Originally prepared for and presented at a TV debate, these are the slightly updated notes of the Christian speaker.
Introduction
Ladies
and Gentleman:
This
subject is far from easy, for both you, the audience, and for me, because of all
the things going on at the current time. I have one of two choices—and the
easier of the two is still difficult. Should I say what is considered politically
correct? Or should I tell the truth? I have chosen the latter, believing in what the
Lord Jesus Christ says: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you
free”.
The time
limitations we have for this program doesn’t make this job any easier, as it will be
difficult to cover so much information or go into much depth in such a short time.
But in the next few minutes I will do my best to address the issues of the "use
of violence" and of "co-existence with other religions" in
Islam.
Let me
start by saying that God has given us free will to choose our own belief
system. I am a strong believer in freedom of religion, and condemn no-one for
believing something other than what I myself believe. I do not wish to offend
Muslims by anything I say today, and I hope that you will accept my words in
the spirit in which they are meant.
After the
terrible events of September 11th, we have heard many Muslims saying
what Islam does and does not teach with regard to violence towards others, and
about the co-existence of Muslims with non-Muslims. Some say that Islam is a religion
of peace, that it does not allow the killing of others, and that those who carried out
the attacks are twisting the teachings of Islam by claiming to act in the name
of Islam. Still others say that Islam does indeed allow the killing of others,
and that it is even a noble aim. Who is right?
Obviously,
we cannot judge any religion by just looking at those who claim to follow
it. It would be all too easy to
point a finger at the many Muslims who have perpetrated violence against
Christians, Jews and others over the centuries and conclude that Islam preaches
violence, or to point the finger at the many Christians who have perpetrated
violence against Muslims, Jews and others and conclude that Christianity
preaches violence. This would, however, be quite erroneous. Not all who claim
to act in the name of a religion are true adherents to its teachings. To answer the
question with which we are concerned today, then, it is necessary to go back to
the sources of Islam to see what they have to say about violence and about
co-existence with adherents of other faiths. I shall therefore first consider the Qur’an,
Islam’s holy book, that Muslims believe was revealed to Muhammad from God,
and the Hadith, which are the collections of Muhammad’s sayings and actions.
These are the first two sources of Islam[1]
I shall go on to consider the actions of the prophet of Islam and his companions
as they were the people that understood the Qur’an the best, and who are taken
as role models by Muslims today.
Abrogation Within the Quran الناسخ والمنسوخ
في القرآن
What do
we mean by the term “abrogation”?
The Arabic
words 'nasikh' and 'mansukh' are both derived from the same root word 'nasakha'
which carries meanings such as 'to abolish, to replace, to withdraw, to
abrogate'.
The word
nasikh (an active participle) means 'the abrogating', while mansukh (passive)
means 'the abrogated'. In technical language these terms refer to certain parts
of the Qur'anic revelation, which have been 'abrogated' by others. The
abrogated passage is the one called 'mansukh' while the abrogating one is
called 'nasikh'. (Ahmad von Denver, Ulum Al-Quran)
Understanding
the concept of abrogation is very important in order to understand Islam. Within the Qur'an
itself are statements which contradict others.
For
example, I have recently read an article by Karen Armstrong saying: “the only
permissible war (in the Koran) is one of self-defense. Muslims may not begin
hostilities (2:190).”
Others
quote verses from the Qur'an like:
“Let there be no compulsion
in religion” 2:256
"لا
إكراه في الدين"
“Therefore expound openly what thou art commanded,
and turn away from those who join false gods with Allah” 15:94
" فَاصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ
الْمُشْرِكِين" الحجر 94:15
These verses seem to say clearly
enough that the Qur’an teaches a peaceful response to those who oppose
Islam. But there are other verses
in the Qur’an which say quite the opposite. For example “But
when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye
find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every
stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular Prayers and
practise regular Charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” 9:5 (we will have a closer look at this verse later on).
Which
verse should Muslims follow? According
to the doctrine of abrogation, the later texts supersede the earlier whenever
there are inconsistencies, or they are said to “abrogate” the earlier texts.
Therefore, a Muslim simply needs to know which verse came earlier, and which
came later. The importance of the
doctrine of abrogation cannot be understated. In a
mosque in the city of Kufa, Ali b. Abi Talib once saw people gathering around
the judge, Abdur-Rahman. The judge was confusing that which is permissible with
that which is not. Ali asked him whether he could tell the abrogative verses
from the abrogated; he said that he could not. Ali then grabbed the man's ear,
twisted it, and said: "you perish, and you make others perish. Do not
judge in our mosque anymore.''
