Ali Sina's Debate with Waqas and his imam 

Part II

About Verse 9:5

2005/10/30

Previous discussion 

Bismillah hir rehman nir raheem

Mr Ali Sina

Your question was

Allah say to kill kaffir in quran ok

A few selected verses from the Qur’an are often misquoted to perpetuate the myth that Islam promotes violence, and exhorts its followers to kill those outside the pale of Islaam.

. Verse from Surah Taubah  

The following verse from Surah Taubah is very often quoted by critics of Islam, to show that Islam promotes violence, bloodshed and brutality: "Kill the mushriqeen (pagans, kafirs) where ever you find them." [Al-Qur’an 9:5]

Context of verse is during battlefield  

Critics of Islam actually quote this verse out of context. In order to understand the context, we need to read from verse 1 of this surah. It says that there was a peace treaty between the Muslims and the Mushriqs (pagans) of Makkah. This treaty was violated by the Mushriqs of Makkah. A period of four months was given to the Mushriqs of Makkah to make amends. Otherwise war would be declared against them. Verse 5 of Surah Taubah says: "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is oft-forgiving, Most merciful." [Al-Qur’an 9:5]

This verse is quoted during a battle .

Dear Waqas:

I already explained this in my debate with Edip Yuksel one of the leaders of Quran Only crowd.. I repeat it here.

This part of the sura is called Bara’at (deliverance, declaration of immunity) because in this sura Muhammad claimed Allah released him from blemish and allowed him to break all his treaties with the Pagans. In the verse 3 Muhammad himself is saying that it is he who is breaking the treaties. " And an announcement from God and His Apostle, to the people (assembled) on the day of the Great Pilgrimage, - that God and His Apostle dissolve (treaty) obligations with the Pagans."

Let us see the background. Two years earlier, Muhammad with 1500 men decided to get into Mecca for pilgrimage. Meccans did not like the idea. For years Muhammad had taunted them, raided their caravans and had killed many of their men. Now he was coming with this many men, all armed and they did not trust him. Muhammad stationed his men at Hudaibiya and negotiations began. At the end they agreed that Muhammad and his men should retreat. They were also supposed to refrain raiding the caravans of the Meccans. Also if any youth escaped to Medina and wanted to join his army of gangsters, and the parents of these youths did not agree with that, he was obliged to return them to the Meccans. In exchange if all the terms of the treaty were observed by the Muhammad and his men, they could come back the next year, without arms, and perform the prayers. Meanwhile the Meccans would go out of the city, leaving the town to them so there won’t be any clashed.

Now this is incomprehensible to us. But Mecca was a sacred place for the Arabs and even though they were enemies, they would not fight within the precincts of that town and the Meccans never prohibited anyone to come there. In fact all the tribes of Arabia had their patron idol housed in Ka’ba – 360 of them.

The terms of the treaty was not in favor of the Muslims. In fact Omar was so pissed off that he started doubting Muhammad. Abu Bakr convinced him to stay.

Muhammad sensed the general malaise and decided to bring some victory for his followers and give them some booty so they become content. He sacrificed his camels in Hudaibiyya and his disgruntled followers did the same. Then he told them to march northwards and instead of entering Medina he bypassed that city and fell on Khaibar. The fortress of Khaibar was taken by surprise. People there were not prepared at all. They were unarmed and had gone out of their homes to attend their daily business.

Narrated 'Abdul 'Aziz:
Anas said, 'When Allah's Apostle invaded Khaibar, we offered the Fajr prayer there yearly in the morning) when it was still dark. The Prophet rode and Abu Talha rode too and I was riding behind Abu Talha. The Prophet passed through the lane of Khaibar quickly and my knee was touching the thigh of the Prophet . He uncovered his thigh and I saw the whiteness of the thigh of the Prophet. When he entered the town, he said, 'Allahu Akbar! Khaibar is ruined. Whenever we approach near a (hostile) nation (to fight) then evil will be the morning of those who have been warned.' He repeated this thrice. The people came out for their jobs and some of them said, 'Muhammad (has come).' (Some of our companions added, "With his army.") We conquered Khaibar, took the captives, and the booty was collected. (Sahih Bukhari 1.367)

Two years after he signed the treaty with the Meccans he was strong enough to break that treaty. He allied himself with a bunch of other Arabs who foolishly thought if they join him, they would be spared from his aggressions. What a mistake! So they accompanied him and stationed themselves on the hills around the Mecca. Muhammad threatened the Meccans to surrender or face death. The city capitulated because the Quraish saw that Muhammad is accompanied by 10,000 men. There was also some treachery and machination on the part of Abbas the uncle of Muhammad. So it was Muhammad who broke his treaty and not the moshrekeen and the Quran confirms this.

Sura 9 is the last sura that Muhammad wrote. The first part of it is the text of a speech that Ali read on behalf of Muhammad during the pilgrimage after Mecca had fallen to the Muslims. Muhammad was sick and dying so he did not come. Ali read this message to all the presents, Muslims and pagans, who were there performing their hajj. This was the last time pagans performed pilgrimage there. In this speech (Bara'at) he told the pagans to convert to Islam or face death. He gave them four months of grace or immunity to go to their homes and after that they would be fair game for the Muslims. After these four months, they had to accept Islam and pay the tithes or they would be hunted wherever they are found and put to death. (Quran 9:5)

As for breaking his oaths, Muhammad had never shown any scruples. He broke his oaths any time it suited him. To justify his treachery he claimed that others would break their oaths and hence it is okay of he did it preemptively.    

“They are those with whom thou didst make a covenant, but they break their covenant every time, and they have not the fear (of Allah). 8.56

If thou fearest treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms: for Allah loveth not the treacherous.” 8.58  

Pay close attention to the wording. If you fear treachery, throw back their covenant to them. In other words be treacherous if you "fear" others would be treacherous to you. This allowed Muhammad to treacherously break his treaties anytime he desired by just claiming that he feared treachery. 

This is the typical mindset of the pathological narcissist who projects his own lack of honor on others and then feels justified to avenge for the breach of an agreement that has occurred only in his paranoiac mind.  

In this Sura Muhammad said that if one among the pagans asks for asylum it should be granted so he can convert to Islam. Therefore victims of Islam cannot ask for asylum and live their lives freely. They should only be given asylum provided they convert to Islam and pay zakat and participate in future expeditions of jihad or become dhimmis and pay jizyah. In other words surrender and submit to the Muslims. 

You must keep in mind that Muslims were the aggressors. So it makes no sense to say let your victims go and accompany them to safety if they stop defending themselves. If that was the meaning of this verse as Muslim apologists want us to believe, why attack in the first place? 

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