| By abdallah,
on 22-02-2006 00:49
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Despite Muslims having a long history of positive interactions with Christians and Jews in Islam’s heartland and not expounding religious hatred as some in the media would have everyone believe, there is still much work needed to bridge the gap of misunderstanding that exists between these three faith-based communities here in America.
Below is a revised/expanded version of an E-mail that was sent to a Jewish Rabbi and a Catholic Priest known as “The God Squad” seen on cable television and in the print media (New York Newsday). Its purpose was to enlighten them on the many misconceptions concerning our sacred and Holy scripture, Al-Qur’an.
Gentlemen, first let me express my thanks for your generally accurate statements about Islam and Muslims which is refreshing given the biased views presented by both the media and certain religious leaders. However, I have to take exception to your most recent statements published in New York Newsday.
In response to a writer who questioned whether Islam is a bad religion and knowing people who quoted verses from the Qur’an that say non-Muslims are like apes and monkeys, or infidels are to be killed, your response was in part, “Every religion that’s thousands of years old (and in some modern ones, too) has passages in its sacred Scripture that are violent, prejudiced, embarrassing or maybe just plain wrong.” In regards to the Qur’an, this statement is not true for a variety of reasons which I cannot completely enumerate due to the constraints of time and space; hopefully this small article will suffice.
As most students of the Qur’an know, its revelation was over a period of 23 years which coincided with the ministry and mission of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and the blessings of Allah (God) be upon him--pbuh). In some cases, verses were revealed in response to questions by Muslims or Non-Muslims or situations for which the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sought Allah’s guidance. In the case of fighting the infidels, the ayah known as the ‘verse of the sword’ (allowing warfare) was not revealed until the 13th to 14th year of the Prophet’s mission. What were the Muslims faced with prior to the allowance given in this verse: physical brutality, forced migration, the loss of life, property, social and economic boycotts and reduced social status as a religious minority because their beliefs were different and perceived as a threat to the status quo.
Historians and sociologists acknowledge that societies and nations go through various evolutionary stages of development. Savagery is one of them. This was what the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the early Muslims had to contend with. The basic context of those verses allowing warfare were defensive and directed against those who sought to murder and maim Muslims for preaching and practicing their faith. A proof of this is one incident where 40 unarmed companions of the Prophet were mercilessly slaughtered. What was Muhammad’s response--to slaughter 40 of the people who committed this atrocity or saying all non-Muslims are evil? Authenticated reports state he ordered armed escorts when sending a daw’ah (proselytizing) contingent and made a special supplication for 40 days known as Qanut-Nazilah.
At times war is a necessary evil in establishing justice or a social order based on justice in an often callous and unjust world. Establishing justice and ‘greater good’ on a political, social or economic level almost always requires warfare as those who seek to preserve the old, oppressive regimes will fight to maintain it. This is why warfare despite being a necessary evil, when applied under the conditions required by the Shariah (sacred law) will stop or prevent even greater evil. It is the prevention or suppressing of a greater evil that elevates war from a tolerated evil to an act of social and religious virtue.
It is in this context that the ayats for fighting the unbelievers are to be understood as they were the belligerent aggressors who would not allow the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions (rah) to live in peace. The document known as the “Medina Treaty” agreed to by the inhabitants of Yathrib is a proof the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was not an aggressor but sought to live in peace with his non-Muslim neighbors, some of whom were Jews. Subsequent battles/skirmishes (ghazwat) were often fought by the Prophet (pbuh) and the early Muslims when treaties that were just and made in good faith were violated or treacherously broken.
On the other hand, when there is no need for war these verses and others provide important insights into human nature as they are reminders of the inner struggle to adhere to the commands and prohibitions in the sacred scripture. The attempt to ‘measure up’ by inculcating Islam’s moral teachings is a consistent struggle to control ones’ desires, ego and evil inclinations that are usually the motivation leading to misguided behavior. Thus Jihad, to struggle or striving (the actual meaning of the term, not the dirty word the media says it is) is for both the outer good of man in social, political or economic affairs, as well as matters related to the soul or inner spiritual issues.
One of the quotes of Al-Qur’an about non-believers being turned into apes is from the 65th ayah of Sura-Baqarah and is in reference to some Israelites violating the Sabbath by working during it and their physical transformation being a punishment for this transgression. The very next verse (translated) reads, “SO WE MADE IT AN EXAMPLE TO THEIR OWN TIME AND TO THEIR POSTERITY AND A LESSON TO THOSE WHO FEAR ALLAH.” The irony here is this quote gives both the sense and essence of such verses: to teach Muslims the potential for terrible consequences when violating the laws of Allah, not to engender hostility, bias, hatred or violence towards others.