That is
how important it is; the person who doesn’t know abrogation shall “perish and
make others perish”, according to Ali Ibn abi Talib.
Returning
to the three verses I quoted above, we see that all three were abrogated,
according to Muslim scholars.(تراجع
كتب الناسخ والمنسوخ لـ ابن حزم، الكرمي، ابن الجوزي، المقري، قتاده،...)
(for detailed
information check books under titles like The Abrogative and the
Abrogated by authors like Ibn Hazem, Al-Karmi, Ibn Al-Jawzi, Al-Muqri,
or Al-Nisabouri)
Suyuti in
his book استنباط التنزيل
(Istenbat al tanzeel) says: “Every thing in the Qur'an about
forgiveness is abrogated by verse 9:5.” Al-Shawkani in his book السيل الجرار (Alsaylu Jarar
4:518-519) says: “Islam is unanimous about fighting the unbelievers and forcing
them to Islam or submitting and paying Jiziah (special tax paid only by
Christians or Jews) or being killed. [The verses] about forgiving them are abrogated unanimously
by the obligation of fighting in any case.”
Please note that I am not telling Muslims which verses
to follow and which not. As I said
earlier, I believe 100% in an individual’s right to choose his or her
beliefs. However, what I am saying
is that according to the Islamic
doctrine of abrogation, these verses are null and void. They are contradicted by later verses,
and in Islam it is the later verses which must be followed today.
Let us now look at some of the Qur’an that was not
written until later, in Madina
The
Qur’an says:
“Fight in the cause of Allah those who
fight you, but do not transgress limits, for Allah does not love
transgressors”. 2:190
"قاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يقاتلونكم ولا
تعتدوا إن الله لا يحب المعتدين" البقرة 190:2
“And slay them (the infidels) wherever you catch them, and
turn them out from where they have turned you out, for tumult and oppression
are worse than slaughter” 2:191
"
وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ
وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ وَلاَ تُقَاتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ الْمَسْجِدِ
الْحَرَامِ حَتَّى يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِن قَاتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ
كَذَلِكَ جَزَاء الْكَافِرِينَ" البقرة 191:2
“And fight them on until there is no more tumult or
oppression, and there prevail justice and Faith in Allah; but if they cease,
let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression”. 2:193
"
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلّهِ فَإِنِ
انتَهَواْ فَلاَ عُدْوَانَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ" ابقرة 193:2
“Fighting is prescribed for you, and
you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for
you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you
know not” 2:216
"
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ
شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ
لَّكُمْ وَاللّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ" البقرة 216:2
Here
we see for the first time that war was permissible. Remember that in the
earlier days of Islam, war was not allowed. But these verses abrogate the
earlier verses, allowing war both in self-defense and against those who the
Muslims did not have a treaty with. However, even these verses were in turn
abrogated by these later verses:
"Let those
fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter.
To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah, whether he is slain or gets victory
soon shall we give him a reward of great (value)" 4:74
"فَلْيُقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ الَّذِينَ يَشْرُونَ
الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا بِالآخِرَةِ وَمَن يُقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ فَيُقْتَلْ
أَو يَغْلِبْ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا" النساء"74:4
“Seize them and slay them wherever you find them: and in any
case take no friends or helpers from their ranks.” 4:89
"وَدُّواْ
لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُواْ فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاء فَلاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ
مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء حَتَّىَ يُهَاجِرُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ
فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ وَجَدتَّمُوهُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ مِنْهُمْ
وَلِيًّا وَلاَ نَصِيرًا" النساء 89:4
"Allah
has granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and
persons than to those who sit at home
"4:95
"لاَّ
يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِي الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَاهِدُونَ
فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ
بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً وَكُـلاًّ وَعَدَ
اللّهُ الْحُسْنَى وَفَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ أَجْرًا
عَظِيمًا" النساء 95:4
"Against
them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of
war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your
enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know.
Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye
shall not be treated unjustly" 8:60
"وَأَعِدُّواْ
لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ
عَدْوَّ اللّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَآخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ
اللّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَيْءٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ يُوَفَّ
إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تُظْلَمُونَ" الأنفال 60:8
"O
Prophet! rouse the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient
and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will
vanquish a thousand of the Unbelievers: for these are a people without
understanding" 8:65
"يَا
أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى الْقِتَالِ إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ
صَابِرُونَ يَغْلِبُواْ مِئَتَيْنِ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّئَةٌ يَغْلِبُواْ
أَلْفًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَفْقَهُونَ"
الأنفال 65:8
"Fight
them and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you
to victory over them, and heal the breasts of the Believers" 9:14
"قَاتِلُوهُمْ
يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَيُخْزِهِمْ وَيَنصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ
وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُّؤْمِنِين" التوبة 14:9
"Fight
those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which
hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of
truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with
willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" 9:29
"قَاتِلُواْ
الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَلاَ يُحَرِّمُونَ
مَا حَرَّمَ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلاَ يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ
أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ حَتَّى يُعْطُواْ الْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ
صَاغِرُون" التوبة 29:9
"Say: can
you expect for us (and fate) other than one of two glorious things (martyrdom
or victory)? But we can expect for you either that Allah will send his
punishment (for not believing in Allah) from Himself, or by our hands. So wait
(expectant); we too will wait with you" 9:52
"قُلْ
هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَا إِلاَّ إِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ
بِكُمْ أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ اللّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا
فَتَرَبَّصُواْ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُون" التوبة 52:4
Now,
what we see here is this: the Quran orders Muslims to fight in order to
establish Allah’s kingdom on earth (all of the earth) by any means. Most Islamic scholars say that one
verse of the Quran (9:5) abrogates 124 verses, which are basically all the
verses that talk about peace and forgiveness. This is the verse that says:
“But when the forbidden months are past, then
fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer
them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent,
and establish regular Prayers and practise regular Charity, then open the way
for them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”
9:5
"فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الأَشْهُرُ
الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ
وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُواْ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِن تَابُواْ وَأَقَامُواْ
الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَوُاْ الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّواْ سَبِيلَهُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ
رَّحِيمٌ" التوبة 5:9
As
we see clearly in this verse (which is commonly called the verse of the sword)
there is only one way out for pagans (or infidels) to be spared from being
slain. They should repent, establish regular prayers, and practice
regular charity, i.e. become Muslims. As for people of the book we
read the verse in the same sura v. 29, which tells us the way out of being killed “until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission,
and feel themselves subdued”
They have
to pay protection money and accept to be subdued, i.e. second class citizens, even if they
live in their homeland. We see this put into practice in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon,
Iraq, Sudan, and all the Middle Eastern countries that were conquered by
Muslims in the first 100 years of Islam. The ancestors of the Christians who
live there now suffered a lot to stay Christian.
Now,
there is a fiqhi rule that has to be taken into consideration when studying
this:العبرة بعموم
اللفظ لا بخصوص السبب,
i.e. what is considered is the absoluteness of the utterance, not the
specialization of the reason for the revelation. That is, they
follow the letter, not the spirit of the law...
In other
words Muslims scholars when they make a judgement they consider the Quran and
Mohammad in the light of their meaning not in the light of reasons of
revelation.
The Hadeeth
The
Hadeeth are the sayings of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. They are the second source of Islamic
doctrine. The Hadeeth completely agree with the Quran (concerning violence and
co-existence). Hadeeth have the
same concept of abrogation, and the same historical characteristics. That is, Muhammad’s teachings were very
peace-loving at the beginning of Islam, but then came sayings such as:
Ibn Haban
in his Sahih, vol. 14, p. 529, narrates: Muhammad said: “I swear by Him who has my
soul in his hands, I was sent to you with nothing but slaughter.”
In his
Musnad (vol. 2, p. 50) Imam Ahmed narrates by Ibn Omar: “the Prophet said: ‘I was
sent by the sword proceeding the judgment day and my livelihood is in the
shadow of my spear and humiliation and submission are on those who disobey me.’”
Omar Ibn
al-Khatab said: “I heard
the prophet of Allah saying: ‘I will cast Jews and Christians out of the
peninsula and I won’t leave any one in it but Muslims.’” (Sunan Abu Dawud, vol. 2, No. 28, from the
Muhaddith program[2])
Ibn Ishaq and al-Waqidi report that the
prophet said the morning after the murder (of Kab Ibn al’Ashraf), “Kill any Jew you can lay your hands
on.” (El beddayah wa alnihaya – Ibn Katheer
– vol. 4 – in the chapter on killing Ka’ab bin al’Ashraf)
1 Muhammad’s actions
Let us now look at the actions of
Muhammad, the last prophet of Islam, as the Quran says “Ye have indeed in the
Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is
in Allah”
33:21
"لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ
اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو
اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا" الأحزاب 21:33
Aisha (the beloved wife of Muhammad) said:
“His (Muhammad's) character was the Qur’an” (narrated Muslim). Therefore the life of Mohammad
reflects an accurate interpretation of the Qur’an.
