The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Blog

Issue 8

Issue 8 [@ 9:00] Robert Spencer, Director JihadWatch.org, tries to build up after Issue 7 and imaginatively connects the concocted history based upon Sirat by Ibn-Ishaq/Ibn-Hisham to present day sound bites: “ Another example, maybe even more chilling of the deleterious influence that Muhammad’s example has upon the Islamic world was exemplified recently by an Egyptian leader of a radical Muslim party who wrote just recently that he couldn’t believe that the be-headings in Iraq were being protested by Muslims. Weren’t they aware that the Prophet Muhammad himself beheaded between 600 and 900 men personally members of Jewish Quraizah tribe in Arabia after he had defeated them. Didn’t they realize that if the prophet did it then this is the proper way to behave and so the Mujahideen in Iraq who are beheading people are simply obeying the example of the prophet. Now we can see then since the Prophet Muhammad himself participated in many battles and raids and did indeed perpetrate these be-headings, he ordered the assassinations of several of his political opponents and he behaved in general like a typical seventh-century warlord. The problem is when this is transferred to twenty-first century behavior, twenty-first century context [image of armed Afghans sitting in a group is shown] of behavior then what you get are terrorists.”

Rebuttal 8: Robert Spencer’s distortions are premised on Sirat, which has been refuted in Rebuttal 7. Just a reminder for Mr. Spencer, that Sirat was written by Ibn-Ishaq about a century after the death of the Prophet. His original work was lost, then it was recompiled on hearsay by Ibn-Hisham about half a century thereafter. His work was based on narratives of Jewish descents of Quraizah tribe alone, who essentially tried to invent another Masada to glorify their ancestors. There are no corroborative sources in Sirat. There is no mention of this event in works of Jewish historians even though there remained about twenty thousand Jews in Medina after the alleged event and more than twenty-thousand Jews lived in Khyber which is ninety-five miles north of Medina. Simply because it did not happen. It is on record that Ibn-Ishaq was declared a liar by his own contemporaries who took great pains to verify chain of sources for their hadith collections. It is a general understanding that Ibn-Ishaq himself had Jewish ancestry and his family business was to narrate tales (if not invent one).

If one looks closely at the scholarship of Robert Spencer and Walid Shoebat (Issue 7), one glaring fact comes to light. Both have proven that they are uncritical readers and believers in the “Books” written centuries after the events and overlook the self negating contradictions therein. Even worse, they take them as word of God. Robert Spencer quotes an Egyptian (who?) to make a point. But for the critical audience, both the Egyptian and Spencer are two faces of the same coin, who read whatever, and read it uncritically and accept tales or any figment of imagination as long as it can “prove” them right in their insinuations and agendas. The agenda of both is clear. Both breed hate and hostility, and it just so happens that both are opposed to each others faiths. Both believe that Muhammad was atrocious, yet both are surprised that (overwhelming majority of) Muslims are protesting the be-headings. Has any of the participants of the documentary including Robert Spencer protested killing of Muslims civilians by Christian and Jewish bombs to this day? This anti-Islam rhetoric without substance of Robert Spencer is all about money: “The list of people on the anti-Islam circuit goes on. IRS filings from 2008 show that Robert Spencer, who runs the Jihadwatch.org blog, earned $132,537 from the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a conservative nonprofit.” [The Tennessean]. How is Robert Spencer different from the extremists that this movie is trying to bring to light. The bigotry of Robert Spencer and his likes have seen its fruition in the recent carnage of Norway. It is ironic that Robert Spencer is now being forced to come to his own defense against the assertions that the Norway shooter was inspired by him [Robert Spencer in Damage Control after Terror Attack in Norway]. How callous are the preacher and the preached.

When the movie shows Afghans in context of terrorists, it creates a nausea in the audience. The world is sick and tired of Robert Spencer & Co and their abettors i.e. American Enterprise Institute, Heritage Foundation and David Horowitz Freedom Center etc., the likes of which first created and funded the “Holy Warriors” i.e. Mujahideen, toasted them in White House to fight the Soviets, but when the chickens came home to roost, now the same Mujahideen are “terrorists.” Their venom and narrow vision firstly created and sustained the world wide chaos for decades running and in the process have distracted their parent nations away from their growth path to paths of self-destructive bankruptcy of ideas and money – You can fool all, some of the time; some, most of the time; but not all, all of the time.

