Spring • 2 010 $4.00

“In the latter days, the sun shall rise from the west” • Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him)

An Invitation to “Real” Secrets of the HolyHoly Qur’anQur’an

171717 Muhammadsaw 22 War Verses in 30 Madrassas in 32 Polygamy in and the Jews of the Holy Qur’an the Holy Qur’an Medina The Muslim Community

he Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a religious organization, international in its scope, with branches in 189 countries in TAfrica, North America, South America, Asia, Australasia, and Europe. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas (1835-1908) in , a small and remote village in the Punjabi province of India. He claimed to be the expected reformer of the latter days, the Awaited One of the world community of religions (The and Messiah). The Movement he started is an embodiment of the benevolent message of Islam – peace, universal brotherhood, and submission to of God – in its pristine purity. Hadhrat Ahmadas proclaimed Islam as the religion of man: “The religion of the people of the right path” (98:6).The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was created under divine guidance with the objective to rejuvenate Islamic moral and spiritual values. It encourages interfaith dialogue, diligently defends Islam and tries to correct misunderstandings about Islam in the West. It advocates peace, tolerance, love and understanding among followers of different faiths. It firmly believes in and acts upon the Qur’anic teaching: “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:257). It strongly rejects violence and terrorism in any form and for any reason.

After the passing of its founder, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been headed by his elected successors. The present Head of the Community, Hadhrat , was elected in 2003. His official title is Khalifatul Masih V or Fifth Successor of the Promised Messiah.. (1835-1908)

Editor Editor's Notes: Falahud Din Shams is published by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA, 15000 Good Hope Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905, Phone 301.879.0110, Fax 301.879.0115, under the auspices of Dr. Ahsanullah Zafar, Ameer and National Editorial Board President. The views and opinions expressed by individual contributers in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Imam Mubasher Ahmad Community, USA. Dr. Shanaz Butt Hasan Hakeem The Muslim Sunrise welcomes letters to the editor, questions and submissions. Email Amjad Mahmood Khan, Esq. us at [email protected] or go online to www.MuslimSunrise.com. Naveed Malik Library of Congress Call Number BP195.A5 M8

Mailing Address: The Muslim Sunrise, 2 S 510 Route 53, Glen Ellyn, IL Staff Editors 60137, Phone: (630) 790-4100, ext. 206, Fax: (630) 793-4100. Maham Khan Atif Mir follow the name of God’s prophets with the prayer alaehis salaam or Naser Shams ‘may peace be upon him,’ and for the Holy Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alaehi wasallam or ‘may peace and blessings of God be upon him.’ Companions of prophets and righteous personalities who have passed away are saluted by Staff Writers radhi-Allaho anhu/a or ‘may Allah be pleased with him/her.” While such salutations sometimes are not set out in the text for readability, we encourage Lubna Roohi Malik readers to offer these prayers as if set out in full. Sardar Anees Ahmad Dr. Zia H. Shah Dr. Muhammad Sadiq (1872-1957) was the first Ahmadiyya Muslim Shazia Sohail to arrive in America. In 1921, he founded the Muslim Sunrise, which stands today as the longest running Muslim publication in America. The magazine seeks to open discussions on Islam and topics relating to religion in general. It highlights the role Hasan Hakeem, Design/Layout of Islam in an ever changing global society. It provides a platform for public Naveed Malik, Circulation opinion on contemporary issues and presenting their solutions from an Islamic Shuaib Shams, Circulation perspective. www.muslimsunrise.com

2 MuslimSunrise Muslims who believe in the Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, QadianiAS In This Issue

Features

9 The Purdah: Judeo-Christian Cultural Preference

11 Concubines and the Holy Qur’an Spring 2 0 10 • Volume 90 • Issue 1 13 Physical Ascension: Myth or Fact? Departments 15 Islam and Obedience to the Rule of Law 5 In the Words of the Promised Messiahas 17 Muhammadsaw and the Jews of Medina

21 Rationale For Holy Qur’an Chapter’s names 6 Editorial

22 War Verses of the Holy Qur’an 7 Friday Sermon Attacks on Islam, the Holy 25 & Prophetsaw and the Holy Qur’an

27 News, Views and Reviews 30 Madrassas in Islam 52 Book Review 32 Polygamy in the Holy Qur’an The Belief and the Life in the Holy Qur’an 34 Circumcision in Islam 53 Perspectives 35 Islam & Slavery Mean-spirited Criticism 36 Compilation of the Holy Qur’an Text

38 Hadhrat Ayesha’sra Marriage to the Prophetsaw Correction Notice: The Winter 2009 issue featured a cover graphic representing 40 Significance of Jumu’ah in the Holy Qur’an calligraphy. However, some readers may 42 Adam & Eve in the Holy Qur’an have taken it to be a part of the Qur’an, which was not intended. We regret any 44 Battle of Badr confusion this may have caused, and in 46 Etymology of the Name “Allah” order to remove any confusion, we have revised the digital version of the issue, 48 Holy Qur’an: Miracle of the Holy Prophetsaw available online. -- Editor

50 Abrogation in the Holy Qur’an SPRING 2010 3 From the Holy Qur'an Surah Luqman, 31:3-7

[31:3] These are verses of the Book of Wisdom, [31:4] A guidance and a mercy for those who do good, [31:5] Those who observe Prayer and pay the and who have firm faith in the Hereafter. [31:6] It is they who follow guidance from their Lord, and it is they who shall prosper. [31:7] And of men is he who takes idle tales in exchange for guidance to lead men astray from the path of Allah, without knowledge, and to make fun of it. For such there will be humiliating punishment.

4 MuslimSunrise In the Words of the Promised Messiah

(103:4) and wa tawasow bil marhamah (90:18) i.e., believers are In short, the Holy Qur'an is those who exhort one another to truth and compassion. Elsewhere, He says full of verses that enjoin “God enjoins you to show justice us to show our love for to all people, and if you wish to go further then be kind to them, and bet- God in word and deed, ter still, show such compassion to- and to love Him more wards your fellow beings as you would do towards your own kindred.” (16:91) than anything else. Just consider whether there could be a better teaching than one that does As far as the second part not stop at enjoining compassion for of the question, pertaining mankind, but goes further and teaches eeta ay dhil qurba (being kind to oth- to God’s love for mankind, ers just as one is kind to one’s kin- let it be clear that the dred) which results from a natural de- sire (to do good). Often, one who Holy Qur'an contains shows kindness expects something in many verses in which God Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) return and at times shows resentment towards those who fail to acknowledge says that He loves those it. Occasionally, swayed by one’s emo- tions, one might even remind others of 1 son and cause him to become accursed in or- who repent, do good what one has done for them. But the der to redeem the sins of the evildoers. Curse doing of good through a natural inclina- deeds and exercise pa- upon the son of God will obviously entail a tion, which the Holy Qur'an compares curse upon God Himself, God forbid, for (ac- tience. But nowhere does to doing good to one’s kindred, is in- cording to the Christians), the Father and the deed the highest and final stage of vir- the Holy Qur'an say that Son are inseparable. Godhead and curse can- tue. It is like a mother’s kindness for her not go together. Another point to consider is, God also loves those who child, which is her natural instinct. Ob- by what love did God kill the virtuous and viously she does not expect any grati- save the wicked? Surely no righteous person love infidelity, sin and injus- tude from a mere infant. would be guilty of such conduct. tice; rather in their case it The third part of the question is: where in uses the word Ihsan (com- the Holy Qur'an is it written that man should Endnotes love his fellow beings? The answer is that in- 1. Divine love is not like human love, passion, kindness, stead of using the word ‘love’, the Holy Qur'an which involves pain and agony of separa- tion. Rather, it means that God treats those benevolence). For instance, uses two different terms, i.e., mercy and com- who do good deeds in the same way as a passion. The word love has been used spe- lover treats his beloved. it says: cifically for God because love culminates in worship.2 But in the case of mankind the Holy 2. Whenever the word ‘love’ has been Qur'an uses the words ‘mercy’ and ‘kindness’ used in connection with human relationships, “We have sent thee out of it does not imply true love. According to compassion for the entire instead of ‘love’, for love results in worship, Islamic teaching, true love is only for God. while compassion results in sympathy. It is Every other love is unreal and is only called world.” (21:108) because of their failure to understand this dif- love in the figurative sense. ference that people of other faiths have con- Since the world includes disbelievers, ferred upon God’s creatures what was in fact From “Four Questions by a Christian sinners and evil doers, God has opened the due to God. I do not believe that Jesus could and their Answers”. To read the full text of the book, go to Alislam.org door of His mercy for them too and they ever have taught such idolatry. I would rather can also attain salvation by following the believe that such abhorrent teachings were guidance contained in the Holy Qur'an. I added to the Gospels at a later stage and Jesus also declare that, according to the Holy unjustly blamed for them. In short, the Holy Qur'an, God’s love for mankind is not such Qur'an uses the word ‘compassion’ in relation that He should be required to crucify His to mankind, as he says, Tawasow bil haqqay

SPRING 2010 5 Editorial slam has been Richardson, a Christian sources and not the Google attacked by many preacher. There is nothing scholars of this age who have over the last few particular or special about this their own agendas. In fact, Mr. centuries. Several book. It displays the same old Richardson in his book has prejudiced,I so-called “scholars” thoughts of hatred, personal ruled that not just Islam but have sarcastically and frustrations with a Hinduism and Buddhism are offensively selected some verses misunderstood religion and also incompatible with Western of the Holy Qur’an and conveys to the West the thought. Christianity is the only expounded their own thoughts. “expertise” and “unique path. That verdict renders the New opportunities have been findings” in one’s “research”. Jewish faith irrelevant as well. It offered to some of these We have selected this book is amazing to note that the “scholars” since the September merely as a model and example religious tolerance that the 11 attacks. The West wants to to go over all the issues that Western people present to the know about Islam and what it have been brought up and to world is nowhere to be found in represents. In this environment respond to them in the current Mr. Richardson’s books or any anyone who can Google the issue. There is a book review on other books like his. words Islam, Jihad, Muhammad Secrets of the Koran in our We hope that readers would and Qur’an pretends to be a Winter 2009 issue that our gain positive knowledge from “scholar” and an “expert” on readers can refer to on our this issue on the subjects that Islam. As Westerners often lack website Muslimsunrise.com. they have been bombarded with true knowledge of Islam, they Our main goal is to present to about Islam. We welcome any accept whatever is written by Americans the issues raised in questions, remarks and these Google scholars. this book because they cover exchange of ideas from readers The issues raised in many of nearly all the issues that so- of all faiths. these Islamophobic books are called scholars publicize in their We are especially thankful to the same which have been books. one of our staff writers, Ms. repeatedly stated over the The Western public really Lubna Roohi Malik, who centuries by the opponents of only has one choice and that is diligently worked on this issue Islam. One such book is to read about the faith of Islam and coordinated with all the “Secrets of the Koran” by Don on their own from Muslim other writers.

