his companions, the emigrants of his people and those Muslims who were with him in Mecca, to emigrate to Medina and to link up with their brethren the Ansar. “God will make for you brethren and houses in which you may be safe.” So they went out in companies, and the apostle stayed in Mecca waiting for his Lord’s permission to leave Mecca and migrate to Medina.”
END OF QUOTE
[NOTE: two passages from the Quran are referenced: [a] Sura 22:39-41, and [b] Sura 2:193, that is why I grouped them together].
Ibn Ishaq’s work details the chronological and historical context of the above verses. Generally, Muhammad is now going to fight in self defense. But, if you look closely, you find that Muslims will be allowed to a) “fight them so that there be no more seduction” – i.e., others trying to dissuade Muslims from Islam, and b) “the religion is God’s, i.e. Until God alone is worshipped.” The seeds for future aggression to further Islam by using violence were now planted.
Tabari also documents this event. (Note: Tabari often used Ibn Ishaq’s work as a basis for parts of his history). Below is an except from Tabari, op cit, volume 6, page 137, on the time of the revelation of the above passage.
The seventy representative chiefs of those who had accepted Islam, came to the Messenger of God from al-Madinah, met him during the pilgrimage, and swore an oath of allegiance to him at al-Aqabah. They gave him their pledge in the following words: “We are of you and you are of us; whoever comes to us of your Companions, or you yourself if you come to us, we shall defend you as we would defend ourselves.” After this the Quraysh began to treat them harshly and the Messenger of God commanded his Companions to go to al-Madinah. This was the second trial, during which the Messenger of God told his Companions to emigrate and himself emigrated. It was concerning this that God revealed:
And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for God. (218)
NOTE 218 says: This verse (8:39) was probably not revealed until after the battle of Badr. The almost identical verse 2:193 seems not to have been revealed until shortly before the conquest of Mecca.
Tabari adds on page 138:
Those members of the Aws and the Khazraj who took the oath of allegiance at the second al-Aqabah took the pledge of war, when, in contrast to the terms of the first al-Aqabah, God permitted fighting. The first was the pledge of women, as I have mentioned above on the authority of Ubadah al-Samit. The second pledge of al-Aqabah was to wage war against all men (220), as I have mentioned above on the authority of Urwah b. al-Zubayr.
NOTE 220 says: That is, on anyone who injured or killed Muhammad.
[Note: The translator of Ibn Ishaq, A. Guillaume, believes that the last verse referenced above was verse 2:193. However, the translator of Tabari, W. M. Watt, believes that it was actually 8:39. However, in “Muhammad at Mecca”, [17], Watt states that the verse in question is 2:193. So, either Watt changed his mind, or made a mistake. Actually it does not matter. The verses are very similar and the point is that this was the time of the revelation that fighting was allowed].
Regarding 2:193, the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, op cit, page 117, 118, states
Then Allah orders Muslims to kill the disbelievers “until there is no more Fitnah.” According to Ibn Abbas and others, “Fitnah” means polytheism, “And religion (worship), is for Allah” meaning Allah’s religion should stand supreme and overshadowing the rest of the religions. In the Sahihayn, it is reported that the Prophet said: “I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight the people till they say: “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and whoever says it will save his life and property from me except on breaking the law (rights and conditions for which he will be punished justly), and his accounts will be with Allah””.
Therefore, PASSAGE ONE provides us with the allowance of fighting and the works of history and Sira provide us with their chronology - late during Muhammad's time in Mecca. These verses are primarily defensive, but there is also a component of aggression in
“And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for God.”
Muhammad envisioned that there would come a time when he would no longer be on the defensive, but on the offensive. Thus, his early words depict his later actions.
2:216 Jihad (holy fighting in Allah’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. Allah knows but you do not know.
2:217 They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months (i.e. 1st, 7th, 11th and 12th months of the Islamic calendar). Say, "Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) with Allah is to prevent mankind from following the Way of Allah, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah), and to drive out its inhabitants, and Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion (Islamic Monotheism) if they can. And whosoever of you turns back from his religion and dies as a disbeliever, then his deeds will be lost in this life and in the Hereafter, and they will be the dwellers of the Fire. They will abide therein forever."
COMMENT
Helmut Gätje in “The Quran and its Exegesis”, page 213, [18], presents a quote from Baidawi’s Tafsir on this verse. Baidawi was one of the greatest early commentators on the Quran. Gatje’s words are in parenthesis.
“They will question thee concerning the holy month”: It is related that, in the month of Jumada l-Akhira, which was two months before (the battle of) Badr, the Prophet sent out his paternal cousin Abd Allah ibn Jahsh with an expeditionary force, in order to be on the look-out for a caravan of (the tribe of) Quraish in which were Amr ibn Abd Allah al-Hadrami and three (other) men. They killed Amr, took two of his men captive, and drove away the caravan, which contained the goods of trade from at-Taif. This happened at the beginning of (the month of) Rajab, while Abd Allah and his people believed it was (still) the (month of) Jumada l-Akhira. Regarding this, the (people of the tribe of) Quraish said: “Muhammad has (unlawfully) regarded the month in which raids and warlike acts are forbidden, so that the fearful can be safe and men can move freely everywhere for the sake of their livelihood, as permissible (for such forbidden acts). This fell hard upon the members of the expeditionary force, and they said: “We will not submit until compensation comes down for us.” At this, Muhammad gave back the caravan along with the captives. According to Ibn Abbas (however it is related) that the Messenger of God accepted the booty when this verse came down. This is supposed to have been the first booty in Islam. Those who question (Muhammad about the holy month) were the unbelievers, who thereby sought to ascribe to him calumny and profanation (of a holy month). Others say (however) that they were the members of the expeditionary force (who asked Muhammad about the holy month)....
“Say: Fighting in it is a heinous thing”: that is, a heinous sin. For the most part, in opposition to Ata, it is held that this statement is abrogated by the following words of God: “If they do not leave you alone and offer you peace and stop hostilities, then take them wherever you find them and slay them” (Sura 4:91/93). In this case the more specific (that is, the prohibition against fighting during the month of Rajab) would be abrogated by the general (that is, the general command to kill the unbelievers). However, there is a contradiction in this. It lies nearest (the truth) to reject (the interpretation that the present verse declares an absolute prohibition against fighting in the holy month. Although (the word) “fighting” is indefinite here, it is fixed in scope; and thus, (the fighting here) not (to be understood as fighting) in general...
This passage displays an item of interest - what Muhammad ordered at the time these verses were revealed. Just after arriving in Medina, he sent his men out to rob and plunder. And they committed murder. Upon Muhammad’s command they attacked and stole other people’s possessions and ended up murdering a man.
This action took place during a period of recognized “peace” within the Arab community. They had an understanding, a code of honor if you will, that all would honor the sacred months and not make war upon others. Muhammad’s men broke this code. And to justify this dishonorable deed, Muhammad received a timely “revelation” justifying the robbery and murder these men committed. Even with these few verses regarding jihad and violence, we see Muhammad’s duplicity: circumstances changed, Islam changed.
Also note how this passage contradicts or “abrogates” passage one. 2:216 and 217 allow offensive attacks but 2:190-194 primarily command defensive actions. Here, Muhammad’s actions were a raid upon some traveling merchants who had goods that were not from the city of Mecca.
4:94 O you who believe! When you go (to fight) in the Cause of Allah, verify (the truth), and say not to anyone who greets you (by embracing Islam): "You are not a believer"; seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life. There are much more profits and booties with Allah. Even as he is now, so were you yourselves before till Allah conferred on you His Favors (i.e. guided you to Islam), therefore, be cautious in discrimination. Allah is Ever Well Aware of what you do.
4:95 Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward;
I presented this passage for two reasons. 1) to show how important jihad and fighting are in Islam. Jihad is highly commendable, and those that fight are rated high in Allah’s eyes, and they will be greatly rewarded, 2) Here we clearly see the aggressive intentions of Jihad. Ali’s Koran starts 4:94 with, “Oh you who believe, when you go abroad in the cause of Allah...”
From our chronological tables we see that this chapter was also revealed during the Medinan period. In Rodwell’s Koran, [19], the notes for chapter 4 state: “Most of the events alluded to in this Sura fall between the end of the third and the close of the fifth year after the flight to Medina.”
Now, let’s look at another Muslim scholar’s commentary. From the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, op cit, pages 145 – 150, (note, I will not re-quote the verses)
Quoting Ibn Abbas: “Some Muslims chased a man for his booty, who said to them: “Assalamu Alaykum.” They killed him and seized his booty. Consequently, the above verse was revealed. It is mentioned in a biography that his brother Fazzar emigrated to the Prophet in compliance with his father’s command to call on Fazzar people to embrace Islam. On his way, one of the Prophet’s brigades found him at night. He had already informed them that he was a Muslim, but they rejected his admission, and killed him. His father said: “I went to the Prophet and he gave me one thousand dinars and other compensation, and sent me back.” Then, the above verse was revealed.
Al-Bukhari narrated, on the authority of Ibn Abbas: “The Prophet said to Al-Miqdad: “When a believer conceals his Faith among a people who are disbelievers and he has disclosed his Islam, then you have killed him, didn’t you, too, conceal your Islam in Makkah before? (1). Narrated by Al-Bukhari in this way (summarized and Mu’allaq).
Iman Ahmed quoted Ibn Abbas as saying: “A man from Banu Saalim who was herding his sheep, passed by a group of the Prophet’s companions, and greeted them. They said: “He only greeted us in order to seek our protection.” They went to him and killed him. Afterwards, they brought his sheep to the Prophet and the above verse was revealed.”” (2)
Note from Ibn Kathir’s quote. 1) Muslims were allowed to attack non-Muslims and plunder their possessions. See how the poor shepherd was treated? He greeted them, poised no threat, but he was murdered because the Muslims thought he was not a true Muslim. In other words, it was totally permissible to attack non-Muslims at this time in Islam’s history. The murdering Muslims were not reproached for attacking others, they were reproached for attacking a person who greeted them – as a Muslim would do, but who they thought was not a true Muslim. Had the shepherd not greeted them, Muhammad would have justified his murder.
[A SIDE QUESTION: Why did it take a murder of a Muslim for Allah to “reveal” this verse to Muhammad? Wouldn’t it have been better if Allah could have revealed this to Muhammad, and have it incorporated into his teachings, so others would not have had to have been murdered?]
Let’s continue with Ibn Kathir’s commentary. Regarding verse 4:95 it says,
“Al-Bukhari quoted Al-Barra as saying: “When the above verse was revealed, the Prophet called Zaid Ibn Thabit and ordered him to write it down. Ibn Umm Maktum came to the Prophet and explained to him his disability. Then, Allah revealed: “Except those who are disabled.”
Note here that once again, it took human circumstances and predicaments for Allah to complete a revelation! Jihad was ordered for Muslims, but some Muslims were unable to fight – such as a blind man. Consequently, Allah had to modify his prior revelation to Muhammad with another revelation – exempting the disabled from jihad.
Thus far three Quranic passages have been considered. The first was revealed around the time Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina. The second just a few months after his arrival in Medina. The third from between the 3rd and 5th year of Muhammad’s stay in Medina.
Now let us examine some additional actions that Muhammad ordered from 1 A.H. up to 6 A.H.. Please note, there are more incidents I could reference, but for the sake of time and space I have to limit the amount of information I detail.
While reading these incidents below, ask yourself if real Islam, i.e. Muhammad’s Islam, allows aggressive violence and terrorism.
This occurred around 2 A.H. Muhammad's requested his men to murder an old Jewish man named Abu Afak. Abu Afak was 120 years old. Abu Afak had urged his fellow Medinans to question Muhammad. Below are the details from Muslim sources.
From “The Life of Muhammad, op cit., page 675,
SALIM B. UMAYR'S EXPEDITION TO KILL ABU AFAK
Abu Afak was one of the B. Amr b. Auf of the B. Ubayda clan. He showed his disaffection when the apostle killed al-Harith b. Suwayd b. Samit and said:
"Long have I lived but never have I seen
An assembly or collection of people
More faithful to their undertaking
And their allies when called upon
Than the sons of Qayla when they assembled,
Men who overthrew mountains and never submitted,
A rider who came to them split them in two (saying)
"Permitted", "Forbidden", of all sorts of things.
Had you believed in glory or kingship
You would have followed Tubba
[NOTE: the Tubba was a ruler from Yemen who invaded that part of what is present Saudi Arabia: the Qaylites resisted him]
The apostle said, "Who will deal with this rascal for me?" Whereupon Salim b. Umayr, brother of B. Amr b. Auf, one of the "weepers", went forth and killed him. Umama b. Muzayriya said concerning that:
You gave the lie to God's religion and the man Ahmad! [Muhammad]
By him who was your father, evil is the son he produced!
A "hanif" gave you a thrust in the night saying
"Take that Abu Afak in spite of your age!"
Though I knew whether it was man or jinn
Who slew you in the dead of night (I would say naught).
END OF QUOTE
Additional information is found in the Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, (Book of the Major Classes) by Ibn Sa'd, Volume 2, [20], page 32, words in [ ] are mine.
Then occurred the "sariyyah" [raid] of Salim Ibn Umayr al-Amri against Abu Afak, the Jew, in [the month of] Shawwal in the beginning of the twentieth month from the hijrah [immigration from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD], of the Apostle of Allah. Abu Afak, was from Banu Amr Ibn Awf, and was an old man who had attained the age of one hundred and twenty years. He was a Jew, and used to instigate the people against the Apostle of Allah, and composed (satirical) verses [about Muhammad].
Salim Ibn Umayr who was one of the great weepers and who had participated in Badr, said, "I take a vow that I shall either kill Abu Afak or die before him. He waited for an opportunity until a hot night came, and Abu Afak slept in an open place. Salim Ibn Umayr knew it, so he placed the sword on his liver and pressed it till it reached his bed. The enemy of Allah screamed and the people who were his followers, rushed to him, took him to his house and interred him.
END OF QUOTE
From a contemporary Muslim scholar - Ali Dashti's "23 Years: A Study of the Prophetic Career of Mohammad", [21], page 100:
"Abu Afak, a man of great age (reputedly 120 years) was killed because he had lampooned Mohammad. The deed was done by Salem b. Omayr at the behest of the Prophet, who had asked, "Who will deal with this rascal for me?" The killing of such an old man moved a poetess, Asma b. Marwan, to compose disrespectful verses about the Prophet, and she too was assassinated."
Prior to listing all of the assassinations Muhammad had ordered, Ali Dashti writes on page 97:
"Thus Islam was gradually transformed from a purely spiritual mission into a militant and punitive organization whose progress depended on booty from raids and revenue from the zakat tax."
COMMENT
Here an aged man was murdered upon Muhammad's command. He was no physical threat to Muhammad and he did not urge people to commit violent acts against Muhammad or the Muslims. There was no discussion with Jewish leaders, there was no dialogue with Abu Afak; it was just an outright murder of one of Muhammad's critics. Abu Afak urged the people who lived in Medina to doubt and leave Muhammad. He found that Muhammad's sayings were strange and dictatorial. He chided the Arabs that put their faith in Muhammad. Muhammad heard of this and viewed the 120 year old man as a threat to his credibility, not to his life. Nowhere does it say that Abu Afak urged his fellow Arabs to attack or harm Muhammad. Yet for speaking his mind, for the benefit of his friends, this man was murdered by Muhammad.
The last statement in Umama b. Muzayriya's verse reveals something though:
"Though I knew whether it was man or jinn
Who slew you in the dead of night (I would say naught)."
This statement displays that the Muslims knew exactly what they were doing. They knew it was cold-blooded murder that they were committing upon Muhammad's request. They wanted to keep it secret, they wanted to hide their evil deeds from the populace at large. That's why Umama said he wouldn't reveal who murdered Abu Afak.
This incident immediately followed the murder of Abu Afak around 2 A.H.. The incident involves Muhammad's request for his men to murder a women named Asma b. Marwan.