When we read of the actions of the prophet
of Islam, we see many cases of assassination. Most of these cases happened
because someone criticized the prophet of Islam in speech only.
We read:
Ibn Ishak said: “The apostle said, “Kill any Jew
that falls into your power.” Thereupon Muhayyisa محيصة b. Masud leapt upon
Ibn Sunayna, a Jewish merchant with whom they had social and business
relations, and killed him.
Huwayyisa حويصة 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.’”
(El badyah wa alnihaya – Ibn Katheer – vol. 4 – in the chapter on killing Ka’ab bin
al’Ashraf)
2 `Umayr’s Expedition To
Kill Abu Afak
Mohammad once killed a man named
(al-Harith b. Suwayd). When Abu Afak wrote a poem objecting to the murder,
Muhammad 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. (Ibn
Hisham – Dar el jeel Beirut – 1411 –Vol. 6 - UMAYR’S EXPEDITION TO KILL
ABU AFAK)
3 UMAYR B. 3adi JOURNEY
TO KILL ASMA D. MARWAN
After Abu Afak was murdered, Asma wrote a
poem blaming Islam and its followers of killing their opponenets.
When Muhammad heard what she had said he
said, “Who
will rid me of Marwan’s daughter?” Ummayr 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.
The day after Bint Marwan was killed the
men of B. Khatma became Muslims because they saw the power of Islam.”
(Ibn Katheer el bedayah wa alnehaya – vol.
5 – in the mention of the year 11 of hijrah also found in- Ibn Hisham – dar al
jeel Beirut – vol. 6 UMAYR B. ADIYY’S JOURNEY TO KILL ASMA D. MARWAN)
(البداية والنهاية ـ ج 5 ـ في ذكر السنة 11 من الهجرة ـ(
4 Killing of a slave woman.
A blind man had a slave who
he had taken a concubine, the mother of his children, who used to abuse the
Prophet and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop.
One night she began to slander the Prophet and abuse him. So he took a
dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. A child who came
between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. When the morning
came, the Prophet was informed about this. He assembled the people and said: “I
adjure by Allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right
to him that he should stand up.” The man stood up. He sat before the Prophet and said: “Apostle
of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade
her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her
habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last
night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her
belly and pressed it till I killed her.” Thereupon the Prophet
said: “Oh be witness, no retaliation is
payable for her blood.”
«اشهدوا أن دمها هدر» . ) نيل الأوطار للشوكاني _ دار الطباعة المنيرية ـ القاهرة ـ دون
تاريخ ـ الجزء السابع. كتاب حد شارب
الخمر. باب قتل من صَرّحَ بسب. النبي ـ و في سنن أبي داود ـ مركز الأبحاث
والدراسات الثقافية ـ الجزء الثاني ـ باب الحكم فيمن
سب النبي.)
(Naylu
Al’wtar -
Al-Shawkani – Al muneeriah pulishing – Cairo –
Vol 7 – Book of Drinking – Chapter on Killing Of One who declared a warning to the prophet -
also in Sunan Abi Daowd – Markaz Al’bhath wa aldersat althkafiah – Vol 2 – Chapter the
judgment on one who swore to the prophet)
5 `Amr B Umayya EXPEDITION
Once
Muhammad sent one of his followers named `Amr, to murder Muhammad’s enemy Abu
Sufyan. However, the 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 bedouin was asleep and snoring I got up and
killed him in a more horrible way than any man has been killed.”
Umayya
returned and spoke with Muhammad. He relates.... ”He [Muhammad] asked my news
and when I told him what had happened he blessed me.”
6 Umm Qirfa
Another
example of Muhammad assassinating those who criticised him was when a woman named
"Umm Qirfa" (Fatima) was taken prisoner. She was a very old woman. She used to mock
Mohammad in speech and poems. Zayd ordered Qays to kill Umm Qirfa and he killed
her cruelly, by tying a rope to each of her two legs and to two camels and
driving the camels in opposite directions until they tore her in two. (Al ‘saba
– Ibn Hagar – vol. 4, page 231)
Muhammad’s companions
قال الرسول: أصحابي كالنجوم،بأيهم اقتديتم اهتديتم “My
companions are like stars, if you imitate any of them, you will, indeed, be
guided” His companions were
those who became Muslims and saw Mohammad while he was alive.