6 MuslimSunrise Attacks on Islam, the Holy Prophetsaw, and the Holy Qur’an We invite our adversaries to look at the teachings and contents of the Holy Qur'an attentively and discern its excellences with respect to its spiritual, moral and social guidance of mankind.

Summary of Friday Sermon delivered by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadat, the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, February 29, 2008.

NOTE: Alislam Team takes full responsibility for any errors or miscommunication in this Synopsis of the Friday Sermon

fter the recitation of Surah Fatihah, Hadhrat Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadat Khalifatul-Masih, may Allah be A work. She was arrested by the Taliban his support, proceeded. and released on the promise that she will There has been a renewed read the Holy Qur'an. After arriving home, on reading the Holy Qur'an, she found intensity in attacks on Islam, that there was great difference between were not following these teachings. the teachings of Islam and the treatment Such examples worry anti-Islam forces. on the Holy Prophet of women in Afghanistan. She accepted Irrespective of the level of their affilia- Muhammad, peace and Islam. tion with their own faith, anti-Islamic feel- The matter received a lot of media at- ings force them to indulge in unbecom- blessings of Allah be on him, tention. Due to her education and experi- ing practices. This is nothing new. Proph- and on the Holy Qur'an with ence, she was hired in . She stuck ets have experienced this before and Is- to principles of truth and fairness lead- lam now is a target as it is a great reli- an objective of defaming ing to differences with the owners result- gion. Meccans stood up against Islam as ing in her separation. She took the case it started gaining strength. 'Umar, a Islam. to court and won arguing equal rights in staunch enemy of Islam, bowed his head The reason behind these attacks is that Islam for women. before the Prophet, peace and blessings Islam fulfills the needs of the time, and people She had similar experience in a sec- of Allah be on him, after reading a few are turning towards Islam after examining the ond employment. She again took the case verses of the Holy Qur'an. Allah elevated teachings of the Qur'an. Unbiased people to court and won arguing that it is the his status so that he became the second have pondered over the Holy Qur'an. Though responsibility of Muslim governments to righteous Khalifah. After the migration just the translation does not provide the deep safeguard women's rights. These inci- of the Prophet to Medina, Jews became knowledge of the message of the Holy Qur'an, dents strengthened her faith. Though her apprehensive of the increasing influence yet the ones who have a clear conscience experiences were negative, her faith ad- of Islam. Further expansion worried the gain some understanding. vanced through reading the Holy Qur'an. kingdoms of and Rome. A news item has appeared that a British Rather than maligning Islamic teachings, Today all the great powers are fearful journalist went to Afghanistan for social she carried out a jihad against those who of Islam. They have resorted to such un-

SPRING 2010 7 fair strategies against people reach the Islam that their own depth of its meaning conscientious citizens though everyone is have started raising able to understand their voices against and practice its teach- their unfair practices. ings. People who are Adversarial voices ris- filled with envy, ani- ing out of the West do mosity and vicious- not represent the senti- ness cannot realize its ment of the general pub- beneficence, except lic. Public has stood up for when they analyze in protest against unfair it with unbiased and vicious attacks. minds. Therefore, A news lady, during an when we hear the an- interview with our mission- tagonistic views, they ary, condemned the repub- increase our faith as lication of the Danish car- they fulfill what the toons, and declared that Holy Qur'an told us before their publication she centuries ago. was proud of her country. The Holy Qur'an Generally people on tells us that the internet and in the media people who have have reacted strongly ..this wave against Islam is not the work of a taken up to malign against the republication the Holy Prophet of Danish cartoons. few writers, elected officials, politicians or Muhammad, peace be Khalifatul-Masih pre- cartoonists but there is a hand of great powers on him, and the Holy sented numerous quotes in Qur'an will not escape this respect and said that behind these incidents who are afraid of Islamic the consequences, and this wave against Islam is we have seen the fulfill- not the work of a few writ- teachings and do not want their people to know ment of this warning ers, elected officials, poli- Islamic teachings, and want to establish their throughout history. The ticians or cartoonists but consequences are immi- there is a hand of great supremacy in the name of religion. nent if the behavior is powers behind these inci- not changed. No false dents who are afraid of Is- god will be able to save lamic teachings and do not them when the time of want their people to know Islamic teachings, mark with respect to the republication of the consequence arrives. and want to establish their supremacy in the Danish cartoons, and presented the affirma- We invite our adversaries to look at name of religion. There was a big hand of tive views of the queen and parliament to- the teachings and contents of the Holy Christians in closing down our television wards Muslims. Qur'an attentively and discern its broadcast channel in the middle east [which Continuing with a review of the attacks excellences with respect to its spiritual, was immediately replaced by an alternate re- on Islam, Khalifatul-Masih further quoted moral and social guidance of mankind. source]. They are trying to become the god from a book written against the sanctity of Teachings of Islam are in accordance with of the world, and these brains are the ones the Holy Qur'an and refuted various alle- nature but it is necessary to have a pious who are involved in anti-Islamic efforts. gations in the book. heart to understand them, and a purifier Islam's destiny now is to spread, not He further pointed out with reference to guide. In this age, the Ahmadiyya com- through terrorism or militism but through the to the Holy and its explanation by munity portrays the beauties of its teach- Messiah of the age. All of us should make an the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, ings. effort to spread the peaceful message of Is- that people who live immoral and un- There is a great need for prayers these lam. Allah's plans cannot be frustrated by healthy lives cannot understand and ben- days that Muslims observe heavenly worldly powers. efit from the pristine teachings of the signs and abandon their misunderstand- Khalifatul-Masih gave details of the ef- Qur'an. Despite it having deep meanings, ings and unite for a nobler purpose sav- forts of the Ahmadiyya community in Den- it is easily comprehensible. Only special ing themselves from a grave mischief.

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SPRING 2010 9 The only reference to a head-covering of and she swung herself down from read, “Always be rejoicing, pray inces- in the New Testament is attributed to Paul, off the camel. Then she said to the servant, santly...” (5:16- 17). Nobody is excluded in 1 Corinthians. Among non-Muslims, his “Who is that man walking in the field to from worship here; the young and the eld- words are a subject of much dispute: ‘Ev- meet us?” and the servant said, “It is my erly are required to pray continuously, as ery man that prays or prophesies having master.” And she [Rebekah] proceeded to well as the married and the unmarried. something on his head, shames his head; take a head-cloth and to cover herself. (Gen- Mainstream Christians, however, have but every woman that prays or prophesies esis 24: 63-65). From this passage, it is clear done away with the practice of covering, with her head uncovered, shames her head, that not only did Rebekah cover her head insisting that women no longer need to for it is one and the same as if she were a when she learned of the identity of the cover. Today’s woman does not want to woman with a shaved head. For if a woman stranger as her future husband, but even uphold the ideals of modest women like does not cover herself, let her also be before she knew the identity of the man, Mary or Rebekah; instead, she revels in shorn; but if it is disgraceful for a woman Rebekah dismounted the camel to avoid being able to stand next to a man, exposing to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered...’, being in plain vision. Her attitude was such herself, and knowing that men like what (1 Corinthians 11: 4- 6). Continuing in that she did not want to attract the atten- they see. Of course men will like what they verses 11: 14-15, Paul mentions the hair serv- tion of a stranger. Rebekah is a biblical fig- see because the “...eyes of a man aren’t ing as the head-covering for women. That, ure, yet it seems she is the embodiment of satisfied”, (Proverbs 27:20), yet what they however, implies that men should be bald all values Islamic. think about such a wanton woman is ‘dis- to pray. Thus, it seems that Paul is contra- ’s example confirms the Islamic in- respectful’. dicting himself here. junction for good Muslim women to cover Hence Islam enjoins purdah for believ- The custom of women covering them- themselves. Sarah was given a covering by ing women. Yes, like it is repeatedly said, selves was much more apparent among the king so that she would be purdah is for the protection of the women early Jews and Christians. We can deduce distinguished among the people and no one themselves. But what does that really mean? through history that the religious clergy would bother her. It is said in Genesis 20:16, That men will not touch them? It means that promoted a woman’s modesty through cov- “Here it is a covering of the eyes to all who the woman behind the can feel safe that ering her hair and wearing loose garments. are with you, and before everybody, and the man in front of her has no lustful incli- Somehow, this custom was slowly aban- you are cleared of reproach”. This is reso- nations towards her, and is behaving ex- doned. The practice of covering among the nant of why Muslim women are commanded actly as he ought to—a man of honor who early Jews had its basis in the prophetic to cover themselves in the Holy Qur’an: “O lowers his gaze and respects a woman as precept of Micah 6:8, “...and to be modest Prophet, tell thy wives and thy daughters commanded by the Holy Qur’an: “Say to in walking with your God”, as mentioned in and the women of the believers that they the believing men that they restrain their the Talmud Bavli (Babylonian Talmud).1 should let down over them their loose outer eyes...That is purer for them. Surely Allah And so, while women were required to cover garments. It is more likely that they will thus is well aware of what they do”.5 themselves in decent clothing, even men be distinguished and not molested,” (33:60). The covering is not meant to intimidate were instructed to dress modestly. Haredi Mr. Richardson wants to blame the “ob- anyone, but to instill remembrance of Al- as well as modern Orthodox Jewish men still session” of Muslims wanting their women lah, The All-Seeing, in every man and wear their traditional kippa, while the women to be covered on “Muhammad, the Koran woman’s heart. have also found many ways to cover their and Islam”. Yet, in addition to the history As much as Mr. Richardson would like hair today, just as Muslim women wear dif- of Judaism and Christinaity, even European to believe that purdah is an “Islamic cul- ferent forms of the hijab. medieval and Renaissance art is full of por- tural preference”, he cannot deny that Further, the Jews revere Sarah and trayals of women in head-coverings and women observed purdah long before Rebekah, the wives of and Isaac, flowing robes. Mary, the mother of Jesus, Prophet Muhammad. Purdah is, without respectively. Two references2 to the head- has always been painted and sculpted in doubt, a part of the Judeo-Christian heri- covering found in the Old Testament show loose dresses that envelope her whole tage. Islam has only preserved it. 3 that these women covered their heads. Jew- body . Further, she has always been painted Maham Khan is a staff editor for Muslim ish women strove to follow their footsteps, in dark colored garments, very similar to the Sunrise. She resides in Holt, Michigan, dressing in a way that helped them submit shades of the Islamic purdah. Similarly, the with her family. to God. Thus, in observing such modesty, Latin Rite for the Catholic Church made it women shun their pride and humble them- obligatory for nuns to wear something very (Endnotes) selves and realize their potential to focus similar to the Islamic dress in 1917. Even on their spirituality. For example, when though the law has been revised, some 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tzniut#Hair_covering 2. New World Translation of the Holy Abraham’s servant was escorting Rebekah churches consider the dress code an “im- Scriptures (NWT), Genesis 20:16; 24:63-64. 4 to the land of Negeb, where she was going memorial custom”. 3. Paintings: 1. Nicolas Fromant, Moses and the to become Isaac’s wife, Rebekah displayed Many argue that the command to cover, burning Bush, 1476; statue of the virgin mary, in her inner and outer modesty: ‘And Isaac both in the Old and in the New Testament, is Mountain Province, the Phillipines; Fra Angelico, The was out walking in order to meditate in the for married women only. Proponents of such Annunciation. 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ field….When he raised his eyes and a belief say that the head-dress symbolizes Christian_headcovering looked…there, camels were coming! When a woman’s marital status, and submission to 5. The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 24, verse 31; Rebekah raised her eyes, she caught sight her husband. But in 1 Thessalonians, we Islam International Publications, Ltd.