Quoting from Guillaume, op cit, pages 675, 676,
UMAYR B. ADIYY'S JOURNEY TO KILL ASMA B. MARWAN
"She was of B. Umayyya b. Zayd. When Abu Afak had been killed she displayed disaffection. Abdullah b. al-Harith b. Al-Fudayl from his father said that she was married to a man of B. Khatma called Yazid b. Zayd. Blaming Islam and its followers she said:
"I despise B. Malik and al-Nabit
and Auf and B. al-Khazraj.
You obey a stranger who is none of yours,
One not of Murad or Madhhij. {1}
Do you expect good from him after the killing of your chiefs
Like a hungry man waiting for a cook's broth?
Is there no man of pride who would attack him by surprise
And cut off the hopes of those who expect aught from him?"
Hassan b. Thabit answered her:
"Banu Wa'il and B. Waqif and Khatma
Are inferior to B. al-Khazraj.
When she called for folly woe to her in her weeping,
For death is coming.
She stirred up a man of glorious origin,
Noble in his going out and in his coming in.
Before midnight he dyed her in her blood
And incurred no guilt thereby."
When the apostle heard what she had said he said, "Who will rid me of Marwan's daughter?" Umayr b. Adiy al-Khatmi who was with him heard him, and that very night he went to her house and killed her. In the morning he came to the apostle and told him what he had done and he [Muhammad] said, "You have helped God and His apostle, O Umayr!" When he asked if he would have to bear any evil consequences the apostle said, "Two goats won't butt their heads about her", so Umayr went back to his people.
Now there was a great commotion among B. Khatma that day about the affair of bint [girl] Marwan. She had five sons, and when Umayr went to them from the apostle he said, "I have killed bint Marwan, O sons of Khatma. Withstand me if you can; don't keep me waiting." That was the first day Islam became powerful among B. Khatma; before that those who were Muslims concealed the fact. The first of them to accept Islam was Umayr b. Adiy who was called the "Reader", and Abdullah b. Aus and Khuzayma b. Thabit. The day after Bint Marwan was killed the men of B. Khatma became Muslims because they saw the power of Islam."
{1} The note reads "Two tribes of Yamani origin."
END OF QUOTE
And from Ibn Sa'd's, "Kitab Al-Tabaqat Al-Kabir" [op cit] volume 2, page 31:
"SARIYYAH OF UMAYR IBN ADI"
Then (occurred) the sariyyah of Umayr ibn adi Ibn Kharashah al-Khatmi against Asma Bint Marwan, of Banu Umayyah Ibn Zayd, when five nights had remained from the month of Ramadan, in the beginning of the nineteenth month from the hijrah of the apostle of Allah. Asma was the wife of Yazid Ibn Zayd Ibn Hisn al-Khatmi. She used to revile Islam, offend the prophet and instigate the (people) against him. She composed verses. Umayr Ibn Adi came to her in the night and entered her house. Her children were sleeping around her. There was one whom she was suckling. He searched her with his hand because he was blind, and separated the child from her. He thrust his sword in her chest till it pierced up to her back. Then he offered the morning prayers with the prophet at al-Medina. The apostle of Allah said to him: "Have you slain the daughter of Marwan?" He said: "Yes. Is there something more for me to do?" He [Muhammad] said: "No two goats will butt together about her. This was the word that was first heard from the apostle of Allah. The apostle of Allah called him Umayr, "basir" (the seeing).
END OF QUOTE
COMMENT
Let's sum this up and put it in perspective.
Muhammad had al-Harith b. Suwayd b. Samit killed. This upset Abu Afak, so he spoke out against it. So, likewise, Muhammad had Abu Afak murdered. This offended Asma b. Marwan and she spoke out against that evil deed. She encouraged her fellow tribesmen to take action against Muhammad. When Muhammad heard of what she had said, he had her killed also.
Further note Hassan Thabit’s poem as a response to her:
“Before midnight he dyed her in her blood
And incurred no guilt thereby."
Even here the Muslims knew that murder was allowed for Islam. Even at this time they were aware of Muhammad’s methods. They had been murdering people all along, and Thabit rightly knew the she would be on Muhammad’s hit list quite shortly. And, true to form, Muhammad dispatched his henchmen to murder her.
Now, at first glance, this order to kill Asma might seem justifiable to some. Asma was calling for someone to kill Muhammad. After all, he had been murdering her friends. But from Muhammad’s viewpoint it is understandable for Muhammad to be troubled by her call. Just as criminals are troubled by those that expose and speak out against their evil deeds, so too Muhammad was upset.
So let's look deeper at the event and examine the context of Asma's relationship to her tribe.
1) First of all, Asma has seen Muhammad in action. She had seen him for what he was, a cold blooded murderer. Of course she spoke out against a murderer.
Second, her tribe was not under Muhammad's rule. Perhaps they had a treaty with Muhammad, perhaps not. Either way, this women was free to speak her mind. If a treaty existed, and she was out of line, Muhammad could have complained to her tribe's leaders, and they could have commanded her to be silent or dealt with the situation.
2) What's more noteworthy about this event is that after she was murdered, Muhammad said "Two goats won't butt their head about her", meaning no one will care about her death. (Well except her children and her family).
Also note, that there were already people from her tribe who had become Muslims. Certainly these people were not going to listen to her.
The point is this: if no one really cared about her being murdered, then no one really cared about what she had to say. Her people also knew about Muhammad having Abu Afak murdered, and they didn't care about that either. Even in that light, no one would take her serious enough to listen to her urgings to murder Muhammad, who was the leader of a powerful group of people. None of her people were willing to put their lives on the line for her words.
The bottom line is that Asma b. Marwan was not a legitimate threat to Muhammad. She didn't scare him, she was not the leader of her tribe, and she had little or no influence. She was little more than a nuisance to him. Yet Muhammad had her murdered, again, in premeditated cold blood. Asma and Abu Afak were murdered simply because they rejected Muhammad.
What type of people murder civilians that sleep? One wonders why Muhammad didn't kill her himself? It was always easier for Muhammad to have someone else do his killing.
And put the shoe on the other foot. Throughout the world there are Muslims calling for the violent destruction of America. If America were to behave like Muhammad, it would be killing all those who speak out against it. Would Muslims justify the same standard of morality, and the same actions that Muhammad used?
INCIDENT # 3 – MUHAMMAD’S CONFLICT WITH THE JEWS AND HIS ATTACK UPON THE JEWS OF BANU QAYNUQA
Shortly after Muhammad arrived in Medina he had conflict with the Jews. There were a number of large and small tribes of Jews in and around Medina. The Banu Qaynuqa Jews were one of the larger tribes. Muhammad desperately wanted the Jews to believe in him, but almost to the man they refused. The Jews saw immediately that Muhammad was a false prophet and quickly rejected him. Their rejection undermined Muhammad’s credibility because they had the “Scriptures”, i.e. Torah or Old Testament. Thus, they were a threat to Muhammad. From early on there were very ill feelings between the Jews and Muhammad. As Muhammad’s power grew he began to confront the Jews.
Tabari places this incident with the Banu Qaynuqa as occurring in 2 AH.
To set the stage, we will start with a quote from the esteemed collection of Hadith by Imam Muslim. The name “Abu’l-Qasim” is another of Muhammad’s names.
Sahih Muslim, op cit, Book 019, Number 4363:
[NOTE: words in parenthesis are from the translator – Ahmad Sidiqqi].
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira who said: We were (sitting) in the mosque when the Messenger of Allah came to us and said: (Let us) go to the Jews. We went out with him until we came to them. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) stood up and called out to them (saying): O ye assembly of Jews, accept Islam (and) you will be safe. They said: Abu'l-Qasim, you have communicated (God's Message to us). The Messenger of Allah said: I want this (i. e. you should admit that God's Message has been communicated to you), accept Islam and you would be safe. They said: Abu'l-Qasim, you have communicated (Allah's Message). The Messenger of Allah said: I want this... - He said to them (the same words) the third time (and on getting the same reply) he added: You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I wish that I should expel you from this land Those of you who have any property with them should sell it, otherwise they should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle (and they may have to go away leaving everything behind).
Note here Muhammad threatening the Jews. They rejected him and he wanted them gone. And note how he wanted them to submit to him - O ye assembly of Jews, accept Islam”,
And note how he threatened them: O ye assembly of Jews, accept Islam (and) you will be safe
Notice how Muhammad’s ego had already gotten the better of him – “You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle,”. So now Muhammad believed he owned the entire world!
And note that his intentions were well known with them - You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I wish that I should expel you from this land. The enmity between them had grown and Muhammad was looking for a way to rid himself of those that were a threat to his credibility.
The Banu Qaynuqa Jews were primarily goldsmiths, tradesman, and craftsman. They were on his bad side and he waited for an opportunity to deal with them. He did not have to wait long. His opportunity arose following a problem between some Muslims and Jews. There are a lot of details surrounding this incident. For length’s sake I will not go into depth on all of them. This incident is in and of itself a subject for a separate article. However, what I find to be important here is to display yet another facet of Muhammad’s dark side. Even at this stage of his ascent to power, attacking and killing numerous innocent people was well within his character. Those that opposed or disagreed with Muhammad opposed and disagreed with God, and thus faced God’s wrath, expressed through Muhammad. There was nothing but oppression and death towards those that opposed him.
I will not quote the entire set of details, save only those that pertain to the point. However, I will provide the references from the sources so that those interested may look them up and study them for themselves.
Here are the references:
Sahih Muslim #4363
Guillaume, pages 260, 364, 365
Ibn Sa’d, volume 2, page 32
The summary of the incident:
Muhammad and the Qaynuqa were at odds. They had rejected Muhammad and resisted his demand that they acknowledge his prophethood. Instead they made fun of him and vexed him. They treated him as some false, ridiculous, egotistical man who claimed greatness and prophethood. Naturally, Muhammad could not long tolerate them.
After Muhammad’s victory at Badr, he called the Qaynuqa Jews together and insisted that they acknowledge his prophethood, or, they would end up like the defeated Meccans (see the Sahih Muslim quote above). The Jews refused him, and stated they were ready to fight him if that was what he wanted. Muhammad received a “revelation” concerning the Jews – Sura 3: 12, 13.
Shortly thereafter, an incident occurred in a market place. A Qaynuqa Jew played a bad joke upon a Muslim lady leading to her humiliation. Her male companion killed the Jew. His friends in turn killed the Muslim. This led to a confrontation between Muhammad and the Qaynuqa. Muhammad made no attempt to work things out with the Jews. Rather he received a visitation from a spirit named “Gabriel” – the same spirit that visited him for the first time in a cave which caused Muhammad to attempt suicide. (For details regarding “Gabriel”. see my works “Muhammad and the Demons”, [22], http://answering-islam.org/Silas/demons.htm
and “Muhammad’s Suicide Attempts”, [23], http://answering-islam.org/Silas/suicide.htm
During this visitation, Gabriel gave Muhammad a revelation. The details come from
the “Kitab al Tabaqat al Kabir”, op cit, vol 2, page 32:
Then occurred the ghazwah of the Apostle of Allah against the Banu Qaynuqa on Saturday, in the middle of Shawwal, after the commencement of the twentieth month from the hijrah. These people were Jews and allies of Abd Allah Ibn Ubayyi Ibn Salul. They were the bravest of Jews, and were goldsmiths. They had entered into a pact with the Prophet. When the battle of Badr took place they transgressed and showed jealousy and violated the pact and the covenant. Thereupon Allah the Blessed and the High revealed to His Prophet: “And if thou fears treachery from any folk, then throw back to them (their treaty) fairly. Lo! Allah loves not the treacherous”. [1] The Apostle of Allah had said: I fear the Banu Quynuqa but after this verse he marched against them.
[1] Sura 8:58
Now Muhammad had the pretext to attack the Qaynuqa (the altercation in the market place), and Allah’s permission to attack them. He didn’t feel the need to work out the problems with the Jews, rather, he moved to rid himself of them.
Muhammad besieged them for about fifteen days. Then the Qaynuqa surrendered.
Another key piece of additional information is provided by Ibn Sa’d
They shut themselves up in their fortress, so he (Prophet) strongly besieged them, till Allah cast fear in their hearts. They submitted to the orders of the Apostle of Allah, that their property would be for the Prophet while they would take their women and children with them. Then under his orders their hands were tied behind their backs. The Apostle of Allah appointed al-Mudhir Ibn Qadamah al-Slimi, of the Banu al-Silm, the tribe of Sa’d Ibn Khaythamah to tie their hands behind their backs. Abd Allah Ibn Ubayyi had a talk with the Apostle of Allah about them and entreated him (to release them). Thereupon he (Prophet) said: Leave them, may Allah curse them and curse him who is with them! He abandoned the idea of their killing and ordered them to be banished from Madinah.
Another critical set of details, relative to my argument is provided from Guillaume, pages 363, 364:
My father Ishaq b. Yasar told me from Ubada - …”when the B. Qaynuqa fought the apostle Abdullah b. Ubayy espoused their cause and defended them, and Ubada Samit who was one of the B. Auf, who had the same alliance with them as had Abdullah, went to the apostle and renounced all responsibility for them in favor of God and the apostle, saying, “O apostle of God, I take God and His apostle and the believers as my friends, and I renounce my agreement and friendship with these unbelievers.: Concerning him and Abdullah b. Ubayy, this passage from the chapter of the Table came down [2 – Sura 5:56] “O you who believe, take not Jews and Christians as friends. They are friends of one another. Who of you takes them as friends is one of them. God will not guide the unjust people. You can see those in whose heart there is sickness, i.e. Abdullah b. Ubayy when he said, “I fear a change of circumstances.” Acting hastily in regard to them they say we fear that change of circumstances may overtake us. Peradventure God will bring victory or an act from Him so that they will be sorry for their secret thought, and those who believe will say, “Are these those who swore by God their most binding oath?” [that they were with you], as far as God’s words, “Verily God and His apostle are you friends, and those who believe, who perform prayer, give alms and bow in homage,” mentioning Ubada taking God and His apostle and the believers as friends, and renouncing his agreement and friendship with the B. Qaynuqa, “Those who take God and His apostle and the believers as friends, they are God’s party, they are the victorious.”
COMMENTS
There are a number of issues to be dealt with. I want to first comment on the “pact”, “charter”, or “treaty” that the Muslim writers claim to have existed between the various Jewish tribes and Muhammad. An analysis of this so-called “Charter of Medina”, or “treaty”, done by A. Wensinck, “Muhammad and the Jews of Medina”, [24], page 70, states that this “treaty” was really more of an edict issued by Muhammad upon the Jews, rather than of what we today consider to be a “treaty”. Muhammad laid a burden of regulation upon the Jews, which they had to accommodate. But, this is not the purpose of this article. What is important is that Muhammad was at odds with the Jews because they had rejected him, and after his victory at Badr, Muhammad felt confident that he could threaten them, and move against them.
Did you notice that it was the very same spirit called “Gabriel” who motivated Muhammad to attack the Jews? Accordingly, now occurred one of the more questionable and ugly actions committed by Muhammad against the Jews.
Ibn Sa’d, op cit, details on page 32:
They shut themselves up in their fortress, so he (Prophet) strongly besieged them, till Allah cast fear in their hearts. They submitted to the orders of the Apostle of Allah, that their property would be for the Prophet while they would take their women and children with them. Then under his orders their hands were tied behind their backs.
The Jews surrendered to Muhammad expecting to be expelled taking their families with them. However, as they surrendered, Muhammad had them tied up. Muhammad was preparing to massacre the males! It seems that they surrendered expecting acceptable terms, but now, when they were defenseless, Muhammad tied them up and prepared to massacre them. Now, a further blot on Muhammad’s record takes place. A pagan confronts Muhammad and demands that the Jews not be massacred. Muhammad was challenged by a pagan to not commit an evil act. Muhammad grew angered to the point where it was evident to all “shadows appeared upon his face”.
