In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful...the Best Knower.
Salaam (Peace) to all.
Below is a response to an article by one of our African Brothers who made some erroneous claims about the principle of "Jihad" in Islam. It is posted here for the benefit of all who wish to better understand Islam, and Muslims.
----------------------------------------------------------
Dear Brother, I must be frank and say from the outset that, the author of this post is either severely misinformed by propaganda, or is being grossly deceptive in his misrepresentation of the principle of "Jihad".
Below, again, is the list of the stated "8 Facets of Jihad". I will provide verses from the Holy Qur'an that dismiss these "facets" as nothing more than ill-conceived, and poorly reasoned propaganda.
That is not to say that there are not those who commit atrocities in the "name" of Jihad -- as there are extremists and deviators in every ideology, whether "religious" or "political" -- but it is to point out that none of what is stated below is supported, as presented, by the Holy Qur'an, which is the Supreme Law of Islam.
The 8 Facets of Jihad
1. Jihad of the sword: People either convert to Islam or are subdued by military force. This is what Uthman Dan Fodio did to the Hausas.
"...had thy Lord pleased, all who are in the earth would have believed altogether; as for thee, wilt thou force men to become believers? It is not for any person to believe save by the permission of God." -(10:99,100)
"O my people, see you if I have with me clear proof from my Lord, and He has granted me mercy from Himself and it has been made obscure to you. Can we compel you to (accept) it while you are averse to it?" (11:28)
"And abuse not those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest, exceeding the limits, they abuse Allah through ignorance. Thus to every people have We made their deeds fair-seeming; then to their Lord is their return so He will inform them of what they did." (6:108)
"There is no compulsion in religion — the right way is indeed clearly distinct from error. So whoever disbelieves in the devil and believes in Allah, he indeed lays hold on the firmest handle which shall never break. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing." (2:256)
2. Jihad of Taxation: Those who refuse to embrace Islam must pay a special tax called Al-Jizya. You get to live another day but under severe financial burden. I understand that in Saudi Arabia, non-Muslims are taxed at a higher rate than Muslims. This taxation will, over time it is hoped, get one to see the error of one's ways and then convert to Islam for the taxation to cease.
While it is true that a tax is cited (9:29) as being required of the opponents of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the larger context must be taken into consideration. Those who chose to live in an established Muslim Community, while yet opposing the principles of Islam, or at least electing to not follow them, were required to contribute to the well-being of the community that they were benefitting from. Would YOU let someone come and live in YOUR home and contribute NOTHING?
3. Jihad of financial reward: It is not uncommon for a financial reward to be offered to Christians and Jews to convert to Islam. Free university education in Iraq for Jews or Christians who convert has been cited as an example of this practice.
"This is Allah’s guidance wherewith He guides whom He pleases of His servants. And if they had associated others (with Him), all that they did would have been vain. These are they to whom We gave the Book and authority and prophecy. Therefore if these disbelieve in it, We have indeed entrusted it to a people who are not disbelievers in it. These are they whom Allah guided, so follow their guidance. Say: I ask you not for any reward for it. It is naught but a Reminder to the nations." (6:88-90)
"And recite to them the story of Noah, when he said to his people: O my people, if my staying (here) and my reminding (you) by the messages of Allah is hard on you, on Allah do I rely; so decide upon your course of action and (gather) your associates. Then let not your course of action be dubious to you, so have it executed against me and give me no respite. But if you turn back, I ask for no reward from you. My reward is only with Allah, and I am commanded to be of those who submit." (10:71,72)
"...O my people, see you if I have with me clear proof from my Lord, and He has granted me mercy from Himself and it has been made obscure to you. Can we compel you to (accept) it while you are averse to it? And, O my people, I ask you not for wealth (in return) for it. My reward is only with Allah, and I am not going to drive away those who believe. Surely they will meet their Lord, but I see you a people who are ignorant." (11:28,29)
Additional Verses:
11.051...
12.104...
25.057...
26.109...
26.127...
26.145...
26.164
26.180
34.047
36.021
38.086
42.023
4. Jihad of fear: Any Muslim who renounces Islam for another religion has an automatic death penalty imposed upon him. Fear is therefore a tool to keep people in Islamic religion. I postulate that many Hausas and other minority Tribes-people in the north have remained Muslims for this reason.
"They ask you concerning the sacred month about fighting in it. Say: Fighting in it is a grave matter, and hindering (men) from Allah's way and denying Him, and (hindering men from) the Sacred Mosque and turning its people out of it, are still graver with Allah, and persecution is graver than slaughter; and they will not cease fighting with you until they turn you back from your religion, if they can; and whoever of you turns back from his religion, then he dies while an unbeliever-- these it is whose works shall go for nothing in this world and the hereafter, and they are the inmates of the fire; therein they shall abide." (2:217)
(Notice, no mention of "being killed" as a punishment...)
"There is no compulsion in religion — the right way is indeed clearly distinct from error. So whoever disbelieves in the devil and believes in Allah, he indeed lays hold on the firmest handle which shall never break. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing." (2:256)
"O you who believe, should anyone of you turn back from his religion, then Allah will bring a people, whom He loves and who love Him, humble towards the believers, mighty against the disbelievers, striving hard in Allah’s way and not fearing the censure of any censurer. This is Allah’s grace — He gives it to whom He pleases. And Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing." (5:54)
(Again, no mention of "being killed" for apostasy...)
