Some of the rants and the placards heard and seen around the world are enough to frighten women and children and make others wonder why the people of the Middle East are so mad at us. As it turns out, it is another case of taqiyya, (deception). The verses do not mean what they appear to mean. Many of us do not know that, and many of them do not know that. What follows is the explanation, including official margin notes by Muhammad Asad, the brilliant scriptures translator.
Slay them wherever ye find them
(Sura 2:191 - 193) “And slay them wherever you find them and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers]…and fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah.”
Sura (Chapter) 2 is the longest sura in the Holy Qur’an and the first of the suras from Yathrib, soon to be Medina, where Muhammad began his new mandate of mediating among the Jewish and Arab tribes of the city and environs. A mediator was necessary because the city was leaderless and in need of social and legal norms to assist the tribes of Arabs and Jews to live with each other in peace. As the civilization in Medina developed, the enemy of the new believers was Mecca. The citizens of Mecca, the non-believers, rejected the new religion and had made living in Mecca much too dangerous for anyone practicing the new religion, forcing them to flee to Yathrib to worship in peace. Much of the longer suras dealt with the Meccans as enemies, referring to them at times as polytheists, infidels, unbelievers, rejecters of the faith, etc., Sura 2 also began describing serious disagreements with the Jewish tribes.
The "violent verses" at ayats (verses) 191 - 193, actually belong to a set of verses between verses 2:178 and 2:195. The followers were addressed as those “who have attained to faith” and were told what was expected of them from in certain situations. Verse 2:190 continues the guidance with an admonition of what to do should the followers be attacked. As you read the few verses, keep in mind that the believers had been driven out of Mecca, away from their holy city. Since Yathrib (Medina) was a competitor-city, they were in fear of attacks by a Meccan army with support from neighboring tribes.
The Original Theme
“And fight in God’s cause against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression -- for verily, God does not love aggressors.[1] (190). And slay them wherever you may come upon them, and drive them away from wherever they drove you away -- for oppression is even worse than killing.[2] And fight not against them near the Inviolable House of Worship unless they fight against you there first;[3] but if they fight against you, slay them: such shall be the recompense of those who deny the truth. (191)
But if they desist -- behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace. (192) Hence, fight against them until there is no more oppression and all worship is devoted to God alone;[4] but if they desist, then all hostility should cease, save against those who [willfully] do wrong. (193) Fight during the sacred months if you are attacked:[5] for a violation of sanctity is [subject to the law of] just retribution. Thus, if anyone commits aggression against you, attack him just as he attacked you -- but remain conscious of God, and know that God is with those who are conscious of Him.[6] (194) And spend [freely] in God’s cause and let not your own hands throw you into destruction;[7] and persevere in doing good: behold, God loves the doers of good. (195)
The sura at that point, goes on to discuss the importance of pilgrimage. The theme of the verses does not project any wrongful notions toward anyone; however, they do prepare the people for a possible Meccan attack on them. It is really only basic guidance for the new believers. It was not meant to be a rallying cry against the West or a
justification for outrageous conduct with regard to
non-combatants.
The portion which is taken out of context by radicals is meant to frighten the West and to urge their own followers to join their jihad. Their jihad may not necessarily be a valid defensive conflict. To avoid criticisms, some radical leaders simply declare that women and children [of a Western nation] are not innocent, and therefore cannot be classed as non-combatants. I do not know what the radicals call installing rocket and mortar positions in and around private homes, schools, hospitals, and mosques. I do not know how they justify training kids to look forward to suicide bombing. The notes below further clarify the theme.
HJS
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1. Self-defense in the widest sense of the word permits Muslims to wage war, according to Muhammad Asad, Message of the Qur'an, note 167
2. "Slay them wherever you come upon them" is valid only in the context of hostilities already in progress. Ibid, note 168
3. The Quraysh tribe (Meccans) still controlled the Holy City of Mecca and were hostile to Muslims at the time of this revelation. However, Muhammad Asad also adds that "the injunction has a general import, and is valid for all times and circumstances." (His opinion). Ibid, note 169
4. Muhammad Asad's explanation of "and religion belongs to God alone" [although he translates the passage as "and all worship is devoted to God alone"] really means: "Until God can be worshipped without fear of persecution and none [no follower] is compelled to bow down in awe before another human being." Ibid, note 170
5. The first, seventh, and twelfth month of the lunar calendar. Ibid, note 171
6. The followers must abstain from all atrocities, including the killing of non-combatants. Ibid, note 172
7. One could bring about one's own destruction by withholding one's personal or material contribution to the common effort. Ibid, note 173 [Some followers were slow in joining a jihad or contributing part of their assets to the effort.
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