Tabari records:
The Messenger of God besieged them until they surrendered at his discretion. Abd Allah b. Ubayy b. Salul rose up when God had put them in his power, and said, “Muhammad, treat my mawali well”; for they were the confederates of al-Khazraj. The Prophet delayed his answer, so Abd Allah repeated, “Muhammad, treat my mawali well.” The Prophet turned away from him, and he put his hand into (the Messenger’s) collar. The Messenger of God said, “Let me go!” – he was so angry that they could see shadows in his face (that is, his face colored). Then he said, “Damn you, let me go!” He replied, “No, by God, I will not let you go until you treat my mawali well. Four hundred men without armor and three hundred with coats of mail, who defended me from the Arab and the non-Arab alike, and you would mow them down in a single morning? By God, I do not feel safe and am afraid of what the future may have in store.” So the Messenger of God said, “They are yours.”
So, we see a pagan forcing Muhammad to not carry out his brutal plan to murder 700 Jewish males. Who’s morality was better? These males were probably aged from 14 on up. Islam considers that when a young boy begins puberty, that he is an adult.
I want all American readers to note the minor incident that occurred between Ubayy and Ubada Samit. From Sir William Muir’s work “The Life of Muhammad”, [25], chapter 13,
Abdallah upbraided Obada (they were both principals in the confederacy with the Cainucaa,) for the part he had taken in abandoning their allies, and aiding in their exile: -- "What! art thou free from the oath with which we ratified their alliance? Hast thou forgotten how they stood by us, and shed for us their blood, on such and such a day ? "- and he began enumerating the engagements in which they had fought together. Obada cut him short with the decisive answer, -- "hearts have changed. Islam hath blotted all treaties out."14
Samit Ubada had an alliance with the Qaynuqa Jews. They had stood together at one time, and shed blood to defend Ubada and his tribe, but, because of the conflict between the Muslims and the Jews, Samit broke his alliance with the Jews. And, accordingly, there was yet another “revelation” for Muhammad justifying and supporting this. This will be further addressed later in this article.
I documented this incident because I did not want readers to think that Muhammad only had a few people occasionally murdered. Muhammad was prepared to eliminate anyone, individuals or entire tribes. In Muhammad’s mind those that rejected him opposed him. All he needed was a convenient reason to pull the trigger.
QUESTIONS
1) If Muhammad were about peace, why didn’t he try to work things out between himself and the Jews? From an incident, to a “revelation,” to an attack. Many nations throughout history have suffered pain from other nations and did not immediately go to war. Rather they tried to work the misunderstandings out. If Muhammad is supposed to be an example for all mankind, why are his patience and peace making skills so meager?
2) Was it necessary to eradicate an entire tribe of people over an incident in which one Muslim was killed? Should an entire tribe of people have been attacked over this? How would Muslims feel if America were to begin to eradicate Muslim nations because of the actions of a few Muslim terrorists?
Muhammad continued to have
problems with various people around Medina who refused to acknowledge his claim
to prophethood. Kab Ashraf was a
prominent local. He did not believe in
Muhammad. Kab never lifted a weapon
against Muhammad or any Muslim, he only voiced his opinion against Muhammad,
and made up some unsavory poems about Muslim women. Muhammad saw him as a threat, and therefore had him murdered in
the night.
Tabari states that this murder took
place in 3 A.H.
From Bukhari, op cit, vol 5 #369: [Note, this is a very long Hadith. Also note
the actual killer in this Hadith is another man named Muhammad bin Maslama. I
have referred to him as Maslama.]
"Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: "Allah's messenger said
"Who is willing to kill Ka'b al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His
apostle?" Thereupon Maslama got up saying, "O Allah's messenger!
Would you like that I kill him?" The prophet said, "Yes".
Maslama said, "Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive
Ka'b). The prophet said, "You may say it."
Maslama went to Ka'b and said, "That man (i.e.
Muhammad) demands Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) [taxes] from us, and he has troubled us,
and I have come to borrow something from you." On that, Ka'b said, "By
Allah, you will get tired of him!" Maslama said, "Now as we have
followed him, we do not want to leave him unless and until we see how his end
is going to be. Now we want you to lend us a camel load or two of food."
Ka'b said, "Yes, but you should mortgage something to me." Maslama
and his companion said, What do you want?" Ka'b replied, "Mortgage
your women to me." They said, "How can we mortgage our women to you
and you are the most handsome of the Arabs?" Ka'b said, "Then
mortgage your sons to me." They said, "How can we mortgage our sons
to you? Later they would be abused by the people's saying that so and so has
been mortgaged for a camel load of food. That would cause us great disgrace,
but we will mortgage our arms to you."
Maslama and his companion promised Ka'b that Maslama
would return to him. He came to Ka'b at night along with Ka'b's foster brother,
Abu Naila. Ka'b invited them to come into his fort and then he went down to
them. His wife asked him, "Where are you going at this time?" Ka'b replied,
"None but Maslama and my (foster) brother Abu Naila have come." His wife
said, "I hear a voice as if blood is dropping from him." Ka'b said,
"They are none but my brother Maslama and my foster brother Abu Naila. A
generous man should respond to a call at night even if invited to be killed."
Maslama went with the two men. So Maslama went in together
with two men, and said to them, "When Ka'b comes, I will touch his hair
and smell it, and when you see that I have got hold of his head, strike him. I
will let you smell his head."
Ka'b Ashraf came down to them wrapped in his clothes, and diffusing perfume.
Maslama said, "I have never smelt a better scent than this." Ka'b
replied, "I have got the best Arab women who know how to use the high
class of perfume." Maslama requested Ka'b "Will you allow me to smell
your head?" Ka'b said "yes." Maslama smelt it and made his
companions smell it as well. Then he requested Ka'b again, "Will you let
me (smell your head)?" Ka'b said "Yes". When Maslama got a
strong hold of him, he said (to his companions) "Get at him!" So they
killed him and went to the prophet and informed him."
END OF QUOTE
The story as told by Ibn Ishaq, op cit, page 365,
He [Maslama] said,
"O apostle of god, we shall have to tell lies." He answered, "Say
what you like, for you are free in the matter."
Thereupon he and Silkan [Abu Naila], and Abbad, and Harith, and Abu Abs Jabr
conspired together and sent Silkan to the enemy of God, Ka'b, before they came
to him. He talked to him some time and they recited poetry one to the other,
for Silkan was fond of poetry. Then he said, O Ibn Ashraf, I have come to you
about a matter which I want to tell you of and wish you to keep secret."
"Very well", he replied. He went on , "The coming of this man is
a great trial to us. It has provoked the hostility of the Arabs, and they are
all in league against us. The roads have become impassable so that our families
are in want and privation, and we and our families are in great distress. Ka'b
answered, "By god, I kept telling you O Ibn Salama, that the things I
warned you of would happen." Silkan said to him, 'I want you to sell us
food and we will give you a pledge of security and you deal generously in the
matter." He replied, "Will you give me your sons as a pledge?"
He said, "You want to insult us. I have friends who share my opinion and I
want to bring them to you so that you may sell to them and act generously, and
we will give you enough weapons for a good pledge." Silkan's object was
that he should not take alarm at the sight of weapons when they brought them.
Ka'b answered, "Weapons are a good pledge."
Thereupon Silkan returned to his companions, told them what has happened, and
ordered them to take their arms. Then they went away and assembled with him and
met the apostle."
Thaur told me the apostle walked with them as far as Gharqad. Then he sent them
off, saying, "Go in God's name; O God help them." So saying, he
returned to his house. Now it was a moonlight night and they journeyed on until
they came to his castle, and Abu Naila called out to him. He had only recently
married and he jumped up in the bedsheet, and his wife took hold of the end of
it and said, "You are at war, and those who are at war do not go out at
this hour." He replied, "It is Abu Naila. Had he found me sleeping he
would not have woken me." She answered, "by God, I can feel evil in
his voice." Ka'b answered, "Even if the call were for a stab a brave
man must answer it."
So he went down and talked to them for some time, while they conversed with
him. Then Abu Naila said, "Would you like to walk with us to Shib
al-ajmuz, so that we can talk for the rest of the night?" "If you
like", he answered, so they went off walking together; and after a time
Abu Naila ran his hand through his hair. Then he smelt his hand, and said,
"I have never smelt a scent finer than this." They walked on farther
and he did the same so that Ka'b suspected no evil. Then after a space did it
for the third time and cried, "Smite the enemy of God!" So they smote
him, and their swords clashed over him with no effect. Maslama said, "I
remembered my dagger when I saw that our swords were useless, and I seized it.
Meanwhile the enemy of God had made such a noise that every fort around us was
showing a light. I thrust it into the lower part of his body, then I bore down
upon it until I reached his genitals, and the enemy of God fell to the ground.
Harith had been hurt, being wounded either in his head or in his foot, one of
our swords having struck him. We went away, passing by the Umayya and then the
Qurayza and then both until we went up the Harra of Urayd. Our friend Harith
had lagged behind, weakened by loss of blood, so we waited for him for some
time until he came up, following our tracks. We carried him and brought him to
the apostle at the end of the night. We saluted him as he stood praying, and he
came out to us and we told him that we had killed God's enemy. He spat upon our
comrade's wounds, and both he and we returned to our families. Our attack
upon God's enemy cast terror among the Jews, and there was no Jew in Median who
did not fear for his life.
On page 442 there is a descript poem part of which deals with Kab’s murder. The poem is composed by a Muslim and this part says:
By Muhammad’s order when he sent secretly by night
Kab’s brother, to go to Kab
He beguiled him and brought him down with guile”
END OF QUOTE OF THE SIRAT RASUL ALLAH
Ibn Sa'd's Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir adds
another interesting feature to this story. From the
Tabaqat, vol 2, page 37:
"Then they cut his head and took it with them.
..... they cast his head before him [Muhammad]. He (the prophet) praised Allah
on his being slain."
END OF IBN SA'D QUOTE
Note what happened here. Kab
encouraged Muhammad's enemies, and made up some poems about Muslim women.
Muhammad didn't like it, and had him murdered.
To accomplish their action against Kab,
Muhammad allowed them to lie to Kab in order to get him to lower his defenses
and trust them. After they
kill Ka'b, they behead him and bring the head to Muhammad. When Muhammad sees
his head, Muhammad praises God for Ka'b being slain!
QUESTIONS
1) Did Muhammad abide by the treaty he had with the Jews? Was it right to
murder one of their leaders under cover of night, as criminals would?
2) What does this say for Islam’s view of law? If Kab were a real criminal,
couldn't Muhammad have dealt with him according to the local law or
understanding he had with the Jews? Why
is it that for the religion of Islam’s sake, no law is binding?
3) What are the implications for any society?
In effect, can Muslims murder in the night those who oppose them or
Islam?
4) What other types of people dispatch men to commit murder in the night?
INCIDENT # 5 – THE MURDER OF IBN SUNAYNA
Muhammad’s problems with the various Jews were not over. They had rejected him, and he could not tolerate that. His hatred towards them became a bigotry. Just after the murder of Kab Ashraf, and before the battle of Uhud (3 A.H.), Muhammad ordered his followers to “kill any Jew that comes under your power”.
From Guillaume, op cit, page 369:
"The apostle said, "Kill any Jew that falls into your power." Thereupon Muhayyisa b. Masud leapt upon Ibn Sunayna, a Jewish merchant with whom they had social and business relations, and killed him. Huwayyisa was not a Muslim at the time though he was the elder brother. When Muhayyisa killed him Huwayyisa began to beat him, saying, 'You enemy of God, did you kill him when much of the fat on your belly comes from his wealth?' Muhayyisa answered, 'Had the one who ordered me to kill him ordered me to kill you I would have cut your head off.'"
END OF QUOTE
This story is also supported in the Sunan of Abu Dawud, [26], Book 19, Number 2996:
Narrated Muhayyisah: The Apostle of Allah said: If you gain a victory over the men of Jews, kill them. So Muhayyisah jumped over Shubaybah, a man of the Jewish merchants. He had close relations with them. He then killed him. At that time Huwayyisah (brother of Muhayyisah) had not embraced Islam. He was older than Muhayyisah. When he killed him, Huwayyisah beat him and said: O enemy of Allah, I swear by Allah, you have a good deal of fat in your belly from his property.
END OF QUOTE
COMMENT
Another murder committed upon Muhammad's command. Note that Muhayyisa would have killed a family member at the drop of a hat. Here Muhammad was no better than a bigoted criminal boss, ordering his men to wantonly murder Jewish people. Hitler did this.
A quote from an Islamic scholar – Wensinck, op cit, writes in, "Muhammad and the Jews of Medina", page 113:
"It is remarkable that tradition attributes Muhammad's most cruel acts to divine order, namely the siege of Qaynuqa, the murder of Kab, and the attack upon Qurayzah. Allah's conscience seems to be more elastic than that of his creatures."..... Ibn Ishaq and al-Waqidi report that the prophet said the morning after the murder (of Kab Ashraf), "Kill any Jew you can lay your hands on.".
This incident shows that Muhammad had unsuspecting people, those who even had good relations with Muslims, murdered in cold blood simply because they were Jewish. There was no justification to murder these Jews other than they were not Muhammad's followers. These actions were the work of Muhammad's terrorists committing murder.
Similar to the attack on the Qaynuqa, the attack on the Banu Nadir Jews arose from Muhammad’s desire for an opportunity to move against those that rejected his authority.
Tabari states that this occurred during year 4 from the Hijrah.
This event, like the attack upon the Qaynuqa has a large amount of detail. I do not want to make this article any longer than is necessary, so I will only document the relevant portions for the argument. However, I will provide the reader with all of the references so that if he chooses, he may read the entire accounts.
References:
Tabari volume 7, page 156 on
Sahih Muslim, # 4324, 4347
Sunan of Abu Dawud, # 2676
Ibn Ishaq, “Sirat Rasulallah”, translated by A. Guillaume, “The Life of Muhammad”, pages 265, 437 on.
Ibn Sa’d’s, “Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir”, Volume 2, pages 68 – 71
“The Life of Muhammad”, by Muir, found at:
http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Muir/Life3/chap15.htm
The reason I am detailing this event is not to expose Muhammad’s unjust justification for attacking the Nadir, but rather to show one aspect of jihad .
The incident started when Muhammad visited the Nadir to ask them to pay bloodwit – i.e. financial compensation, for a man who was murdered by one of their tribe. The Nadir agreed. While there, it is claimed that some of the Jews decided to kill Muhammad, by dropping a large rock upon him, from the roof of a nearby building. According to the sources, not all of the Jews agreed to attempt to kill him. However, Muhammad was given a “warning from heaven” (arguably from the so-called spirit Gabriel), that they were going to try to kill him so he quickly left the Nadir’s area. Following that, Muhammad attacked them. He laid siege to their fort. During the siege Muhammad ordered his men to burn down the Nadir’s date palm trees. This palm grove was very large and provided food and finances for the Nadir. As Muhammad destroyed their grove, the Nadir challenged Muhammad:
“The Jews took refuge in their forts and the apostle ordered that the palm trees should be cut down and burnt, and they called out to him, “Muhammad, you have prohibited wanton destruction and blamed those guilty of it. Why then are you cutting down and burning our palm trees?”
The Jews said this because previously Muhammad had told his men that they were not to destroy food trees. But here, the Jews saw that Muhammad contradicted himself and went against his own teachings. As a response, Muhammad has yet another timely revelation:
“Whatsoever palm trees ye cut down or left standing on their roots, it was by Allah’s leave” Quran 59:5.
Tabari, op cit, volume 7, page 158 provides more details:
When the Messenger of God’s companions returned they went to him and found him sitting in the mosque. They said, “O Messenger of God, we waited for you but you did not come back.” “The Jews intended to kill me,” he replied, “and God informed me of it. Call Muhammad b. Maslamah to me.” When Muhammad b. Maslamah came, he was told to go to the Jews and say to them, “Leave my country and do not live with me. You have intended treachery.” Muhammad b. Maslamah went to them and said, “The Messenger of God orders you to depart from his country.” They said, “Muhammad, we never thought that a man of al-Aws would come to us with such a message.” “Hearts have changed,” he replied, “and Islam has wiped out the old covenants.” “We will go,” they said.
And an interesting verse is now revealed:
From The Sunan of Abu Dawud, op cit, Book 14, Number 2676:
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: When the children of a woman (in pre-Islamic days) did not survive, she took a vow on herself that if her child survives, she would convert it a Jew. When Banu an-Nadir were expelled (from Arabia), there were some children of the Ansar (Helpers) among them. They said: We shall not leave our children. So Allah the Exalted revealed; "Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error."