10 MuslimSunrise Concubines AND THE HOLY QUR'AN By Khaula Rehman, MD

In the Roman Empire the title of con- “And whoso of you cannot afford to oncubinage cubine was not derogatory and was of- marry free, believing women, let him ten inscribed on tombstones. This was marry what your right hands possess, existed long different from the current Western laws namely, your believing handmaids…so that do not acknowledge any legal sta- before the marry them with the leave of their mas- tus of concubines. Today, the law only ters and give them their dowries accord- advent of admits monogamous marriages. Any other ing to what is fair, they being chaste, relationship does not enjoy legal protec- not committing fornication, nor taking Islam. The tion. This historical perspective led secret paramours.”6 Westerners to misunderstand Islam. The The prior marriages of the concu- Cpractice was widespread in the term concubinage is a Judeo-Christian bines or the prisoners of war, who could term. The Qur’anic term is ‘what your not negotiate freedom, were annulled, Roman and Persian empires right hands possess.’ This term has been but no conjugal relationship was al- used in the Qur’an in reference to slaves lowed in the Muslim society without and the pre-Islamic Arabian or bond women, and points out that be- marrying them under all of the terms and cause these women are under the care of conditions that any other woman would Peninsula. According to Muslims, they should not be mistreated.2 be wed. So profound was the effect of As is known, in Islam the right hand has the teaching of chastity in Islam that Encyclopedia Britannica, special merit and privileged functions. some of the companions wanted the There is no truth to the claim that con- Holy Prophet to give them permission “Concubinage is the state of jugal relationships are allowed in Islam if to practice celibacy. But the Holy outside the bond of marriage.3 The Holy Prophet refused that because he wanted cohabitation of a man and a Qur'an has explained that the object of Muslims to follow the golden mean. Ac- marriage is to protect one from moral and cusations that the Holy Prophet and his woman without the full physical diseases; thus, Muslims are not companions indulged in self gratifica- allowed to gratify their passions outside tion with the concubines is totally alien sanctions of legal marriage. … the domain of marriage. to the teachings and spirit of Islam. Chapter Nisa details the blood rela- Only those ignorant of the teachings In Roman law concubinage was tionships that forbid marriage: “Forbid- of Islam or with evil motives can make den to you are your mothers, and your such claims. the permanent cohabitation of daughters, and your sisters, and your In the time of the Holy Prophet, hos- fathers’ sisters …”4 The very next verse tile nations waged religious wars a man and a woman outside of describes the issue under discussion, against Islam to attempt to destroy it “And forbidden to you are married and compel Muslims to abandon their their existing formal marriages. women, except such as your right hands religion, enslaving Muslim men and possess.”5 women and treating them in a horrific The partners in such By relating these two verses one can and inhumane manner. Muslim women, immediately understand the Islamic especially pious ones, were captured relationships and the offspring teachings on the issue of concubines and treated as bondwomen and concu- (your right hands possess). Although bines. of their union did not have the concubines did lose certain rights when Thus, the Islamic injunction to take prisoners of war , the Qur'an in this verse prisoners of war was only a retaliatory same legal rights accorded is only referring to them within the con- measure that was necessary to deter the text of marriage. The very next verse con- enemy from their excesses. However, married persons and their firms the above inference that, unlike in because women participated in wars, Roman or Judeo-Christian tradition, there 1 and in some cases actual fighting, there legitimate children.” is no Islamic permission for conjugal re- was no reason for them to be exempt lationships in Islam outside of marriage, from imprisonment. After all, if it is law-

SPRING 2010 11 Hadhrat explains this in his book Islam and Slavery: “If we carefully consider this mat- The Holy Prophet was very explicit that female ter, we shall find that this very circum- slaves and prisoners of war should be given a stance is an evidence of the Law of Is- lam being a perfect and a universal one, good education and upbringing. He is reported for it shows that in the Islamic law, the change of circumstances has been fully to have said, “He who has a slave girl and gives taken into consideration. This is why that while some laws which form the ba- her proper education and brings her up in a sis of the Islamic code have been laid becoming manner and then frees her and marry down in a rigid form which admits of no alteration, there are other command- her, for him is double reward.” 13 ments which have either been given in alternative forms in the view of chang- ing conditions…..” 15 16 He concludes his argument by refer- ful for every nation and country to im- tract, the slave was free to earn the ran- ring to a verse of the Holy Qur'an: prison women for criminal offenses, som in any legitimate means he or she “Allah it is Who has sent down to then why ought warrior women not be thee the Book; in it there are verses that liked to attain his or her freedom.10 taken captive in the battlefield? are decisive in meaning — they are the In the seventh century there were no basis of the Book — and there are oth- Only those females who were some- state prisons; thus, prisoners were dis- ers that are susceptible of different in- how not able to attain freedom by the tributed among Muslims to live in their terpretations. But those in whose hearts above means or who chose to stay with homes. The Muslims were responsible is perversity pursue such thereof as are the Muslims were to be married. It is for providing shelter, food and cloth- susceptible of different interpretations, this marriage that is stressed in the Holy ing for the prisoners, and the Holy seeking discord and seeking wrong in- Qur'an. By marriage, the female captives Prophet’s teaching was to take good terpretation of it. And none knows its and their children secured their free- care of prisoners and to treat them hu- right interpretation except Allah ….”17 manely, such that every opportunity dom, and eliminated the chance of pros- titution or concbuinage.11 This provided was given for them to earn their free- Dr. Khaula Rehman is a Sleep Medicine dom. The Holy Prophet safeguarded them hope and dignity and made men re- 12 specialist working in Upstate New York these rights. If any Muslim commited a sponsible for taking care of them. sin, he had to free a slave as a punish- The Holy Prophet was very explicit ment. If any Muslim mistreated a slave, that female slaves and prisoners of war Endnotes should be given a good education and they were forced to free him/her. 1 “concubinage.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Further, from its founding, Islam upbringing. He is reported to have said, 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 18 Dec. worked on the gradual and complete “He who has a slave girl and gives her 2009 . 2 down the following principals for the a becoming manner and then frees her Al Qur'an 4:37. 3 Al Qur'an 24:33. abolition of slavery: and marry her, for him is double re- ward.”13 This indicates that if a Muslim 4 Al Qur'an 4:24. 5 1. Prisoners can only be taken wants to marry a slave girl, he should Al Qur'an 4:25. 6 Al Qur'an 4:26. 7 first free her and then marry her. during a regular battle. 7 The Holy Prophet’s own practice Al Qur'an 47:5. 2. Prisoners cannot be retained 8 Al Qur'an 47:5. was in harmony with this admonition. 9 Al Qur'an 47:5. after the war is over.8 Two of the Holy Prophet’s wives, 10 Al Qur'an 24:34. 3. Prisoners are to be set free ei- Jawariya and Saffiya, came to him as 11 “concubinage.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. ther as a mark of favor, or by exchange prisoners of war. He freed and then Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 18 Dec. 2009 married them according to the Islamic . Law. Another wife, Maria, was sent to 12 4. To obtain freedom, prisoners of Al Qur'an 4:4. him by the King of Egypt as an offer- 13 Bukhari, kitab ul Ilm. war could enter into a civil written ing; after granting her freedom and mar- 14 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r9M- contract with his or her master, irre- riage, Maria was even known as “mother NykXMc of the faithful.” 15 Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad, Islam and spective of whether the master liked it Slavery. Qadian, 1975. Pages 71-72. The teachings of slavery and mar- 16 or not, which is known as ‘mukatabat’ http://www.alislam.org/library/books/ riage of prisoners and slaves are no Islam%20and%20Slavery-20080616MN.pdf (deed of manumission). After this con- longer applicable in this day and age. 14 17Al Qur'an 3:8.

