Does the Quran's command to "fight them until religion is all for Allah" amount to genocide of non-muslims?

Question

Quran 8:39 “And FIGHT with them UNTIL...RELIGION SHOULD BE ONLY FOR ALLAH"http://cwis.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/008.qmt.htmlhttp://cwis.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/008.qmt.html

Ok, so Muslims should fight non-muslims until religion is only for Allah. Obviously, the only way a Muslim reading this in the Quran can be sure "religion" is only for Allah is to force people into Islam.

So what is the scope of this fight? Muslims are to fight UNTIL religion ONLY for Allah. Since maybe Buddist culture are the only culture today, that Muslims can take over with much blood, we are forced to conclude that 8.39 in the Quran is a command for outright genocide of the entire non-muslim world.

Now, to 'appear' to lessen the savage words in this part of the Quran, it later says "but if they behave, then surely Allah sees what they do". Sounds like a qualification...right? But notice, all it says is that "if" they behave, Allah sees it, not that Muslims should stop their genocide.

Answer 1

Non-Muslims might think that it is genocide for Muslims to kill non-Muslims but Muslims disagree. Muslims must rid the world of "fitnah" (disbelief in Allah). Muslims have righteous intentions.

In addition, there are vast numbers of people in this country and around the world who sincerely believe that Islam is peaceful, that only a handful of Muslim "extremists" commit acts of violence and that what non-Muslims should do is listen to the Muslims' political demands and not insult them or say anything bad to them so the Muslims will be kind, tolerant good neighbors and citizens.

The "peaceful" Muslims struggle "jihad" very sincerely with non-Muslims to make them see the light and convert to Islam. Initially, they do not want to kill non-Muslims but eventually, out of frustration, and goaded by their clergy and their more militant peers, they may change their peaceful attitude.
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The Qur'an 2:6 says, Don't bother to warn the disbelievers. Allah has blinded them. Theirs will be an awful doom.

"Peaceful" Muslims sincerely want the non-believers to become Muslims. It is very important to understand that Muslims do not "hate" non-Muslims. In Islam only Satan causes hatred.

What does the Qur'an say?
2:251 ...This world would be full of (corruption and) chaos, had Allah not arranged to dislodge (and rid) one set of people by another. Allah is full of kindness and grace for the entire universe! (Munir Munshey translation).

2:10 Allah has sickened their hearts. A painful doom is theirs because they lie. 2:17-18 Allah has blinded the disbelievers.

Killing is forbidden in the Qur'an except under certain circumstances. Muslims only kill for good reason. They kill (qitl) in the path of Allah (fee sebillah).

Muslims do not want to kill but Allah commands it even if they do not want to.

What does the Qur'an say?
2:216 Warfare (alqitalu) (for the sake of Allah) has been ordained for you, though it is not something you like. It is possible that the thing you detest might just (turn out to) be good for you. It is possible that the thing you like (the most) might in reality be bad for you. Allah knows (all) while you know nothing (at all)!
(Munir Munshey translation).

2:88-89 Allah has cursed them for their unbelief...The curse of Allah is on disbelievers.
2:98-99 Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers...Only evil people are disbelievers.

A thorough survey of the relevant verses of the Qur'an shows that it is consistent throughout with regard to these rulings on the justification of war, and its conduct, termination and consequences.

Nowhere in the Quran is changing people's religion given as a cause for waging war. The Qur'an gives a clear instruction that there is no compulsion in religion (Qur'an 2:256). It states that people will remain different (Qur'an 11:118), they will always have different religions and ways and this is an unalterable fact (Qur'an 5:48) - God tells the Prophet that most people will not believe "even if you are eager that they should" (Qur'an 12:103)

In Islam war is seen as justifiable and necessary to defend Muslims' right to their belief in Allah, and once Muslims have been given victory (by Allah) they should not become triumphant or arrogant or have a sense of being a superpower, because the promise of help given above and the rewards are for those who do not seek to exalt themselves on earth or spread corruption (Qur'an 28:83).

Righteous intention is an essential condition. When fighting takes place, it should be fi sabil illah - in the way of Allah - as is often repeated in the Qur'an.

Remember, if you are a non-Muslim and you are being beheaded by the righteous intention of a Muslim, then it is your fault for not accepting the "true" path of Allah. There is no compulsion in religion. It is a non-believer's right to refuse the path of Allah and the Muslim's sacred duty to kill those who refuse the path of Allah.

"Fitnah" is worse than killing (Qur'an 2:191). Muslims do not hate non-Muslims. They do not want to kill them. They must force themselves to kill non-Muslims to rid the world of "fitnah". Muslims do not exhalt themselves as better than non-Muslims. That is what Nazis did. They were the "master race". The Nazis committed genocide on Jews and gypsies. Muslims do not have the same attitude toward killing. They have a "righteous intent".

Answer 2

do u know how much we muslims talked about thoses verses of fighting(not violence)in quran?? plenty too many that i;ve got sickened! again for the million time:these verses and surah 9 , the verses talks about the battle field and not ageneral concept towards all non muslims, this permission includes fighting in self-defense and the protection of family and property. This is along with the freedom of believing and practicing of faith. Still, always the proviso is that fighting should be the last option, when all other avenues are closed. about the verse u quated from the surah 9,it talks about battle the early Muslims in Arabia were forced to fight many battles, against the powerful armies of the pagans. This is when they tried to annihilate the prophet (pbuh) and his new religion. besides, the prophet 9peace be upon him)said: {O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person, except in piety.} and god says in quran:O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." Holy Quran 49:13 and there are plenty too many, do u see any killing in here??!! islam -believe it or not- is the religion of peace.u just don't understand.

