[QEoMi752]

Assalamualeykum,

I had recently converted to islam and in one spanish translation of the Qur'an I was given at my local mosque it is stated that verse 5 of At-Tawba abrogates ALL previous dispositions concerning the conduct towards non-muslims. This sounds to me barbaric, but I am not as knowledgeable as the translator and it has been printed at Madinah besides. Any indication? Thanks.

Mahasalama

[Ikhqgvas]

Assalaamu Alaikum,

This is a bit long, but read it, Insha ALlah it might help. It's taken from the tafseer Anwaarul Bayan

******

TRANSLATION: 1. Allaah and His messenger have exonerated themselves from those Mushrikeen with whom you have made a treaty.

2. So travel in the land for four months and know that you can never escape from Allaah, and that indeed Allaah shall disgrace the disbelievers.

3. The proclamation from Allaah and His messenger on the day of the greater Hajj is that verily Allaah and His messenger are exonerated from the Mushrikeen. If you repent, it will be best for you and if you turn back then know that surely you cannot escape Allaah. And give the disbelievers the glad tidings of an excruciating punishment…

4. Except those Mushrikeen with whom you have a treaty and they have not abated in the least, nor have they assisted any others against you. So fulfil their treaty to them for their stipulated term. Verily Allaah loves those who adopt taqwa.

5. When the sacred months have passed, then fight the Mushrikeen wherever you may find them. Seize them, besiege them and lay in ambush for them at every opportunity. If they repent, establish salaah, and pay Zakaah, then leave their path free. Surely Allaah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

6. If any of the Mushrikeen seeks immunity from you, then grant it to him until he hears the word of Allaah, then convey him to his place of safety. This is because they are a people who do not understand.

ALLAAH AND HIS RASULULLAAH (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) ARE EXONERATED FROM THE IDOLATERS

As an introduction to these verses, it will be necessary to understand that there were four categories of Mushrikeen at the time when Surah Tauba was revealed. The first category was of those who made the treaty with the Muslims during the sixth year after Hijrah at Hudaybiyyah. It was on that occasion that the Mushrikeen prevented Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) and the Sahaaba (R.A) from making Umrah and bound them to an extremely biased treaty for a period of ten years.

One of the clauses of the treaty was that neither party should attack the other nor any of their allies. It then transpired that the Bani Bakr tribe (who were an ally of the Quraysh) once attacked the Bani Khuzaa’ah tribe (who were allies of the Muslims). The Quraysh supported the Bani Bakr with weapons and some members of the Quraysh participated in the attack. In this way the Quraysh were the first to breach the terms of the treaty.

When Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) received intelligence of this attack, he prepared an army that marched on Makkah in the eighth year after Hijrah. It was then that the Muslims conquered Makkah.

The second category of the Mushrikeen were those with whom the Muslims made a treaty for a stipulated period and they kept to the conditions of their treaties. The tribes that had entered into such treaties with the Muslims were the Bani Dhamra and the Bani Mudlaj. Both of these tribes had a few months remaining for their treaties to expire when Surah Baraa’ah was revealed.

The third category were those whose treaties were not fixed for a specific period, and the fourth category were those who had not entered into any treaty with the Muslims.

With regard to the first category viz. the Mushrikeen of Makkah, they deserved no respite, but Allaah still granted them grace until the expiry of the sacred months. Allaah says, “When the sacred months have passed, then fight the Mushrikeen wherever you may find them. Seize them, besiege them and lay in ambush for them at every opportunity. If they repent, establish salaah, and pay Zakaah then leave their path free. Surely Allaah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

With regard to the second category, Allaah says, “Except those Mushrikeen with whom you have a treaty and they have not abated in the least, nor have they assisted any others against you. So fulfil their treaty to them for their stipulated term.”

When the Kuffaar honour the terms of an agreement, it is only appropriate that the Muslims also do so since they are more cognisant of this. Muslim should always adopt taqwa for “Verily Allaah loves those who adopt taqwa.”

With regard to the third and fourth categories Allaah tells them, “So travel in the land for four months and know that you can never escape from Allaah (no matter where you go), and that indeed Allaah shall disgrace the disbelievers. The proclamation from Allaah and His messenger on the day of the greater Hajj is that verily Allaah and His messenger are exonerated from the Mushrikeen. If you repent, it will be best for you and if you turn back then know that surely you cannot escape Allaah. And give the disbelievers the glad tidings of an excruciating punishment.”

HADHRAT ABU BAKR (R.A) LEADS THE HAJJ IN 9 A.H AND THE DECLARATION OF EXONERATION IS PROCLAIMED

“The proclamation from Allaah and His messenger on the day of the greater Hajj is that verily Allaah and His messenger are exonerated from the Mushrikeen.” This proclamation is repeated in the verse. It was made when Hadhrat Abu Bakr (R.A) and Hadhrat Ali (R.A) were sent to Makkah for the Hajj of the ninth year after Hijrah. Hadhrat Abu Bakr (R.A) instructed Hadhrat Abu Hurayra (R.A) to sound this declaration.