12 MuslimSunrise Physical Ascension: Myth or Fact?

by Dania S. Ahmed

ent by God to strengthen the same message delivered to prophets before Sthe Holy Prophet MuhammadSAW, the Holy Qu’ran is a beacon of light applicable to every time and race. Accordingly, Islam is not a new religion. Its adherents follow the revival of the message sent Furthermore, ample support in the Old ation out of clay, breathing into a new to many prophets including and New Testament attest to this fact. In spirit and healing the leprous, why does SAW AS AS AS fact, literal ascension from earth to the Holy Prophet Muhammad not rec- Adam , Abraham , Moses , heaven seems to be a concept that is ognize Jesus as a redemption figure for and JesusAS. Islam is the final part merely assumed and scholars have many mankind? The answer is simple: Prophet a time challenged the literality and logic JesusAS, like all preceding prophets, died of a continuum of revelations and of this event and theological view. a natural death. Indeed, Prophet JesusAS, In Secrets of the Koran, Mr. Don being a righteous prophet of God, could is a testament to an All-Powerful Richardson criticizes the Holy ProphetSAW not die a cruel, unjust and accursed and Living God. In Islam, Jesus for purposely omitting the story of the death. Passover Lamb in all 27 tellings of the The Promised MessiahAS, Mirza is also viewed as a prophet. Moses and Pharoah epic in the Holy Ghulam Ahmad, writes: Qu’ran. He further states that the Holy “The man who was most perfect…and Contrary to the Christian ProphetSAW was determined to deny that who through a spiritual revival and res- doctrine, Ahmadi Muslims Jesus died as the atoning “Lamb of God, urrection manifested the first judgment who takes away the sin of the world” in the world and revived the dead believe that Prophet JesusAS did (John 1:29), thereby “deliberately avoid- world…was Muhammad, the chosen one, ing an Old Testament foreshadowing of peace be on him.”2 not physically ascend into Christ as an atoner.”1 Mr. Richardson’s If such a great prophet who came to heaven, but died a natural death. attempts to convey that Islam devalues perfect God’s message too died a natural the status of Prophet JesusAS by neglect- death, how could Prophet JesusAS be res- Evidence in the Qu’ran confirms ing to regard him as one who takes away urrected and wipe away all sins of man- all sins of mankind is ineffective because kind through physical ascension? God, that there was no physical Prophet JesusAS is one of God’s beloved through His infinite mercy, appoints prophets and God would not subject him prophets whenever mankind is in need ascension: to an accursed death and although of guidance. As such, he appointed the The Messiah, son of Mary, Prophet JesusAS is given a respectable Holy Prophet MuhammadSAW who lived status in Islam, his status does not ex- his life with kindness and compassion. was only a Messenger; surely, ceed that of Khâtim an-Nabiyîn (Seal of Similarly, Prophet JesusAS was sent to the prophets), which is given only to the convey the message of God. These proph- Messengers like unto him had Holy Prophet MuhammadSAW. ets, in accordance to the laws of nature, indeed passed away before him. Citing 5:11 Qu’ran, Mr. Richardson ar- died a natural death. The Holy Qu’ran gues that if the Holy Qu’ran describes reveals: And Muhammad is only a Mes- (Al Mai’dah 5:76) Prophet JesusAS as fashioning a new cre- senger. Verily, all Messengers have passed

SPRING 2010 13 away before him. (Al-Imran 3:145) Omission of physical ascension is re- Jesus (on whom be peace) are all un- Confirming the death of Prophet placed by a mystery in Mark – Prophet founded.7 JesusAS, God says: O Jesus, I will cause Jesus’AS empty tomb. In Matthew, there is Thus, the Holy Qu’ran elevates thee to die a natural death… (Al-Imran also no account of the resurrection; it ends Prophet Jesus’ status. Careful of 2:56). with the journey of Prophet Jesus’AS the New Testament illuminates how In the same vein, the Holy Qu’ran eleven disciples to Mount Galilee (Mat- heavily metaphorical the gospels are. Mr. says: “We granted not everlasting life to thew 28:16-20) Concerning these ac- Richardson explains his own example in any human being before thee. If then counts, the Promised MessiahAS, in Jesus the section entitled, The Words of Jesus, thou shouldst die, shall they live here in India, asks: From the mere fact of Jesus in which a verse from Luke is quoted for ever?” (Al Anbiya 21:35) not being in the tomb, can anybody in rea- where Prophet JesusAS says he has come Analysis of the aforementioned verse son believe that he had gone up to to “bring fire on the earth,”8 as: He [Jesus] profoundly explains that “no human be- heaven? May there not be other causes?4 was not proclaiming Himself an arsonist! ing is immune from death, not even the Mark and Matthew pave the way for Bringing spiritual fire to Earth for light, Holy Prophet. Eternity and everlasting- much ambiguity whereupon questions are warmth and testing of spiritual qualities ness are God’s own exclusive attributes.” raised. is not the same as setting this planet If intentional omission of the Pass- The Holy Qu’ran, like the Old Testa- physically aflame.9 over story from the Holy Qu’ran is des- ment, clearly counters the idea of physi- Likewise, Prophet JesusAS ascension ecration, as Mr. Richardson remarks, can cal ascension: And their saying, ‘We did was spiritual: It is contrary to God’s law the same not be said about the Old and kill the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the for a human being to ascend to heaven in New Testament of what is the focal point Messenger of Allah; whereas they slew his physical body.10 Physical ascension him not, nor cruci- is merely a statement of belief and not a fied him, but he was ‘physical observable event.’11 Confirming the death of made to appear to Did Prophet JesusAS meet the criteria AS them like one cruci- of being accursed as to become estranged Prophet Jesus , God fied; and those who from God, deprived of divine mercy and differ therein are of divine love, devoid absolutely of His says: O Jesus, I will certainly in a state Knowledge?12 Nay, if Christianity accepts of doubt about it; the Old Testament13 why does it fail to rec- they have no defi- ognize the omission of physical cause thee to die a nite knowledge ascension? thereof, but only natural death… (Al-Imran 2:56). follow a conjecture. Dania is a graduate of Barnard College/ (Al Nisa 4:158) Columbia University. The word that is of Christianity – the ascension of Prophet used for exaltation, rafaa, refers to spiri- Endnotes JesusAS ? Albeit there are references to tual (not physical) exaltation.5 Thus, AS an eternal liberating king in the line of Prophet Jesus could not have physically 1 Richardson, Don. Secrets of the Koran. Regal King David in Psalms 132:11 and 89:3, but ascended because placing him on the Books: California, 2003 these references are only symbolic. cross was accursed: And if a man have 2 Ruhani Khazain (London, 1984), Vol. 8, p. 36 There is no mention of Prophet Jesus’AS committed a sin worthy of death, and he 3 Pickett, Raymond. “Following Jesus in physical ascension in the Old Testament. be to be put to death, and thou hang him Galilee: resurrection as empowerment in the Likewise, the New Testament is regarded on a tree.6 Gospel of Mark.” Currents in Theology and as the most original and authentic Chris- Devastating the plan of the Jews to Mission, Dec 2007. 1. 4 tian source yet there is no mention of make Prophet Jesus’AS seem accursed Ahmad, Mirza Ghulam. Islam International Publications: England, 2003. 55. physical ascension in Mark or Matthew. through crucifixion, God saved him: O 5 http://www.alislam.org/library/links/ In Mark, this is especially surprising Jesus! I will clear thee from the charges of Jesus_death/2_Quran.html since the entire gospel chronicles the those who disbelieve, and will place those 6 Deuteronomy 21:22-237 Ahmad, Mirza death of Prophet JesusAS in detail. Ad- who follow thee above those who disbe- Ghulam. Jesus in India, Islam International ditionally, other gospels in the New lieve, until the ; then Publications: England, 2003. 61. Testament mention it so why the dis- to Me shall be your return. (Al Imran 3:56) 8 Richardson, Don, Secrets of the Koran. Regal crepancy? Raymond Pickett, a New Tes- Why would God condemn a beloved Books: California, 2003 9 tament scholar and teacher, writes: prophet of His to suffer on the cross? The Ibid. 10 Given the consistent and ubiquitous Promised MessiahAS explains: The inno- Khan, Muhammad Zafrulla. Deliverance from the Cross. Alden Press: England, 1978. 68. emphasis on appearances of the risen cence of Jesus has no doubt become es- 11 Ibid. Jesus in the Gospel tradition, it seems tablished in the sight of thoughtful per- 12 Ahmad, Mirza Ghulam, Jesus in India, Islam apparent that Mark’s conspicuous sons by the evidence of our Holy Prophet, International Publications: England, 2003. omission is by design and indeed makes for he, as well as the Holy Qur'an, have 13 Richardson, Don, Secrets of the Koran. Regal a bold statement.3 testified that the charges brought against Books: California, 2003

14 MuslimSunrise Islam and Obedience to the Rule of Law “Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God. These few words are profoundly rich with wisdom…. Religion and statecraft are two of the many wheels of the wagon of society. It is, in reality, irrelevant whether there are two, four and eight wheels as long as they keep their orientation correct and revolve within their orbits. There can be no question of mutual conflict or confrontation.”1

