By
Ghulam Ghaus, New Age Islam
12 October
2019
The first
part of the refutation revolved around the linguistic analysis of the word
‘Mushrikin’ mentioned in the verse 9:5 which is often quoted by ISIS to justify
the acts of violence and terrorism in the 21st century. It envisaged that there
exists the possibility of further interpretation or specification in the word
‘Mushrikin’, even though it is apparent (zahir) and in plural form.
The second
part now aims at investigating whether or not we can include today’s
‘Mushrikin’ into those mentioned in the Quranic verse 9:5. The methodology
adopted during this investigation to reach any conclusion has been employed to
discuss three important aspects of the Mushrikin of Makkah who have been
referred to in this verse. The first two aspects are the creeds (Aqaid)
and actions (Aamaal) of the Mushrikin living in Makkah, while the third
one will lead us to know whether they were allowed to be killed in the state of
ongoing war on account of their being ‘Mushrikin’ or ‘violators of the
peace-treaty’ or ‘religious persecutors’. It is extremely important to take
into account all these three aspects properly so as to establish any solid
argument against ISIS.
The
Creeds (Aqaid) of the Mushrikin of Makkah mentioned in The Quranic Verse 9:5
The
characteristic creeds of the Mushrikin of Makkah are different from the
Mushrikin living in the 21st century. This can be seen in details here
http://www.newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/ghulam-ghaus-siddiqi,-new-age-islam/what-are-the-major-characteristics-of-the-mushrikun-mentioned-in-the-quran-and-how-do-they-differ-from-the-mushrikun-living-in-the-21st-century?/d/119724
Briefly speaking of their creeds, the Mushrikin
of Makkah made the creed of Tashbih (anthropomorphism) and did Tahrif
(change). They would say that angels were God’s daughters and claimed the
presence of human attributes in God. When they could not comprehend the true
attributes of God such as Knowledge (‘ilm) and power of hearing and seeing,
they started judging these attributes in the context of their own knowledge and
capability of hearing and seeing. This is how they went astray, taking God as
corporal and boundable. The story of change (Tahrif), in the words of Shah
Waliullah, is that “the children of Prophet of Ismail followed their
grandfather Abrahim’s Sharia or Religion of Abraham (Millat-e-Ibrahimi)
till ‘Amr bin Lauhaay appeared. He carved idols and made their worship
compulsory for them. He also instituted superstitions, such as ‘Bahira’, Sai’ba’,
‘Wasila’ and ‘Ham’, ‘Al-Iqtisam lil Azlam’ and many others! This
change took place three hundred years before the birth of the Holy Prophet. In
addition to these evil practices, they adhered to the traditions of their
forefathers and considered it as a decisive argument in their favour. The
Prophets who had gone before had spoken about the Resurrection and the
Gathering, but they had given no details, nor stated it as distinctly with all
particulars as given in the Quran (though rather very summarily). Since the
Arab Mushrikin were not given detailed account of life after death, they
considered the happening of Resurrection as impossible and far remote. Even
though these Mushrikin acknowledged the prophethood of Prophets Abraham, Ismail
and also that of Prophet Moses, they felt confused about the existence of human
qualities in these prophets, which constitute a veil on their perfect beauty
and thus entertained doubts about them.... They considered prophets in human
forms something very remote and unbelievable” (Shah Waliullah, Al-Fauz
al-Kabir, trans. by G. N. Jalbani)
Among other
differentiating things between the Mushrikin of Makkah and the Mushrikin living
in the present century are that the “Polytheists (of Arab) described themselves
as “Ahnaf” (seekers of truth), claiming to follow the religion of Abraham
(Millat-e-Ibrahim). In fact Hanafi (not to be confused with the Hanafi who
follows Imam Abu Hanifa) is one who follows the creed of Abraham and observes
the rituals prescribed by him. These rituals include pilgrimage to Ka’aba,
keeping one’s face towards it while saying prayers, bath after ceremonious