Muslims know there is no fault, flaw, error or anything wrong in our Holy Qur’an as attested by Allah (shwta); “PRAISE BE TO ALLAH, WHO HAS SENT TO HIS SERVANT THE BOOK (AL-QUR’AN) AND HATH ALLOWED THEREIN NO CROOKEDNESS. HE HATH MADE IT STRAIGHT AND CLEAR THAT HE MAY WARN THE GODLESS OF A TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT FROM HIM AND THAT HE MAY GIVE GLAD TIDINGS TO THE BELIEVERS WHO PERFORM RIGHTEOUS DEEDS…” (18:1-2) Thus, everything in its pages is pure, sacred, logical and credible. However, these qualities are marred unless understood with its requisite sciences of both language and authorized interpretation. It is the absence of this knowledge that leads to literal interpretation which is often the cause of numerous misunderstandings of the Holy Scripture and Islam. All sincere Muslims acknowledge this Holy and sacred scripture as a standing, living miracle from the day it was revealed, and the criterion (Furqan) that Allah (shwta) will judge humanity by on the day of Judgment (Yamul-Qiyamah).
To some non-Muslims, the words of our Holy Book are conveniently twisted, overlooked or rejected as their only concern is how Muslims act; or so they say. The real question is whether their attitudes concerning Islam and Muslims are based on ignorance, fear, or built in prejudices toward a culture, religion and people some have chosen not to understand. One possible indication of this although open to debate is non-Muslims (particularly the media) not asking the important questions regarding Islamic beliefs of Muslims, but people of there own faith or race.
Al-Qur’an speaks of unbelievers being blind and deaf in their conscious rejection of the truth of Allah’s message. The key word here is “conscious,” meaning one who has chosen to close their eyes and hearts that helps perpetuate ignorance and prejudice; in this case regarding Islam and its dynamic teachings. With regard to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), his purity of character and virtuous behavior was well known to his people, yet the unbelievers of his time chose to not only reject him and his message but make up lies, denigrating remarks, vicious slander, even offensive nicknames for him. Fast forward to today and this is still happening under the guise of free speech and art as in the case of Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’ or those among the Christian right calling the Prophet (pbuh) a pedophile, astagfirullah because of his marriage to Ayesha (raah).
The ayah condemning bias/prejudice as blindness was also a stern warning to the Muslims not to 1) resist truth, even if it is distasteful, 2) not to cover or conceal the truth, and 3) to show how rejecting, denying or opposing the truth particularly when expressed in Divine revelation is a sign of moral/character weakness inconsistent with the values and behavior of God-fearing people. It should also be noted that the Arabic word that is generally translated for Unbeliever or infidel means one that conceals the truth.
A good example of the conscious blindness mentioned is partially reflected in the media consistently bombarding everyone with the negative acts and philosophies of those Muslims who refuse to obey the Shariah, be they political lackeys, money-grubbing deviants, or ignorant followers, not just the terrorists. These bad examples are then lumped together with the poverty, illiteracy and religious ignorance prevalent in certain Muslim countries to showcase just how backward Islam and Muslims are. All of which leads to the misconceived call for Muslims to change or modernize their Deen/religion, or the Holy Qur’an is outdated, having no value or purpose in the modern world.
The Qur’anic principle of Khalifah, or man’s status as Allah’s agent implies that human beings are equipped to act as there own saviors and the saviors of humanity when properly armed with Allah’s guidance and the faith to practice the requirements of that guidance. It is this very ideal that points to some of the major problems in the Muslim world¬; among them flawed, faulty political leadership and the abandonment of Islam’s scholarly religious tradition.
It must be remembered that just as the terrorists attempt to distort the meaning of the Muslim Holy book, Al-Qur’an to justify their murderous acts, people who quote the Qur’an’s translations out of context to justify or reinforce their prejudices or fears are sowing the seeds of another type of terrorism: denigrating and marginalizing both beliefs and people they do not fully understand. What should have been attacked first in the war on terror are the biased mind sets and ignorance that justify prejudice, violence and hatred, not the culture, beliefs or scripture of others.
Last update : 22-02-2006 00:49
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