Muslims - How do you decide? Just pick? Or a better solution?

Question

I've been reading some of the history of Islam and teachings in the Koran and find some things confusing.
In the beginning Mohamed was told to tolerate the unbelievers.
Later he was told "O Prophet, strive hard against unbelievers and be firm against them." Sura 9:73 and to kill the infidels where he found them, etc.
I know many Muslims are trying to live down the terrorist image acquired through fundamentalists.
But what do you do with this kind of thing?
When the Koran teaches two opposite things, do you just choose the one you like best?
Or go with the last one, as being the final revelation or a sort of amendment?
Or what do you do?
Can you explain? Thanks

Sorry, change4thebetter, but that wasn't the question.

novan and dbznut
I understand that the Quran isn't in chronological order. But then are the laws just for that time or all time? How do you decide what is for today?
How do you decide whether you should obey it now or if it was only for that war, etc. Please explain how to decide.

Answer 1

When reading the Quran, one must look the reason certain chapters were revealed.

The Quran says to tolerate non-Believers.

However, when it comes to chapter 9, this Sura(Chapter) was reavealed because when the Muslims signed a 10 year long peace treaty with the unbelievers. The treaty was broken by the unbelievers, the way it was broken is that they killed Muslims who had no weapons and didn't do anything wrong.

Therefore the treaty was broken.

Hence, ALLAH commands the Muslims to fight against those people who signed the treaty and then they betrayed there outh.



Quote:
"and to kill the infidels where he found them,"

I think you are refering to verse 9:5

And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.


As far as this goes, it refers to the battle field, so i don't think this is very complicated, since your in war, you going to kill your enemy where ever you find them. I am sure thats what happens in war, your enemy tries to kill you and you try to kill your enemy. I mean it's not like your going to give them Ice cream and cake.


009.006
And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah . Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.


No if you look at the next verse (9:6) it tells us the Muslims that if the enemy seeks refuge and a safe place, give it to them.

No I ask, why military commander today would tell his soldiers to give your enemy refuge and a safe place to be. At the very most the commander would say, to let them go and even that doesn't happen.

with that said, I end by saying, study the Quran with an open mind and don't listen to people who are haters of Islam.

Answer 2

hi Lisa,

You have to consider that the things you are reading in the Qur'an are not revealed in chronological order and the Qur'an was not revealed to Muhammad all at once, it was gradual. So you have to consider when these things were revealed in Muhammad's life.

"O Prophet, strive hard against unbelievers and be firm against them."
I would assume that this verse is a universal application, the prophet was to strive hard mentally and physically against the unbelieving tribes around him, and be firm with them as.

9:27 about the "Killing wherever you find them" etc. was revealed to him for The Battle of Badr. It was the first major conflict/war the followers of Muhammad had - pretty much a full scale war, the non believing tribes sent their best and Muhammad sent his all.
I think we can both agree that during war, killing is inevitable and it's a must (kill or be killed basically).
They fought back because they finally could. If they didn't they would have spent their whole lives being prosecuted, tortured etc. and Islam could not have spread. Therefore, 9:27 was necessery AT THAT TIME.

In conclusion, you must consider the historical context, and when during Muhammad's life the particular verses you're talking about were revealed to him. This is how many misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the Qur'an happen (when you disregard context) and from this comes the likes of extremist views...

Answer 3

There are no contradictions in the Quran, and of course we don't pick parts and leave others, we take it as a whole we believe it's all from Allah almighty. the Quranic verses were revealed according to certain situations, you can't interpret any verse untill you know the circumstances during which it was revealed.

Striving hard against unbelievers doesn't necessarily mean fighting and killing them. It can also include exerting effort to clear the image of Islam, to oppose those who try to spread wrong ideas about it. Islam doesn't order us to kill people just because they are unbelievers.

The other verse you are talking about was related to a specific battle, and to the infidels already fighting in the battle.

"Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors . "[2:190]

"Allâh does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allâh loves those who deal with equity. (8) It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allâh forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the Zâlimûn (wrong-doers those who disobey Allâh). (9)"[60:8-9]

"And if anyone of the Mushrikûn (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allâh (the Qur'ân), and then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men who know not."[9:6]

and more

Answer 4

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Answer 5

it is always a Miss conception about Islam! always has been.
as u said u r reading the history of Islam then u must also know that the war which took were to protect Muslim tribes from unbelievers. there is no two chooses in Quraan.

Answer 6

Some veruses in the quran abrogate others.

Answer 7

its a big issue plz read explanation here

Answer 8

Most terrorists are muslims, but not all muslims are terrorists

Answer 9

The latter one.

Answer 10

For LISA S.

During 13 years in Mecca God ordered Mohammd not to even defend against the persecution of Mohammad himself and his followers. Their hands were tied. God's purpose was to strenghten the belief of newly converted Muslims from atheism. God ordered Mohammad to send his followers to Abbesynia and Madina to save them from persecution when it became unbearable. People of Madina invited Mohammad to come to their city in 12th or 13th of his prophethood. God ordered Mohammad to move to Madina to launch preaching in a new base where people will welcome him and help him instead of being hostile to him.
Mohammad never left Madina even after he conquered Mecca ten years later without a fight.

Word Kafir doesn't mean infidel. This word is used by western themselves for defaming Muslims. If a Muslim uses this word they do because western press has taught them. They use word Kafir for non-believers. Kafir means one who knows the truth, recognizes the truth but rejects to believe the truth for his personal interest, pride, prejudice etc. Mohammad was born, raised and lived in Mecca for 40 years. Every individual loved him in the city for being the most respected genetleman. All Quraish leaders liked him. When God chose him to be His Messenger and ordered to preach Islam. Leaders of Mecca recognised the truth but refused to accept him as God's Messenger because if they accept him, they loose their own leadership positions in presence of a Propphet amongst them. They had 360 idols in Kaaba and Arabians from all over came on Haj and brought lot of money to spend there. Mohammd always said not to worship idols and worship only one God. He wanted these idols destroyed and thrown out of Kaaba. Meccan leaders were afraid that their economy will go down if Arabians stopped coming for Haj if their idols are broken and thrown out. They offered Mohammad the title of king, wealth, and women to marry which ever he choose but stop preaching against their idols. Mohammad said, what I am doing is God's command. I am willing to die for doing what God has commanded me to do but will not stop preaching against idol worshipping After persecuting him and his followers finally Meccan leaders planned to kill him one night. God told him to leave in the late night and made all the people who were guarding his house to deep sleep.

After two years preaching in Madina he made treaty with Jews and expanded his influence in surrounding tribes. Then God allowed him to not only defend but launch offences against Kafirs (unbelievers). A prophet and Messenger never did any thing without permission of God before and neither Mohammad did any thing without the permission of God. If he does any thing without permission of God, God punishes kthe prophet badly.

You will find in old testament Prophet named Jona (in Quran Yunus) abondoned his people for never listening to him and was going away wihtout first getting permission of God. He was travelling in a boat/ship. Storm came and he was drowned and a whale swallowed him. There and then he realized in whale's stomach his mistake and prayed God to forigve him. Then on command of God whale came to shore and spit him out. He laid there and a whine covered him completely until his wounds of acidity of whale's digestion system healed. Then he went back to his same city to continue his preaching. I have written this story to explain you how Messengers of God are bound by the frame work of God.

Meccan kafirs attacked on Muslims two years after Mohammad and his folowers moved to Madina. They were 1000 fully armed and Muslims were only 313 men. Out of them only 8 persons had swords. Mohammad prayed to God and asked for help. God sent 1000 Angels fully armed. Muslims could not see them but Kafirs did see them. 70 Meccan leaders were killed in this war. Muslims won the war. It was humiliating defeat for Meccans. They came again two more times. Each time God's warriors defeated them. Mohammad strengthend his base and followers in ten years. Then God sent Surah At-Taubah #9 in Quran. In this surah God commanded Mohammad to announce this message of God to all Kafir by reading it during the Haj when all Kafirs of Arabia gather. The Message says that you have four months to think over and act. Either you convert to Islam, or leave Arabina peninsula or Mohammad and his followers will come and kill you all.