By Shazia and Sikander Sohail political relations of the citizens among them- ing the law of the country; the more so since selves and with the outside.”5 n worldly matters, Islam enjoins the general principle accepted by the mod- obedience to “those who are in ern political thinkers is that religion should ra authority among you” (4:60) and Hadhrat not be permitted to interfere with politics and I politics should not be permitted to interfere forbids anarchy of any kind, even that stated 6 exercised in the name of reform, as is “The Holy Qur’an says: “There is no with religion.” admonished, “And when it is said to them, compulsion in religion (2:257).” [....] It says ‘Create not disorder in the earth,’ they say there is NO coercion in faith or in matters of The Question of ‘We are only promoters of peace’. Beware! It faith[.….] So, here is the question: if one reli- Divided Loyalties is surely they who create disorder, but they gion imposes its law on a society where Don Richardson raises the question of di- do not perceive it” (2:12-13)” Prophet people of other religions and denominations vided loyalties of Muslims living in Western Muhammadsaw advised, countries, especially “You are obligated to hear the U.S.. He asserts and to obey in prosperity that this question and in adversity, has been resolved willingly or unwillingly, for Christians by and even when you are Jesus but Muslims treated unjustly”.2 cannot be obedient Following the law, and to a constitution that seeking recourse through is not based on appropriate means, is not Shariah, and will to be abandoned as long pose a dilemma for as there is freedom of reli- those Muslims who gion in the land. Prophet might be asked to Muhammadsaw is reported fight for their to have said that, “Your adopted countries. worst rulers will be those Since the U.S. Con- whom you hate and who stitution is not op- hate you.” When the com- posed to shariah, panions asked him if they should boycott also live, how will this verse stand against there is no room for confusion or conflict in them he said, “Not so long as they maintain your attempt to coerce. Not only vis-à-vis the minds of intelligent Muslims. Fortunately the prayer services; not so long as they main- the people from other religions, but vis-à-vis for the Ahmadiyya Community this matter has tain the prayer services.”3 Thus, Muslim people from the same religion who are not been expounded on with such clarity that they subjects can never be a threat to any system willing. The only authority in Islam, which are free from the danger of being influenced of governance that does not interfere with was genuinely capable of being given the by the hate-filled rhetoric of the militant fac- their right to pray. right to coerce, was the Founder of Islam, tions. Richardson’s allegation that Prophet Prophet Muhammadsaw…because he was a The Promised Messiahas, Founder of the Muhammad had the goal of ‘total Islamic su- living model of Islam….Yet, addressing him, Ahmadiyya Movement, laid down very premacy’ is belied by the content of the Con- Allah says in the Qur’an: “Admonish, there- clearly: stitution of Medina which “is a clear indica- fore, for thou art but an admonisher; Thou “Believers are to obey those in authority, tion of the lines on which the Apostle was hast no authority to compel them (88:22-23).” besides God and His Prophet. To say that building the ummah. It was a multi-religious You are just an admonisher. No more. You ‘those in authority’ does not include a non- community.”4 “It is interesting to note that are given NO authority to coerce. Most of Muslim-Government would be a manifest er- this first constitution of the Arabian Prophet Islam and most of Christianity and most of ror. For, a government-or authority-whose or- dealt almost exclusively with the civil and Hinduism can be practiced without their be- dinances are in accordance with the Shariah

SPRING 2010 15 (that is, they are not in conflict with it) is ‘au- ligions, cultures, races, and languages with the indeed legal personality apart from their hus- thority from among you.’ Those who are not golden principle of freedom of religion and bands. When the British applied their law to against us are among us. The Qur’an, therefore, speech. Islam conquered lands to improve the Muslims in place of Shariah, as they did in some is unequivocal on the point. Obedience to gov- condition of people by establishing the rule of colonies, the result was to strip married women ernmental authority is one of its imperatives.” law and freedom of religion, providing social of the property that Islamic law had always (Works and Speeches, Vol. (i), p. 261) services, investing in science and philosophy, granted them.”12 So also in the , the Holy Prophetsaw and eradicating differences in class, gender, and In today’s political and religious climate, it says: race. Today, the moral and intellectual condi- is understandable that concerns about the sepa- “He who obeys me, obeys God; he who dis- tion of Muslims is such that they need to look ration of church and state may arise. However, obeys me disobeys God. He who obeys his towards their own reformation rather than try to intellectual integrity dictates that answers to authority obeys me; he who disobeys his au- conquer countries that have already adopted these concerns be thoroughly sought. thority disobeys me” (Muslim, Kitab al Imarah). the very principles taught by Islam. Richardson’s allegations bear the marks of ex- “In this hadith the whole subject of obedi- Historically, the correct interpretation of Is- treme haste in jumping to conclusions and bla- ence becomes illuminated… Loyalty and obe- lamic theology led to a concept of human rights tant intellectual dishonesty. Without question, dience belong by right only to God, Creator, that the West arrived at almost a thousand years Islam does not posit that Shariah be a trump Master, Lord of Men and Nations. Others have later. “In the field of human rights, early Islamic card to state government. authority derived from Him….[O]ne who has jurists introduced a number of advanced legal authority among men is responsible for disci- concepts which anticipated similar modern con- Shazia Sohail is a staff writer for The pline, for order among God’s creatures; a guard- cepts in the field. These included the notions of Muslim Sunrise. She has an MBA and ian of their lives, property and honor. Obedi- the charitable trust and the trusteeship of prop- lives in the Bay Area, California. ence to such a one is most pleasing to God. It is erty; the notion of brotherhood and social soli- 7 obedience to God.” darity; the notions of human dignity and the Sikander Sohail is a Junior at the The Ahmadiyya Muslim stance on dignity of labour; the notion of an ideal law; the Woodside Priory High School and Editor- whether a Muslim would fight for America is condemnation of antisocial behavior; the pre- in-Chief of the school publication ‘Last unequivocal: sumption of innocence; the notion of “bidding Minute Press.’ “One imaginary situation is often posed. Two unto good” (assistance to those in distress); countries, both with Ahmadi populations, go to and the notions of sharing, caring, universal- war, Ahmadis in the two countries profess loy- ism, fair industrial relations, fair contract, com- Endnotes alty to their respective Governments. What are mercial integrity, freedom from usury, women’s Ahmadis going to do in such a contingency? rights, privacy, abuse of rights, juristic person- 1. Ahmad, Mirza Tahir, Islam’s Response to Our answer has always been this: Yes, even in ality, individual freedom, equality before the law, Contemporary Issues (Islamabad, UK: Islam International Publications Ltd., 1992). Page 237 such a contingency, Ahmadis will remain loyal legal representation, non-retroactivity, su- to their respective Governments. This premacy of the law, judicial independence, judi- 2. Khan, Muhammad Zafrullah. Gardens of the belief…is…taught by God and explained by His cial impartiality, limited sovereignty, tolerance, Righteous (Islamabad, UK: Islam International Prophet…. If loyalty to their respective Gov- and democratic participation..”10 Publications Ltd., 1996). Page 136 ernments results in the killing of Ahmadis by The charge that Muslims do not feel obli- 3. Ibid. Page 135 Ahmadis, well that is there and, there is nothing gated to obey laws that are not dictated by more to be said or done. It is but a consequence, ‘shariah’ is erroneous since the laws that gov- 4. Ahmad, Barakat. Muhammad and the Jews: an obligation entailed by our religious belief. ern the temporal aspects of a Muslim’s life A Re-examination. (New Delhi, India: Vikas Publishing House Pvt Ltd, 1979) Page 47 Principles have priority over persons. Persons are secular in nature. “[T]he manner in which may be sacrificed for the sake of principles, not an act was qualified as morally good or bad in 5. Ibid. Page 48 principles for the sake of persons. Such mutual the spiritual domain of Islamic religion was 6. : Relationship Between Religion and killing will be forgiven [and] … will be the result quite different from the manner in which that Politics in Islam, By Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad of His Own teaching, of conditions, over which same act was qualified as legally valid or in- (1928-2003) http://www.alislam.org/books/ we have no control.”8 valid in the temporal domain of Islamic law. shariah/index.html “To be brief, the Ahmadiyya stand is clear Islamic law was… focused on ensuring that and clean. Need we reiterate that we Ahmadis an individual received justice, not that one 7. The Question of Divided Loyalty: Some 11 Parallels From History, By Hazrat Mirza living in different countries, under different be a good person.” Bashir Ahmad (1893-1963) http:// states and Governments, are loyal to the coun- In terms of women’s rights, women gener- www.alislam.org/jihad/loyality.html tries in which we live, to the states and Govern- ally had more legal rights under Islamic law than ment under which we live…. This is the divine they did under Western legal systems until the 8. Ibid. command and the voice of our hearts. And he 19th and 20th centuries. For example, “French 9. Ibid. who does not believe us and attributes some married women, unlike their Muslim sisters, suf- other belief to us, offends against God and griev- fered from restrictions on their legal capacity 10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ ously wrongs us.”9 which were removed only in 1965.” Noah Sharia#Human_rights Islam in the Eyes of History Feldman, a Harvard University law professor, 11. Ibid. Islam has a long history of governing vast notes: “As for sexism, the common law long empires, comprising populations of diverse re- denied married women any property rights or 12. Ibid.

16 MuslimSunrise Muhammadsaw and the Jews of Medina

By Shazia Sohail

and the women and children subjected to sla- he earliest account The widely-reported short version of the story of the Jews of Medina is that “at the very. Estimates of those killed vary from 400 3 about the fate of the advent of Islam there were three Jewish tribes to 900.” Jews of Medina, other that lived in Yathrib (later Medina), as well as We shall proceed to analyze the fate of the T other Jewish settlements further to the north. three tribes, on the basis of facts from the fol- than the Qur'an, is obtained from As soon as these tribes realized that Islam lowing sources: the biography, Sirat of was being firmly established and gaining 1. The Qur'an. 2. Kitab Sirat Rasul Allah, Ibn Hisham’s Muhammad, the Apostle of Allah, power, they adopted an actively hostile atti- tude, and the final result of the struggle was recension of the original work by Ibn Ishaq by Ibn Ishaq, who was born in the disappearance of these Jewish communi- (d. 151AH/768 AD). These will be compared 704 AD in Medina. Although Ibn ties from Arabia proper. to Waqidi (d. 207/823) and Ibn Sa’d (d. 230/ Ibn Ishaq, followed by later historians, re- 845). Ishaq’s biography is quite lates that Banu Qaynuqa, and later Banu al- 3. Sahih Bukhari (d. 256 AH/869 AD) 4 thorough, Muslim and non- Nadir, provoked the Muslims, were besieged, 4. Al-Sahih of Muslim (d. 261 AH/874 AD). Muslim scholarship has, ignored and in turn surrendered and departed. The third of the Jewish tribes, Banu Qurayza, sided Banu Qaynuqa many of his own views on what with the Qurashites, made an unsuccessful There are far too many inconsistencies in happened with the Jews due to attack on Medina to destroy Islam, and failed. the story of B. Qaynuqa as it has been passed Unlike the Banu al-Nadir, they were subjected down by historians, without investigation, for the events which took place in his to the arbitration of Sa’d b. Mu’adh, a member it to be believable: lifetime and influenced his views of the Aws tribe, allies of Qurayza. He ruled 5 against the Jews.”2 that the grown-up males should be put to death (i) Two early Meccan surahs, Bani Isra’il

