G. “The unbelievers are stupid; urge the Muslims to fight infidels.” 8:65
Comment
The verses in Q8:55-62 above continued with verses 63, 64 and 65 before Allah dwelt on a different matter. The authors of the misleading mail have carefully separated the two and thus created a wrong impression. Here are the verses:
(63) And (as for the believers) hath attuned their hearts. If thou hadst spent all that is in the earth thou couldst not have attuned their hearts, but Allah hath attuned them. Lo! He is Mighty, Wise.
(64) O Prophet! Allah is Sufficient for thee and those who follow thee of the believers.
(65) O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a hundred (steadfast) they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are a folk without intelligence.
The intent is to encourage the believers some of whom were reluctant to fight even when their lives were at stake.
H. “When opportunity arises, kill the infidels wherever you catch them.” 9:5.”
Comment
The only people who agree with the mischief-makers on the purport of this verse and the verses like it are terrorists (Shekau and his ilk). They deliberately ignore the context and the verses before or after it. Let us see from verse 1 to verse 15:
(1) Freedom from obligation (is proclaimed) from Allah and His messenger toward those of the idolaters with whom ye made a treaty.
(2) Travel freely in the land four months, and know that ye cannot escape Allah and that Allah will confound the disbelievers (in His Guidance).
(3) And a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve,
(4) Excepting those of the idolaters with whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your right nor have supported anyone against you. (As for these), fulfil their treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty (unto Him).
(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.
(6) And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the Word of Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a folk who know not.
(7) How can there be a treaty with Allah and with His messenger for the idolaters save those with whom ye made a treaty at the Inviolable Place of Worship? So long as they are true to you, be true to them. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty.
(8) How (can there be any treaty for the others) when, if they have the upper hand of you, they regard not pact nor honour in respect of you? They satisfy you with their mouths the while their hearts refuse. And most of them are wrongdoers.
(9) They have purchased with the revelations of Allah a little gain, so they debar (men) from His way. Lo! evil is that which they are wont to do.
(10) And they observe toward a believer neither pact nor honour. These are they who are transgressors.
(11) But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then are they your brethren in religion. We detail Our revelations for a people who have knowledge.
(12) And if they break their pledges after their treaty (hath been made with you) and assail your religion, then fight the heads of disbelief – Lo! they have no binding oaths – in order that they may desist.
(13) Will ye not fight a folk who broke their solemn pledges, and purposed to drive out the messenger and did attack you first? What! Fear ye them? Now Allah hath more right that ye should fear Him, if ye are believers
(14) Fight them! Allah will chastise them at your hands, and He will lay them low and give you victory over them, and He will heal the breasts of folk who are believers.
(15) And He will remove the anger of their hearts. Allah relenteth toward whom He will. Allah is Knower, Wise.
The sacred months of Rajab, Dhul-Qa`dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram have been sacred even to the pagans of Makkah and Madeenah. As I explained earlier, the Muslims made a pact of non-aggression with some tribes, some of who broke the pact. As it was the sacred month of Dhul-Qa’dah, Allah ordered cessation of hostilities and gave notice of war after the four Sacred Months. By merely reading the verses, it is clear that there is no intent to murder anyone except aggressors.
Finally, I advise as many as have never read the Qur’an themselves but to whom people send these mischievous texts and messages to go and get a copy of the English Qur’an and educate themselves firsthand. Let no one stoke the embers of hatred through lies and manipulation. There are such maniacs in every religion or even ideology. Muslims are also inundated with texts showing purported plans by Christians to eliminate us. Only a fool will spread most of these messages, as they are usually blatant lies. Let us know and respect our differences and let us grow and nurture our similarities. This is the only good way to go.
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