The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Blog

Issue 25

Issue 25 [@ 19:51] Serge Trifkovic – “So you will find in the book itself some of these more tolerant verses at a later point in the book…”

[Quran projected with studio voice– 4.And I shall not worship That which you are Worshiping. 5.Nor will you worship That which I worship. 6.To you be your religion, And to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism).]

“…than the very intolerant ones advocating violence and subjugation of the infidels. But that does not mean that it came into being later on. Quite to the contrary, if there is ever a contradiction between two injunctions, the ones that came…”

[Quran projected with studio voice – 39. And fight them Until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshiping others besides Allah) And the religion (worship) Will all be for Allah Alone (in the whole world). But if they cease (worshiping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah Is All-Seer of what they do]

“…later on in Medina are the ones that retain their validity and the early ones from Makkah have been abrogated.”

Rebuttal 25: Serge Trifkovic tries to polarize Quran by concocting the notion of earlier tolerant verses and the later intolerant ones. Since the documentary quotes Quran in an effort to smear Quran itself, hence the rebuttal will be from Quran. Current issue is also related to the Rebuttal 23 that reader is encouraged to read. The issue at hand is broken down into sub-issues to give the reader a complete perspective of its components.

Issue 25a: Serge Trifkovic – “So you will find in the book itself some of these more tolerant verses at the later point in the book…”

[Quran projected with studio voice– 4.And I shall not worship That which you are Worshiping. 5.Nor will you worship That which I worship. 6.To you be your religion, And to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism).]

Rebuttal 25a: At least Trifkovic agrees with “tolerant verses” when the movie projects Surah Al-Kafirun – Disbelievers (chapter 109). Lets expand further on this doctrine of tolerance in Islam towards non-Muslims with the following excerpt from the introductory notes by Muhammad Ali in his translation of Quran, edited by Zahid Aziz, under the title – Liberal View of Other Religions [p I-44]:

– Faith in all prophets – There is a general misconception that the Quran preaches intolerance, and that Muhammad preached his faith with the sword in one hand and the Quran in the other. The basic principle of Islam, a faith in all the prophets of the world, is enough to give the lie to this allegation. The great and liberal mind that preached not only love and respect for the founders of the great religions of the world but much more than that, faith in them, could not shrink to the narrowness of intolerance for those very religions. Tolerance is not, in fact, the word that can sufficiently indicate the breadth of the attitude of Islam towards other religions. It preaches equal love for all, equal respect for all, and equal faith in all.

[Writer’s addition] There are many verses which could be quoted with clear injunctions mandating respect in Islam for previous Books and Prophets. Following are just a sampler:

2:136. Say: We believe in Allah and (in) what has been revealed to us, and (in) what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and (in) what was given to Moses and Jesus, and (in) what was given to the prophets from their Lord, we make no distinction between any of them and to Him we submit.

[Comment] This shows the cosmopolitan nature of a Muslim’s belief. Not only is belief in the great prophets of Israel an article of faith with a Muslim, but the words what was given to the prophets from their Lord make the Muslim conception of belief in prophets as wide as the world [-that possibly includes Rama, Krishna, Zoroaster, Confucius etc.]. And it should be noted that this broad conception was promulgated at a time when the Jews and the Christians were exerting themselves to the utmost against the new faith.

43:13. He has made plain to you the religion which He enjoined upon Noah and which We have revealed to you, and which We enjoined on Abraham and Moses and Jesus — to establish religion and not to be divided in (regard to) it.

[Comment] Even so early did the Quran announce that the religion preached by the Prophet was not a new religion, but, so far as its basic principles were concerned, it was the same religion as was preached by Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus. The basic principle of Islam — entire submission to One God only — is, in fact, the basic principle of the common religion of humanity.

– No compulsion in religion – Again, intolerance could not be ascribed to a book which altogether excludes compulsion from the sphere of religion:

“There is no compulsion in religion.” — 2:256

In fact, the Holy Quran is full of statements showing that belief in this or that religion is a person’s own concern, and that he is given the choice of adopting one way or another; that, if he accepts truth, it is for his own good, and that, if he sticks to error, it is to his own detriment. Given below are just two of these quotations:

“The Truth is from your Lord; so whoever wishes, let him believe, and whoever wishes, let him disbelieve.” — 18:29

“Clear proofs have indeed come to you from your Lord; so whoever sees, it is for the good of his own soul; and whoever is blind, it is to its harm. And I am not a keeper over you.” — 6:104

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Issue 25b: “…than the very intolerant ones advocating violence and subjugation of the infidels. But that does not mean that it came into being later on. Quite to the contrary, if there is ever a contradiction between two injunctions, the ones that came…”

[Quran projected with studio voice – 39. And fight them Until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshiping others besides Allah) And the religion (worship) Will all be for Allah Alone (in the whole world). But if they cease (worshiping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah Is All-Seer of what they do]

Rebuttal 25b: For starters, there are no “intolerant” verses in Quran. Period! The documentary under reference only proves the bigotry of its experts who pick and choose a verse totally out of context and then find the translation of Quran that fits their fancies in their effort to smear Quran. Sorry, once again they are wrong and fail miserably when they quote verse 8:39 from an unknown translation [though it closely resembles by Hilali and Muhsin Khan]. Below is the same verse quoted with the difference that its preceding and succeeding verses are also quoted from the translation and commentary of Quran by Muhammad Ali, edited by Zahid Aziz:

8:38. Say to those who disbelieve, if they cease (fighting), what is past will be forgiven them; and if they return (to it), then the example of those of old has already gone.

