Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Religious Warfare and Promise of Paradise


The emphasis that Islam places on religious warfare, killing and getting killed in the battlefield to attain paradise makes it dangerous when these commands are taken seriously. What makes things worse is that the violent verses of the Quran are said to be revealed later on, compared to the relatively peaceful verses earlier on. The chapter 9 for example is the second last chapter of the Quran (and the last major chapter), and filled with violent commands.

9:5 - Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (9:5) - In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said, (I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay the Zakah.) This honorable Ayah (9:5) was called the Ayah of the Sword, about which Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said, "It abrogated every agreement of peace between the Prophet and any idolator, every treaty, and every term.'' Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas commented: "No idolator had any more treaty or promise of safety ever since Surah Bara'ah was revealed. The four months, in addition to, all peace treaties conducted before Bara'ah was revealed and announced had ended by the tenth of the month of Rabi` Al-Akhir.''

Here is the hadith referenced by the Tafsirs:

Sahih al-Bukhari 25: Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Messenger said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save their lives and property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah."

9:29 - Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.

The verses that follow 9:29 explain the reason for fighting:

9:30 to 9:32 - The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allah", and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allah." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded? They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah , and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him. They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.

The Tafsirs confirm the purpose of the Jizyah tax - humiliation, degradation and disgrace of the unbelievers.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (9:29) - Allah said, (until they pay the Jizyah), if they do not choose to embrace Islam, (with willing submission), in defeat and subservience, (and feel themselves subdued.), disgraced, humiliated and belittled. Therefore, Muslims are not allowed to honor the people of Dhimmah or elevate them above Muslims, for they are miserable, disgraced and humiliated. Muslim recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said, (Do not initiate the Salam to the Jews and Christians, and if you meet any of them in a road, force them to its narrowest alley.) This is why the Leader of the faithful `Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, demanded his well-known conditions be met by the Christians, these conditions that ensured their continued humiliation, degradation and disgrace.

8:38 to 8:39 - Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place. And fight them until there is no fitnah and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah. And if they cease - then indeed, Allah is Seeing of what they do.

2:192 to 2:193 - And if they cease, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] worship is [acknowledged to be] for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors.

The meaning of the word "Fitnah" in context is disbelief and polytheism according to some translators and persecution according to some others. What is clear anyway, is that the polytheists are to be fought until two things are achieved: (1) Fitnah is no more (2) Religion is for Allah alone. Looking at the Tafsirs, it seems that the earliest scholars and companions understood Fitnah as "Shirk" meaning polytheism. It seems to be a never ending war that is not to be stopped till Islam triumphs over the whole world.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (2:193) - Allah then commanded fighting the disbelievers when He said: (...until there is no more Fitnah) meaning, Shirk. This is the opinion of Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi`, Muqatil bin Hayyan, As-Suddi and Zayd bin Aslam. Allah's statement: (...and the religion (all and every kind of worship) is for Allah (Alone).) means, `So that the religion of Allah becomes dominant above all other religions.' It is reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said: "The Prophet was asked, `O Allah's Messenger! A man fights out of bravery, and another fights to show off, which of them fights in the cause of Allah'. The Prophet said: (I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight the people until they proclaim, `None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'. Whoever said it, then he will save his life and property from me, except for cases of the law, and their account will be with Allah.)

We have already seen the repeated calls to engage in warfare for the sake of Islam. Let's examine a few more Quran verses:

9:111 - Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment.

4:74 - So let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And he who fights in the cause of Allah and is killed or achieves victory - We will bestow upon him a great reward.

4:95 - Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to both Allah has promised the best [reward]. But Allah has preferred the mujahideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward.

2:216 - Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.

And the following is how Muslims are encouraged to act in the battlefield:

8:12 to 8:13 - [Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, "I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip." That is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger - indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.

According to these verses:

1). The best way to attain paradise is to kill and get killed in warfare for the sake of Islam.
2). Even if you attain paradise by other means, it is those who die in religious warfare who get the best treatment by far in paradise.
3). Religious warfare is something Muslims should engage in even if they dislike it, because God has ordained it.

The puzzle is not complete without a look at what Islam offers the pious Muslims in paradise:

78:31 to 78:34 - Verily, for the Muttaqun, there will be a success (Paradise); Gardens and grapeyards; And young full-breasted (mature) maidens of equal age; And a full cup (of wine).

In other words, Islam offers Muslims in afterlife the pleasures that it forbids in the real life. It is a well-engineered ideology to control human minds and direct it to achieve religious supremacy.

