Mani (Mainstream): Modi, Surah Three is the second longest in the Qur’an. Is it that long because more ayats were added, as you said about Surah Two?
Modi: (Moderate): Basically, yes; however, it has its own distinct rationale. Remember that the second surah warned the Believers of the trials and the tribulations that awaited them.
Radi: (Radical): Yes, I remember that. Some of the Believers showed great determination and belief in our Prophet (pbuh). When one new Believer was assured what awaited him as a martyr, he took off like a banshee and waded into those Meccans with his sword swinging like crazy.
Modi: In the second surah, Allah reminded the Believers what could happen when they listened to His Messenger (pbuh). However, He had to remind them that there are still armies of enemies that are arrayed against them. Therefore, they dare not let down their guard or listen to the hypocrites who would lead them astray.
Mani: Well, they did so well at Badr, perhaps just complimenting the Believers would have been enough. They were greatly outnumbered and still came out victorious.
Modi: Unfortunately the Meccans were not the only ones against the Believers. Medina was just a very small puddle in the great desert of enemies against Islam. They found that out in the Battle of Uhud. Not only did they lose the battle by not doing what they were told, they almost lost their Prophet (pbuh) as well.
Radi: They lost only because 300 hypocrites pulled out of the marching formations and returned to Medina.
Modi: It was not only that, Radi. I mentioned a few weeks ago that the archers were told not to move from their positions no matter what happened. However, the Meccans set a trap by pretending to pull out and leaving their belongings for the taking. Well, the archers deserted their posts to claim the loot, and then the Meccans charged Muhammad’s position and almost killed him. He was wounded.
Radi: Did he kill the archers? I would have.
Modi: Why would he do that? The Muslims had not been a community very long and were also relatively inexperienced in conducting warfare.
Mani: So they needed training in accepting their leaders’ orders and in believing in what they are doing.
Modi: Right on. Besides that, they were cautioned to learn all about Christians and Jews, knowing their strengths as well as their weaknesses and knowing their arguments as well. The unbelievers should be defeated wherever they are met, not just on the battlefield.
Mani: Do you see what Allah was doing, Radi? He was teaching the Believers that if they studied and believed the available Qur’an revelations they would grow stronger in their faith. As Muslims strong in their faith and believing in their leadership, they need never fear following Muhammad (pbuh) into future battles.
Radi: I understand that. But the Jews were still interfering and should have all been killed right away.
Modi: We would like to get away from killing. And for Allah’s sake, stop dreaming up excuses for punishing people. If a person believes only one tenth of what his religion teaches, so what? He is still a Believer and may improve in time. Why punish him or her?
Mani: Yes, you are right. That is what the second surah is all about. Allah is teaching Muslims how to be better. He is showing them how much better things will be if they learn more and have faith. He is not warning them that He will kill them for not learning. However, He is warning them that if they just give up and join the opposition against Him they will know His anger.
Modi: You know, Allah in this surah also gave the Jews still another opportunity to return to their original teaching, walk away from their perfidies and their false pride, and again be the Muslims that they should be. He explained what happens either way. The Jews continued to deny His prophethood, continued to ignore his blandishments and warnings, and even allied themselves with those who would destroy Islam and kill Muslims.
Radi: We should kill them all.
Modi: I am telling you again, those Jews were either killed or at any rate died more than 1,200 years ago, twelve centuries. The Jews that are alive today are far removed from the Jews of Arabia. Did not Allah and Muhammad forgive the polytheists in Mecca? Not all the Meccans were convinced they should convert to Islam.
Mani: I agree with Modi, Radi. When a person needs help in his religion, don’t kill him; help him. You may be nurturing a future scholar or martyr.
Radi: I never thought of that.
Modi: Radi, that includes people who are leaving the religion. A person may be leaving as an apostate; however, that same person may gain more knowledge and understanding, see the light, and become a wonderful teacher for others.
Radi: But the Sharia tells us that apostates are subject to death by anyone with access to him. The Sharia also tells us that his killing will be without consequences.
Modi: I know all of this, Radi. You need to understand that there were reasons in the seventh century for killing apostates. They were also traitors and were working with the polytheists and others to hurt Islam. Apostates are no longer a danger to us, and we must believe there will be a time when they return much wiser.
Radi: Why didn’t Allah bring this information up in the Qur’an that someday that may all change?
Mani: Perhaps, Radi, Allah left it up to us to use our heads and make those determinations for ourselves. We are not stupid, Radi. Allah knows that and perhaps wants us to think beyond what He has given us as a start.
Radi: I must disagree. I will follow only what has been written. I will kill anyone leaving the religion and anyone who I suspect even thinks of changing the Qur’an.
Modi: What about a supplement to the Qur’an, Radi?
Radi: It should be met with instant death.
Modi: Are you certain you want to go that far?
Radi: Yes, I am certain. Anyone writing and distributing a supplement to our glorious Qur’an should die.
Modi: You mean people like Ishaq, Bukhari, Malik, Mawdudi, Qutb? They all wrote supplements to the Qur’an. Books, essays, Hadiths, and other supplements.
Radi: Oops. I did not mean those people.
Modi: Then why will some supplementals be acceptable and others not?
Mani: I think Radi has no answer. He does not know.
Modi: Then perhaps there should be an end to killing people for reasons that are unknown or not understood.
Far more people are killed in the name of the Qur’an for reasons not really understood. It is bad enough that ignorant thugs do it; however, the "Believers" that use subterfuge to goad others into doing these murders "for the love of Allah" are the real villains. Allah knows what is in our hearts and will drag those demons on their faces and fling them into the fire very early on judgment day.
Radi: Uh, can we talk about this over coffee or something?