"...and whoever turns back, then surely Allah is He Who is the Selfsufficient, the Praised." (57:24)
"And leave those who take their religion for a play and an idle sport, and whom this world’s life has deceived, and remind (men) hereby lest a soul be destroyed for what it has earned. It has besides Allah no friend nor intercessor, and though it offer every compensation, it will not be accepted from it. Those are they who are destroyed for what they earn. For them is a drink of boiling water and a painful chastisement, because they disbelieved." (6:70)
"And thus did We make for every prophet an enemy, the devils from among men and jinn, some of them inspiring others with gilded speech to deceive (them). And if thy Lord pleased, they would not do it, so leave them alone with what they forge —" (6:112)
5. Jihad of slavery: Slavery of non-believers is allowed as is witnessed in Sudan where Dinka tribe Christians and Animists are routinely kidnapped for slavery and ransom. I interpret this to mean that non-Muslims have no right to a decent life here on earth, let alone the hereafter.
"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts-- these are they who are true (to themselves) and these are they who guard (against evil)." (2:177)
"We have certainly created man to face difficulties. Does he think that no one has power over him? He will say: I have wasted much wealth. Does he think that no one sees him? Have We not given him two eyes, And a tongue and two lips, And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways? But he attempts not the uphill road; And what will make thee comprehend what the uphill road is? (It is) to free a slave, Or to feed in a day of hunger An orphan nearly related, Or the poor man lying in the dust." (90:4-16)
"Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." (2:62)
"Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabians and the Christians whoever believes in Allah and the last day and does good-- they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve." (5:69)
"Thou wilt certainly find the most violent of people in enmity against the believers to be the Jews and the idolators; and thou wilt find the nearest in friendship to the believers to be those who say, We are Christians. That is because there are priests and monks among them and because they are not proud. And when they hear that which has been revealed to the Messenger thou seest their eyes overflow with tears because of the truth they recognize. They say: Our Lord, we believe, so write us down with the witnesses. And what (reason) have we that we should not believe in Allah and in the Truth that has come to us, while we earnestly desire that our Lord should cause us to enter with the righteous people? So Allah rewarded them for what they said, with Gardens wherein rivers flow to abide in them. And that is the reward of the doers of good." (5:82-85)
6. Jihad of the courts: The testimony of a non-Muslim does not carry equal weight as that of a Muslim in their court. No Muslim should be killed for killing an infidel. It takes the testimony of two women to equal that of one man. Think about a rape case against a Muslim man, regardless of whether the accuser is or is not a Muslim woman. Is it any wonder that 98% of riots in Nigeria are in the Muslim parts of the country?
"O you who believe, be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness for Allah, even though it be against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives — whether he be rich or poor, Allah has a better right over them both. So follow not (your) low desires, lest you deviate. And if you distort or turn away from (truth), surely Allah is ever Aware of what you do." (4:135)
"O you who believe, be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice; and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably. Be just; that is nearer to observance of duty. And keep your duty to Allah. Surely Allah is Aware of what you do." (5:8)
"...and women have rights similar to those against them in a just manner, and the men are a degree above them, and Allah is Mighty, Wise." (2:228)
7. Jihad after death: A Muslim is to fight on the prophet's behalf in his lifetime and after death. There is no rest even in eternity.
There is no "Jihad" after death...
"And think not of those who are killed in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, they are alive being provided sustenance from their Lord, Rejoicing in what Allah has given them out of His grace, and they rejoice for the sake of those who, (being left) behind them, have not yet joined them, that they have no fear, nor shall they grieve. They rejoice for Allah’s favour and (His) grace, and that Allah wastes not the reward of the believers." (3:169-171)
"...Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks." (2:185)
"...I will not waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other; they, therefore, who fled and were turned out of their homes and persecuted in My way and who fought and were slain, I will most certainly cover their evil deeds, and I will most certainly make them enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; a reward from Allah, and with Allah is yet better reward." (3:195)
"O soul that art at rest, Return to thy Lord, well-pleased, well-pleasing, So enter among My servants, And enter My Garden!" (89:27-30)
8. Jihad of paradise: Any Muslim killed in a Jihad goes directly to the sexual pleasures of Paradise. Surah 2 Al-Baqarah (verse 25) promises women in Paradise who do not menstruate, urinate or defecate.
2:25
YUSUFALI: But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, they say: "Why, this is what we were fed with before," for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companions pure (and holy); and they abide therein (for ever).
PICKTHAL: And give glad tidings (O Muhammad) unto those who believe and do good works; that theirs are Gardens underneath which rivers flow; as often as they are regaled with food of the fruit thereof, they say: this is what was given us aforetime; and it is given to them in resemblance. There for them are pure companions; there for ever they abide.
SHAKIR: And convey good news to those who believe and do good deeds, that they shall have gardens in which rivers flow; whenever they shall be given a portion of the fruit thereof, they shall say: This is what was given to us before; and they shall be given the like of it, and they shall have pure mates in them, and in them, they shall abide.
Interesting...no mention of "sex" or "orgies" in any of the above three translations...
We truly disgrace ourselves when we corrupt the truth to serve our agendas.
A word to the wise.
RM
No comments:
Post a Comment