In one place Robert Spencer is factually correct when he states about Muhammad – “Personally he took part in many battles and raids.” But, he fails to state the reasons, facts, outcomes and principles that form the basis for his statement. For a summary of these factors see Rebuttal 1. Quran summarizes the then moral compunction upon Muhammad that Robert Spencer is trying to ridicule. This compunction is valid even today for the whole world that includes Robert Spencer himself:

4:75. What (excuse) have you (to offer) that you would not fight in the cause of Allâh [The Lord of Mankind 144:1] and for (the rescue of) the weak and the down-trodden men and women and the children who all say, `Our Lord! take us out of this town of which the people are tyrants, and grant us a defender who comes from You and a helper by Your Own grace.’ [Nooruddin]

In context of this sub-statement of Robert Spencer, Khawaja Kamaluddin in his book “The Ideal Prophet” [pub. 1925], under the chapter “Right Use of Sword” writes:

For the first time the world was taught by the Prophet the right use of the sword. Secular and sacred history alike show that the sword has never been dispensed with. It was unsheathed by the Hindu Prophets and the Hebrew Patriarchs; for neither the Hebrew Law nor that of the Hindus is in any way favourable to “pacifism.” The Prince of Peace also declared that he came to send on the earth “not peace but a sword;” he came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets; the laws of his religion permitted it, and his prophets waged war. In fact he would have had recourse to the sword had a favourable occasion arisen, but it did not; and if he prevented Peter from drawing the sword, it was because the time was not propitious. Violence would but have entailed further trouble for him and for his followers. Besides, what Jesus himself could not do has been done with considerable thoroughness by his followers. His words have proved dangerously prophetic. A large portion of the wealth and the brain of Christendom is expended in discovering various ways in which they may send sword and fire more efficaciously into the world; and that, not for the furtherance of any humane cause, but to pander to the spirit of aggression and “grab.”

“I, however, maintain that at times it becomes one of our highest humanitarian duties to unsheathe the sword. We cannot conscientiously stand aside as indifferent spectators when the liberties of an oppressed people are being trampled upon, when religious freedom is at stake. There do arise situations when the use of arms becomes an unavoidable necessity. But the arms have often been abused, and it was the duty of a Prophet from God to tell us the right occasion when the sword can be wielded.” [The House Divided – by the author]

Jesus was prepared to send sword and fire into the world, but Muhammad was compelled to do so. He allowed the use of arms on the following three occasions:

i. To save a house for the worship of God from destruction, be it Christian, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist or Muslim. (Holy Quran, 22:40)

22:40. Those who are driven from their homes without a just cause except that they say: Our Lord is Allah. And if Allah did not repel some people by others, surely cloisters and churches and synagogues, and mosques in which Allah’s name is much remembered, would have been pulled down. And surely Allah will help him who helps Him. Surely Allah is Strong, Mighty. [Muhammad Ali – Zahid Aziz]

ii. To establish freedom of conscience. Everyone, according to Quranic teaching, has the right to choose his own faith, and no one should force his religious beliefs on others by persecution or otherwise. And if a person does so, it is the duty of a Muslim to fight against such religious persecution, irrespective of whether the aggrieved by a Jew or a Christian and the persecutor a Muslim. (2: 190-193)

2:190. And fight in the cause of Allâh those who fight and persecute you, but commit no aggression. Surely, Allâh does not love the aggressors.

2:191. And slay them (the aggressors against whom fighting is made incumbent) when and where you get the better of them, in disciplinary way, and turn them out whence they have turned you out. (Killing is bad but) lawlessness is even worse than carnage. But do not fight them in the precincts of Masjid al-Harâm (the Holy Mosque at Makkah) unless they fight you therein. Should they attack you (there) then slay them. This indeed is the recompense of such disbelievers.

2:192. But if they desist (from aggression) then, behold, Allâh is indeed Great Protector, Ever Merciful.

