Question Summary:
Context of the Verse of the Sword (Surah Tawbah, Verse5) Question Detail:
I always hear from the people who hate and attack Islam that all the verses in the Quran that have to do with peace (like 60:8) are abrogated by later verses (like 9:5). Is this true? And does this mean supposed Muslims from these groups can go out and start murdering people? How do we know that they are wrong? Jazakullah Khair. May Allah bless your services to Islam.
Answer :
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The information in reference is incorrect.
The verses of peace are permanently entrenched verses and not abrogated.
The verses referring to war are specific and within a specific context. These verses do not override the verses of sanctity of life and human dignity and honour. [1]
Regardless of the academic discussion on the verse, the position of Islam is straightforward and simple.
Islam is a religion of peace and harmony. Islam does not encourage fighting, enmity and hatred. Rather Islam encourages love and affection.
The word “Islam” in addition to meaning submission (to Allah) is derived from the Arabic word “Salam” (peace). The Muslims greet others by saying 'Salaam'.
This is understood from the following incidents:
The mother of Asma (Radhiallahu Anha) was a disbeliever. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) commanded Asma (Radhiallahu Anha) to maintain ties with her mother.
In the Quran, Allah Ta’alah speaks of the incident of Fir’own who was a tyrant ruler and he disliked Musa (Alayhis salaam) and his followers. Allah Ta’alah commanded Musa (Alayhis salaam) to invite Fir’own to his worship and advised him to address Fir’own in kind words, perhaps Fir’own may take heed.
VERSES OF THE HOLY QUR’AAN COMMANDING GOOD TREATMENT OF DISBELIEVERS:
1.And have patience against what they (your enemies) say, and withdraw from them in a beautiful manner. (Surah 73, verse 10)
2. So overlook (their wrong-doings) with gracious forgiveness. (Surah 15,verse 85)
3.And do not debate with the People of the Book except in the best of manners; (Surah 29, verse 46)
4.Invite unto your Lord with wisdom and beautiful advice, and engage them in debate in a style that is best. (Surah 16, verse 125)
5.And be kind (to others) like Allah has been kind to you, and seek not mischief in the land; (Surah 28, verse 77)
6.And turn not your face from people in arrogance, nor walk on earth in insolence. Verily Allah does not love every arrogant boaster. (Surah 31, verse 18)
7.And Allah does not forbid you from being kind and just to those (disbelievers) who do not fight you with regards to Religion, nor evict you from your homes. Verily Allah loves those who are just. (Surah 60, verse 8)
8.And if they (The Pagans) desist (from fighting you) then there should be no transgression (against them), except against a people who are oppressors. (Surah 2, verse 193)
9.And if they (the enemy) incline towards peace then you too, incline towards the same. (Surah 8, verse 61)
10.And if any of the Disbelievers seeks refuge from you, then grant him refuge so that he can hear the Word of Allah, then escort him to a place where he is secure.
The above are some of the many verses of the Quraan that instruct Muslims to be peaceful, loving and kind.
Consider the following verse of the Quraan on the sanctity of life.
Allah Talaah says:
مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ كَتَبْنا عَلى بَنِي إِسْرائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْساً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّما قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً وَمَنْ أَحْياها فَكَأَنَّما أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً وَلَقَدْ جاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنا بِالْبَيِّناتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيراً مِنْهُمْ بَعْدَ ذلِكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ
Translation: Because of this (incident), we decreed (prescribed) for the Bani Israail that whoever kills another for a reason other than (executing a murder of) a soul or (other than executing someone who causes) corruption on the earth (such as those who ridicule the Ambiyaa), then it is as if he had killed all of mankind.
Whoever preserves a life, it is as if he has preserved the lives of the entire mankind.
Undoubtedly, our Rasool had come to them (to the Bani Israail) with clear signs (miracles). However, many of them overstepped (by oppression, transgression, violence) the limits on earth thereafter (by rejecting the Ambiyaa and even assassinating many of them.)
(Surah Al-Maaidah, Aayah 32)
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Muhammad IV Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
_____
[1] جلد 4 ص 310 معارف القران
پہلی جماعت جو قریش مکّہ کی تھی جنہوں نے میثاق حدیبیہ کو خود توڑ دیا تھا اب یہ کسی مزید مہلت کے مستحق نہ تھے مگر چونکے یہ زمانہ أشهرحرم کا زمانہ تھا جن میں جنگ و قتال منجانب الله ممنوع تھا
اس لئے ان کے متعلق تو وو حکم آیا جو سوره توبہ کی پانچویں آیت میں مذکور ہے. فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُواْ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِن تَابُواْ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَوُاْ الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّواْ سَبِيلَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ. جس کا حاصل یہ تھا کے ان لوگوں نے عہد شکنی کر کر اپنا کوئ حق باقی نہیں چوڑا مگر أشهرحرم کا احترام بہرحال ضروری ہے.
اس لئے أشهرحرم ختم ہوتے ھی یا وو جزیرہ العرب سے نکل جاییں یا مسلمان ہو جاییں ورنہ ان سے جنگ کی جاییں گی.
تفسير الطبري = جامع البيان ت شاكر (14/ 133)
16473- حدثنا بشر قال، حدثنا يزيد قال، حدثنا سعيد، عن قتادة قوله: (إلا الذين عاهدتم من المشركين ثم لم ينقصوكم شيئا ولم يظاهروا عليكم أحدا) ، الآية، قال: هم مشركو قريش، الذين عاهدهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم زمن الحديبية، وكان بقي من مدتهم أربعة أشهر بعد يوم النحر. فأمر الله نبيه أن يوفي لهم بعهدهم إلى مدتهم، ومن لا عهد له إلى انسلاخ المحرم، ونبذ إلى كل ذي عهد عهده، وأمره بقتالهم حتى يشهدوا أن لا إله إلا الله، وأن محمدًا رسول الله، وأن لا يقبل منهم إلا ذلك
تفسير البيضاوي = أنوار التنزيل وأسرار التأويل (3/ 71)
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ عاهَدْتُمْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ استثناء من المشركين، أو استدراك فكأنه قيل لهم بعد أن أمروا بنبذ العهد إلى الناكثين ولكن الذين عاهدوا منهم. ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْقُصُوكُمْ شَيْئاً من شروط العهد ولم ينكثوه أو لم يقتلوا منكم ولم يضروكم قط. وَلَمْ يُظاهِرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَداً من أعدائكم فَأَتِمُّوا إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلى مُدَّتِهِمْ إلى تمام مدتهم ولا تجروهم مجرى الناكثين. إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ تعليل وتنبيه على أن إتمام عهدهم من باب التقوى
تفسیر عثمانی جلد 1ص 541
الإتقان في علوم القرآن
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