In "The Quran and Its Interpreters", [27], volume 1, pages 252- 256, by Muhammad Ayoub, there are several differing Tafsir presented on this verse. Ayoub presents Wahidi’s tafsir:
Wahidi relates on the authority of Sa’id ibn Jubayr, who related it on the authority of Ibn Abbas, “When the children of a woman of the Ansar all died in infancy, she vowed that if a child were to live, she would bring it up as a Jew. Thus when the Jewish tribe of al-Nadir was evicted from Medina [4/625], there were among them sons of the Ansar. The Ansar said, “O Apostle of God, what will become of our children!” Thus God sent down this verse.” Sa’id ibn Jubayr said, “Therefore whoever wished to join them did so, and whoever wished to enter Islam did so likewise.”
While Ayoub presents other tafsir on this verse, some of them supporting the concept that people are not to be forced into Islam, the only Hadith from a Sahih collection that I’ve found is the one above. And that context has nothing to do with not forcing people into Islam, rather, it allows Muslims some family options. More on this later.
From
Guillaume, op cit, page 673 an incident is detailed as occurring in 4 A.H. It
involves another Muslim man named Amr Umayya, who was sent out by Muhammad to
murder Muhammad's enemy Abu Sufyan.
However, their assassination attempt failed. As he returned home, he met
a one-eyed shepherd. The shepherd and the Muslim man both identified themselves
as members of the same Arab clan. Prior to going asleep, the shepherd said that
he would never become a Muslim. Umayya waited for the shepherd to fall asleep,
and thereafter:
"as soon as the badu was asleep and snoring I got
up and killed him in a more horrible way than any man has been killed. I put
the end of my bow in his sound eye, then I bore down on it until I forced it
out at the back of his neck."
Umayya returned and spoke with Muhammad. He relates:
......"He
[Muhammad] asked my news and when I told him what had happened he blessed
me".
So, Muhammad blessed one of his men who murdered a
one-eyed shepherd while he slept. This shepherd did not assail
Muhammad, but he did not believe in him.
The shepherd did not invoke war against Muhammad. However, he wanted the freedom to choose his
faith. He wanted to decide for himself,
and he rejected Muhammad.
So we see another person who didn't want to follow Muhammad, and another justified murder - simply for not wanting to follow Muhammad. Muhammad's trail of blood continued to grow.
We’ve covered a large amount of material, and I want to pause for a short review. We’ve gone about half way through the Quranic verses I intend to cover, and about half way through the last 10 years of Muhammad’s life. We have not covered all of the Quran’s verses related to jihad nor have we covered all of Muhammad’s violent actions up to this point in Muhammad’s life. However, it should be obvious that shortly after Muhammad’s arrival in Medina the concept and allowance of shedding the blood of those that opposed or refused Muhammad’s rule was justified and ordained. Thus as soon as Muhammad had military power he began to put it to use, and spread his domination by any means necessary.
We’ve seen that Muhammad had people murdered, and that he had tribes eliminated. Mothers, old men, friendly non-Muslim business men, kind shepherds, critics, all fell to his sword of death. He would have massacred the adult males of an entire tribe of Jews, had not a pagan stopped him. Likewise he told another tribe (Banu Nadir) that they had ten days to leave or they would be beheaded. He allowed his followers to lie and deceive his enemies to murder them. We’ve seen him destroy the financial wealth of a tribe in order to defeat them. And those that followed Muhammad broke former allegiances with friends and tribes in order to betray or act against them.
Earlier, I’ve asked questions. Here they are again.
1) Does real Islam condone the use of violence, call it jihad if you like, to aggressively spread it’s power over non-Muslims?
2) Does real Islam condone the terrorist destruction of the WTC and the murder of 3000 people?
3) What does the future hold for Islam and America?
As we continue to review the Quran’s verses we will see them widen in scope of aggression and as we review Muhammad’s actions we will see his trail of blood extend.
2:190. And fight in the Way of Allah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors. [This Verse is the first one that was revealed in connection with Jihad, but it was supplemented by another (V.9:36)].
I would like to repeat verse 2:190 from Dawood’s Koran, op cit,
2:190 Fight for the sake of God those that fight against you, but do not attack them first. God does not love the aggressors.
2:191. And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And fight not with them at Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the sanctuary at Makkah), unless they (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
2:192. But if they cease, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Two Muslim writers, Asad and Ali, both state that the chronology of this passage occurred around the time following the Treaty of Hudaybiyya.
In “The Holy Quran”, [28], page 77, Yusuf Ali’s commentary states,
This passage is illustrated by the events that happened at Hudaybiyyah in the sixth year of the Hijrah; though it is not clear that it was revealed on that occasion. The Muslims were by this time a strong and influential community. Many of them were exiles from Makkah, where the Pagans had established an intolerant autocracy, persecuting Muslims, preventing them from visiting their homes, and even keeping them out by force from performing the Pilgrimage during the universally recognized period of truce. This was intolerance, oppression, and autocracy to the last degree, and the mere readiness of the Muslims to enforce their rights as Arab citizens resulted without bloodshed in an agreement which the Muslims faithfully observed.
And Asad in “The Message of the Quran”, [29], page 41:
The reference to warfare in the vicinity of Mecca is due to the fact that at the time of the revelation of this verse the Holy City was still in the possession of the pagan Quraysh, who were hostile to the Muslims.
If the Muslim’s chronology above is correct, then this passage occurred about 2 years before Muhammad conquered Mecca around the time of the Treaty of Hudaybiyya. This was prior to the conquest of Mecca by the Muslims and it sounds reasonable to me. A year or so after the treaty Muslims were allowed to make the pilgrimage but they did not rule Mecca or the nearby lands. The Muslims were strong now and capable of defending themselves, but they were not the supreme power in the region. So, Muhammad ordered them to defend themselves against Meccan attacks, but not be aggressors because they had a treaty. However, outside of Mecca, Muhammad was free to attack tribes of non-Muslims that were not aligned with the Meccans. And this he did!
Also note that the pact concluded between the Muslims and Meccans was not a “treaty” in the Western sense of the word. Rather it was a truce, i.e., an agreement of cessation of hostilities for a 10 year period. After that, if nothing else had been concluded between the parties, they would be at odds again.
Ibn Sa’d, op cit, records in volume 2, page 131:
“…he [Muhammad] recited: We have given thee (O Muhammad) a signal victory [1]. He (Mujammi) said: A person from the Companions of Muhammad said: O Apostle of Allah! Is it a victory? He replied: By Him in Whose hand is my soul, ! it is surely a victory. He (Mujammi) said: The (the booty of) Khaybar was allotted to the participants of al-Hudaybiyah in eighteen shares. The army consisted of one thousand five hundred persons out of who three hundred were horsemen, and every horseman got two shares.
Just six weeks after Muhammad concluded the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, he attacked and plundered the large Jewish settlement Khaibar. We will draw upon an incident from that later.
Let me emphasize two points relative to the Quran and Treaty of Hudaybiyya made with the Meccans.
1) They were to cease hostilities between themselves. i.e. the Meccans and the Muslims. Consequently, Quranic verse 2:190 says, “Fight for the sake of God those that fight against you, but do not attack them first. God does not love the aggressors.”
2) The Muslims were allowed to attack those groups that were not aligned with the Meccans.
Bukhari, op cit, 3.891:
No doubt, the war has weakened Quraish and they have suffered great losses, so if they wish, I will conclude a truce with them, during which they should refrain from interfering between me and the people (i.e. the 'Arab infidels other than Quraish), and if I have victory over those infidels, Quraish will have the option to embrace Islam as the other people do, if they wish; they will at least get strong enough to fight.
So, we see two classes of people here: 1) the Meccans and their allies, and 2) the polytheistic tribes living nearer Muhammad. The treaty allowed Muhammad to attack the non-aligned polytheists, without having to worry about interference from the Meccans. So, aggressive jihad continued against polytheists near Muhammad’s lands.
[NOTE: Also, do you see the jumbled chronology? From Baidawi’s commentary (tafsir) we see that 2:193 was revealed just after Muhammad arrived in Medina. This is about 8 years before chapter 9 was revealed, and about 6 years before the verses above 2:190 – 192 were revealed. 2:216, 217 and 2:193 occurred 6 years before verses 2:190 – 192, yet 2:193 was placed in the Quran to follow 2:190-192.]
As previously quoted, the “Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, op cit, on verse 2:191 states:
As Jihad involves death and the killing of men, Allah draws our attention to the fact that the disbelief and polytheism of the disbelievers, and their avoidance of Allah’s path are far worse than killing. Thus Allah says, “And Fitnah is worse than killing.” This is to say that shirk (Polytheism) is more serious and worse than killing.
In sum, verses 2:190 – 192 are defensive with respect only to the Meccans and their allies, for a specific time (10 years). They are limited in application and duration. They are not comprehensive towards all groups of people. Consequently, they cannot necessarily be applied to today’s Islamic theology or events of our time as evidence that Islam is not aggressive or merely defensive.
PASSAGE 5: SURA 9:1 - 7
9:1 Freedom from (all) obligations (is declared) from Allah and His Messenger to those of the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), with whom you made a treaty.
9:2 So travel freely (O Mushrikun - see V.2:105) for four months (as you will) throughout the land, but know that you cannot escape (from the Punishment of) Allah, and Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.
9:3 And a declaration from Allah and His Messenger to mankind on the greatest day (the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah - the 12th month of Islamic calendar) that Allah is free from (all) obligations to the Mushrikun (see V.2:105) and so is His Messenger. So if you (Mushrikun) repent, it is better for you, but if you turn away, then know that you cannot escape (from the Punishment of) Allah. And give tidings of a painful torment to those who disbelieve.
9:4 Except those of the Mushrikun with whom you have a treaty, and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor have supported anyone against you. So fulfill their treaty to them to the end of their term. Surely Allah loves Al- Mattaqun (the pious - see V.2:2).
9:5 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 (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
9:6 And if anyone of the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allah (the Quran), and then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men who know not.
9:7 How can there be a covenant with Allah and with His Messenger for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) except those with whom you made a covenant near Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah)? So long, as they are true to you, stand you true to them. Verily, Allah loves Al-Mattaqun (the pious - see V.2:2).
COMMENT
Ali’s commentary in his Quran, op cit, page 435, states that verses 1 – 29 were revealed during the month of Shawwal, A.H. 9, and read by Ali out loud to the various pilgrims in Mecca two months later to give Muhammad’s new policy a wide hearing. Ali then states that the rest of the sura (30 – 129) were revealed months earlier than the first 29 verses, and sums up the lessons of the Prophet’s expedition to attack the Christian town of Tabuk. More on Tabuk later.
I’ve read other Muslim writers who state that verses 41 to the end of the chapter were given before verses 1 through 40 of sura 9. There are more differing opinions regarding the chronology and sections of passages revealed. However, all scholars that I’ve read agree that the first 29 verses were some of the last verses spoken by Muhammad.
As previously stated, this passage was one of the very last to be spoken by Muhammad. The background for this verse is found in "The Life of Muhammad", op cit, page 617-619. Note my comments are in [ ] type brackets. It is a very long passage, so I have only quoted part of it. I have tried to make the actual Quranic verses in dark blue and bold.
A discharge came down, [Muhammad received a supposed revelation from God], permitting the breaking of the agreement between the apostle and the polytheists that none should be kept back from the temple when he came to it, and that none need fear during the sacred months. That there was a general agreement between him and the polytheists; meanwhile there were particular agreements between the apostle and the Arab tribes for specified terms. And there came down about it and about the disaffected who held back from him in the raid on Tabuk, [a Christian town Muhammad attacked, and forced them to pay him], and about what they said (revelations) in which God uncovered the secret thoughts of people who were dissembling. We know the names of some of them, of others we do not. He said [1] “A discharge from God and His apostle towards those polytheists with whom you made a treaty,” i.e. those polytheists with whom you made a general agreement. “So travel through the land for four months and know that you cannot escape God and that God will put the unbelievers to shame. And a proclamation from God and His apostle to men on the day of the greater pilgrimage that God and His apostle are free from obligation to the polytheists,” i.e., after this pilgrimage. So if you repent it will be better for you; and if you turn back know that you cannot escape God. Inform those who disbelieve, about a painful punishment except those polytheists with whom you have made a treaty,” i.e. the special treaty for a specified term, “Since they have not come short in anything in regard to you and have not helped anyone against you. So fulfill your treaty with them to their allotted time. God loves the pious. And when the sacred months are passed, He means the four which he fixed as their time, “then kill the polytheists wherever you find them, and seize them and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. But if they repent and perform prayer and pay the poor-tax, then let them go their way. God is forgiving, merciful. If one of the polytheists, i.e. one of those whom I have ordered you to kill, asks your protection, give it to him so that he may hear the word of God; then convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.”
Then He said: “How can there be for the polytheists” with whom you had a general agreement that they should not put you in fear and that you would not put them in fear neither in the holy places nor in the holy months “a treaty with God and His apostle except for those with whom you made a treaty at the sacred mosque?” ...
[1] says “Sura 9. This chapter is a commentary on it.”
Continuing a few paragraphs later on page 619:
Then the apostle gave orders to fight the polytheists who had broken the special agreement as well as those who had a general agreement after the four months which had been given them as a fixed time, save that if any one of them showed hostility he should be killed for it….
Continuing a few paragraphs later on page 620:
Then comes the story of their enemy until he arrives at the mention of Hunayn [a battle site between Muslims and non-Muslims], and what happened there and their turning back from their enemy and how God sent down help after they had abandoned one another.
…Then He mentioned Tabuk and how the Muslims were weighed down by it and exaggerated the difficulty of attacking the Byzantines when the apostle called them to fight them; ...
END
OF QUOTE FROM IBN ISHAQ
COMMENT
Prior to
this “revelation” of chapter 9, Muhammad had several; “agreements” with various
Arab tribes. Some of these agreements were for a specified time. Others were general agreements allowing the
pagans to visit the Kaba and perform their religious rituals. Some of these tribes were peaceful with him,
others disliked him and caused him grief.
Allah gave Muhammad a "revelation" allowing him to break all
these various agreements, either immediately, or later. Thereafter he would attack them following
the four sacred months. He would keep those treaties that were for a specified
time with tribes that were on friendly terms.
However, once those times were complete, the state of aggression would
be in place. Once again, Muhammad had gained power, and things changed. Now Muhammad was permitted to lie, i.e.,
break his agreements, and make war upon the pagans. Muhammad's circumstances changed - Allah changed, Islam changed.
Note the last quoted
paragraph,
“... If one of the polytheists, i.e. one of those whom I have ordered you to kill ...”
is supposed to be God telling the Muslims to go out and kill people. Some of these people had gotten along peacefully with the Muslims. But because they didn't follow Muhammad they were going to be attacked sooner or later.
Sura 9:5 is the verse in the
Quran that commands Muslims to attack and kill pagans:
"When the sacred months
are over, slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them,
and lie in ambush everywhere for them. If they repent and take to prayer and
render the alms levy, allow them to go their way. God is forgiving and
merciful."
This passage has been quoted by many people to prove that Islam is an aggressive religion. Some Muslims have responded that this verse was only directed towards pagan tribes that were at war with the Muslims. However, as the whole of the context is read, both in the Quran, and in the Sira, it is evident that defensive warfare is immediately allowed, and offensive warfare would be taking place following the end of the four sacred months.
[NOTE: The four sacred months are not sequential in the Islamic calendar, they are spread throughout the year, thus some writers have suggested that Muhammad gave the pagans about one year until Muhammad’s Islamic aggression was to commence.]
I want to present a series of quotes from the “Tafsir of Ibn Kathir”, op cit, volume 4. The Quranic verses are in dark blue.
On verse 9:5, page 375:
But if they repent and perform the Salah, and give the Zakah, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq used this and other honorable Ayat (verse or passage) 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 ruling and obligations.