HJS
NOTE: Partially adapted from Mawdudi's Introduction to Sura Three, online version of the Noble Qur'an.
Modi: (Moderate): Basically, yes; however, it has its own distinct rationale. Remember that the second surah warned the Believers of the trials and the tribulations that awaited them.
Radi: (Radical): Yes, I remember that. Some of the Believers showed great determination and belief in our Prophet (pbuh). When one new Believer was assured what awaited him as a martyr, he took off like a banshee and waded into those Meccans with his sword swinging like crazy.
Modi: In the second surah, Allah reminded the Believers what could happen when they listened to His Messenger (pbuh). However, He had to remind them that there are still armies of enemies that are arrayed against them. Therefore, they dare not let down their guard or listen to the hypocrites who would lead them astray.
Mani: Well, they did so well at Badr, perhaps just complimenting the Believers would have been enough. They were greatly outnumbered and still came out victorious.
Modi: Unfortunately the Meccans were not the only ones against the Believers. Medina was just a very small puddle in the great desert of enemies against Islam. They found that out in the Battle of Uhud. Not only did they lose the battle by not doing what they were told, they almost lost their Prophet (pbuh) as well.
Radi: They lost only because 300 hypocrites pulled out of the marching formations and returned to Medina.
Modi: It was not only that, Radi. I mentioned a few weeks ago that the archers were told not to move from their positions no matter what happened. However, the Meccans set a trap by pretending to pull out and leaving their belongings for the taking. Well, the archers deserted their posts to claim the loot, and then the Meccans charged Muhammad’s position and almost killed him. He was wounded.
Radi: Did he kill the archers? I would have.
Modi: Why would he do that? The Muslims had not been a community very long and were also relatively inexperienced in conducting warfare.
Mani: So they needed training in accepting their leaders’ orders and in believing in what they are doing.
Modi: Right on. Besides that, they were cautioned to learn all about Christians and Jews, knowing their strengths as well as their weaknesses and knowing their arguments as well. The unbelievers should be defeated wherever they are met, not just on the battlefield.
Mani: Do you see what Allah was doing, Radi? He was teaching the Believers that if they studied and believed the available Qur’an revelations they would grow stronger in their faith. As Muslims strong in their faith and believing in their leadership, they need never fear following Muhammad (pbuh) into future battles.
Radi: I understand that. But the Jews were still interfering and should have all been killed right away.
Modi: We would like to get away from killing. And for Allah’s sake, stop dreaming up excuses for punishing people. If a person believes only one tenth of what his religion teaches, so what? He is still a Believer and may improve in time. Why punish him or her?
Mani: Yes, you are right. That is what the second surah is all about. Allah is teaching Muslims how to be better. He is showing them how much better things will be if they learn more and have faith. He is not warning them that He will kill them for not learning. However, He is warning them that if they just give up and join the opposition against Him they will know His anger.
Modi: You know, Allah in this surah also gave the Jews still another opportunity to return to their original teaching, walk away from their perfidies and their false pride, and again be the Muslims that they should be. He explained what happens either way. The Jews continued to deny His prophethood, continued to ignore his blandishments and warnings, and even allied themselves with those who would destroy Islam and kill Muslims.
Radi: We should kill them all.
Modi: I am telling you again, those Jews were either killed or at any rate died more than 1,200 years ago, twelve centuries. The Jews that are alive today are far removed from the Jews of Arabia. Did not Allah and Muhammad forgive the polytheists in Mecca? Not all the Meccans were convinced they should convert to Islam.
Mani: I agree with Modi, Radi. When a person needs help in his religion, don’t kill him; help him. You may be nurturing a future scholar or martyr.
Radi: I never thought of that.
Modi: Radi, that includes people who are leaving the religion. A person may be leaving as an apostate; however, that same person may gain more knowledge and understanding, see the light, and become a wonderful teacher for others.
Radi: But the Sharia tells us that apostates are subject to death by anyone with access to him. The Sharia also tells us that his killing will be without consequences.
Modi: I know all of this, Radi. You need to understand that there were reasons in the seventh century for killing apostates. They were also traitors and were working with the polytheists and others to hurt Islam. Apostates are no longer a danger to us, and we must believe there will be a time when they return much wiser.
Radi: Why didn’t Allah bring this information up in the Qur’an that someday that may all change?
Mani: Perhaps, Radi, Allah left it up to us to use our heads and make those determinations for ourselves. We are not stupid, Radi. Allah knows that and perhaps wants us to think beyond what He has given us as a start.
Radi: I must disagree. I will follow only what has been written. I will kill anyone leaving the religion and anyone who I suspect even thinks of changing the Qur’an.
Modi: What about a supplement to the Qur’an, Radi?
Radi: It should be met with instant death.
Modi: Are you certain you want to go that far?
Radi: Yes, I am certain. Anyone writing and distributing a supplement to our glorious Qur’an should die.
Modi: You mean people like Ishaq, Bukhari, Malik, Mawdudi, Qutb? They all wrote supplements to the Qur’an. Books, essays, Hadiths, and other supplements.
Radi: Oops. I did not mean those people.
Modi: Then why will some supplementals be acceptable and others not?
Mani: I think Radi has no answer. He does not know.
Modi: Then perhaps there should be an end to killing people for reasons that are unknown or not understood.
Far more people are killed in the name of the Qur’an for reasons not really understood. It is bad enough that ignorant thugs do it; however, the "Believers" that use subterfuge to goad others into doing these murders "for the love of Allah" are the real villains. Allah knows what is in our hearts and will drag those demons on their faces and fling them into the fire very early on judgment day.
Radi: Uh, can we talk about this over coffee or something?
HJS
NOTE: Partially adapted from Mawdudi's Introduction to Sura Three, online version of the Noble Qur'an.
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