Bukhari (Vol.2 Pg.271) reports a hadith of Hadhrat Abu Hurayra (R.A) in which he says that he was with those sent by Hadhrat Abu Bakr (R.A) to Mina to declare the proclamation on the day of Nahr (10th of Dhul Hijjah). The declaration included the words, “Behold! No Mushrik may perform the Hajj after this year and no naked person may make Tawaaf of the Kaa'ba!”

Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) sent Hadhrat Ali (R.A) after Hadhrat Abu Bakr (R.A) because some Sahaaba (R.A) suggested that is was customary among the Arabs that they required a person from the same clan to declare the annulment of a treaty. Although Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) did not enter into the treaty with the Mushrikeen as an individual (but as the leader of the Muslims), it was possible that the Mushrikeen thought this. Therefore, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) thought it necessary that a member from his own clan i.e. the Banu Haashim, should be sent to render the declaration of Surah Baraa’ah. Since it was not possible for the message to reach every person in that large gathering, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (R.A) appointed Hadhrat Abu Hurayra (R.A) and others to assist him.

“Ma’aalimut Tanzeel” (Vol.2 Pg.267) reports from Hadhrat Zaid bin Tabee (A.R) that he asked Hadhrat Ali (R.A) what he announced on that day. He replied, “I was required to proclaim four things. (1) None should make Tawaaf naked. (2) Those tribes with whom Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) had entered into a treaty would have their treaties honoured only for the stipulated terms. Those with whom no treaty was made were allowed four months in which their safety was guaranteed. Thereafter, the guarantee would expire. (3) None besides Muslims will enter Jannah. (4) The Mushrikeen and the Muslims will not again perform Hajj simultaneously i.e. no Mushrik will be allowed to perform Hajj in future.”

The author of “Ma’aalimut Tanzeel” mentions that the four month period began after the declaration on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah and expired on the 10th of Rabee ul Aakhir.

The “sacred months” referred to in the verse are the same four months grace that was allowed to those with whom no treaty was made or whose treaties were unspecified. With regard to the Mushrikeen of Makkah, it entailed the remaining 20 days of Dhul Hijjah and the following month of Muharram. Thereafter they were no longer guaranteed safety. This is the opinion of Mujaahid, Ibn Is’haaq and Nasafi (A.R) and has been reported in “Ma’aalimut Tanzeel”.

The author of “Ruhul Ma’aani” writes that the “sacred months” do not refer to those four sacred months that were observed by the Arabs (viz. Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab). This is so because at the time of the declaration, there remained only 20 days of Dhul Hijjah and then the month of Muharram. Thereafter another five months followed before Rajab started. If these four sacred months were implied, then the term would have been greatly extended, whereas none were allowed more than four months respite.

Allaah says, “When the sacred months have passed, then fight the Mushrikeen wherever you may find them. Seize them, besiege them and lay in ambush for them at every opportunity.” All the roads leading to Makkah were to be guarded so that they do not return to Makkah.

“If they repent, establish salaah, and pay Zakaah, then leave their path free.” If the Mushrikeen accept Islaam and practise it, they should be left alone and allowed to enter Makkah. “Surely Allaah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Allaah will forgive all that they perpetrated before accepting Islaam and will not require them to answer for it.

The verse “Seize them, besiege them and lay in ambush for them at every opportunity,” indicates that the Muslim should always be on guard against the Kuffaar and should protect their borders thoroughly.

With regard to the verse “If they repent, establish salaah, and pay Zakaah, then leave their path free,” Allaama Jassaas (A.R) writes in “Ahkaamul Qur'aan” (Vol.3 Pg.83) that a person may not be killed after he repents from kufr and shirk. He may, however, be seized or besieged. If a Muslim purposely neglects to perform salaah or pay Zakaah, the Ameerul Mu'mineen may imprison him until he begins to practise accordingly.

“If any of the Mushrikeen seeks immunity from you, then grant it to him until he hears the word of Allaah…” Allaama Jassaas (A.R) writes that whenever an enemy kaafir pleads for safety, it should be granted to him and then he should be allowed to enter the Islaamic State, hear the Qur'aan and the details of Islaamic beliefs and practices should be explained to him.

He also writes that if a kaafir requests to learn about the proofs and reasons to believe in Tauheed and the Prophethood of Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) to believe in them, then it will be incumbent upon the Muslims to furnish him with the details. It will not be permissible to kill him before these have been explained to him.