On verse 9:5, page 376:
So when the sacred months have passed… meaning, “Upon the end of the four months during which We prohibited you from fighting the idolators, and which is the grace period We gave them, then fight and kill the idolators wherever you may find them…
On verse 9:5, page 377:
This honorable Ayah 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 idolater, every treaty, and every term.” Al-Awfi said that Ibn Abbas commented: “No idolater had any more treaty or promise of safety ever since Surah Bara’ah was revealed.
END OF QUOTE OF IBN KATHIR
COMMENT
This passage is one that is primarily offensive. It does allow for defense if pagans attack the Muslims during the time of the treaty or sacred months, beyond that, it calls for offensive aggression against pagans if they exercise freedom of religion and remain non-Muslim. This is not a difficult passage to understand. Attack and kill the pagans, if they repent and become Muslims, leave them alone. Clearly, this passage calls for compulsion to Islam.
PASSAGE 6: SURA 9:29
9:29 Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (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.
Again, I want to first turn to Ibn Ishaq, op cit, page 620, for the historical context of this verse. As before, I will endeavor to present the Quranic verses in dark blue.
Then He said (v. 28): “The polytheists are nothing but unclean, so let them not approach the sacred mosque after this year of theirs, and if you fear poverty” that was because the people said “the markets will be cut off from us, trade will be destroyed, and we shall lose the good things we used to enjoy,” and God said, If you fear poverty God will enrich you from His bounty,” i.e. in some other way, “if He will. He is knowing, wise. Fight those who do not believe in God and the last day and forbid not that which God and His apostle have forbidden and follow not the religion of truth from among those who have been given the scripture until they pay the poll tax out of hand being humbled,” i.e. as a compensation for what you fear to lose by the closing of the markets. God gave them compensation for what He cut off from them in the former polytheism by what He gave them by way of poll tax from the people of the scripture….
END OF QUOTE OF IBN ISHAQ
Again, quotes from Ibn Kathir on verse 9:29, op cit, pages 405 - 409
page 404:
The Order to fight People of the Scriptures until They give the Jizyah.
Page 405
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….
Pages 405, 406
Paying Jizyah is a Sign of Kufr (Unbelief) 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.
I want to add another Tafsir on 9:29.
From the Tafsir of Al-Jalalein. i.e., Al-Jalalein Interpretation of the Koran.
"Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, (which is Islam that abolishes all other religions ) of the people of the Book, (meaning the Jews and the Christians ) until they pay the Jizya (the tax imposed upon them) with willing submission and feel themselves subdued. (with humiliation and submission to the government of Islam.) 9:29 ."
A final reference for this verse – this was cited earlier in this article from the “Reliance of the Traveler.”
The Caliph makes war upon the Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians, provided he has first invited them to enter Islam in faith and practice, and if they will not, then invited them to enter the social order of Islam by paying the non-Muslim poll tax Jizya…in accordance with the word of Allah Most High:
“Fight those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day and who forbid not what Allah and His messenger have forbidden – who do not practice the religion of truth, being of those who have been given the Book – until they pay the poll tax out of hand and are humbled.” 9:29
The Caliph fights all other peoples until they become Muslim….
COMMENT ON 9:29
It
is obvious: the
order to fight and kill Christians and Jews is in verse 9:29. It is clear that Muhammad ordered his
followers to fight those Christians and Jews to convert them or pay the Jizya,
and if they don't convert or pay, they were to be killed. It is very clear: convert... or pay in a
state of humiliated submission, or die.
Here again is the historical
background for this is found in "The Life of
Muhammad", op cit, page 620,
...."until they [the Jews and Christians] pay the poll tax out of hand being humbled", i.e. as a compensation for what you fear to lose by the closing of the markets. God gave them compensation for what He cut off from them in their former polytheism by what He gave them by way of poll tax from the people of Scripture."
Muhammad taught his followers to oppress or kill non-Muslims. Generally, Jews and Christians were allowed to live as such, provided they paid a special tax. In this case this tax was a revenue given to the Muslims to make up for revenues they lost from people who no longer dealt in pagan activities. If the Jews and Christians refused to pay this extortion tax they would have to convert to Islam or be killed.
Also note that the tax levied
upon the Christians and Jews was not to support the state in general affairs,
it was to compensate the Muslims because they had lost revenue. Muhammad was
exactly like a Mafia crime boss, making others pay for "protection"....
except, the Christians and Jews really needed protection from the Muslims!
Read the last paragraph quoted from Ibn Ishaq again and notice Muhammad’s twisted logic: if the Muslims were going to lose revenue, Allah would make it up to them by His bounty: the Muslims were to extort the money from the Jews and Christians! (Ref. to verses 9:28, 29). What does this say for Allah’s bounty? Did God need to take the money from Christians and Jews to give it to the Muslims? If God were really with Muhammad, why couldn’t the Muslims earn it themselves and generate their own livelihood? Was Muhammad justifying his thievery by applying it to God’s will?
Also, do you notice the difference between 9:5 and 9:29? Non Jews or Christians (idolaters or pagans) had to convert to Islam or be killed. Generally they didn't have the option of paying the tax as did the Jews and Christians. Later in Islamic history some pagans were given the option of paying jizya, but that was not Muhammad’s original order.
PASSAGE 7: SURA 9:30, 31
9:30 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 of old. Allah's Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth!
9:31 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 Ilâh (God - Allah) (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 (with Him)."
From the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, op cit, page 408:
Fighting the Jews and Christians is legislated because They are Idolators and Disbelievers.
Allah the Exalted encourages the believers to fight the polytheists, disbelieving Jews and Christians, who uttered this terrible statement and utter lies against Allah, the Exalted. As for the Jews, they claimed that Uzayr was the son of God, Allah is free of what they attribute to Him. As for the misguidance of Christians over Isa (Jesus), it is obvious. That is why Allah declared both groups to be liars.
COMMENT
These verses continue Muhammad’s tirade against Christians and Jews. Here he provides some of his reasoning for killing Jews and Christians: i.e., they believe that Jesus is the Son of God, or they believe that Ezra is the Son of God, thus making them polytheists. (Note, here is another flaw in the Quran: there may have been a minor sect of Jews that greatly esteemed Ezra, or even believed that he was a son of God, but, Judaism has never declared Ezra to be the Son of God).
Notice in verse 30 how Muhammad said, “May Allah’s curse be on them” – because Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
This goes hand in hand with some of Muhammad’s last words before he died: “May Allah curse the Christians and the Jews for they build their churches next to the graves of the prophets.”
For more info on Muhammad’s death, [30], see:
http://answering-islam.org/Silas/mo-death.htm
PASSAGE 8: SURA 9:123
9:123 O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who are the Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V.2:2).
From the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, pages 546, 547:
The Order for Jihad against the Disbelievers, the Closest, then the Farthest Areas.
Allah commands the believers to fight the disbelievers, the closest in area to the Islamic state, then the farthest. This is why the Messenger of Allah started fighting the idolators in the Arabian Peninsula. When he finished with them and Allah gave him control over Makkah, Al-Madinah, At-Taif, Yemen, Yamamah, Hajr, Khaybar, Hadramawt, and other Arab provinces, and the various Arab tribes entered Islam in large crowds, he then started fighting the People of the Scriptures. He began preparation to fight the Romans who were the closest in area to the Arabian Peninsula, and as such had the most right to be called to Islam, especially since they were from the People of the Scriptures. The Prophet marched until he reached Tabuk and went back because of the extreme hardship, little rain, and little suppliers. This battle occurred on the ninth year after his Hijrah.
Kathir’s commentary shows that the early Muslims understood what Muhammad expected of them. They knew that their religion was one of violence, compulsion, and conquest. There was no mystery in the minds of Muhammad’s followers regarding warfare to spread Islam. They attacked non-Muslims zealously. And, there is nothing in the Quran that ever tells them to stop attacking and subjecting non-Muslims until all the world is under Islam’s rule.
2:256. There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.
This verse is the most often quoted verse used to portray Islam as a religion of peace. On the surface it sounds good. However, investigation into how the early Muslim scholars viewed it, and the background and comments they ascribe to it cast it in a slightly different light.
From the Sunan of Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2676:
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
When the children of a woman (in pre-Islamic days) did not survive, she took a vow on herself that if her child survives, she would convert it a Jew. When Banu an-Nadir were expelled (from Arabia), there were some children of the Ansar (Helpers) among them. They said: We shall not leave our children. So Allah the Exalted revealed; "Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error."
Allah says: “There is no compulsion in religion”, meaning: do not force anyone to embrace Islam because it is clear, and its proofs and evidences are manifest. Whoever Allah guides and opens his heart to Islam has indeed embraced it with clear evidence. Whoever Allah misguides, blinds his heart and has set a seal on his hearing and a covering on his eyes cannot embrace Islam by force.
The reason for the revelation of this verse was that the women of Ansar used to make a vow to convert their sons to Judaism if the latter lived. And when the tribe of Bani an-Nadhir was expelled from Madinah, some children of Ansar were among them, so their parents could not abandon them; hence Allah revealed: “There is no compulsion in religion…” narrated by Ibn Jarir, on the authority of Ibn Abbas, Abu Dawud and an-Nasa’i, on the authority of Bandar, Abu Hatim, and Ibn Hiban from the Hadith of Shu’bah, Mujahid and others. However Muhammad Ibn Ishaq narrated that Ibn Abbas said: it was revealed with regard to a man from the tribe of Bani Salim Ibn Awf called al-Husayni whose two sons converted to Christianity but he was himself a Muslim. He told the Prophet: “Shall I force them to embrace Islam, they insist on Christianity”, hence Allah revealed this verse. But, this verse is abrogated by the verse of “Fighting”: “You shall be called to fight against a people given to great warfare, then you shall fight them, or they shall surrender” (sura 48:16). Allah also says: “O Prophet! Strive hard against the disbelieves and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them” (9:73), and He says, “O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who are the Pious, (9:123).
Therefore, all people of the world should be called to Islam. If anyone of them refuses to do so, or refuses to pay the Jizya they should be fought till they are killed. This is the meaning of compulsion. In the Sahih (al-Bukhari), the Prophet said: “Allah wonders at those people who will enter Paradise in chains”, meaning prisoners brought in chains to the Islamic state, then they embrace Islam sincerely and become righteous, and are entered among the people of Paradise.
Ibn Kathir presents two different stories as reasons behind 2:256. The first story has nothing to do with compelling people into Islam. The second story begins to go against compulsion, but, Ibn Kathir then says that this verse was abrogated by the verse of “fighting” i.e. 48:16. I add that the only Sahih Hadith material I’ve been able to find on the matter (Sunan of Abu Dawud) supports the story of the expulsion of the Banu Nadir Jews. Thus, either way, compulsion of people to convert to Islam is allowed.
Ibn Kathir does say at the beginning of this quote: Allah says: “There is no compulsion in religion”, meaning: do not force anyone to embrace Islam because it is clear, and its proofs and evidences are manifest. Whoever Allah guides and opens his heart to Islam has indeed embraced it with clear evidence. Whoever Allah misguides, blinds his heart and has set a seal on his hearing and a covering on his eyes cannot embrace Islam by force. But he goes on to contradict himself later in the next two paragraphs.
FOR THE RECORD – WHO WAS COMPELLED TO ACCEPT ISLAM?
Since Muslims in the West frequently say that Islam forbids compulsion of conversion to Islam (2:256), I want to provide historical references that show otherwise. Based upon the material, the story of the expulsion of the Banu Nadir Jews is the cause of the “revelation” of 2:256. Thus, the verse does not have anything to do whatsoever with forcing people to accept Islam. And, as we read elsewhere in the Quran, Muhammad taught that his followers were to make war upon people who choose not to convert to Islam.
Here are some historical references behind forced conversion to Islam. Note that they are taken from Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasulallah, op cit.
#1) On pages 668 and 669 Abu Bakr instructs a fellow Muslim in Islam. He states: “You asked me for the best advice that I could give you, and I will tell you. God sent Muhammad with this religion and he strove for it until men accepted it voluntary or by force.”
#2) On page 547, Muhammad’s arch enemy, Abu Sufyan was given safe passage by Ibn Abbas to meet with Muhammad. During the meeting, the following conversation occurs: (words in [ ] brackets are mine).
“Woe to you, Abu Sufyan, isn’t it time that you recognize that I [Muhammad] am God’s apostle?” He answered, “As to that I still have some doubt.”
I [Ibn Abbas] said to him, “Submit and testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the apostle of God before you lose your head,” so he did so.
Sufyan did not intend to recognize Muhammad until he was threatened with his life. This is a clear case of compulsion of accepting Islam: convert or die.
#3) On pages 614, 615, Muhammad’s attack upon the people of Thaqif who were hostile to Muhammad is detailed. Their reasoning was this:
“We are in an impasse. You have seen how the affair of this man has progressed. All the Arabs have accepted Islam and you lack the power to fight them, so look to your case.” Thereupon Thaqif took counsel and said one to another, “Don’t you see that your herds are not safe; none of you can go out without being cut off.” So after conferring together they decided to send a man to the apostle as they had sent Urwa [to accept Islam so that they and their possessions would be safe from being plundered and killed by the Muslims].
These people did not become Muslim because they wanted to. They had been invited to Islam and refused. They had even killed the Muslim envoy! However, because they were outgunned and outnumbered, they decided, If you can’t beat them, join them. Thus their conversion was a sham, and made under compulsion.
#4) On page 645 the story of Muhammad’s emissary Khalid to the tribe of the Banu al-Harith bin Ka’b in the region of Najran is described. Muhammad….
ordered him [Khalid] to invite them to Islam three days before he attacked them. If they accepted then he was to accept it from them; and if they declined he was to fight them. So Khalid sent out and came to them, and sent out riders in all directions inviting the people to Islam, saying, “If you accept Islam you will be safe,” so the men accepted Islam as they were invited.
People were converting to Islam simply because they were threatened. Notice Khalid’s words – “If you accept Islam you will be safe.” Is this the type of religion that people truly desire? One that threatens them with death unless they convert?
We continue our review of the actions that Muhammad took. Talk is very inexpensive. What else did Muhammad actually do as he came into power?
INCIDENT #8 – MUHAMMAD’S MASSACRE OF THE QURAYZA JEWS
A presentation and analysis of this incident can be found here:
http://www.answering-islam.org/Muhammad/Jews/BQurayza/
What follows is a summary of the incident.
Muhammad lived among various Jewish tribes. He had issued an injunction or edict towards them where he expected them to fulfill certain conditions related to living in Medina. One of these was that the Jews were not to help Muhammad’s enemies.
During A.H. 5, (i.e. 626, 627 A.D.), an important siege / battle took place, “The Battle of the Trench”. During this time, Muhammad’s enemies (Meccans and their allies), negotiated with the Jews of the tribe of Banu Qurayza to aid them against Muhammad. In the end the Jews did not betray Muhammad. They did not allow the Quraysh to use their land to launch an attack against Muhammad, and they did not attack Muhammad. Certainly they were not Muhammad’s best friends, having seen the brutalities and murders he had carried out against so many people.
The Quraysh eventually lifted the siege and returned to their homes. Following that, Muhammad claimed that the angel Gabriel came to him and ordered him to attack the Banu Qurayza. (Notice that it is this spirit “Gabriel” at work again, motivating Muhammad to attack!) By this point in time the Muslims were aware that the Qurayza negotiated with the Quraysh. This negotiation caused great fear in the hearts of the Muslims and hatred towards the Jews. Sa’d Muadh, one of Muhammad’s top lieutenants, who was severely wounded during the Battle of the Trench, proclaimed that he did not want to die until he had seen the Jews destroyed. As the confrontation began, a Muslim who was on good terms with the Qurayza told them that Muhammad intended to massacre the Jews.
Eventually, the Jews could not hold out and they surrendered. Muhammad picked out one of his men to judge their fate: Sa’d Muadh. Sa’d said that the adult males (any teenage boy who had started puberty, i.e. growing of facial hair, etc.) were to be beheaded, and, the woman and children enslaved. Thus Muhammad massacred 800 prisoners of war and enslaved their women and children.