[Comment] They [-the Makkans] had gone away from Badr quite discomfited, and they were told that, if they ceased fighting, they would be forgiven. Otherwise, they could read their own doom in the doom of those with whom Allah had dealt previously in similar circumstances. [But, the Makkans did not stop their aggression with the battle at Badr, which is located in between Makkah and Medina (-where Muhammad and Muslims were exiled to). Badr is at a distance of 120 miles from the former and 60 miles from the latter. Subsequently they followed up next year with another attack with resulting battle at a distance of 3 miles from Medina. By the fifth year of exile, they attacked for the third time with a battle actually in Medina – Please read Rebuttal 1 for more details and “Muhammad the Prophet” for actual historical details.]

8:39. And fight with them until there is no more persecution, and all religions are for Allah. But if they cease, then surely Allah is Seer of what they do.

[Comment] That is, if they cease fighting and put an end to their mischief, God’s decree of punishment will not be executed. The state of religious liberty which Islam aimed at is put tersely in the two opening statements — there is no more persecution and all religions are for Allah, everyone being at liberty to hold any belief he likes.

8:40. And if they turn back, then know that Allah is your Patron. Most excellent the Patron and most excellent the Helper!

The doctrine of defensive war in Quran is based upon the actual wars that were imposed on nascent Islam. This doctrine is discussed in detail in Quran. The following verses and their commentary is excerpted from translation by Muhammad Ali. Of note is that in Quran there is no offensive war:

3:195. So their Lord accepted their [-the persecuted and exiled Muslims] prayer, (saying): I will not let the work of any worker among you to be lost, whether male or female; each of you is as the other. So those who fled and were driven forth from their homes and persecuted in My way and who fought and were slain,…

[Comment] Editor’s Note: This shows that Muslims were first made to flee, were driven from their homes, and were persecuted for worshipping the One God, by their enemies, and it was then that they fought in battles in which they were slain. And they fought only after war was made upon them; see 22:39–40, 2:190. [below]
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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 —

[Comment] This is the earliest permission given to the Muslims to fight. The words in which the permission is granted show clearly that war was first made on the Muslims by their opponents; and secondly, that the Muslims had already suffered great oppression at the hands of their persecutors. The words of the next verse, those who are driven from their homes, may refer to the emigration to Abyssinia, or to the exodus to Madinah, which commenced soon afterwards.

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.

[Comment] The religious freedom established by Islam has not yet been surpassed by the most civilized and tolerant of nations. It deserves to be noted that the lives of Muslims are to be sacrificed not only to stop their own persecution by their opponents and to save their own mosques, but to save churches, synagogues and cloisters as well — in fact, to establish perfect religious freedom. Mosques, though they are the places where the name of Allah is remembered most of all, are mentioned after churches and synagogues. Early Muslims closely followed these directions, and every commander of an army had express orders to respect all houses of worship, and even the cloisters of monks, along with their inmates.

22:41.Those who, if We establish them in the land, will keep up prayer and give the due charity and enjoin good and forbid evil. And Allah’s is the end of (all) affairs.

[Writer’s comment] Reader pay attention to the purpose of establishing a government under Islam, whether in peace or after a defensive war – Those who, if We establish them in the land, will keep up prayer and give the due charity and enjoin good and forbid evil – These injunctions were issued almost 1500 years ago were followed in letter and spirit under the Muslim rule. This is directly opposite to what history bears witness of Christian subjugation, oppression, slavery and exploitation of the conquered, both of human and natural resources of the occupied. We are all witness to this under the civilized Europe and its colonization of the known world till recently.

[Writer’s comment] If people are not attracted to Islam and its principles, then such peoples are addressed in the following verses. The issue of their fate and destiny is between such a peoples and their God. Unlike the witch burnings and forced conversion of colonies under Christian Church in order “to save them from themselves,” there is no such role of a Muslim government towards its citizens or towards its neighbors:

22:42. And if they reject you, already before them did the people of Noah and Ad and Thamud reject (prophets),

22:43. and the people of Abraham and the people of Lot,

22:44. and the dwellers of Midian. And Moses (too) was rejected. But I gave respite to the disbelievers, then I seized them; so how (severe) was My disapproval!

22:45. How many a town We destroyed while it was unjust, so it is fallen down upon its roofs; and (how many) a deserted well and palace raised high!

22:46. Have they not travelled in the land so that they should have hearts with which to understand, or ears with which to hear? For surely it is not the eyes that are blind, but blind are
the hearts which are in the breasts.…
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2:190. And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you but do not be aggressive. Surely Allah does not love the aggressors.