SPRING 2010 17 and Yunus6 show that the Prophet always auxiliaries of the Banu Qaynuqa against ness, and disastrous to the Muslim pres- had an idea of the ultimate Jewish reac- the Jews of Khayber (7/628) 17 tige. 28 tion to his claim. (xii) The Qur'an supports the view (vii) After surrendering, the Banu al- (ii) The story of the Muslim woman that Banu Qaynuqa were not expelled in Nadir requested to leave with their be- immodestly exposed by the Banu the second year of Hijrah. Surah al- longings, except weapons. They went Qaynuqa goldsmith is generally cited as Hashr, which was revealed after the Battle with six hundred camels. 29 the reason for escalation of hostilities of Uhud, in the fourth year of the Hijrah (vii) Some settled in the Jewish town between the Muslims and Banu Qaynuqa. and deals with the banishment of the B. of Khayber, where they started conspir- This is not reported by Ibn Ishaq, but al-Nadir from Medina, refers to their ex- ing against the Muslims. 30 was added by his editor Ibn Hashim al- pulsion as “the first exile.” 18 (ix) The Prophet’s order to “kill any most a hundred years later. 7 (xiii) While the Qur'an mentions the Jew that falls into your power” comes (iii) Banu Qaynuqa were 700 strong, Banu al-Nadir’s expulsion and Banu from Ibn Ishaq without context. The or- 300 with armor and well-provided strong- Qurayza’s punishment, it does not refer der seems drastic since it was unenforce- holds, compared to 300 Muslims without to the Banu Qaynuqa’s expulsion. 19 able in the third year of migration when armor.8 (xiv) Since Abu Ishaq does not report there were 40,000 Jews in Medina. Fur- (iv) Banu Qaynuqa were the bravest their expulsion, he does not refer to the ther, it appears that Ibn Sunaynah was of the Jews and called themselves the disposal of their property. 20 the only Jew who had this fate. 31 ‘men of war,’ 9 which is why they took the initiative and ‘went to war.’ 10 Banu al-Nadir Banu Qurayza (v) After only a fifteen-day siege, the The story about the fate of the Banu The story of Banu Qurayza as told by Banu Qaynuqa surrendered. Nadir is less controversial and relatively Ibn Ishaq is riddled with inconsistencies (vi) Ibn Ishaq’s account of the whole consistent: and reflects the author’s bias against affair is short and restrained. His bias (i) To stop the progress of Islam, the Jews. The massacre of 600-900 Jews is against the Jews becomes obvious when Jews employed the communication media mentioned with no indication of any war- he implies, without any authority, that if against the Prophet. The propagandist time sentiment. Much has been said it had not been for Abd Allah bin Ubayy’s poets, whom Rodinson describes as “the against Ibn Ishaq’s methodology of re- plea on their behalf, the Prophet would journalists of the time”, and Carmichael porting events in Medina. The great have slain all of them. This event took as “kindlers of battle,” accused the Mus- Traditionist Malik bin Anas called him a place right after Badr when imposition of lims of Medina of dishonoring themselves ‘dajjal’ (charlatan), and Hisham bin such a severe punishment was impossible by submitting to an outsider. 22 Urwah did not consider him worthy of by Muslims in their weak position. 12 (ii) Ka’b b. Ashraf, who was elected credence. 32 (vii) In response to Abd Allah bin chief of the Jews lamented the loss of the Ibn Ishaq follows the pattern of pro- Ubayy’s plea, the Prophet said, “you can Quraysh at Badr (624), and set out for viding reliable isnad (authorities) have them.” Ibn Ishaq does not report to rouse the Meccans to avenge throughout the Sirah. “With the Banu Banu Qaynuqa were expelled from the defeat at Badr. In one of his elegies Qurayza the pattern seems to break down. Medina. It was Waqidi who later added he sang of the nobility of those who fell Most of the main events … are not pre- the phrase “and ordered them to be ex- at Badr and cried out for vengeance. In a ceded by isnads. Several reliable report- pelled from Medina.” 13 year’s time the Meccans were ready to ers like al-Zuhri and Qatadah appear…but (viii) Neither Bukhari nor Muslim re- fight. 23 a closer examination discloses that they ported any Hadith on the Prophet’s con- (iii) Banu Nadir conspired to kill the are reporting minor details, not the major flict with Banu Qaynuqa, though both Prophet. 2425 events. Robson observes, ‘…Ibn Ishaq dealt with the Banu Nadir and Banu (iv) Approximately three months after is quite open about his methods. … We Qurayza. The expulsion of the Banu the Badr, Sallam b. Mishkam, chief of B. may therefore be inclined to trust him Qaynuqa has been reported by both of al-Nadir, secretly entertained Abu Sufyan [only] when he does quote direct authori- them together with the general expulsion and two hundred Meccan riders with ties and when he gives connected of Jews from Medina which did not take food and drink and supplied secret infor- isnads.’” 33 “… Imam Malik had a fuller place during the Prophet’s life. 14 mation about the Muslims. 26 knowledge of the qass (traditional) (ix) Abu Yusaf (113/731 – 182/798), (v) Within four months, Muslims lost material…and was in a position to locate who deals in his Kitab-al-Kharaj with the more than a hundred men at Uhud and the stories which originated from the problems of land taxation and the legal Bi’r Maunah. They needed peace at home sons of the Jewish converts. Ibn Ishaq positions of non-Muslims makes no ref- and the Prophet approached the Banu seems to have seen no harm in incorpo- erence to the expulsion of B. Qaynuqa Qurayza and Banu al-Nadir for renewal rating this material in his Sirah without and the distribution of their property. 15 of the agreement; only the Banu Qurayza verification and without isnad. Imam (x) Yhya Bin Adam (140/757 – 203/818) renewed. 27 Malik objected to this procedure. Levi reports that Banu al-Nadir were the first (vi) The Banu al-Nadir adopted a hos- Della Vida confirms our view: to be deported from Yathrib. 16 tile posture. For the Muslims to treat them “Jewish history contains no reference (xi) Imam Shafi (150/767 – 204/820) re- with the same leniency shown to the Banu to it [the treatment of the three Jewish ports that the Prophet employed Jewish Qaynuqa would have been a sign of weak- tribes]. It is improbable and difficult,

18 MuslimSunrise however, to believe that in the second (iv) It is also against the Qur’anic rule judgment of Sa’d b. Mu’adh against and third centuries of Islam when Ibn Ishaq regarding prisoners of war: either they are Qurayza, was transmitted from one of his and Ibn Sa’d were collecting their material, granted freedom or else ransomed. direct descendants. According to this part, the learned rabbis of the Gaonate and the (v) It is unlikely that the Banu Qurayza the Prophet said to Mu’adh: “You have pro- Exilarchate of Babylon were unable to ob- should be slaughtered when the other Jew- nounced God’s judgement upon them [as tain the Jewish version of the events which ish groups who surrendered before and af- inspired] through Seven .” For the pur- had a profound influence on the life of the ter them were treated leniently. Indeed when poses of glorifying their ancestors or white Jewish community of the Hijaz at the time Khaybar fell to the Muslims there were washing those inimical to Islam, many sto- of the Apostle. It is not normal with the among the residents a particular family who ries were invented by later generations, Jews not to record their misfortunes. The had distinguished themselves by excessive much of which was transmitted by Ibn Jews of Khayber reported to be expelled by unseemly abuse of the Prophet. Yet the Ishaq. Umar were settled in Kufa, which was not Prophet addressed them : “Sons of Abu al- (xi) Other details are difficult to accept. very far from the Gaonate. They were the Huqayq, I have known the extent of your How could so many hundreds be incarcer- descendents of the Banu al-Nadir and the hostility to God and to His apostle, yet that ated in the house belonging to a woman of children of the Banu Quraizah…, [but there does not prevent me from treating you as I Banu al-Najjar? are no] reports [on] the expulsion of the treated your brethren.” That was after their (xii) The history of the Jewish tribes af- Banu Qaynuqa and the Banu al-Nadir nor surrender. ter the establishment of Islam is not clear. the execution of the Banu Qurayza. .” 35 (vi) If indeed so many had been put to The idea that they all departed seems un- “The punishment of Banu Qurayza is death, it is strange that there should be no likely, as can be seen on examining the unique in the life of the Prophet. But in this trace of it. sources. For example, in his Jamharat al- lively discussion both sides seem to have (vii) Had this slaughter actually hap- ansab, Ibn Hazm occasionally refers to Jews paid little attention to critical examination pened, jurists would have adopted it as a living in Medina. In two places, al-Waqidi of the evidence. The Western scholar precedent. However, jurists have behaved mentions Jews who were in Medina when quoted Ibn Ishaq, al-Waqidi and Ibn Sa’d according to the Qur’anic rule, “No soul the Prophet prepared to march against and the Muslim apologist answered back shall bear another’s burden.” Khaybar. In one case ten Madanese Jews with Deuteronomy and 2 Samuel.” 36 actually joined the Prophet in an excursion W. N. Arafat makes the following obser- Indeed, Abu ‘Ubayd b. Sallam relates in to Khaybar. 38 vations: “Ibn Ishaq died in 151 A.H., i.e. his book of of Islamic law that 145 years after the event in question. Later in the time of the Imam al-Awza’i there was Barakat Ahmad observes: historians simply take his version of the a case of trouble among a group of the (i) Ibn Ishaq reports that the apostle be- story, omitting more or less of the detail, People of the Book in Lebanon. The regional sieged the Banu Qurayza for 25 nights. But and overlooking his uncertain list of au- governor put down the sedition and ordered Ibn Sa’d says 15 days. 39 thorities. … One authority, Ibn Hajar, how- the community to be moved. Al-Awza’i im- (ii) The speech attributed to Ka’b b. ever, denounces this story and the other mediately objected, “As far as I know it is Asad, the leader of Banu Qurayza, was writ- related ones as “odd tales”. A contempo- not a rule of God that God should punish ten in the spirit of latter day history. 40 rary of Ibn Ishaq, Malik, the jurist, de- the many for the fault of the few but punish (iii) The alleged dialogue between Ka’b nounces Ibn Ishaq outright as “a liar” and the few for the fault of the many.” Had Imam and his people inside the fort has elements “an impostor” just for transmitting such sto- al-Awza’i accepted the story of the slaugh- that contradict Jewish law and are devoid ries.” 37 ter of Banu Qurayza, he would not have of logic. 41 Exegetes and traditionialists tend sim- come out with an argument against the re- (iv) The verse quoted by Ibn Hisham ply to repeat Ibn Ishaq’s tale, but in the gional governor. supposedly for Abu Lubabah’s forgiveness Qur’an the reference can only be to those (viii) In the story of Qurayza a few spe- was revealed later after the expedition of who were actually in the fighting. Some of cific persons were named as having been Tabuk (9/630). 45 these were killed, others were taken pris- put to death. It is reasonable that those (v) The evidence for Sa’d’s selection as oner. were the ones who led the sedition and were arbitrator is contradictory and mutually ex- One would think that if 600 or 900 people punished - not the whole tribe. clusive.46 were killed in this manner there would have (ix) The details given in the story imply (vi) There was a ready-made trench dug been a clearer reference in the Qur’an, a con- knowledge from among the Jews. Such are outside Medina just a month before for the clusion to be drawn, and a lesson to be the details of their consultation when they Battle of the Ditch. Why, rather than dig- learnt. But when only the guilty leaders were besieged, the harangue of Ka’b b. ging a new trunch, was it not used for dis- were executed, it would be normal to expect Asad as their leader; and the suggestion posal of bodies to avoid sanitation prob- only a brief reference. that they should kill their women and chil- lems in Medina? 48 (ii) The rule in Islam is to punish only dren and make an attack against the Mus- (vii) There is absolutely no account of those responsible for the sedition. lims. the effect a mass execution on the specta- (iii) To kill such a large number is dia- (x) Just as the descendants of Qurayza tors or the executioners. It is human nature metrically opposed to the Islamic sense of would want to glorify their ancestors, so that one could not come away from such an justice - particularly : “No soul shall bear did the descendants of the Madanese. One unprecedented holocaust without damage another’s burden.” notices that the part of the story on the to their personality.49