Answer 3

May peace be upon you
Muslim conquerors have always followed this procedure
first offer to them to convert to islam if they dont accept,
second make them pay a tax if they dont accept
war against the government you could see the greatness of early muslim empires(Glory be to Allah) when they tolerated all religions which cannot be accomplished by western govts in the middle east e.g. of tolerance Andalous, when Saladin took back Jerusaleum he did not shed a drop of blood whereas the crusaders filled the city with blood literally, when the inquisition took place jews sought refuge in muslim countries and were given fair jobs according to their competence but you took that verse out of context earlier in the qur'an it says roughly do not kill civilians and love those non-believers who treat you with respect

Answer 4

Again here is the full verse:

"And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do." (Quran 8.39)

This verse talks about war and spoils of war. Can you tell me what do you do in war? Do you serve tea to your enemy or kill them? Answer I think is obvious!

If you want to tell something about Quran, tell everything. Don't just take one part and misinterpret it. You know it perfectly that you are spreading falsehood.

May Allah punish you severely if you insist spreading false information!

Answer 5

Perhaps it means to a nuclear attack from the modern nations of the world (USA, Russia, China) on one side against Iran until the threat from fanaticism is extinct forever.
I hope it doesn't have to come to that, but if Iran starts flinging nukes, how else could it end?

Answer 6

It sure seems like it. And they wonder why everyone crosses the street when they see a Muslims coming. Noone wants to die in the blast from the bomb they have strapped between their legs

Answer 7

Context is the key brother.

Remember Quran 22:39 is the first verse where fighitng is mentioned for the first time and this is the context of Jihad or Struggle against evil:

"Permission is given to fight to those who have been abused and forced out of their homes, for nothing more than saying that we believe in Allah (or The God). Had Allah not used some to overcome evil, all monasteries, churches, synagogues, mosques AND ALL PLACES OF WORSHIP, where Allah's name is praised daily would have been utterly destroyed. Allah is all knowing Wise!!

Clearly, the Prophet of Islam did not know the name God in English. However, Allah means THE GOD in Arabic from the conjugation of two Arabic words: THE or AL and ILAH or god, any god. Thus AL-ILAH or Allah is THE GOD, the ONE MONOTHEISTIC GOD.

However, Quran says in 10:99 "Had Allah willed it, all nations would be Muslim. Would you THEN USE FORCE?"

This verse clearly makes the point that Allah or God is all powerful much more so than any Muslim at any point in the past or present or future. So, how can a Muslim play God?

That said, you need to look at the conditions in Mecca and Arabia at the time of the Prophet. Muslims were surrounded by men who were bent upon eliminating them all because they taught that all men were equal in the sight of God. Because they taught there was ONE GOD rather than 360 gods that the Arabs believed in, one for each day of the year.

The Arabs saw Islam and Muslims as a threat to their culture and religion and wanted to obliterate it by force. Muslims had no choice but to fight back. Many verses clearly show that the pre-islamic Arabs would time and again break treaties and tried again and again to eradicate Islam.

It began with the attempt on the life of the Prophet, which lead to the migration of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina, and later to battles of Badr, Ohad, Qandaq etc. which were all fought with Muslims being in a vast minority against powerfully equipped enemies who wanted to obliterate the faith.

Remember that for thirteen years the Prophet taught in peace. What did he get out of that preaching? 30 months of denial of food to him and his family. Some loyal companions would break the blockade and have some food sent to the Prophet and all his supporters. Finally the attempt to murder the Prophet by forty youth of different tribes.

Please remember the context. Muslims are not to fight anyone who did not attack them first. Peace is always preferable to war as war bring unnecessary hardships on the weakest. Besides, Islam spreads best under peaceful conditions.

Why do you ignore the fact that only 2700 were killed in all the battles over all of arabia in the decade of fighting? what kind of a genocide is this in which the house of the arch enemy of the Prophet becomes the place of refuge for all enemies of Islam?

Think about it. Remember that what Muslims do or did does not make it Islam. What did the Prophet do? What did Ali his heir and son-in-law do? What did his grandsons Hasan and Husain do? They did not fight with any nonArabs. They did fight, but only with Muslim arabs. Is that not curious to you?

Please broaden your horizon about Islam. We believe all nations, all people are created by Allah. A leaf does not fall without the permission of Allah. How can we pretend to be greater than Allah who gave lives to millions of people all around the World?

Islam to us is pure monotheism and you have to rise up to that level of spiritual purity to arrive at it. You are less than what you worship. If some humans consider themselves less, what is that to us? as long as they are not forcing their religions on us.

If someone does force their faith on you, then it is allowed to fight with them and force your faith on them. These conditions were the only basis of what happened in Arabia.

Keep the context alive and see the facts not the propaganda.

Answer 8

Yep! For sure!


They believe there can be no PEACE on Earth until ALL SUBMIT to the ltty bitty Takrit Village moon god.

Answer 9

If islam keeps getting more militant, we'll end up having to nuke them just to protect ourselve. Sad, but you can't talk reason to fanatics.

Answer 10

the treatment of non Muslims by Islam is divided as follows : those who do not believe in God (pagans) should be killed (Buddhists for example) but those who believe in God (Christians, Jews) should be force to accept the superiority of Islam, to be humbled by Islam.