What the Qur'an Says About...(3)
Jihad
The Qur'an has very wide range of instructions in respect to the conduct of jihad (holy war). The instructions range all the way from gentle, patient preaching to forced conversion upon conquest of war. While it’s initially a very confusing study to sort out, we found Understanding the Qur’an, by Mateem Elass, Zondervan, MI, 2004, to be helpful in putting the pieces together in an understandable way.
His key points rest on two features of the Qur’an and Muhammad that were noted in our first article:
- The Qur’an is not organized in chronological order and rarely gives enough information to establish the historical setting of a given Sura (chapter). Therefore teaching on a topic in one Sura may in fact have been given much later than the following chapters. Since later "revelations" take precedence over earlier ones, there is much sorting out required to see the logical development of teaching regarding jihad.
- Muhammad’s efforts started with quiet communication of his visions to family and friends. The only thing realistically possible at this point was patient preaching [effectively a jihad of the word, which Muslims call "Dawah"]. At his death he commanded a rapidly growing army, conquering all before him and imposing Islam on the vanquished. [Islam eventually conquered as far east as India, as far west as the Atlantic on the north African coast up into Spain, and north through Turkey to the heart of the Balkans as well as the entire Middle East — a truly vast area.] In these later years, forced imposition of Islamic law and government became a practical goal.
Because of the organization of the Qur’an, instruction on these varied forms of jihad are scattered throughout the book, not being found in any order nor related to any easily identifiable historical events.
Martyrdom,
the consistent theme
What is consistent throughout the Qur’an is
the great reward assured to those who give their lives and property in
the cause of Allah.
As opposed to other Muslims, who must await the resurrection and judgment, martyrs go straight to heaven where they are guaranteed eternal bliss:
"Do not think of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the Presence of their Lord; they rejoice in the Bounty provided by Allah: and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (Martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve" (3:169,170).
The person who may not have been a particularly good Muslim in terms of charity, prayers and pilgrimages can thus rectify his situation by one occasion of great self-sacrifice. If he’s a martyr in person or property, all is forgiven:
"Those who have left their homes, or been driven out therefrom, or suffered harm in My Cause, or fought or been slain — verily, I will blot out from them their iniquities, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath — a reward from the Presence of Allah" (3:195).
This point is confirmed in Sura 61:
"O you who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty? That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that you strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: that will be best for you, if you but knew! He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity" (vv 10-12).
If a person felt he/she had seriously lapsed in his religious duties, he would thus be tempted to martyrdom to rectify all his wrongs.
The exchange of martyrdom for eternity is expressed as a bargain from Allah which he will surely keep:
"Allah has purchased of the Believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the Garden (of Paradise): they fight in His Cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in Truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur’an: and who is more faithful to his Covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded: that is the supreme achievement" (9:111).
We can well imagine a young person, faced with unemployment and the bleak future of a refugee camp, willingly entering the terrorist forces with this guarantee of eternal salvation.
The bliss he is promised is sketched in glowing terms in the Qur’an. The gardens for the blessed are ones…
"…containing all kinds (of trees and delights)... In them will be fruits of every kind, two and two... They will recline on carpets, whose inner linings will be of rich brocade... In them will be (maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn [supernatural being] before them has touched... like unto rubies and coral" (55:48-56).
While there is no mention of a specific number of virgins, the picture presented is suggestive of perpetual fleshly delights readily designed to attract the young man.
This picture is emphasized many times in the Qur’an. The young martyr is encouraged to envisage himself sitting on…
"...thrones encrusted (with gold and precious stones)... Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness), with goblets, (shining) beakers, and cups (filled out of clear-flowing fountains)... and (there will be) companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes — like unto Pearls well-guarded... We have created (their Companions) of special creation.
And made them virgin-pure (and undefiled) — beloved (by nature) equal in age" (56:15-37). It’s no wonder there seems an endless procession of young men throwing rocks and strapping bombs to their bodies.