Remember this was the command of God. God wanted to clean the holy land of Arabia from non-Muslims by announcing it as the Holy Land. God commanded in Quran not any unbeliever be allowed to enter in Mecca and Madina. Since then Muslims have never allowed any non-Muslim to enter in these two cities.

By then Mohmmad and his followers made extremely strong in faith and as fighting force. Kafirs realized that they could not defend themselves if Mohammad will attack on Mecca. They all accepted Islam. By then most of the Meccan leaders were already killed in last three years. Abu Sufyan was the only leader left. His daughter was wife of Mohammad. He soon came to Madina and converted as Muslim holding hands of Mohammad in the Mosque of Madina.
After four Months when Mohammad went to Mecca with
10,000 armed Muslims, Meccans stayed in their houses. Mohammad announced in city that all persecution you did against us is forgiven. No one will be punished for past atrocities against Muslims.
Hearing this announcement all came and accepted Islam. Mohammad went in Kaaba and destroyed all idols laying inside Kaaba and had it cleaned with fresh water. He announced that from now on, no any unbeliever will enter in this Mosque and in city of Mecca and Madina. Kaaba was built by Prophet Ibrahim for Muslims only and only Muslims can enter in this mosque to worship Allah alone. And since that day non-believers are not allowed to enter in the city of Mecca and Madina because these are the holiest cities of Arabia. Non Muslims can go and work in other cities of Arabia except Mecca and Madina.

When Mohammad announced all unbelievers to either accept Islam or leave Arabia. His one son in law was still kafir. So he got in a boat to escape to Abbesynia. On the way storn came. All passengers called for help of their idols but storn kept getting stronger. Finally they all started calling Allah for help and then storm stoped. Mohammad's son-in-law realized why I am running from Allah. Mohammad has been preaching to come to Allah. So he came back and accepted Islam. Mohammad hugged and kissed him after he converted.

This order of God to kill Kafirs was only to kill kafirs of Arabia because they new Mohammad was the true Messenger of God. They knew that he never lied in his life of 53 years he spent in Mecca. God wanted to clean the holiest land of Arabia from atheisim and to establish religion of God fully in this land. This order is not for any other land on this planet. Muslims are not to kill unbelievers any where they find on earth. It is a deliberate false propaganda of western press against Muslims to defame Islam. If any illerate Muslim (like the brain washed illiterate men of Afghanistan) say that we want to kill all Americans or all infidels, they are fools, ignorant and wrong.

Mohammad and his successors launched offensive campaigns on the command of God later on to many countries in middle east which were under occupation of Romans and Iranian empire. Every time he sent army, he instructed them never to kill an unarmed man, old men, women, children and prohibited to cut trees or burn the crops. God's purpose for these offences was to free the lands from the tyrant rulers so they did. But Muslims were not allowed to force any one to convert and they never forced any one to convert. Since then and even now there are lots of Christians in Egypt, Palestine, Lebonon, Syria etc.. All Christians and Jewish communities were protected minorities under the Islamic law during the rule of Muslims. People slowly converted on their own by seeing the just rule of Muslims.

To confirm see the documentaries of CNN shown on tv titled some thing like EMPIRE OF FAITH. Read history of Islam even written by European historians. You will find that they created great civlilization under the rule of Islam in middle east when west was going throgh dark ages.

Again kill all infidels where ever Muslim is a lie and false propaganda. Please confirm by reading history in your local library.
Thank you reading this long article. You want to learn more about Islam feel free to write me at [e-mail]

When you write me always write in front of your name
(to learn Islam). Then I shall not delete without reading your mail. Because I get hate mail from non-Muslims also and I delete those without reading.