SPRING 2010 19 (viii) It is significant that neither Bukhari political announcement that the Prophet was 21.Ibid. p 62 nor Muslim reported any Tradition on the making another attempt to win the friend- 22.Ibid. p 52 actual execution of Sa’d’s judgement, or the ship of the Banu Qurayza through marriage 23.Ibid. p 62 number of people killed or taken prisoner.51 with one of them. The gesture would have 24.Ibid. p 63 (ix) The story that the captive women and been impossible if all men had been slain, 25.Ibn Lahi’ah reports “and they sent secretly to the Quraysh when they encamped at Uhud 58 children of Banu Qurayza were sent to the and women and children sold as slaves. (625) in order to fight the Prophet and they Najd to be sold for horses and weapons does The Sahifah, widely accepted as ‘un- incited them to fight and showed them the weak not agree with the practice. The Jews of questionably authentic,’59 was finalized soon spots.” Ibid. p 63 Khayber, including the Banu al-Nadir, Wadi afterwards and named seven Jewish tribes 26.Ibid. p 64 al-Qura, Tayma, and even Medina were ca- that became part of the ummah. Ibn Ishaq 27.Ibid. p 64 pable of buying these captives, and, as al- gives us two additional names.60 There is 28.Ibid. p 66 52 29.Khan, Muhammad Zafrullah, Muhammad: Waqidi says, they bought them. ample evidence that the Jews were conduct- Seal of the Prophet, chapter 9. http:// (x) Ibn Ishaq reports the division of Banu ing business as usual in Medina at the time alislam.org/library/books/ Qurayza property. His account is categori- of the Prophet’s death. 61 muhammad_seal_of_the_prophets/ cally dismissed by later independent jurists In the same year as the Treaty of chapter_09.html as inaccurate and unsubstantiated. 53 Hudaybiyah with the Meccans and the Battle 30.Ibid A detailed scrutiny indicates that the of Khyber in which 93 Jews were killed, the 31.Ahmad, Barakat. Muhammad and the Jews: A Re-examination. pp 19-20 whole story of this massacre is dubious. Ibn Prophet negotiated a peace treaty with the 32.Ibid. p 11 Khuldun rightly points out that “the rule of Jews, took Safiyah in marriage, and thus 33.Ibid. p 13 distinguishing what is true from what is false sealed his alliance with the most important 34.Ibid. p 16 in history is based on its possibility or im- Jewish power in the Hijaz. 63 35.Ibid. p 24 possibility.”54 Medina in those days simply “In less than twenty years after the death 36.Ibid. p 23 was not equipped to imprison four to five of the Apostle they (the Jews) … took the 37.New Light on the Story of Banu Qurayza thousand people, nor to execute 600 to 900 fullest advantage of the somatic, intellectual, and the Jews of Medina, By W. N. Arafat http:/ people in one day. 55 and spiritual comforts offered by the domi- /www.haqq.com.au/~salam/misc/qurayza.html 38.Ibid. Fortunately Ibn Ishaq has left some tell- nant [Muslim] elite without disappearing as 39.Ahmad, Barakat. Muhammad and the Jews: tale references. It appears there was fierce a marginal minority. A Re-examination. Page 73 fighting before the Banu Qurayza surren- Shazia Sohail is a staff writer for The Mus- 40.Ibid. pp 74-76 dered. On the last day, three Muslims died lim Sunrise. She has an MBA and lives in 41.Ibid. p 75 in battle. Although it is not known how many the Bay Area, California. 42.Ibid. p 75 of Banu Qurayza died, we do know that they 43.Ibid. p 88 Endnotes 44.Ibid. p 84 surrendered. A party from among them who 1. Ahmad, Barakat. Muhammad and the Jews: had fought was taken prisoner. The leaders A Re-examination. (New Delhi, India: Vikas 45.Ibid. p 77 of the Banu Qurayza were left to the judge- Publishing House Pvt Ltd, 1979) Page 10 46.Ibid. p 80 ment of Sa’d b. Mua’dh. There are indica- 2. Ibid. Page 11 47.Ibid. pp 84-85 tions that the sentencing was done on the 3. New Light on the Story of Banu Qurayza and 48.Ibid. p 84 spot. Bukhari and Muslim support that Sa’d the Jews of Medina, By W. N. Arafat http:// 49.Ibid. p 85 www.haqq.com.au/~salam/misc/qurayza.html 50.Ali and Zubayr’s holocaust legacy of decreed that the ‘fighting men’ from among 4. According to Guillame, Bukhari and Muslim massive deadness would not have left them in the leaders should be executed. This party together “form an almost unassailable authority, peace. We see in later accounts of Ali’s life that was dispatched on the spot. In conformity subject indeed to criticism in details.” he was kind-hearted. Ibid. p 86 with the Prophet’s policy that executions .Guillaume, Alfred, The Traditions of Islam: An 51. Ibid. p 88 should be done by a member of the tribe in Introduction to the Study of the Hadith 52. Ibid. p 88 Literature (Oxford, 1924) pp 30-32. 53. Ibid. p 89 alliance with the tribe of the guilty party, 5. Qur'an 17: 5-12 minor leaders were given to the Aws. The 54. Vide R. A. Nicholson, A literary History of 6. Qur'an 10: 94 the (Repr. Cambridge, 1966), p 438 culpable leadership of a tribe of less than 7. Ahmad, Barakat. Muhammad and the Jews: 55. Ahmad, Barakat. Muhammad and the 1000 men, especially when some have been A Re-examination. Page 55 Jews: A Re-examination. Page 85 killed in battle and some taken captive, 8. Ibid. Page 57 56. Ibid. p 90-91 would not exceed sixteen or seventeen. The 9. Al-Waqidi, Vol. 1, p. 176 57. Ibid. p 92 whole tribe could not be given the same pun- 10.Ibn Hisham, p 545 58. Ibid. p 123 ishment as their leaders. The Prophet him- 11.Ahmad, p 58 59. R. B. Serjeant, “The Constitution of self was bound by “an eye for an eye and a 12.Ibid. p 58 Medina,” The Islamic Quarterly, VIII (January- June 1964), p. 3. life for a life (2:178).” 56 13.Ibid. p 59 14.Ibid. 60. Ahmad, Barakat. Muhammad and the Subsequently, the Prophet took care to 15.Ibid. Jews: A Re-examination Page 94 obliterate bitterness. A defeated adversary 16.Ibid. p 60 61. Ibid. p 123 was almost always won over by marriage. 17.Ibid. 62. Ibid. p 100 According to Rodinson, “His marriages were 18.Ibid. 63. 123 not simply love matches; they were political 19.Ibid. pp 60-61 64. Joel Carmichael, The Shaping of the Arabs: A alliances.” The union with Rayhanah was a 20.Ibid. p 61 Study in Ethnic Identity (New York, 1967), p. 54.