The gentle
jihad
As noted at the beginning of this article, the
Qur’an commends a jihad of the word. This would be suitable
for Muhammad when he first made public his message, and for Muslims
today where they are a small minority in a country. The instruction
sounds almost Biblical:
"Invite (all) to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious... And if you do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out: but if you show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient. And you be patient, for your patience is but from Allah, nor grieve over them: and do not distress yourself because of their plots. For Allah is with those who restrain themselves, and those who do good" (16:125,126).
When Islam is claimed to be a religion of peace, it’s passages like this that are used to support such a claim.
The
limited retaliation jihad
There are passages which speak of the gentle jihad, and
there are several which encourage limited retaliation if Muslims are
harmed. This would have been suitable instruction for the intermediate
period when Muhammad’s followers started to multiply and
become a threat to entrenched religious interests. During those years,
Muhammad and his followers were frequently persecuted. Unlike
Christians, who are told to suffer persecution, Muhammad’s
followers were instructed that limited retaliation was acceptable as a
response to those who persecuted Muslims. It would also be useful for
today’s Muslims when they are a significant minority in a
given country. Here are examples of such instruction:
"The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah... But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no cause of blame. The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrongdoing... But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs" (42:40-43). "To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they are wronged — and verily, Allah is Most Powerful for their aid — (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right — (for no cause) except that they say, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ " (22:39,40).
Such a form of limited violence would find application today in countries such as France, where Muslims are a substantial minority but not in a position to try a conquering jihad.
The
conquering jihad
Toward the end of his life, Muhammad led a significant
fighting army. They went forth to conquer their neighbors and force
them to submit to Islam. After Muhammad’s death, this is the
jihad that was featured for centuries in Africa, Europe and Asia and
which many Muslims would like to see practiced today. It is expressed
in the Qur’an in the following terms:
"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent [i.e., convert], and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity [i.e., become Muslims], then open the way for them... fight those who do not believe in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth... until they pay the Jizya [a tax to Muslim conquerors] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" (9:5, 29).
Today, with many countries almost 100% Muslim, this type of jihad is clearly a factor in the international setting. Muslim countries can point to the Qur’an for justification to conquer their neighbors and force them to submit to Islamic laws. Such passages also provide the theological underpinning for violent, militant Islam.
The
special jihad
There are two communities selected for the greatest
vitriol from Muslims — Jews, and Muslims who desert their
faith (e.g., converts to Christianity, including Christadelphians).
The Jews are listed as among the greatest enemies of Islam:
"Strongest among men in enmity to the Believers will you find the Jews and Pagans" (5:82).
Combine this denunciation of the Jews with the Arab assertion that the land of Israel belonged to them before the Jews took it away (3:195), and we see the Islamic justification for perpetual war against the state of Israel.
An equally strong denunciation is leveled against those who were once Muslim but have converted to another faith (e.g., the Truth). Consider the following:
"How shall Allah guide those who reject faith after they accepted it and bore witness that the Messenger was true... But those who reject Faith after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance of Faith — never will their repentance be accepted" (3:86, 90).
From a Muslim’s point of view, converts from Islam to the Truth fit this category.
The Qur’an’s condemnation is very specific against Christians:
"They say, ‘God (Allah) has begotten a son!’... those who invent a lie against Allah will never prosper... We make them taste the severest Penalty for their blasphemies" (10:68-70).
Added to this is the direct charge to fight against Jews and Christians:
"Fight those who do not believe in Allah... The Jews call ‘Uzair (?) a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the Son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!" (9:29,30). "They but wish that you should reject Faith [Muslims would put our missionaries in this category] as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): but do not take friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (from what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever you find them" (4:89).
With such instruction in the Muslims’ revered book, we can understand why some of our brothers and sisters have been slain in the name of Allah.1
Conclusion
It is unrealistic to think Islam is a religion of peace.
The bottom line of the message of the Qur’an is: whenever
possible, advance the Muslim cause by force. And in the case of our
brethren who have converted from Islam in such places as Pakistan and
Iran, the message of this book threatens them with personal harm on a
daily basis.
Don Styles (Ann Arbor, MI)
Notes:
1. 2:62 and 5:69 speak of Jew sand hristians being saved, but the context makes clear it is only those Jews and Christians "who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness". In other words, those who convert to Islam.
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The CHRISTADELPHIAN TIDINGS of the Kingdom of God