The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Blog

Issue 13

Issue 13 [@14:18]: Slide show with a voice in background – Authoritative Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad – The Hadiths of Sahih Al-Bukhari – Translated with Parenthetical Notes by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan – Vol. 4, Bk. 52, Hadith 53 – The Prophet said, “Nobody who dies and finds good from Allah (in Hereafter) would wish to come back to this world even if he were give the whole world and whatever is in it…except the martyr, who on seeing on the superiority of martyrdom, would like to come back to the world and get killed again (in Allah’s cause).” The Prophet said , “A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah’s Cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon is better than all the world and whatever is in it.”

Rebuttal 13: As a rule, each Hadith has to be read in the light of Quran. If its content and message supports Quran, then well and good, it could be a commentary on the latter, else it has to be rejected.

The insinuations of the producers of the documentary continue and this time they try to pick a Hadith that they think will be damaging to Islam and will help with them with their case. Lets tease out the message of this Hadith.

i) “ Nobody who dies and finds good from Allah (in Hereafter) would wish to come back to this world even if he were given the whole world and whatever is in it”

The keywords in this excerpt are anyone who “dies and finds good from Allah (in Hereafter),” essentially only those dear departed are addressed who acted in this world in congruence to Allah’s guidance whether out of their inborn virtue or finding the right path through the Quran. Then, under Law of Recompense that is mentioned throughout the Quran, such blessed people in the Hereafter will be rewarded to a magnitude for their good deeds that hypothetically if given a choice “Nobody … would wish to come back to this world even if he were give the whole world and whatever is in it.” No-brainer here. The world should have a problem only if the expectations of hereafter are less than mentioned in quotes.

ii) “…except the martyr, who on seeing on the superiority of martyrdom, would like to come back to the world and get killed again (in Allah’s cause).”

Now the fundamental question is – What is Allah’s cause? Here we cannot speak for the producers or the scholars of the documentary for whom it might be empty homilies, empty gesticulations, empty sacraments, but for Quran the martyrs in Allah’s cause are the likes of those of Joan or Arc, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Yitzak Rabin who gave up their lives in service of humanity to rid it of the crutches of dogmas, racism, slavery and apartheid. Many many verses could be quoted from Quran defining martyrdom but suffice to state for these martyrs:

2:154. And do not count as dead those who are killed in the cause of Allâh. Rather (they are) living, only you perceive not (their life).

Since the documentary is trying to make a case in context of “bloodshed” then Quran clearly addresses them directly and the question to them is if they will shy away from it:

4:75. What (excuse) have you (to offer) that you would not fight in the cause of Allâh [The Lord of Mankind 114:1] 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]

iii) “A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah’s Cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon is better than all the world and whatever is in it.”

In Islam fighting is allowed only in self defense or against persecution or lawlessness:

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 [note – in Quran Allah uses his unique name as God for all peoples – ch. 114]. But if they desist (from hostilities) then (remember) there is no punishment except against the unjust (who still persist in persecution).

History has always recognized its heroes who died while protecting the weak and standing up to tyrants, as in the examples enumerated above. It is this kind of “endeavor (of fighting) in Allah’s Cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon” that “is better than all the world and whatever is in it.” Unlike those killing innocent people, be it an individual, group or a nation; or those making hate mongering movies.

Decent and advanced societies always recognize the sacrifices of those who die for a virtuous cause. The highest awards are usually posthumous. If a living is given such an award, even a President has to come out of his car and salute the hero. Earth is too small a place for these exalted heroes to walk.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President in the name of Congress on members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.” Due to the nature of its criteria, it is often awarded posthumously… [Wikipedia]

References:
List of Military Decoration – Wikipedia
Holy Quran – Nooruddin