The Sirat Rasulallah, op cit, page 464, records what one of the Jewish leaders said:
Huyayy was brought out wearing a flowered robe in which he had made holes about the size of the finger-tips in every part so that it should not be taken from him as spoil, with his hands bound to his neck by a rope. When he saw the apostle he said, 'By God, I do not blame myself for opposing you, but he who forsakes God will be forsaken.' Then he went to the men and said, 'God's command is right. A book and a decree, and massacre have been written against the Sons of Israel.' Then he sat down and his head was struck off.
Muhammad massacred 800 men not for making war upon him, not for aiding his enemies, but only because they were a threat to his further aims. They had rejected Muhammad and Islam, and they would not follow him as a prophet. Consequently, they would have to be removed. At this point in time, there were no more pagan leaders to plead for these Jews (as Ubayy had done for the Qaynuqa). There were no more Jewish tribes or allies nearby to lend them a hand, (they had all been expelled). Now Muhammad was free to do what he intended to do long ago: massacre those who had threatened him and refused to become Muslims.
These Jews had the option of becoming Muslims but they refused. I believe only four Jews are recorded as having converted – to save their lives. The Jews knew Muhammad was a false prophet. Hence their leader accepted their massacre instead of giving themselves over to a false prophet.
Previously I mentioned that following the treaty of Hudaybiyya Muhammad attacked the Jewish settlement of Khaybar. One ugly incident among several stand out. Here is the material.
On page 515 of Ibn Ishaq's "Sirat Rasulallah", (The Life of the Prophet of God), the events of the conquest of Khaibar are detailed. This event occurred about 3 years before Muhammad's death due to poisoning. Khaibar was a large Jewish settlement about 95 miles north of Medina. The Jews there were primarily farmers. Khaibar was known to have some of the best date palms in the region. The Jews there were well to do because they had worked hard and earned it. They had good relations with the surrounding tribes of pagans, Christians, and Jews.
Prior to Muhammad's conquest of Khaibar, he had just been stopped by the Meccans from performing a pilgrimage to Mecca. Outside of Mecca, he also signed a humiliating treaty with the Meccans - a treaty that a number of his leading followers didn't like. To placate them Muhammad claimed to have a "revelation" that God would give them the possessions of the Jews of Khaibar. Six weeks later he marched on Khaibar with the intent to conquer and plunder.
page 515 reads:
"Kinana al-Rabi, who had the custody of the treasure of Banu Nadir, was brought to the apostle who asked him about it. He denied that he knew where it was. A Jew came (Tabari says "was brought"), to the apostle and said that he had seen Kinana going round a certain ruin every morning early. When the apostle said to Kinana, "Do you know that if we find you have it I shall kill you?" He said "Yes". The apostle gave orders that the ruin was to be excavated and some of the treasure was found. When he asked him about the rest he refused to produce it, so the apostle gave orders to al-Zubayr Al-Awwam, "Torture him until you extract what he has." So he kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest until he was nearly dead. Then the apostle delivered him to Muhammad b. Maslama and he struck off his head, in revenge for his brother Mahmud."
COMMENT
I find Muhammad's orders to torture Kinana to obtain "buried treasure" similar to what criminals do to obtain people's money or possessions. I picture organized crime figures beating some one or torturing them to make them talk. "Talk!, tell us where the money is!, or we'll make your pain even worse!".
Here, Muhammad has a man tortured to force him to "Talk". Finally, when he is near death, Muhammad has his head cut off.
QUESTIONS
1) Think about Muhammad's statement, "Torture him until you extract what he has". This is the prophet of Islam in action when he now has the power of the sword. What kind of a man is the prophet of Islam?
2) Muslims complain about what some Serbs have done to the Muslims in Bosnia. But if anyone were to study this act of Muhammad they would see that Muhammad also did some of the same brutal things to people. If today's Muslims feel they have the right to complain about the Serbs in Bosnia don't they feel that Muhammad's actions should also be condemned?
3) Muslims who choose to follow Muhammad choose to justify and support his evil deeds. Why put your eternity, heaven or hell, in the hands of a man like Muhammad? Is this the man you are willing to risk your eternity on?
Muhammad's greed drove him to do evil; torture and then murder a man, just to obtain money.
INCIDENT #10 – MUHAMMAD’S ATTACK UPON TABUK
There are many, many, violent incidents that I could draw from. I conclude the incidents section with this event because it shows Muhammad’s beliefs regarding jihad and his mission of conquest for Islam. Muhammad had no intention of living peacefully, side by side with non-Muslims, even with those who were far from his community’s borders. Non-Muslims were his enemies because they had rejected him. As recorded in the Quran, non-Muslims had these options: become Muslim, pay extortion tax, or fight and die.
An account of this incident is given below [31],
http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Muir/Life4/chap28.htm
The account describes that Muhammad heard the Romans were going to attack him. He marshaled 30,000 of his troops and they went north to the town of Tabuk to do battle with the Romans. However, upon arriving, they found that there was no threat at all. Instead, Muhammad sent a detachment to Ayla, to give them the aforementioned options: convert, pay the extortion tax - jizya, or die. The Christian leader there decided to pay tribute.
I’ve extracted this excerpt from the webpage above.
"To John ibn Rabah and the Chiefs of Aylah. Peace be on you! I praise God for you, beside whom there is no Lord. I will not fight against you until I have written thus unto you. Believe, or else pay tribute. And be obedient unto the Lord and his Prophet, and the messengers of his Prophet. Honor them and clothe them with excellent vestments, not with inferior raiment. Specially clothe Zeid with excellent garments. As long as my messengers are pleased, so likewise am I. Ye know the tribute. If ye desire to have security by sea and by land, obey the Lord and his Apostle, and he will defend you from every claim, whether by Arab or foreigner, saving the claim of the Lord and his Apostle. But if ye oppose and displease them, I will not accept from you a single thing, until I have fought against you and taken captive your little ones and slain the elder.
Don’t Muhammad’s orders to John sound exactly like a Crime Lord’s orders to a businessman who was just subjected? “Do what me and my henchmen tell you”, “Give us your finest merchandise”, “Give my son the best you got”, “If my men are happy, I’m happy, so watch your step”, “Pay me the money and you’ll be safe”, “Get me upset and you’ll be sorry”. Frankly, Muhammad’s words to John read like a script from “The Godfather” or such.
Do you see how Muhammad’s attack upon these people demonstrate his teachings in Sura 9? “Make war upon the Christians and Jews, unless they convert or pay the extortion.” Real Islam, i.e. Muhammad’s Islam, is clearly taught in the Quran, and demonstrated by Muhammad’s actions. Muhammad’s actions speak loudly here. Committed near the end of his life, they clearly portray what he wanted his followers to continue to do: attack and conquer non-Muslim people.
Thus far I’ve presented information in a chronological sequence. Now I present a small selection of Quranic verses related to this article’s theme. Again, there are many more verses I could choose from but for space’s sake I have to limit them.
98: 1 Those who disbelieve from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and among Al-Mushrikun (polytheists) were not going to leave (their disbelief) until there came to them clear evidence.
98:6 Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Quran and Prophet Muhammad) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikun will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures.
5:51 O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya' (friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliya' to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust).
58:19. Shaitan (Satan) has overtaken them (the Jews). So he has made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of Shaitan (Satan). Verily, it is the party of Shaitan (Satan) that will be the losers!
4:76 Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghut (Satan, etc.). So fight you against the friends of Shaitan (Satan); Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaitan (Satan).
47:35 So be not weak and ask not for peace (from the enemies of Islam), while you are having the upper hand. Allah is with you, and will never decrease the reward of your good deeds.
Christians and Jews do not hold any special place in Islamic theology. In the end, they were regarded with contempt by Muhammad, and presented in a hateful manner in the Quran today. Thus another reason to make war upon them (refer to 9:29). And when the Muslims have the upper hand, they are not to seek peace, but the continued destruction of their enemies.
48:29 Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe (or ruthless, vehement) against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves.
58:22 You (O Muhammad) will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Ruh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allah is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Verily, it is the Party of Allah that will be the successful.
Earlier I pointed out that Muslims broke ties of allegiance and friendship with allied tribes and near family members. The Quran takes this a step further. Sura 58:22 shows that family blood ties are broken. Islam has a spirit, it causes the Muslims to fight and kill even their relatives if they reject Muhammad’s rule.
THE ACTIONS OF THE FOUR “RIGHTLY GUIDED” CALIPHS, OR RULERS OF THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE
Previously I said that I would review the actions of some of Muhammad’s closest companions. Particularly the four “rightly guided” caliphs. Following Muhammad’s death these men reigned over the Islamic lands, one after the death of the previous one. These men are: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-law). Below is a brief timeline of their conquests. I have not detailed all of their military actions. They are numerous. I draw this information from various volumes of the History of Tabari, op cit, the “History of Islam”, by Robert Payne, [32], and “Jihad”, by Paul Fregosi, [33]. These books will provide a much fuller account of the offensive Islamic crusades. These conquests were not defensive, but offensive. These men were conquering the world for Islam – as Muhammad instructed. I will also add that during Ali’s reign above, Islamic conquest paused slightly. The Islamic empire experienced its first civil wars during Ali’s reign, (all this within a generation of Muhammad’s death!).
A.H. 11 (622, 623)
Abu Bakr makes war upon the people of Yamama who wish to leave Islam.
A.H. 12
Muslim armies attack the Christians in Palestine.
A.H. 13
Conquest of Damascus, Syria.
A.H. 14 & 15
Syria and Palestine conquered.
A.H. 15 – 21
Iraq, Southern Persia, and Egypt conquered.
A.H. 24
Conquest in Northern Persia and Armenia
A.H. 28
Attack on Cyprus
During Ali’s reign there were two civil wars. The first Islamic civil war occurred between Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law, and Aisha, (Abu Bakr’s daughter, a child Muhammad consummated a marriage with when she was 9 years old. For more info see, [34]: http://answering-islam.org/Silas/childbrides.htm
13,000 Muslims died killing each other as Ali defeated Aisha. Not long thereafter Ali fought Muwawiyya, Abu Sufyan’s son. Muwawiyya was appointed governor of Damascus / Syria, and moved against Ali to take power. In the end, Ali won out as the two sides negotiated a peace of some sorts. Not long thereafter, Ali was murdered by Muslims, (as was Uthman), (Umar was killed by a slave). Muwawiyya then assumed power as Caliph.
As you can tell from the brief chronology, the Caliphs made war like the Nazis. They went on conquest after conquest. Their message was the same as Muhammad’s: convert, pay extortion taxes, or die. Islam, real Islam, their Islam, was a religion of war, oppression, and conquest.
Below are Hadith dealing with the conquests and subjections of the Caliphs.
Bukhari 4.386:
Narrated Jubair bin Haiya:
'Umar sent the Muslims to the great countries to fight the pagans. When Al-Hurmuzan embraced Islam, 'Umar said to him. "I would like to consult you regarding these countries which I intend to invade." Al-Hurmuzan said, "Yes, the example of these countries and their inhabitants who are the enemies of the Muslims, is like a bird with a head, two wings and two legs; If one of its wings got broken, it would get up over its two legs, with one wing and the head; and if the other wing got broken, it would get up with two legs and a head, but if its head got destroyed, then the two legs, two wings and the head would become useless. The head stands for Khosrau, and one wing stands for Caesar and the other wing stands for Faris. So, order the Muslims to go towards Khosrau." So, 'Umar sent us (to Khosrau) appointing An-Numan bin Muqrin as our commander. When we reached the land of the enemy, the representative of Khosrau came out with forty-thousand warriors, and an interpreter got up saying, "Let one of you talk to me!" Al-Mughira replied, "Ask whatever you wish." The other asked, "Who are you?" Al-Mughira replied, "We are some people from the Arabs; we led a hard, miserable, disastrous life: we used to suck the hides and the date stones from hunger; we used to wear clothes made up of fur of camels and hair of goats, and to worship trees and stones. While we were in this state, the Lord of the Heavens and the Earths, Elevated is His Remembrance and Majestic is His Highness, sent to us from among ourselves a Prophet whose father and mother are known to us. Our Prophet, the Messenger of our Lord, has ordered us to fight you till you worship Allah Alone or give Jizya (i.e. tribute); and our Prophet has informed us that our Lord says:-- "Whoever amongst us is killed (i.e. martyred), shall go to Paradise to lead such a luxurious life as he has never seen, and whoever amongst us remain alive, shall become your master." (Al-Mughira, then blamed An-Numan for delaying the attack and) An-Nu' man said to Al-Mughira, "If you had participated in a similar battle, in the company of Allah's Apostle he would not have blamed you for waiting, nor would he have disgraced you. But I accompanied Allah's Apostle in many battles and it was his custom that if he did not fight early by daytime, he would wait till the wind had started blowing and the time for the prayer was due (i.e. after midday)."
Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0029:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) breathed his last and Abu Bakr was appointed as his successor (Caliph), those amongst the Arabs who wanted to become apostates became apostates. 'Umar b. Khattab said to Abu Bakr: Why would you fight against the people, when the Messenger of Allah declared: I have been directed to fight against people so long as they do not say: There is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was granted full protection of his property and life on my behalf except for a right? His (other) affairs rest with Allah. Upon this Abu Bakr said: By Allah, I would definitely fight against him who severed prayer from Zakat, for it is the obligation upon the rich. By Allah, I would fight against them even to secure the cord (used for hobbling the feet of a camel) which they used to give to the Messenger of Allah (as zakat) but now they have withheld it. Umar b. Khattab remarked: By Allah, I found nothing but the fact that Allah had opened the heart of Abu Bakr for (perceiving the justification of) fighting (against those who refused to pay Zakat) and I fully recognized that the (stand of Abu Bakr) was right.
We’ve examined many verses from the Quran, and associated context from Sira and Hadith, along with commentary from Islamic scholars, regarding violence and jihad. Together with that I’ve put together a list of violent incidents that present various facets of Islamic jihad. Below is a long selection of Hadith regarding violence and jihad. I add this to widen the reader’s understanding of Islamic jihad and violence. In some cases I will not quote the Hadith in full because of the length of the Hadith. Most of these hadith are available on the internet and can be downloaded for free. As you read these below, allow me to inject this question: “What is Muhammad’s fundamental position towards the use of violence to further Islam?”
[NOTE. Most of these Hadith come from the collections of Bukhari and Muslim. These two collections are regarded as absolutely reliable and truthful to the Sunni branch of Islam (85% of the Islamic world is Sunni). The collection of Abu Dawud is also held in high esteem, but not as highly as the other two].
In the presentation below, the quotes are in black text. I highlight important parts in red text.
Sahih Muslim, Book 007, Number 3200:
Sufyan b. Abd Zuhair reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Syria will be conquered and some people will go out of Medina along with their families driving their camels, and Medina is better for them if they were to know it. Then Yemen will be conquered and some people will go out of Medina along with their families driving their camels, and Medina is better for them if they were to know it. Then Iraq will be conquered and some people will go out of it along with their families driving their camels, and Medina is better for them if they were to know it.
Sahih Bukhari, 4.175:
Narrated Khalid bin Madan:
That 'Umair bin Al-Aswad Al-Anasi told him that he went to 'Ubada bin As-Samit while he was staying in his house at the sea-shore of Hims with (his wife) Um Haram. 'Umair said. Um Haram informed us that she heard the Prophet saying, "Paradise is granted to the first batch of my followers who will undertake a naval expedition." Um Haram added, I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Will I be amongst them?' He replied, 'You are amongst them.' The Prophet then said, 'The first army amongst my followers who will invade Caesar's City will be forgiven their sins.' I asked, 'Will I be one of them, O Allah's Apostle?' He replied in the negative."
Sahih Muslim, Book 019, Number 4294:
It has been reported from Sulaiman b. Buraid through his father that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) appointed anyone as leader of an army or detachment he would especially exhort him to fear Allah and to be good to the Muslims who were with him. He would say: Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war, do not embezzle the spoils; do not break your pledge; and do not mutilate (the dead) bodies; do not kill the children. When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them. Then invite them to migrate from their lands to the land of Muhajirs and inform them that, if they do so, they shall have all the privileges and obligations of the Muhajirs. If they refuse to migrate, tell them that they will have the status of Bedouin Muslims and will be subjected to the Commands of Allah like other Muslims, but they will not get any share from the spoils of war or Fai' except when they actually fight with the Muslims (against the disbelievers). If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah's help and fight them….