4 comments:

  1. Hei Rohit Balakrishnan!(1)Who are you? Are you Muslim? You are not, then why you talk about Islam,your article consists of
    BIG ERRORS because you copy and paste without honestly revealing the actual chronicle events of it! PROOF OF YOUR EVIL INTENTIONS AND IGNORANT! (2)Are you wiser
    than God? If yes, then don't use God's soul, brain, eyes, mouth, nose etc created by God, create yourself! Don't eat food and drinks created by God, create yourself! Don't live in this earth created by God, create yourself!!! If you acknowledge God is at least million times wiser than yourself, then SHUT UP!!! Don't judge God!!!(3))The rest you just copy and paste here and there, gave blind opinions and conclusions to suit your evil missions and intentions. You neglect the chronicle orders of that particular event. You neglect other views of the Scholars who are more knowledgeable and more authority, which will give more accurate meanings of that particular event/subject mainly because YOU HAVE EVIL INTENTIONS AND MISSIONS! (Proof from your blog and your cronies comment) (4)STOP! Before you open your mouth, read these :
    There are at least 11 sub-knowledge(besides 3 below) for a person (Muslims) to MASTER to qualified in interpreting the Holy Quran, read :

    (1)Tafsir refers to the accurate interpretation of the Quranic texts, such as Arabic grammar and syntax, Arabic literature and Quranic sciences (Uloom al-Quran). A commentator’s familiarity with modern fields of learning, like the pure sciences and social sciences can aid in making the Quranic explanations relevant to modern human society.

    (2)Usool at-Tafsir literally means “The Fundamental Principles of Quranic Interpretation”. It refers to those branches of knowledge which are necessary to provide the proper Quranic interpretation (tafsir). This branch of knowledge provides the step-by-step methodology of interpreting the Quran to ensure that interpretations are not merely the result of human whims and fancies.

    (3)Uloom al-Quran, refers to all the fields of knowledge which aid in elucidating the Quran. These include the following :

    1.Knowledge of tafsir (exegesis),
    2.Qiraa’aat (recitations),
    3.Ar-rasmul-‘Uthmaanee (the ‘Uthmaanic script),
    4.I‘jaaz al-Quran (miraculous aspects of the Quran),
    5.Asbaab an-nuzool (reasons for revelation),
    6.An-naasikh wal-mansookh (abrogating and abrogated verses),
    7.I‘raab al-Quran (Quranic grammar),
    8.Ghareeb al-Quran (unusual Quranic terms),
    9.Religious rulings,
    10.Arabic language
    11.Arabic literature.

    * Therefore, as you can see, you ARE NOT qualified to interpret the Quran(not even a single sentence or a word), so don't ever try!

    A lot of the ignorant interpretations are TOTALLY WRONG and so their and your opinions. Simply because you don't get from the Authentic Sources. Among Authentic Sources of books interpreting Quran by the Scholars :
    *Tafsir At Tabari.
    *Tafsir Al Qurtubi.
    *Tafsir Ibnu Kathir.
    *And Many More.

    *REFER TO THESE AUTHENTIC SOURCES, DON'T EVER USE YOUR LIMITED BRAIN. If brain can be use, God don't sent Prophet Muhammad pbuh to explain it(HADITH).

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    Replies
    1. "Hei Rohit Balakrishnan!(1)Who are you? Are you Muslim? You are .." Unknown this is perfect example of fallacy called"Ad Hominem".If it is not logical it is garbage !!!get back to school and learn how to run a logical debate.

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  2. (5)To translate let alone interpret Quran, (First and foremost)you MUST BE a Scholar(can you let someone build your house who know nothing about Building, building materials,soil, architectural, engineering, electrical, plumbing to list the least).(Second)MUST be a MUSLIM! Because only Muslims(to be exact BELIEVERS) are 'guided', others are NOT(to be exact, merely guided by SATAN). So DELETE YOUR BLOGGER WEBSITE, It's USELESS AND SHIT! Because it comes from (1)EVIL INTENTIONS AND MISSIONS(proof from your blog and your cronies comment).(2)Unqualified individual.(3)Misleading and polluting Islam which is Sacred.
    (6)Rohit Balakrishnan, the difference between others talking about our belief and vice-versa is : Other beliefs especially liberalism and atheism does not holds responsibility and accountability, so why criticize? On the contrary, our beliefs comes with responsibility and accountability, that it's our duty towards God to bring 'wrong' to 'right'.(7)Lastly, let settle this RIGHT NOW, to know who is right between us? : In the middle of the night(no single one hear), you say SINCERELY(with humble and low voice(you only hear),(1)If you REALLY sincere to find the TRUTH say, "Oh God who creates the universe, show me your way".(2)If you don't believe in God, say "Oh God, if you exist, take my life now! YOU WILL SURELY FIND THE TRUTH!!!

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  3. Thank you Rohit Balakrishnan for your informative article.I shared it on my Twit account

    ReplyDelete