Interpretation of 9:80 And 9:84 Addressed to The Prophet Now Under Discussion at This Forum – An Unprompted Review with Chat.Gpt

By Muhammad Yunus, New Age Islam (Co-author (Jointly with Ashfaque Ullah Syed), Essential Message of Islam, Amana Publications, USA, 2009) 4 April 2025 Yunus and Chat,gpt exchanged views on an exegetic question as reproduced below. He is now sharing the chat verbatim with fellow commentators on this website in the backdrop of ongoing conversation on the interpretation of the verses 9:80 and 9:84. The chat sheds light on the interpretation of these verses by exegetic icons of the past centuries. . hare User Yunus said: A learned and highly dedicated and devout Muslim commentator, who champions free thought activity questioned ‘the divinity of the verses 9:80 an 9:84” they in his logical thinking contradict the verse 2:256. This obviously implies that if we were to remove 9:80 and 9:84 from the Qur’an, there will be no contradiction in divine decrees. What will you say as a religion neutral entity? ChatGPT said: As a religion-neutral entity, I would approach this question by examining its premise logically and contextually. Surah At-Tawbah (9:80 and 9:84) deals with the fate of the hypocrites (Munafiqun) and their rejection from divine mercy, even if the Prophet were to seek forgiveness for them or pray over them. These verses were revealed in a specific historical and socio-political context—addressing those who actively undermined the Muslim community in Medina. If someone suggests that removing these verses would solve all problems, the question arises: 1. What specific problem is being referred to? · If it’s about the exclusivist interpretation of divine mercy, then other verses in the Qur’an also speak about God's justice and the consequences of hypocrisy and betrayal. Would one need to modify those as well? · If it’s about the treatment of non-Muslims or those who opposed the Prophet, then historical realities cannot be erased by textual omission. 2. Would removing verses change historical interpretations? · The Qur'an is a holistic text, and interpretations arise from the entire corpus, not just isolated verses. · Classical and modern exegeses engage with the Qur'an dynamically. Even if these verses were absent, scholars would still address themes of divine justice and community integrity. 3. Does altering religious scripture align with secular critique? · A secular commentator might view religious texts as historical documents open to reinterpretation, but altering them outright is neither an accepted scholarly method nor practically feasible for believers. · Instead, a more constructive approach would be rethinking interpretations rather than altering texts. Neutral Conclusion: Removing two verses from Surah At-Tawbah wouldn't "solve all problems" because religious understanding isn't just about textual presence but about interpretation, context, and usage. A more effective discourse would be about how these verses are understood in modern times and whether they are applied rigidly or flexibly. Would you like to explore how these verses have been interpreted differently throughout history? Yunus said: Yes I will be interested to know how they have been interpreted historically ChatGPT said: The historical interpretation of Surah At-Tawbah (9:80 and 9:84) has evolved over time, depending on the theological, political, and social contexts in which scholars and rulers engaged with these verses. Below is an overview of how different scholars and movements have interpreted them: The Text of the Verses 🔹 Qur’an 9:80 "Ask forgiveness for them, [O Muhammad], or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times—never will Allah forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people." 🔹 Qur’an 9:84 "And do not ever pray over any of them who has died, nor stand at their grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient." 1. Classical Interpretations (7th–14th Century CE) 1.1 Contextual (Asbab al-Nuzul - Reasons for Revelation) 🔹 Ibn Abbas (d. 687 CE) and other early commentators link these verses to Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the leader of the hypocrites in Medina. When he died, his son (a sincere Muslim) asked Prophet Muhammad to pray over him. The Prophet was willing, but these verses were revealed to prohibit praying for such individuals who opposed Islam. 🔹 Ibn Kathir (d. 1373 CE) explains that the verse signifies Allah’s absolute rejection of insincere individuals who worked against the Muslim community, particularly those who sided with the enemies of Islam while pretending to be Muslim. 🔹 Al-Tabari (d. 923 CE) argues that this was a ruling specific to the Munafiqun (hypocrites) and not an absolute prohibition on praying for all non-Muslims, as some later scholars suggested. 🔹 Al-Qurtubi (d. 1273 CE) expands on this, noting that it was not a universal command to abandon funerary prayers for all sinners but a warning about those who deliberately undermined Islam. 2. Medieval and Legalistic Views (9th–16th Century CE) 🔹 Hanafi and Maliki jurists interpreted these verses as a prohibition only against praying for those who were openly hostile to Islam—not all non-Muslims. 🔹 Shafi’i and Hanbali scholars were stricter, extending the prohibition to all non-Muslims, regardless of their stance. 🔹 Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 1328 CE) and later Wahhabi scholars used this verse to argue against interfaith funerary prayers, reinforcing a hardline view on non-Muslims. 3. Modern Reinterpretations (19th–21st Century CE) 🔹 Muhammad Abduh (d. 1905 CE) and Rashid Rida (d. 1935 CE), both reformist scholars, argued that the Qur’an distinguishes between active enemies of Islam and ordinary disbelievers, emphasizing that this verse is not a blanket condemnation. 🔹 Tahir bin Ashur (d. 1973 CE), a Tunisian scholar, highlighted that the Qur’an repeatedly states that Allah’s mercy is vast, and these verses should not be used to incite hatred but rather to emphasize justice. 🔹 Contemporary scholars in interfaith dialogue, such as Yusuf al-Qaradawi (d. 2022), argue that these verses apply only in warlike contexts and should not be misused to promote hostility toward other religious communities today. 🔹 Progressive Muslim scholars believe that these verses addressed a specific political betrayal during the Prophet’s time and that modern Muslims should focus on Qur’anic verses promoting mercy and coexistence. 4. Political and Extremist Misinterpretations 🔹 Extremist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda have weaponized these verses to justify refusing funeral prayers for anyone they declare as "hypocrites" or "apostates"—often targeting Muslims who oppose them. 🔹 On the other hand, secular critics sometimes cite these verses as proof that the Qur’an preaches intolerance, ignoring the historical and contextual meanings that classical scholars emphasized. 5. Key Takeaways 1. Originally, these verses applied to specific hypocrites who actively opposed and conspired against the Muslim community, not all non-Muslims. 2. Classical scholars had varied interpretations, with some viewing it as a limited command and others applying it more broadly. 3. Modern scholars emphasize historical context and reject rigid applications of these verses. 4. Extremists misuse these verses for sectarian and political gains, while secular critics may misunderstand their intent. Would you like me to explore how these verses relate to broader Qur’anic themes of forgiveness and mercy? Chat closed Muhammad Yunus, a Chemical Engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology, and a retired corporate executive has been engaged in an in-depth study of the Qur’an since early 90’s, focusing on its core message. He has co-authored the referred exegetic work, which received the approval of al-Azhar al-Sharif, Cairo in 2002, and following restructuring and refinement was endorsed and authenticated by Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl of UCLA, and published by Amana Publications, Maryland, USA, 2009 URL: https://www.newageislam.com/debating-islam/interpretation-prophet-unprompted-review-chat-gpt/d/135056 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