Sahih Muslim
Chapter 9: PERMISSIBILITY OF KILLING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE NIGHT RAIDS, PROVIDED IT IS NOT DELIBERATE
Sahih Muslim, Book 019, Number 4321:
It is reported on the authority of Sa'b b. Jaththama that the Prophet of Allah (may peace be upon him), when asked about the women and children of the polytheists being killed during the night raid, said: They are from them.
Bukhari 4.256:
Narrated As-Sab bin Jaththama:
The Prophet passed by me at a place called Al-Abwa or Waddan, and was asked whether it was permissible to attack the pagan warriors at night with the probability of exposing their women and children to danger. The Prophet replied, "They (i.e. women and children) are from them (i.e. pagans)." I also heard the Prophet saying, "The institution of Hima is invalid except for Allah and His Apostle."
Sahih Muslim, Book 020, Number 4645:
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said (to him): Abu Sa'id, whoever cheerfully accepts Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion and Muhammad as his Apostle is necessarily entitled to enter Paradise. He (Abu Sa'id) wondered at it and said: Messenger of Allah, repeat it for me. He (the Messenger of Allah) did that and said: There is another act which elevates the position of a man in Paradise to a grade one hundred (higher), and the elevation between one grade and the other is equal to the height of the heaven from the earth. He (Abu Sa'id) said: What is that act? He replied: Jihad in the way of Allah! Jihad in the way of Allah!
Sahih Muslim, Book 020, Number 4646:
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Qatada that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) stood up among them (his Companions) to deliver his sermon in which he told them that Jihad in the way of Allah and belief in Allah (with all His Attributes) are the most meritorious of acts. A man stood up and said: Messenger of Allah, do you think that if I am killed in the way of Allah, my sins will be blotted out from me? The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Yes, in case you are killed in the way of Allah and you were patient and sincere and you always fought facing the enemy, never turning your back upon him.
Sahih Muslim, Book 020, Number 4681:
The tradition has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Qais. He heard it from his father who, while facing the enemy, reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Surely, the gates of Paradise are under the shadows of the swords. A man in a shabby condition got up and said; Abu Musa, did you hear the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say this? He said: Yes. (The narrator said): He returned to his friends and said: I greet you (a farewell greeting). Then he broke the sheath of his sword, threw it away, advanced with his (naked) sword towards the enemy and fought (them) with it until he was slain.
Bukhari, 4.266A:
Narrated Salim Abu An-Nadr:
(the freed slave of 'Umar bin 'Ubaidullah) I was Umar's clerk. Once Abdullah bin Abi Aufa wrote a letter to 'Umar when he proceeded to Al-Haruriya. I read in it that Allah's Apostle in one of his military expeditions against the enemy, waited till the sun declined and then he got up amongst the people saying O people! Do not wish to meet the enemy, and ask Allah for safety, but when you face the enemy, be patient, and remember that Paradise is under the shades of swords." Then he said, "O Allah, the Revealer of the Holy Book, and the Mover of the clouds and the Defeater of the clans, defeat them, and grant us victory over them."
Sahih Muslim, Book 019, Number 4324:
It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) ordered the date-palms of Banu Nadir to be burnt and cut. These palms were at Buwaira. Qutaibah and Ibn Rumh in their versions of the tradition have added: So Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, revealed the verse:" Whatever trees you have cut down or left standing on their trunks, it was with the permission of Allah so that He may disgrace the evil-doers" (lix. 5).
Sahih Muslim, Book 020, Number 4597:
It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said on the day of the Conquest of Mecca: There is no Hijra now, but (only) Jihad (fighting for the cause of Islam) and sincerity of purpose (have great reward) ; when you are asked to set out (on an expedition undertaken for the cause of Islam) you should (readily) do so.
Bukhari 4. 79:
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
On the day of the Conquest (of Mecca) the Prophet said, "There is no emigration after the Conquest but Jihad and intentions. When you are called (by the Muslim ruler) for fighting, go forth immediately." (See Hadith No. 42)
Sahih Muslim, Book 020, Number 4626:
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace upon him) said: Allah has undertaken to look after the affairs of one who goes out to fight in His way believing in Him and affirming the truth of His Apostle. He is committed to His care that He will either admit him to Paradise or bring him back to his home from where he set out with a reward or (his share of) booty. ... By, the Being in Whose Hand is Muhammad's life, if it were not to be too hard upon the Muslims. I would not lag behind any expedition which is going to fight in the cause of Allah. But I do not have abundant means to provide them (the Mujahids) with riding beasts, nor have they (i. e. all of them) abundant means (to provide themselves with all the means of Jihad) so that they could he left behind. By the Being in Whose Hand is Muhammad, I love to fight in the way of Allah and be killed, to fight and again be killed and to fight again and be killed.
Sahih Muslim, Book 020, Number 4652:
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri that a man came to the Holy Prophet (may peace he upon him) and said: Who is the best of men? He replied: A man who fights in the way of Allah spending his wealth and staking his life. The man then asked: Who is next to him (in excellence)? He said: Next to him is a believer who lives in a mountain gorge worshipping hid Lord and sparing men from his mischief.
Bukhari 4.177:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him."
Bukhari 4.180:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "The Hour will not be established till you fight with people wearing shoes made of hair. And the Hour will not be established till you fight with people whose faces look like shields coated with leather. " (Abu Huraira added, "They will be small-eyed, flat nosed, and their faces will look like shields coated with leather.")
(The text note says these people are the Turks).
Bukhari 4.355:
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ashari:
A Bedouin asked the Prophet, "A man may fight for the sake of booty, and another may fight so that he may be mentioned by the people, and a third may fight to show his position (i.e. bravery); which of these regarded as fighting in Allah's Cause?" The Prophet said, "He who fights so that Allah's Word (i.e. Islam) should be superior, fights for Allah's Cause."
Bukhari 4. 41:
Narrated Abdullah bin Masud:
I asked Allah's Apostle, "O Allah's Apostle! What is the best deed?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is next in goodness?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents." I further asked, what is next in goodness?" He replied, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's Cause." I did not ask Allah's Apostle anymore and if I had asked him more, he would have told me more.
Bukhari 4.792:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
The Prophet said, "A time will come when the people will wage holy war, and it will be asked, 'Is there any amongst you who has enjoyed the company of Allah's Apostle?' They will say: 'Yes.' And then victory will be bestowed upon them. They will wage holy war again, and it will be asked: 'Is there any among you who has enjoyed the company of the companions of Allah's Apostle ?' They will say: 'Yes.' And then victory will be bestowed on them."
Bukhari 6.493:
Narrated Ibn Abbas:
'Umar asked the people regarding Allah's Statement:
'When comes the Help of Allah (to you O Muhammad against your enemies) and the conquest of Mecca.' (110.1) They replied, "It indicates the future conquest of towns and palaces (by Muslims)." 'Umar said, "What do you say about it, O Ibn 'Abbas?" I replied, "(This Surat) indicates the termination of the life of Muhammad. Through it he was informed of the nearness of his death."
Bukhari 1.387:
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.' And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah." Narrated Maimun ibn Siyah that he asked Anas bin Malik, "O Abu Hamza! What makes the life and property of a person sacred?" He replied, "Whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', faces our Qibla during the prayers, prays like us and eats our slaughtered animal, then he is a Muslim, and has got the same rights and obligations as other Muslims have."
Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2635:
Narrated Anas ibn Malik:
The Prophet said: I am commanded to fight with men till they testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Apostle, face our qiblah (direction of prayer), eat what we slaughter, and pray like us. When they do that, their life and property are unlawful for us except what is due to them. They will have the same rights as the Muslims have, and have the same responsibilities as the Muslims have.
Bukhari 5.568:
Narrated Usama bin Zaid:
Allah's Apostle sent us towards Al-Huruqa, and in the morning we attacked them and defeated them.
Bukhari 5.641:
Narrated Jarir:
In the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance there was a house called Dhu-l-Khalasa or Al-Ka'ba Al-Yamaniya or Al-Ka'ba Ash-Shamiya. The Prophet said to me, "Won't you relieve me from Dhu-l-Khalasa?" So I set out with one-hundred-and-fifty riders, and we dismantled it and killed whoever was present there. Then I came to the Prophet and informed him, and he invoked good upon us and Al-Ahmas (tribe).
Bukhari 5.716:
Narrated Ibn Abbas:
Thursday! And how great that Thursday was! The ailment of Allah's Apostle became worse (on Thursday) and he said, fetch me something so that I may write to you something after which you will never go astray." The people (present there) differed in this matter, and it was not right to differ before a prophet. Some said, "What is wrong with him ? (Do you think ) he is delirious (seriously ill)? Ask him ( to understand his state )." So they went to the Prophet and asked him again. The Prophet said, "Leave me, for my present state is better than what you call me for." Then he ordered them to do three things. He said, "Turn the pagans out of the 'Arabian Peninsula; respect and give gifts to the foreign delegations as you have seen me dealing with them." (Said bin Jubair, the sub-narrator said that Ibn Abbas kept quiet as rewards the third order, or he said, "I forgot it.") (See Hadith No. 116Vol. 1)
Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2478:
Narrated Imran ibn Husayn:
The Prophet said: A section of my community will continue to fight for the right and overcome their opponents till the last of them fights with the Antichrist.
Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2493:
Narrated Abu Malik al-Ash'ari:
Abu Malik heard the Apostle of Allah say: He who goes forth in Allah's path and dies or is killed is a martyr, or has his neck broken through being thrown by his horse or by his camel, or is stung by a poisonous creature, or dies on his bed by any kind of death Allah wishes is a martyr and will go to Paradise.
Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2496:
Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet as saying:
He who dies without having fought or having felt fighting (against the infidels) to be his duty will die guilty of a kind of hypocrisy”.
Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2506:
Narrated Abu Ayyub:
Abu Imran said: We went out on an expedition from Medina with the intention of (attacking) Constantinople. AbdurRahman ibn Khalid ibn al-Walid was the leader of the company. The Romans were just keeping their backs to the walls of the city. A man (suddenly) attacked the enemy. …
Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2535:
Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal:
The Apostle of Allah said: If anyone fights in Allah's path as long as the time between two milkings of a she-camel, Paradise will be assured for him. If anyone sincerely asks Allah for being killed and then dies or is killed, there will be a reward of a martyr for him. Ibn al-Musaffa added from here: If anyone is wounded in Allah's path, or suffers a misfortune, it will come on the Day of resurrection as copious as possible, its color saffron, and its odor musk; and if anyone suffers from ulcers while in Allah's path, he will have on him the stamp of the martyrs.
Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2631:
Narrated Ka'b ibn Malik:
When the Prophet intended to go on an expedition, he always pretended to be going somewhere else, and he would say: War is deception.
Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2632:
Narrated Salamah ibn al-Akwa':
The Apostle of Allah appointed Abu Bakr our commander and we fought with some people who were polytheists, and we attacked them at night, killing them. Our war-cry that night was "put to death; put to death." Salamah said: I killed that night with my hand polytheists belonging to seven houses.
Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2664:
Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub:
The Prophet said: Kill the old men who are polytheists, but spare their children.
Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2665:
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
No woman of Banu Qurayzah was killed except one. She was with me, talking and laughing on her back and belly (extremely), while the Apostle of Allah was killing her people with the swords. Suddenly a man called her name: Where is so-and-so? She said: I asked: What is the matter with you? She said: I did a new act. She said: The man took her and beheaded her. She said: I will not forget that she was laughing extremely although she knew that she would be killed.
Near the beginning of this article I asked 3 questions:
1) What are the teachings of real Islam found in the Quran, Hadith, and Sira with respect to the use of violence, call it jihad if you like, to aggressively spread it’s power over non-Muslims, and are these teachings valid and applicable today?
2) Is real Islam behind and does it condone the murder of 3000 Americans and the destruction of the WTC, or are these Muslim terrorists doing something well outside Muhammad’s religion?
3) What does the future hold for Islam and America?
Let me answer them one by one from my perspective.
1) What are the teachings of real Islam found in the Quran, Hadith, and Sira with respect to the use of violence, call it jihad if you like, to aggressively spread it’s power over non-Muslims, and are these teachings valid and applicable today?
It should be obvious to you, the reader, that Islam calls for the use of jihad, force and violence, when able, to spread Islam’s power over non-Muslim people. The jihad may take the form of passing out literature for Islam, or it may take the form of assassination, or a bombing of a building, or a massacre, or worse. These teachings are valid and applicable today.
2) Is real Islam behind and does it condone the murder of 3000 Americans and the destruction of the WTC, or are these Muslim terrorists doing something well outside Muhammad’s religion?
Yes. Real Islam is behind the murder of 3000 Americans and it condones the destruction of the WTC.
What is the justification for my answer?
Let me begin by saying that I lived in the Mideast for a couple of years. I began to study Islam at that time. It did not take long to realize how deeply many devout Muslims hated America, and how they wanted to see us destroyed or broken. After I returned to America from the Mideast I began to share this with my friends and co-workers. I had realized then what they have done now. I realized then what Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar have recently said – they wanted Allah to break or destroy America.
Why do so many Muslims want to see America broken or destroyed?
America is the last superpower and represents the strongest power against the violent spread of Islam. If America is weakened or incapacitated then Muslims can begin to act with more impunity and terror throughout the world. The attack against the WTC was not simply an effort to kill American people. Had they wanted to do that they could find better targets. Rather, the attack against the WTC and Pentagon were strikes at America’s financial strength and command and control center, complemented by murder and destruction. If Muslims can weaken us we will not be able to deal with or pursue them elsewhere in the world. Just as Muhammad destroyed the financial strength and morale of the date-palm groves of the Banu Nadir, and had key leaders assassinated, so to, these Muslims have struck at our financial strength and leadership.
Take the current war in Afghanistan. It is costing us billions. No country can long sustain such expenses. Eventually, our capacity to counter Islamic violence will diminish. Calculate the results of 9/11/01. Billions of dollars have been lost. Tens of thousands of Americans have lost their jobs as a result. The stock market crashed, and is still shaky. The economy fell deeper into recession
Once America is broken or destroyed Europe and elsewhere will be the next targets.
3) What does the future hold for Islam and America, Britain, China, and so on?
Two and a half years ago I answered this same question – “murder, destruction, terrorism.” At this time I have more to add, and I do not expect that all Americans will like my answer. However, I’ve studied Islam for many years, and I do have an informed opinion.
What does the future hold? My answer starts as a rebuke to Europe and America. Instead of actually facing the evil of Islam, and trying to comprehend just how evil Islam is, we have preferred to hope that Islamic violence is just the pernicious work of a few individuals or radical groups. We hope that by destroying the al-Qaida network the threat of Islamic terrorism will cease. We put it out of our minds and hope and pretend that it will no longer affect us, choosing to be re-consumed with our football (how about Liverpool!), or American football (go 49ers!), baseball (Arizona!), and the return of Michael Jordan to the NBA. We are captivated by Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings, and Michael Jackson’s latest performance. We are happy that the DOW is back up and interest rates have lowered, and hoping that the recession will soon be over. Yet, those who plan our destruction are still living among us and saying that Islam is a religion of peace. All the while, just as Maslama deceived his good friend Kab in order to murder him, these Muslims are prudently, and patiently planning their next acts of terrorism.
What does the future hold? Continued Islamic violence. I hope I am wrong, but
I believe that Muslims will one day detonate a nuclear warhead, or warheads, in large American cities.
If America is neutralized, the terror will spread to Europe. It will happen within the next 10 years. It is their only option. Muslims in the world know that America must be brought low, regardless of the cost. They are dedicated and they will succeed in detonating those bombs. They will be able to obtain the bombs or bomb material from Pakistan or perhaps from a former Soviet Republic Country. Muslims know how to go about this. Their goal is our incapacitation. The best way to accomplish this is through the use of nuclear bombs, or perhaps through a massive chemical or biological attack.