[Comment] This is one of the earliest revelations permitting Muslims to fight. It is remarkable that fighting in the way of Allah is here expressly limited to fighting in defence. Muslims were required to fight in the way of Allah, but they could fight only against those who waged war on them. Exactly the same limitation is placed on what was in all probability the first revelation permitting fighting: “Permission (to fight) is given to those on whom war is made because they are oppressed” (22:39). Muslims were allowed to take up the sword only as a measure of self-defence. The enemies of Islam, being unable to suppress Islam by persecution, and seeing that Islam was now safe at Madinah and gaining strength, took up the sword to annihilate it. No course was left for the Muslims but either to be swept off the face of the earth or take up the sword in defence against an enemy which was immensely stronger.

2:191. And kill them wherever you find them,

[Comment] The words kill them refer to those with whom fighting is enjoined in the previous verse, who waged war upon the Muslims.

and drive them out from where they drove you out, and persecution is worse than slaughter.

[Comment] The word translated as “persecution” is fitna. Ibn Umar explained the word fitna when he said: “And there were very few Muslims (in the beginning), so a man used to be persecuted on account of his religion: they either murdered him or subjected him to tortures until Islam became predominant, then there was no fitna ” (Bukhari, 65.2:30).

And do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it; so if they fight you (in it), kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.

2:192. But if they cease, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

[Comment] Note the clemency of the Islamic fighting injunctions. Muslims were to sheathe their swords if the enemy desisted from fighting.

2:193. And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is only for Allah.

[Comment] When persecution ceases, and people are not forced to accept or renounce a religion, then there should be no more fighting. If they cease persecution, Muslims are at once to stop fighting against them, and hostilities are not to be continued against any except the aggressors.

But if they cease, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors.

2:194. The sacred month for the sacred month, and retaliation (is allowed) in sacred things.

[Comment] This is similar to what is said in v. 191 regarding the Sacred Mosque. The pre-Islamic Arabs observed four months in the year as sacred, in which hostilities ceased and peace was established throughout the land. If the opponents violated the sacred months by attacking the Muslims first in those months, the Muslims were permitted to fight against them in the sacred months. And generally retaliation within the limits of the original act of aggression is permitted in the case of all sacred objects.

Whoever then acts aggressively against you, inflict injury on him according to the injury he has inflicted on you and keep your duty to Allah, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty.

2:195. And spend in the way of Allah and do not cast yourselves to destruction with your own hands and do good (to others). Surely Allah loves the doers of good.
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3:200. O you who believe, be steadfast and try to excel in steadfastness and guard (the frontiers). And keep your duty to Allah that you may be successful.

[Comment] While victory is predicted for the Muslims, they are required to be humble in the hour of triumph, as at the close of the last chapter. The three qualities spoken of here, namely, steadfastness or endurance, trying to excel in steadfastness, and guarding, carry a temporal as well as a spiritual significance. They require, on the one hand, showing endurance in wars, excelling the enemy in endurance and to remain in readiness on the frontiers of the Muslim territory to meet the enemy, and, on the other, remaining steadfast in keeping away from evil and in keeping to obedience to God, trying to excel each other in the quality of endurance and to remain on guard against the temptations of the devil.

In the light of above discussion which is based upon Quran, the falsehood propagated by the documentary stands exposed. In summary, there is no offensive war in Quran. Defensive war is only permitted as long as the enemy is hostile. If the above doctrine to defend oneself is “intolerant” then the burden is on the false prophets of the movie to tell the world their understanding of the meaning of “tolerant” and “peaceful” with practical examples of their own choosing from the history of world.

While doling out any examples of “tolerance” they may please spare the audience of the “tolerance of the bible” where it mandates killing of –– non-believers, infidels, collective punishment of town-dwellers, non-obedient parish, witches, fornicators, adulterers, a betrothed woman who cannot prove her virginity, fortunetellers, non-obedient children, blasphemers, sabbath breakers, sons’ for the guilt of their fathers and so on. Many web links with ridicule of the Bible could be provided from the internet about “Killing in the Bible” but out of respect for the People of the Book a moderate link is presented.
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Issue 25c: “…later on in Medina are the ones that retain their validity and the early ones from Makkah have been abrogated.”

Rebuttal 25c: Maybe, Trifkovic has a point of some intolerant non-Quranic injunction cancelling and abrogating some other tolerant guideline. However, under Rebuttals 23, 25a and 25b we do not find an iota of intolerance in Quran in context of allegation by Trifkovic. No verse of Quran is null and void (see Rebuttals 9c and 21). Instead it is the Old and New Testaments that are made null and void by Quran (see Rebuttal 21).

Note: Use of [Brackets] are editorial comments by the writer of this Rebuttal and are not part of the original cited sources.
References:
Crime and Punishment in Bible
Muhammad The Prophet – Muhammad Ali
Holy Quran – Muhammad Ali, edited by Zahid Aziz