By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
14 April 2018
One
of the verses the extremists quote for calling their ideological
followers to fight against the disbelievers and non-Wahhabi Muslims is
the verse 89 of Surah Al-Nisa. However by doing so, they are greatly
violating the Quran. Let’s see and behold!
Allah Almighty says,
“They
(the hypocrites) wish that you reject faith as they have rejected
(faith) and thus you all become equal (like one another). So do not make
friends with (any of) them until they emigrate in the way of Allah.
Then, if they turn back (violate their peace treaty and launch
aggression against you), seize them and kill them wherever you find them
(during the war), and take not (any of) them either for a friend or for
a helper.” (4:89)
This
verse refers to the hypocrites who rejected their faith and wanted the
believers to reject their faith and become equal like one another. They
were hidden traitors who wanted to commit treason against the believers.
Therefore this verse asked the believers not to make them their friends
“until they emigrate in the way of Allah” in order to prove their
sincerity and truthfulness. Until now the first half part of the verse
did not ask the believers to seize or kill these hypocrites. But if they
turn back by not migrating and by violating their peace-treaty and
launching aggression against the believers, it is in that sense the
second half of the verse asks the believers “to seize them and kill
them” wherever they find them during the war, as the command of this
verse can’t be applied outside the war.
Its
succeeding verse (4:90) clarifies that this verse 4:89 can’t be applied
to those who have made a peace-treaty, no matter whether they are
hypocrites or any group of disbelievers. Let us read now the verse
4:90!
“But
(do not fight) those who have allied with a people that between you and
them there is a (peace) treaty, or who (losing heart) come to you in
such a state that their breasts are afflicted (with this obsession)
whether they should fight you or their own people. If Allah had so
willed, He (strengthening their hearts) would have given them supremacy
over you. Then they would certainly have fought you. So if they keep
away from you and do not fight you and send you (a message) for peace,
then (in the interest of peace) Allah has left no way open for you (to
launch any aggression) against them.” (4:90)
Having
read the afore-mentioned two verses of the Quran, the Islamic nature of
war becomes very clear. The war-related verses can’t be applied to the
areas or countries where the Muslims and non-Muslims live peacefully
under any sort of mutually agreed law or any sort of peace-treaty or
constitution. This argument was completely followed and juristically
encouraged by the great classical jurists. I am quoting only some of
them, as follows;
Violation of Treaty is Not Permissible
“If
a peaceful treaty is concluded with the stipulation that there will be
no war between parties for one year or so, it should not be violated. It
is unlawful to come to war within the stipulated time by breaking the
agreement” (Majmaul-anhar, Bahare Shariat, vol: 9, p.137)
There
is another Quranic verse 8:72 which significantly teaches the believers
to maintain treaty or agreement. That Muslims should keep the promise
of treaty in all cases is a universal message. If today’s Muslims have
agreed to abide by any constitution, they shall have to keep their
promise. Allah Almighty says, “Fulfil the covenant [promise]. Verily the
covenant will be questioned about” (17:34).
Injunction of Peaceful Treaty
“It
is permissible for the Muslims to conclude a peaceful treaty, provided
that it is in their favour. If there be a need, the treaty can be
concluded even by giving out some wealth. As a matter of expedient
measure, it can be broken. But the enemies should be informed of it and
fighting should not be begun; just after informing them of the breaking
of agreement. There should be an interval sufficient enough for them to
make their allies aware of it. This injunction is applicable only when
the agreement is broken before the expiry of the stipulated length of
time.” (Durre-e-Mukhtar, Raddul Muhtar, Bahar e Shariat Vol:9, p.138)
Injunction on Offering Protection to Polytheists
“If
a free Muslim man or woman gives shelter to one or a group of
polytheists or to the polytheists of a particular town, it is his or her
duty to protect his or their life. It is not lawful to kill them, even
if the person who gives the shelter is a transgressor, blind or an aged
man”. (Durr-e-Mukhtar, Alamgiri, Bahar e Shariat)
Injunction on Offering Protection to the Weak Even During War-Times
It
is also important to note that the collateral damage is not allowed
even during war-times. Islam says, it is strictly forbidden to kill
women, children, mad, aged, blind, crippled, and lame men, priests,
monks, retiring in the worship houses and those whose right hands are
either chopped off or affected by rickets, provided that they do not
come to avail the enemies. (Durre Mukhtar, Bahar e Shariat, Vol:9,
p.137). Such views of the Islamic jurists are based on the following
Ahadith;
(1) “Do not kill any child, any woman, or any elder or sick person.” (Sunan Abu Dawud)
(2) “Do not practice treachery or mutilation. (Muwatta Malik)
(3)
“Do not destroy the villages and towns, do not spoil the cultivated
fields and gardens, and do not slaughter the cattle.” (Sahih Bukhari;
Sunan Abu Dawud)
(4) “Do not kill the monks in monasteries, and do not kill those sitting in places of worship. (Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal)
(5) “Do not uproot or burn palms or cut down fruitful trees.(Al-Muwatta)
(6)
“Do not wish for an encounter with the enemy; pray to Allah to grant
you security; but when you [are forced to] encounter them, exercise
patience.” (Sahih Muslim)
(7) “No one may punish with fire except the Lord of Fire.” (Sunan Abu Dawud).
To
sum up, we can say that the war-related verses are limited to war-times
only. Only the state or a government of a country can execute the
rulings and laws of war. Individuals or citizens are not allowed to wage
war against any group or take laws in hands. Moreover, the war-related
verses can’t be applied to the countries where Muslims and non-Muslims
are living under their mutual agreement or any sort of peace-treaty or
constitution. Therefore, the extremists can’t quote the verse 4:89 to
justify their acts in any way. Similarly it would be a great crime, on
the part of their followers, to support the call of the extremists.
A
regular Columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is
an Alim and Fazil (Classical Islamic scholar) with a Sufi background and
English-Arabic-Urdu Translator.
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism
7:16 PM
Moderate Islamist here
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