Does it sound far-fetched? Read the quote from the article below…..
IRAN’S RAFSANJANI SUGGESTS NUCLEAR ATTACK ON ISRAEL
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, December 18, 2001
One of Iran’s most influential ruling clerics called on the Muslim states to use nuclear weapon against Israel, assuring them that while such an attack would annihilate Israel, it would cost them "damages only".
If the Muslims in Algeria can slit the throats of small Algerian children and throw them down wells, do you think that they will care about American lives? These murdered children were fellow Algerians and fellow Muslims. Perhaps they weren’t Muslim enough to the Muslim terrorists. In either case, the Muslims we are dealing with are of the same spirit that murdered these children, and the same spirit that had the Jews of the Banu Qurayza tribe massacred. This is a spiritual war, initiated by Satan. Muslims are pawns in his hands. This spiritual power is bigger, and more perverse than Islamic theology. It does not know Islamic bounds. Muslims will not care about millions of American deaths. They will cherish it. Just as Muslims in Chicago and on American campuses rejoiced at the destruction of the WTC, so do these Muslims look forward to the day that America can be brought low.
So, let me ask you a question. Do you believe that the 19 Muslim hijackers operated in a vacuum? Do you believe that no other Muslims, currently living in America, knew about their plans?
I believe that these Muslims were known about and aided by many other Muslims living here. These Muslims came here long ago as men on a mission. They were supported by Muslims throughout America and the world. If need be, the Muslim accomplices will proclaim that “Islam is a religion of peace”, fly an American flag, cry crocodile tears, and proclaim, “we feel your pain”. But just as Muhammad’s followers betrayed fellow citizens at an opportune time, these Muslim terrorists, and their Muslim accomplices, betrayed America. “Islam has broken the former ties”, thus the early Muslims betrayed those who were once their friends. They ate with you, drank with you, shared part of their lives with you, but the call of Islam is stronger then American citizenship or American values, or simple values of integrity and trust. Make no mistake about it, when the time is ripe, more Muslims living here in the states will commit the same type of violent actions that were committed on 9/11/01. They aren’t done, and in their hearts, it ain’t over, not by a long shot.
Another question. Do you really think that this type of Islamic terrorism is the work of just a few individuals?
Frequently we hear that these terrorists are very, very few, and that the Islamic community is peace loving. I say the world is filled with Islamic violence, committed by Muslim terrorists found in all nations. The 19 Muslim hijackers came from several Muslim countries. The Taliban are filled with Arabs, Chechens, Indonesians, Chinese, Afghans, Pakistanis, and so on. Even some British and American Muslims have gone to Afghanistan to fight fellow British and American soldiers. This type of Islamic terrorism is a worldwide movement, it is not the work of a few hot head radicals. It is the work of dedicated, devout, determined Muslims. American Muslims will betray American citizens. The next batch of Muslim terrorists need not be Arab, or dark skinned. They may be white, blue-eyed, and, blonde. Their dedication to Islam will override any commitment to America and its people.
Here are some of what Muslims overseas have done and said.
Below is the text of fatwa urging Jihad against Americans which was published in Al-Quds al-'Arabi on February 23, 1998.
On that basis, and in compliance with God's order, we issue the following fatwa to all Muslims the ruling to kill the Americans and their allies--civilians and military--is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim.
This is in accordance with the words of Almighty God, "and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together," and "fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God."
Below are excerpts from recent news columns.
Wednesday November 21
By Rosalind Russell
KABUL (Reuters) - The strict Muslim Taliban breathed defiance, saying they hoped ``mighty Allah will break America'' on Wednesday while their rule over Afghanistan crumbled under nearly seven weeks of relentless U.S. attacks.
Wednesday November 21
By SUSAN SACHS The New York Times
"It has nothing to do with age or era," said Mr. Zayat, who has defended thousands of Islamic militants over the years and served time in prison for his youthful involvement in an extremist movement. "It is ideology. These groups have their own literature that is passed down from generation to generation. This literature promotes the idea of `jihad' and the use of violence to overthrow those who do not rule according to God's law."
Reuters
Monday December 3 8:52 AM ET
In northern Afghanistan, a heavily bearded 20-year-old American said he had fought for the Taliban and survived a bloody prison uprising near Mazar-i-Sharif last week. ``I was a student in Pakistan, studying Islam and came into contact with many people connected with Taliban,'' the wounded John Walker told CNN. ``The people in general have a great love for the Taliban so I started to read some of the literature of the scholars, the history of Kabul...my heart became attached to that.''
Of course not all the Muslims here are terrorists. Most Muslims living in America are either nominal Muslims or living just a devout personal piety without the essential political dimension of orthodox Islam, and are certainly not bent on terrorist actions. Many Muslims do not want the violence. They are people with a better moral code than Muhammad. But they are saddled with a system that has a spiritual force behind it, and violence as a systemic root. To be a Muslim is to be aligned with the same satanic spirit that choked and influenced Muhammad in the cave, the same spirit that caused Muhammad to wage war upon and massacre those that rejected him, the same spirit that caused Muhammad to teach his followers to continue to do the same. Not all Muslims are terrorists, but the fundamental, orthodox Muslims will teach and pressure the nominal Muslims towards obeying Muhammad’s commands to establish the rule of Islam, if necessary including the use of violence. Nominal Muslims only need to awaken to the actual call of the Quran, Hadith, and Sira, to violence for Islam’s sake. More and more they are awakening, and their violence increases.
Jesus has commanded us to love our enemies. That can be very difficult. We are only here for a short time, then we will be judged by God. Our actions, words, and faith will be examined. We must obey Christ. We must pray for all people, including Muslims. We do not need to accept Islam to love the Muslims, we must understand and proclaim the differences between what Christ taught and what Muhammad taught. Of course we are to seek justice, but we are also to present the good news to Muslims who are deceived by Satan, still bound in a sinful system.
Do you want to follow Muhammad in every respect – including his commands to violence against those who reject him as a prophet? If not, why entrust your eternal future to Muhammad, if you truly disapprove of the Muslim terrorist actions?” If a Nazi strongly disapproved of Hitler’s actions, I would ask him, “why follow Hitler?” If you truly believe that the Muslim terrorists were wrong, why follow Muhammad? He did and taught the same thing. A person who chooses to follow Muhammad and trust his eternal future to Muhammad’s word, approves of Muhammad’s brutal actions, and brutal teachings.
Islam is a violent religion and it allows the use of aggressive violence to spread its dominion over non-Muslims. The war that Muhammad launched long ago continues, but the stakes are getting higher. America, Europe, and other nations, will continue to be adversely affected by the actions of real Muslims – those that are obeying their god and prophet.
This prayer is written for anyone. This includes Muslims who are seeking the truth and who want to know God in a personal way.
“Lord Jesus, I believe in You. I believe that You are the Son of God and the Lord. I believe that You died for my sins and were raised from the dead. I confess that I am a sinner and I ask You to come into my heart, cleanse me from my sins, and forgive me for my sins. I turn to follow and obey You. I now receive You as Messiah and Lord and totally commit my life to You.”
Amen.
“You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning” (Jesus speaking to the Jews that wanted to kill Him, John 8:44).
“a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God” (Jesus speaking to His disciples, John 16:2).
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Paul commenting on the spiritual forces behind evil, in his letter to the Ephesians 6:12).
“And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.” (Jesus warning His disciples of future false prophets, Matthew 24:11).
I thought, “Woe is me poet or (demon) possessed… I will go to the top of the mountain and throw myself down that I may kill myself and gain rest.” So I went forth to do so and then when I was midway on the mountain, I heard a voice from heaven saying "O Muhammad! thou are the apostle of God and I am Gabriel." (After receiving his first “visitation” from a spirit, Muhammad attempted suicide. This same spirit who identified himself as “Gabriel” stopped him. In a likewise manner, this same spirit later stopped him several times during the next few years as he continued to attempt suicide). What did this spirit have in store for Muhammad?
“Will you listen to me O Meccans? By him who holds my life in His hand I bring you slaughter.” (Muhammad, some of the earliest words spoken in Mecca, shortly after his first visit by “Gabriel”, to people who rejected his claim to prophethood). "The Life of Muhammad", by A. Guillaume, page 131.
Make war upon such of those to whom the Scriptures have been given as believe not in God, or in the last day, and who forbid not that which God and His Apostle (Muhammad) have forbidden, and who profess not the profession of the truth, until they pay tribute out of hand, and they be humbled.” (Muhammad, in the Quran 9:29, telling his followers to make war upon, and kill if necessary, Christians and Jews. Muhammad claimed that a spirit called “Gabriel” gave him those words to speak.)
APPENDIX 1– VERSES IN THE QURAN THAT CONTAIN THE WORD, OR FORM OF THE WORD “JIHAD”.
| 2:218 (215) 3:142 (136) 4:95 (97) x3 5:35 (39) 5:54 (59) 8:72 8:74 8:75 9:16 9:19 | 9:20 9:24 9:41 9:44 9:73 (74) 9:81 (82) 9:86 (87) 9:88 16:110 (111) 22:78 (77) | 25:52 (54) 29:6 (5) 29:69 29:8 (7) 31:15 (14) 47:31 (33) 49:15 60:1 (1) 61:11 (11) 66:9 |
From the “Subject Index of the Holy Qur’an”, page 224, by Afzal-ur-Rehman, [35], are the following subject classifications:
COMMANDMENT OF JIHAD WITH LIFE AND PROPERTY
| Chapter 2: | 154 – 156, 190 – 195, 214 – 218, 251, 261 – 268 | |
| Chapter 3: | 139 – 157, 165 – 175 | |
| Chapter 4: | 71– 100, 101 – 104 | |
| Chapter 5: | 156 | |
| Chapter 8: | 15 – 19, 39 – 58, 60 – 75 | |
| Chapter 9: | 1 – 36, 38 – 42, 73 – 99, 111 – 123 | |
| Chapter 22: | 39 – 42 | |
| Chapter 33: | 9 – 27 | |
| Chapter 49: | 15 | |
| Chapter 60: | 8 – 9 | |
| Chapter 61: | 10 – 11 |
APPENDIX 3 - LETTER FROM A CHRISTIAN WHO SAW THE OTHER SIDE OF ISLAM
I have lived with Muslims while attending college back in the 1960's. I have read portions of their '"holy book" and found portions of it to partially include the stories about Adam and Eve, Noah, etc. I saw that they accepted Jesus of Nazareth as a prophet (but not as the Christ). For over thirty years I have told a hundred others that I believed the Muslim faith was a "peaceful" faith.
Your writings (and following research online of other writings) have shown me that Mohammed was a deliverer of one of the "doctrines of demons" mentioned by Jesus Christ in the new testament of the Bible. I will pray for the deliverance of the Muslims from this horrifying and demented religion...let's hope that the whole world will not be over-run by this corruption. Thank you for your expose of the founder of the Muslim religion...he was indeed a murderer and criminal, not in any sense a man serving the Ancient of Days...but a servant of the fallen angels and the 'lord of the air' Satan and
in full support of the final anti-Christ of The Book of Revelation.
I pray for your personal and spiritual safety...I ask only that you do the same for me, my family and my nation.
Respectfully,
Jihad is a religious obligation. It forms part of the duties that the believer must fulfill; it is Islam's _normal_ path to expansion.
-- Bat Yeor, _The Decline of Eastern Christianity_
Mahomet established a religion by putting his enemies
to death; Jesus Christ by commanding his followers to lay down their lives.
-- Blaise Pascal,
_Pensees_
Muhammad, unlike Christ, was a man of violence, he
bore arms, was wounded in battle and preached holy war, Jihad, against those
who defied the will of God as revealed to him. -- John Keegan, _A History of Warfare_
Jihad is a divinely ordained institution in Islam. By
many authorities it is counted as one of the pillars of Islam. Theologically,
it is an intolerant idea: a tribal god, Allah, trying to be universal through
conquest. Historically, it was an imperialist urge masked in religious
phraseology.
-- Ram Swarup, _Understanding Islam through Hadis_
When accusing the West of imperialism, Muslims are
obsessed with the Christian Crusades but have forgotten their own, much grander
Jihad. In fact, they often denounce the Crusades as the cause and
starting point of the antagonism between Christianity and Islam. They are
putting the cart before the horse. The Jihad is more than four hundred
years older than the Crusades.
-- Paul Fregosi, _Jihad in the West: Muslim
Conquests from the 7th to the 21st Centuries_
REFERENCES
[1] http://answering-islam.org/Silas/terrorism.htm
[2] Mir, Mustansir, “Dictionary of Quranic Terms and Concepts”, Garland, New York, NY, 1987.
[3] Jeffery, Arthur, “Islam: Muhammad and His Religion”, Bobs Merril
[4] “Encyclopaedia of Islam”, published by Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands.
[5] http://answering-islam.org/Silas/mo-death.htm
[6] Kassis, Hanna, “Concordance of the Quran”, University of California Press, Los Angeles, CA, 1983.
[7] “Shorter Encyclopaedia of Islam”, edited by H.A.R. Gibb, published by Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands.
[8] Ibn Kathir, “Tafsir of Ibn Kathir” published by Al-Firdous, New York, NY, 2000.
[9] “Reliance of the Traveler”, (A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law), by Ahmad al-Misri, translated by Nuh Ha Mim Keller, published by Amana publications, Beltsville, Maryland, USA 1991
[10] Muslim, Abu’l-Husain, “Sahih Muslim”, translated by A. Siddiqi, International Islamic Publishing House, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1971
[11] al-Tabari, "Ta'rikh al-rusul wa'l-muluk", (The History of al-Tabari), volume 8, State University of New York Press, 1997.
[12] Ibn Ishaq, (d.782), "Sirat Rasulallah", compiled by A. Guillaume as "The Life of Muhammad", Oxford, London, 1955
[13] Sell, Canon, “The Historical Development of the Quran”, published by People International.
[14] Bukhari, Muhammad, “Sahih Bukhari”, Kitab Bhavan, New Delhi, India, 1987, translated by M. Khan
[15] “The Nobel Quran”, translated by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, published by Maktaba Dar-us-Salam, PO Box 21441, Riyadh 11475, Saudi Arabia, 1994.
[16] Dawood, N. J., “The Koran”, Penguin, London, England, 1995
[17] Watt, W. M., "Muhammad at Mecca", Oxford University Press, London 1952.
[18] Gatje, Helmut, "The Quran and its Exegesis", Oneworld, Oxford, England, 1997
[19] Rodwell, J. M., "The Koran", by, published by Everyman, London, England
[20] Ibn Sa'd, (d. 852 A.D.), "Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir", (Book of the Major Classes), translated by S. Moinul Haq, Pakistan Historical Society
[21] Dashti, Ali, “23 Years: A Study in the Prophetic Career of Mohammad”, Mazda, Costa Mesa, CA, 1994. Translated by F.R.C. Bagley
[22] http://answering-islam.org/Silas/demons.htm
[23] http://answering-islam.org/Silas/suicide.htm
[24] Wensinck, A., "Muhammad and the Jews of Medina", pub. by K. S. V.
[25] http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Muir/Life3/chap13.htm
[26] Abu Dawud, Suliman, “Sunan”, al-Madina, New Delhi, 1985, translated by A. Hasan
[27] Ayoub, Mahmoud, "The Quran and Its Interpreters" vol. II - The House of Imran, Albany, N.Y.; State University of New York Press, 1992
[28] Ali, Yusef, "The Holy Qur'an", published by Amana, Beltsville, Maryland, USA, 1989
[29] Asad, Muhammad , "The Message of the Quran", Dar Al-Andaulus, Gibraltar, 1980
[30] http://answering-islam.org/Silas/mo-death.htm
[31] http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Muir/Life4/chap28.htm
[32] Payne, Robert, “The History of Islam”, Dorset Press, New York, 1990
[33] Fregosi, Paul, “Jihad”, Prometheus Books, Amherst, New York, 1998
[34] http://answering-islam.org/Silas/childbrides.htm
[35] Rehman, Afzal, “Subject Index of the Holy Qur’an”, published by Classical Printers, Delhi, India, 1987
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