2:193. And fight them until persecution is no more and religion is (freely professed) for Allâh [-the Lord of Mankind 114:1]. But if they desist (from hostilities) then (remember) there is no punishment except against the unjust (who still persist in persecution).[Nooruddin]

iii. In self defence. (22:39)

22:39. Permission (to fight) is given to those on whom war is made, because they are oppressed. And surely Allah is Able to assist them [Muhammad Ali – Zahid Aziz]

But in each case a Muslim should suspend hostilities whenever the oppressor shows an inclination towards peace. (2:194)

2:194. (The violation of) a sacred month may be retaliated in the sacred month and for (the violation of) all sacred things the law of retaliation is prescribed. Then he who transgresses against you, punish him for his transgression to the extent he has transgressed against you, and take Allâh as a shield, and know that Allâh is with those who guard against evil. [Nooruddin]

Other Prophets of the world, especially the Hebrew, drew the sword for a cause of doubtful righteousness, as the Old Testament shows; but Muhammad did what righteousness demanded. Nevertheless the Western mind has become so much poisoned by prejudiced statements carped at Islam, that it will not care to hear what is true. [pg 145-147. Note: verses in italics and emphasis in bold are added]

In his infinite wisdom, Robert Spencer concludes that the so called Mujahideen are following the teachings of Muhammad while they are occupied by foreign forces in Iraq. The picture that he trying to paint is no different than the crusaders who drew the sword that Peter could not. Factually, if they are drawing a lesson from history, then they are following in the footsteps of the Pope Urban II rather than Muhammad, whose example of victory of Makkah was replicated by Nelson Mandela, when the latter too provided general amnesty and was able to build a nation of the future. Can Robert Spencer follow Nelson Mandela to eliminate apartheid in Israel? Not at all. Just trace his sources of money and the agenda tied to that money.

Quran fully addresses the deceivers as follows – Robert Spencer take note:

4:108. They seek to hide (their crimes) from the people, but they cannot hide from Allâh; and He is present with them when they pass the night in holding discourses which does not please Him. And Allâh encompasses all that they do (until He puts an end to their evil ways).

4:113. (Prophet!) a party of those (who are false to themselves) had certainly made up their minds to ruin you, but for the grace of Allâh and His mercy upon you, they ruin none but themselves, and they can do you no harm. And Allâh has revealed to you this perfect Book and the Wisdom and has taught you that which you did not know. Allâh’s favour upon you is great indeed (and you enjoy His protection in temporal as well as in spiritual matters).

4:114. There is no good in many of their secret conferences. But (good lies only in the secret deliberations of) those who enjoin charity, equitable dealings or making peace between people. And whoso does that, seeking the pleasure of Allâh, We shall soon bestow a great reward on him.

4:115. And as to him who opposes the Messenger in a hostile manner after true guidance has become clear to him, and follows a way other than that of the believers, We will let him pursue the way which he is (himself) pursuing, and shall cast him into Gehenna, and an evil destination it is! [Nooruddin]

But, the life of Muhammad tells us that we can pray for Robert Spencer with the following hope for him:

4:105. We have surely revealed to you this perfect Book comprising the truth, that you judge between the people (enlightened) by that knowledge which Allâh has given you, and do not become a partisan of the dishonest.

4:106. And seek protection of Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Great Protector, Ever Merciful.

4:107. And do not plead on behalf of those who act dishonestly towards themselves. Surely, Allâh does not love him who is given to dishonest ways, (and is) a great sinner.

4:108. They seek to hide (their crimes) from the people, but they cannot hide from Allâh; and He is present with them when they pass the night in holding discourses which does not please Him. And Allâh encompasses all that they do (until He puts an end to their evil ways).

4:109. Behold! you are of those who may plead on their behalf in the present life. But who will plead on their behalf with Allâh on the Day of Resurrection, or who will be a disposer of their affairs?

4:110. And whoever commits evil and does injustice to himself and then asks forgiveness of Allâh, will find Allâh Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful.

4:111. And whoever commits a sin deliberately, commits it only against himself. Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

4:112. But one who commits a fault or a sin and imputes it to an innocent person (for the sake of his own defence), he certainly bears the burden of calumny along with that of a flagrant sin. [Nooruddin]

References:

The Ideal Prophet – Khwaja Kamaluddin
The House Divided – Khwaja Kamaluddin
Anti-Muslim crusaders make million spreading fear – The Tennessean
Robert Spencer in Damage Control after Terror Attack in Norway – LoonWatch.com
Pope Urban II – Wikipedia
Crusades – Wikipedia
Holy Quran – Muhammad Ali, edited by Dr. Zahid Aziz
Holy Quran – Nooruddin