“…then convey him to his place of safety.” This verse outlines the responsibility of the Ameerul Mu'mineen to ensure the safety of the kaafir who has been granted immunity. None should harm him in any way while he is in the Islaamic State. The Dhimmis should also be granted perfect safety while they are residents of the Islaamic State.

This verse also denotes that a kaafir from a Kuffaar state cannot live permanently in the Islaamic State. According to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, if he enters the Islaamic State with a valid visa, he will be allowed residence only for a year. If he stays longer, he will become a Dhimmi and will have to pay the Jizya. [Ahkaamul Qur'aan Vol.3 Pg.83/4]

“This is because they are a people who do not understand.” They should be granted the requested immunity because they do not understand the reality of Islaam and have to be allowed to listen to the Qur'aan and teachings of Islaam.

Lesson: “…on the day of the greater Hajj…” This refers to the days of Hajj in general and more specifically to the day of Mina. The “greater Hajj” (Hajjul Akbar) refers to the Hajj itself since the Umrah is regarded as the lesser Hajj (Hajjul Asghar). This has been stated by Hadhrat Zuhri (A.R), Hadhrat Sha’bi (A.R) and Hadhrat Ataa (A.R). It does not refer to the commonly acclaimed meaning that it denotes the Hajj when the day of Arafah falls on a Friday.

It has been reported in certain narrations that the Hajj when the day of Arafah falls on a Friday is seventy times superior to any other Hajj. Mulla Ali Qaari (A.R) has written a treatise on this subject entitled “Al Hazul Awfar fil Hajjil Akbar.”

[career-builder]

Anwaarul Bayan is a must have. I gotta get my hands on it again.

[Borrinas]

Assalamualeykum,

I had recently converted to islam and in one spanish translation of the Qur'an I was given at my local mosque it is stated that verse 5 of At-Tawba abrogates ALL previous dispositions concerning the conduct towards non-muslims. This sounds to me barbaric, but I am not as knowledgeable as the translator and it has been printed at Madinah besides. Any indication? Thanks.

Mahasalama

Those verses of the Quran were revealed at a particular incident in the life of the beloved Prophet .

The Muslims of Medina had a treaty with the disbelievers of Mecca. The treaty stated that for the next ten years there shall be no war between the two parties. At that time some of the arab tribes were the Muslims ally and some where supporting the disbelievers. So the treaty also included an article mentioning that in case of dispute between any of the arab tribes both Muslims and the Disbelievers should not support any party.

But within 5-6 months the disbelievers broke the treaty by helping one of their ally tribe to attack one of the tribes supporting the Muslims.

So the 5th verse of Surah Tawba is referring to the abrogation of The above mentioned treaty. Also the Muslims announced the abrogation of the treaty publicly to the Disbelievers. There was no deception involved here. Please note that after winning the war with the disbelievers(the conquest of Makkah) all of them were forgiven and was not avenged. This shows that the moral ethics of the Muslims were very superior.

So the question arises how is it applicable to the present day Muslims. The commentary of the first five verses states that : If a treaty is declared between the Muslims and Disbeliever, then it should be followed strictly. But in case the Disbelievers break the treaty, then the Muslims are allowed to abrogate the treaty.

All these are not my personal opinion, its from the book 'Maariful Quran'. It has the translation and commentary of the the Quran. I hope you understood the meaning of the verses.
Allah knows best.

Edit: Sister sudoku posted a more detailed explanation.

[JoesBro]

Assalamu alaikum

is this tafsir available in internet?

[WenPyclenoWex]

Assalamualeykum,

I had recently converted to islam and in one spanish translation of the Qur'an I was given at my local mosque it is stated that verse 5 of At-Tawba abrogates ALL previous dispositions concerning the conduct towards non-muslims. This sounds to me barbaric, but I am not as knowledgeable as the translator and it has been printed at Madinah besides. Any indication? Thanks.

Mahasalama

I always laugh when people--whether Muslim or non-Muslim--try to advocate the senseless slaughter of non-Muslims. Apparently the sahaba never got that message, because they didn't just go around massacring anyone who wasn't a Muslim. I think in one of the books on the Ottoman caliphate, it was saying how the city of Istanbul had a Christian population of around 50% up until around 1750.

[Nadin Maison]

I always laugh when people--whether Muslim or non-Muslim--try to advocate the senseless slaughter of non-Muslims. Apparently the sahaba never got that message, because they didn't just go around massacring anyone who wasn't a Muslim. I think in one of the books on the Ottoman caliphate, it was saying how the city of Istanbul had a Christian population of around 50% up until around 1750.

assalamu alikum
can you please explain I di not get what do you mean
thanks
w salam

[benderkoz]

For anyone wants to know about quran a good tafseer is a must. There are various types of tafsirs but Anwarul Quran for a starter is a easyone to read along with Quranic Sciences by Mufti Taqi Uthmani
Allahualam