Clearing some misconception about Islam: Part I
Written by Zed
This article is the first in a series of articles regarding common misconceptions about Islam and the Quran, and, because so-called “Islamic” terrorism is always on the media and is always thought to be linked with the teachings of Islam and the Quran, this article will clarify what Islam’s view on terrorism is.
Firstly, the word ‘Terrorism’ is often used to refer to the unlawful use of violence against civilians (innocents), thus, this article will refute the claims that claim that terrorism is encouraged by Islamic teachings (In the Quran, the Hadiths, and the Sunnah of the prophet Muhammad pbuh). This will be done through focusing and explaining each misinterpreted verse or hadith that are often put out of context:
1) Quran (2:191) which quotes:
And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al- Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.”
By reading this verse one will wonder who ‘them’ is referring to and what the word ‘Fitnah’ means. Firstly, to understand who ‘them’ are, let’s look at the verse before it, and at the verse after it.
Quran (2:190) says: “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors."
Quran (2:192) says: “And if they cease, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Now, verse 2:190 says to fight those who fight you, and, from this verse we start realizing that ‘them’, in verse 2:191, refers to those who fight you, and ,thus, does not refer, as commonly misinterpreted, to ‘disbelievers’.
Secondly, let’s understand the meaning of ‘Fitnah’. This word has many different meanings throughout the Quran from ‘Misguidance’ or ‘Disbelief’ to ‘Persecution’ or ‘Testing / Trial’. Thus, the meaning of Fitnah here can only be derived from context, and, since Fitnah has been previously used in the context of war to mean wars / battles.
Furthermore, this verse came down because the leaders of Makkah, the Quraish, drove the prophet and his companions out of their own homes, slaughtered them, tortured them, and even tortured their own families in front of them and forced them to relocate into Madinah. Because of this, this verse came down in order to encourage the prophet and his companions to fight back, defend themselves, and live in their own homes, in their own land.
After this, the prophet (pbuh) and his companions took control of Makkah, and, as they entered the city, the prophet (pbuh) granted peace and demanded that kindness should be shown to the people of Makkah. No home was destroyed, no one was harmed, and no one was driven out of his home or land.
Lastly, it is clear that there is no way that this verse promotes terrorism and the killing of disbelievers, but rather, it promotes self-defense and no transgression in times of war, and if those who fight you cease, then ,indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
2) Quran (47:4) which quotes:
So when you meet those who disbelieve strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds."
From this, it is pretty clear which part of the verse is taken out of context (“So when you meet those who disbelieve, strike their necks.”). But, if we continue with the whole verse we can clearly see that it is talking about war as it clearly says ‘...until the war lays down its burdens.’
Even without looking at the verse before this and the verse after we can clearly see that this verse does not command Muslims to strike the disbelievers’ necks wherever they meet them as it is clearly talking about times of war.
3) Quran (8:12) which quotes:
[Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, "I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip."
Without further ado let’s look at the verses before it which say:
[Remember] when you asked help of your Lord, and He answered you, "Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another." (8:9) ”And Allah made it not but good tidings and so that your hearts would be assured thereby. And victory is not but from Allah. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise”(8:10) ”[Remember] when He overwhelmed you with drowsiness [giving] security from Him and sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you and remove from you the evil [suggestions] of Satan and to make steadfast your hearts and plant firmly thereby your feet.”(8:11)
Now, this is clearly talking about a certain point in history which was the battle of Badr in which the Muslims were significantly less in numbers, thus, Allah sent down Angles to fight with them and has commanded the angels to “strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip."
Again, by looking at this verse’s historical context, we can see that it is clearly talking about war and is not commanding Muslims to strike the disbelievers upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.
4) Quran (4:89) which quotes:
“They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper.”
As we said before, in order to know who ‘they’ refers to we need to read the verse before it and the verse after it.
Quran (4:88) says: “What is [the matter] with you [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allah has made them fall back [into error and disbelief] for what they earned. Do you wish to guide those whom Allah has sent astray? And he whom Allah sends astray - never will you find for him a way [of guidance].”
Quran (4:90) says: “Except for those who take refuge with a people between yourselves and whom is a treaty or those who come to you, their hearts strained at [the prospect of] fighting you or fighting their own people. And if Allah had willed, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they remove themselves from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not made for you a cause [for fighting] against them.”
Now, we can clearly agree that ‘they’ refers to the Hypocrites that pretends to be Muslims while in reality they are not, and, the verse 4:89 tells the Muslims to kill them wherever they find them. But, if we read on, it is apparent that Muslims are commanded not to kill those who ‘their hearts strained at the prospect of fighting you or fighting their own people’ and those who ‘take refuge with a people between yourselves and who is a treaty’ thus you are not allowed to fight / kill those who do not fight you or have a treaty with you.
Furthermore, if we look at the historical context of this verse, we can see that it came down at a time when Muslims were severely oppressed in Makkah and Madinah and there were a lot of Hypocrites that harmed the Muslim community. At that time, what was being done against the Muslims can, nowadays, be referred to as ‘terrorism’ because they were killed, slaughtered and tortured simply for believing in Islam. This verse came down to command the Muslims to fight against, and protect themselves, from those who were oppressing / prosecuting them.
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