uncleanliness, circumcision etc”.....The Mushrikin of Arab abandoned creeds of
Abraham and “indulged in evil practices such as unlawful murder, theft,
adultery, usury and usurpation.” In matters of the creeds of Abraham (peace be
upon him), these Mushrikin “had in general created doubts, describing them
improbable and showing no interest in comprehending them. Polytheism, belief in
anthropomorphism, modification of Abraham’s scroll, denial of the Hereafter,
and terming the Holy Prophet’s mission unbelievable constituted main features
of their deviation from the true Religion of Abraham. In addition, they
performed shameful deeds, indulged in injustice, wrong doing and corrupt
practices and wiped out every semblance of God’s worship” (Shah Waliullah,
Al-Fauz al-Kabir, trans. by G. N. Jalbani, p.3-4)
According
to the several verses of the Quran, the act of Shirk is unforgivable sin and
the perpetrators of this sin will face the torment of God Almighty on the Day
of Judgment. However the Quranic verses do not stop the believers from living
in peace and harmony in this 21st
century where the human beings have promised to live under the law of peaceful
coexistence. As for the verse 9:5, though it mentions the word ‘Mushrikin’,
it does not imply that they were fought on the basis of their Shirk or creeds.
Instead they were fought because they were the religious persecutors. In other
words they were fought on account of their violent actions.
The
Actions (Aamaal) Of the Mushrikin Mentioned In the Quranic Verse 9:5
As for the
actions (Aamaal) of the Mushrikin mentioned in the Quran, the Mushrikin
had persecuted the Prophet and his followers for as long as 14 or 15 years in
the city of Makkah. They inflicted all sorts of indignities upon those who
embraced Islam chosen for them by Allah Almighty. They raised baseless
objections to the verses revealed by Allah, derided the injunctions of Shariat
and committed heartless oppression for thirteen years until the Muslims were
allowed to exact a measure of retaliation.
During the
thirteenth year after the declaration of his Prophet-hood, Allah commanded the
prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions to migrate. They carried out
Allah’s command worshipfully and migrated to Madina –nearly 300 miles away from
Makkah. Still the animosity of the inveterate Mushrikin had not
subsided. They inflicted fresh injuries on the Muslims; robbed them of the
peace of mind and heart. A band of Arab Mushrikin would raid the pastures of
the Muslims and take away their cattle. If they encounter a lonely Muslim, they
would not hesitate in killing him mercilessly.
For as long
as 14 or 15 years, the Muslims suffered insults, outrages and injuries at the
hands of these Mushrik persecutors. The Muslims bore all these indignities with
the utmost humility and patience. When the aggression and ruthlessness of the
Arab Mushrikin grew more hotly than ever, Allah granted permission to
the believers to take up arms in their own defence and make the violence-loving
Mushrikun believe that the torch of Islam – that lights up darkness –
would never be allowed to be blown out. Likewise the flag held aloft for the
dissemination of the truth will never be let down, however hot they might grow.
This torch will remain lit until the doomsday. And the flag of the truth will
continue to flutter so long as the world exits. (Zia-ul-Quran, Vol: 3; p.218-/
The Enlightening Commentary on the War Related Quranic Verses- Part 2)
Initially
the Muslims were not given permission to fight back even in defence. Later on
they were allowed to fight back and there was a situation that the verse “kill
the Mushrikin wherever you find them [in the state of war]” was
revealed.
The
‘Mushrikin’ Were Fought As Violators of Peace-Treaty Not Because They Had
Committed Shirk
From the
cause of the revelation, it is well-known that they were permitted to fight
back against the Mushrikin of Makka who were the religious persecutors and had
violated the peace-treaty after signing it. It would not be appropriate to
deduce from the verse 9:5 that they were fought because of their committing
Shirk. This is also supported by the following interpretations made by the
classical scholars.