Yet
reading the history of these companions we find some horrifying stories. Some
of the incidents below would be considered war crimes nowadays.
Abu Bakr
(the first caliph)
Waging
war as the ultimate tool for propagating and defending Islam became a rule for
who ever was in power and ruling the Islamic society. The first Caliph, Abu
Bakr, who took the lead after the death of Muhammad, even launched wars against
Muslims to force them to pay dues to him that Muhammad used to collect
for himself (as related in the Qur’an 9:103).
Omar ibn al-Khatab (the second caliph)
Abd
Allah ibn Sa’ed (Omr ibn al-Khatab servant) said: “Arab
Christians are not Christians, I am not leaving them until they become Muslims
or I cut their throats.” (Kanzu ‘umal – al mutka al hindi – vol. 4, No. 11770)
Khalid ibn al-Walid (the unsheathed sword of Allah)
The
letter of Khalid Ibn al-Walid to the people of Madain:
“From Khaled ibn al-Walid to Marazebah the people
of Faris [Persian people] peace be to those who follow the guidance. Praise God
that your servants left you and you lost your possession and have been
weakened. Anyone who prayed our
prayer and accepted our place of prayer to the East [Qiblah] and ate our
sacrifice that would be a true Muslim who has the same privileges and duties as
us. When you receive my letter send me the ransom for the hostage we hold and
asked for a covenant, or in the name of the God who there is no other god like
him I will send you people who love to die as you love to live."
"والله الذي لا إله إلا هو،لأرسلن لكم أقواماً يحرصون على
الموت كما تحرصون على الحياة".
During
the battle with the Persians, and it was very tough war, Khaled said: “O Allah,
if you give us victory over them, I swear I won’t leave one of them alive and I
will run their river with their blood.”
Then when
Allah gave them victory, Khaled send people to call for capturing everyone and
asking Muslims not to kill anyone except who refuses to submit. After they
captured them, they (the Persians) were brought to the river and were beheaded.
The Muslims did that for three days till they had killed 70000.
(أبو بكر الصديق لمحمد رشيد رضا ـ البداية والنهاية لابن
كثير في ذكر سنة 12 من الهجرةـ عن برنامج المحدث)
(Abu Bakr –
By Muhammad Rashid Rida – “Muhaddith Program”[2]
– And Bedaya wa nehaya –Ibn Katheer – In the mention of year 12 of Hijrah “Muhaddith”)
Now
I
recognize that the information above is too much for some people, but I have
used only little of what can be found in the Qur’an, the Hadeeth, and Islamic
history books.
We have
seen what the Qur’an and the Hadeeth teach; we have seen the actions of the
last prophet of Islam, and the understanding of these teachings by his
companions.
The
question now is how do Muslims reconcile all of this with what we hear many
saying; namely, that Islam is a peace-loving religion and it teaches
co-existence with all other religions.
I would love to believe that Islam is indeed the peaceful religion as
many say it is. But until someone
gives me a credible and peaceful interpretation of the writings and events I
have outlined, I’m afraid I cannot.
One final
thing concerns me. Imam Abu Hammid
Ghazali says: “Speaking is a means to achieve objectives. If a
praiseworthy aim is attainable through both telling the truth and lying, it is
unlawful to accomplish through lying because there is no need for it. When it
is possible to achieve such an aim by lying but not by telling the truth, it is
permissible to lie if attaining the goal is permissible.” (Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri, The Reliance of
the Traveller ( عمدة السالك ), translated by Nuh
Ha Mim Keller, amana publications, 1997, section r8.2, page 745)
Ibn Shihab,
another Muslim scholar said:
“there were only three cases where lying was acceptable:
in battle, for bringing reconciliation amongst persons and the narration of the words
of the husband to his wife, and the narration of the words of a wife to her husband
(in a twisted form in order to bring reconciliation between them).” (More
information is provided by William Muir’s “Life of Mahomet”, Volume I, footnote
p.88) (Sahih Muslim, Book 32, No. 6303 – from the Alim program)
I
hope Muslims can tell us why should we believe what they say about how
peace-loving a religion Islam is, when we know that they are permitted to lie
in order to achieve a noble goal, i.e. making Islam the dominant religion of
mankind. (8:39,40)
These
are questions of the utmost importance, and I still hope we will hear an answer
one day—before its too late.
If
you have comments, questions, or disagreements please feel free to send me an
Email.
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