Al-Baydawi
(d.685H) in his book “Anwar al-Tanzeel wa Asrar al-Taweel (The Lights of
Revelation and the Secrets of Interpretation, V. 3, p. 71, 9:5- Arabic
version)”, a classical tafsir which is included in Madrasas of Indian
subcontinent, writes while interpreting the verse, "فاقتلوا المشركين (أي) الناكثين",
which means that the word Mushrikin mentioned in the Ayah 9:5 refers to
Nakithin- those who violated peace treaties by waging war against the Muslims.
Al-Alusi
(d.1270H) in his “Rooh al-Ma’ani (v. 10, p. 50, - 9:5, Arabic version), another
classical book of Tafsir, writes,
على هذا فالمراد
بالمشركين في قوله سبحانه: (فاقتلوا المشركين) الناكثون
Translation:
“Therefore the word Mushrikin in the statement of God Almighty “so kill the
Mushrikin...” means Nakitheen, i.e. those who violated peace treaties by
initiating war against the Muslims.
Abu Bakr
al-Jassas, a classical scholar, (d.370H) writes,
"صار قوله تعالى: {فَاقْتُلُوا المُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ
وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ} خاصّاً في مشركي العرب دون غيرهم"
Translation:
“The verse (Kill the Mushrikin wherever you find them) was particular to the
Mushrikin of Arab and does not apply to anyone else” (Ahkam al-Quran lil
Jassas, V. 5, p. 270, Arabic edition- English translation mine)
Imam
Jalaluddin Suyuti writes,
“In his
commentary on the above mentioned Quranic Ayah 9:5, Imam Ibn Hatim quotes
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him, who was the companion and
cousin of the beloved Prophet peace be upon him) as saying: ‘The Mushrikin
mentioned in this Ayah refer to those Mushrikin of Quraish with whom the
Prophet –peace be upon him- had made treaty [of peace]” (Durr-e-Manthoor, V.3,
p.655- Urdu version)
He also
reports, “Imam Ibn Munzir, Ibn Abi Hatim and Abu Shaikh (may Allah be pleased
with them) have quoted Hazrat Muhammad bin Ibad b. Jafar as saying “These
Mushrikin are Banu Khuzaima b. Amir who belong to Bani Bakr b. Kananah” (Durr-e-Manthoor, V.3, p.655- Urdu version)
Such
commentaries, according to other Islamic scholars, are substantiated by what the
Qur’an itself says in the Ayah 13 of same chapter,
“Will you not fight against those who violated
their oaths (of peace-treaties), plotted the expulsion of the messenger, and
initiated the fighting against you?” (9:13)
And the Ayah 36 of Surah Taubah says,
“and fight against the Mushrikin collectively
as they fight against you collectively; and know well that Allah is with the
pious.” (9:36)
Implication
of these two verses (9:13) and (9:36) and comments of classical jurists as
mentioned above is that the Mushrikin mentioned in the verse 9:5 were not all
the Mushrikin but those who were the religious persecutors and had violated
peace-treaties by waging war against the early Muslims. Hence it is not
appropriate to deduce that the Mushrikin were fought because of their Shirk.
We need to
consider two things here; firstly if the act of Shirk (polytheism) had been the
cause of fighting, the peace-treaty would not have been signed between the
Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Mushrikin of Makkah. Secondly, if those
Mushrikin had not been the religious persecutors or the violators of the
peace-treaty, the fighting would not have occurred. This can also be understood
from the Ahadith (to be referenced in the forthcoming parts) which do not grant
permission to kill the women, children, disabled or old from among the
Mushrikin.
A regular Columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam Ghaus
Siddiqi Dehlvi is an Alim and Fazil (Classical Islamic scholar), with a
Sufi-Sunni background and English-Arabic-Urdu Translator. He has also done B.A
(Hons.) in Arabic, M.A. in Arabic and M.A in English from JMI, New Delhi. He is
Interested in Islamic Sciences; Theology, Jurisprudence, Tafsir, Hadith and
Islamic mysticism (Tasawwuf).
9:15 AM
Moderate Islamist here
0 comments:
Post a Comment