20 MuslimSunrise he chapters of the Holy son of Art, who had with him a vol- Rationale Qur'an are named according ume in which was written Ta Ha (the Tto the subject matter of each twentieth Chapter of the Holy Qur’an) behind the chapter. Some are named after an which he was teaching to Umar’s sis- important incident described in the ter and her husband. When they per- names of particular chapter. Either way, the ceived Umarra coming, Kabbab hid names of the chapters shine light upon himself in a corner of the house, and the subject of the chapter. Fatima, Umar’s sister, took the vol- the The names of the chapters of the ume and hid.’ The story continues that Holy Qur'an were given in one of two Umarra entered the house and uninten- chapters of ways: revelation by God to the Holy tionally hit Fatima. Upon seeing his sis- Prophet Muhummadsaw, or were ter in that hurt condition, Hadhrat the Holy named by the Holy Prophet Umar became filled with remorse and Muhummadsaw himself. There is a tra- he asked his sister to show him the Qur’an dition related by Abu Daud, Tirmadhi leaves upon which Sura Ta Ha was and Ahmad, that: “Hadhrat Uthmanra written. After reading a few verses, explained the practice as to the writ- Hadhrat Umarra immediately con- By Amtul Mussawir Mansoor ing of the revelations of the Holy verted to Islam. This clearly shows In Secrets of the Koran, Don Qur’an: ‘It was customary with the that the chapters of the Holy Qur'an Messenger of Godsaw, when portions were named at the time of Holy Richardson says, “Various of different chapters were revealed to Prophetsaw. him, that when any verse was revealed, Similarly, the Holy Prophetsaw said: translations of the Qur'an he called one of the recorders who “Whoever reads the last two verses of used to write the Holy Qur’an and said the chapter entitled Baqara on any differ slightly in how they to him; ‘Write these verses in the night, they are sufficient for him.” name the chapters…,” chapter where such and such verses (Bukhari) occur’ indicating at the same time to Over the 23 year period, 114 chap- suggesting that the chapters which chapter and where they be- ters of the Holy Qur'an were revealed longed.” These traditions indicate that and the arrangement of the chapters of the Holy Qur'an are the names of chapters have existed and was divinely attributed by Allah remained the same since the time of through Angel Gabrael to the Holy named differently in various the Holy Prophetsaw. Therefore, nei- Prophet Muhummadsaw. During the ther the Holy Qur'an nor any of its Holy Prophet’ssaw last month of copies of the Holy Qur'an. In translations differ in how they name the Ramadhan, Angel Gabriel came twice saw reality, however, the names of chapters of the Holy Qur’an. to the Holy Prophet and they recited Further, in the days of early Islam the entire text of the Holy Qur'an to- the chapters of the Holy when Hadhrat Umarra was still a non- gether twice. From that moment on, Muslim, Hadhrat Umar set out one day Allah’s promise has stood firm: “We Qur'an have not changed to kill the Holy Prophetsaw but later Ourself has sent down this Exhor- found out that his own sister and tation, and We will most surely safe- since the Holy Qur'an was brother-in-law had converted to Islam. guard it.”(Ch.15: v.10) Enraged, Hadhrat Umar turned his standardized during the time Amtul Mussawir Mansoor is currently a steps to his sister’s house. Ibn-i- sophomore at The College of New Jersey. of Hadhrat Uthmanra. Hisham relates: ‘At that time there was She is majoring in Biology and Religious in the house a third man, Khabbab, Studies

SPRING 2010 21 Refutation of Richardson’s Arguments about War Verses of the Holy Qur'an By Atif Munawar Mir

he idea of the sanctity of Islam Permits Only Just Wars human life is deeply embedded The Holy Qur'an prohibits Muslims to fight wars without in the Holy Qur'an. It would not just cause. The Promised Messiahas characterizes a just war as be an exaggeration to argue war in self-defense, war as chastisement for aggression, or war for the establishment of freedom of conscience.1 that the true spirit of Holy Qur'an Tis social peace and justice. Don Richardson Problem with Richardson’s Arguments completely ignores this spirit when discussing the The three methodological principles that Don Richardson war verses of the Holy Qur'an in his book, Secrets relies on to formulate his arguments and reach his conclu- sions are: (1) relying on seven different translations of the of the Koran. The Holy Qur'an recognizes that Holy Qur'an for his book, (2) taking verses out of historical war is part of the human condition and permits and textual context in an attempt to prove his case, and (3) dismissing Quranic verses, which preach freedom of con- Muslims to fight in defense. But Richardson does science, as allegedly abrogated verses. not see the war verses as defensive; instead, he Quranic Translation launches a vehement attack on the life of the Holy Prophet and relies on extravagant statements to When quoting the Quranic verses, he largely fails establish that Osama bin Laden’s terrorist actions to mention which of the seven translations he is relying on. One translation has been completed by Reverend somehow reflect the true spirit of Islam2. J.M. Rodwell from the 19th century. Reverend Rodwell Because the arguments and context of most of has been accused of bringing a strongly biblical per- spective to the translation of the Holy Qur'an and his the war verses Richardson uses are the same, I will footnotes are often criticized as incorrect3. Thus, for address only some of the verses he has quoted.

22 MuslimSunrise “O ye who believe! Equitable “Fight against them until “But if they desist, then surely retaliation in the matter of the idolatry is no more and God’s Allah is Most Forgiving, slain is prescribed for you… religion reigns supreme. But Merciful.” (2:193) But if one is granted any if they desist, fight none ex- remission by one’s brother, cept the evil-doers. ”(2:193) “And fight them until there is then pursuing the matter for no persecution, and religion the realization of the blood “And fight in the cause of is freely professed for Allah. money shall be done with Allah against those who fight But if they desist, then fairness and the murderer against you, but do not remember that no hostility is shall pay him the blood transgress. Surely, Allah loves allowed except against the money in a handsome man- not the transgressors.” (2: 191) aggressors.” (2: 194) ner. This is alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. And whoso transgresses thereafter, ers. When the preceding and following verses “And kill them wherever you are read, however, it becomes clear that Islam for him there shall be a griev- meet them and drive them out treats war only as a tool of self defense. The ous punishment.”(2:179) verses below establish that the Holy Qur'an per- from where they have driven mits Muslims to wage war on the enemy after you out; for persecution is war has broken out; but, once the enemy has the benefit of the readers, when quoting been subdued or freedom of conscience has been Quranic verses, the author should clearly worse than killing. And fight restored, war must come to an end. indicate which translation he is using to them not in, and near, the ensure that readers can do their own re- The Holy Qur'an says: search as to the qualifications and motiva- Sacred until they tions of the translator. fight you therein. But if they “And fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not Quranic References without fight you, then fight them: transgress. Surely, Allah loves not the Historical and Textual Context transgressors.” (2: 191) such is the requital for the “And kill them wherever you meet them Richardson uses simplistic methodol- disbelievers.” (2: 192) and drive them out from where they have ogy to prove his point by picking out cer- driven you out; for persecution is worse tain verses and presenting them without for you… But if one is granted any remis- than killing. And fight them not in, and near, context. For instance, he quotes: “Believ- sion by one’s brother, then pursuing the the Sacred Mosque until they fight you ers! Retaliation is decreed for you in blood- matter for the realization of the blood therein. But if they fight you, then fight shed. (2:178)” Stripped of any historical and money shall be done with fairness and the them: such is the requital for the disbeliev- textual context, this verse creates a false murderer shall pay him the blood money in ers.” (2: 192) association between the Holy Qur'an and a handsome manner. This is alleviation from “But if they desist, then surely Allah is bloodshed. In reality, however, this verse your Lord and a mercy. And whoso trans- Most Forgiving, Merciful.” (2:193) comprises a “very important principle of gresses thereafter, for him there shall be a “And fight them until there is no perse- civil law, i.e., equality of man and neces- grievous punishment.” cution, and religion is freely professed for sity of awarding proportionate punishment Allah. But if they desist, then remember that to all offenders without distinction, unless Richardson also calls Muslims who no hostility is allowed except against the an offender is forgiven by the relatives of present Islam as a tolerant religion “spin aggressors.” (2: 194) his victims under circumstances that are doctors”. He argues that Islam does not Richardson also associates Quranic calculated to lead to improvement and bet- grant freedom of religion and quotes: verses with genocide through his faulty terment of conditions.”:4 Here is the same “Fight against them until idolatry is no more logic. For instance, he asserts that the Qu- verse (2:179) with textual context and and God’s religion reigns supreme. But if ranic verse from Chapter Anfal, which com- proper translation: they desist, fight none except the evil-do- mands Muslims to “strike off their (disbe- ers. (2:193)”. lievers) heads…strike off their finger “O ye who believe! Equitable retalia- Stripped of any existential, historical and tex- tips…because they defied God and his tion in the matter of the slain is prescribed tual context, this verse grossly misleads read- Apostle”, somehow justified the Turkish

SPRING 2010 23 When thy Lord revealed to preach tolerance and compassion. For (3) the least possible losses should be example, the author dismisses the Qu- inflicted upon the enemy (Abu Dawud), the angels, saying, ‘I am ranic verse that says there is no com- and (4) when a Muslim takes charge of with you; so give firmness to pulsion in religion. In asserting that any a prisoner of war, the latter is to be fed verses have been abrogated, and clothed in the same way as the those who believe. I will cast Richardson is going against the over- Muslim feeds and clothes himself terror into the hearts of those whelming majority of Muslims who do (Bukhari). not believe in the concept of abroga- who disbelieve. Smite, then, tion, but that the Holy Qur'an in its en- Misrepresenting Quranic War the upper parts of their tirety remains relevant for all Muslims, Verses is not Good for Peace especially those verses preaching free- necks, and smite off all dom of conscience, peaceful coexist- No doubt, Muslims in the last 1400 finger-tips.’(8:13) ence of humanity, salvation for non- years have committed violent acts that Muslims, racial and economic equality cannot be justified by the Holy Qur'an and recognizing human diversity: and Ahadith. But relying on violence “There should be no compulsion in to achieve political objectives under the If one reads Chapter 8, religion. Surely, right has become dis- camouflage of religion is also practiced Anfal in its entirety, tinct from wrong…” (2:257) by others under the cloak of faiths such The verse below establishes that as Christianity. All religions contain ex- however, it becomes freedom of conscience is granted to all tremist elements. The good news, how- abundantly clear that the religions, and that the burning of any ever, is that the majority of the faithful place of worship is not condoned by believe in peaceful coexistence. This Chapter is not encouraging the Holy Qur'an, but instead it is incum- peaceful majority should combine their Muslims to commit bent upon Muslim states to protect intellectual and spiritual resources to their religious minorities : eradicate the extremist elements in their genocide, but is preparing “Those who have been driven out midst. When extremists win, humanity Muslims to fight their first from their homes unjustly only because loses. Richardson should work towards they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ — And if building bridges not erecting walls. battle against a much Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been stronger enemy. pulled down cloisters and churches and Atif Munawar Mir obtained Honours B.A. synagogues and , wherein the with joint specialization in Political name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Science & Economics and Masters of mass slaughter of some 1 million Arme- Taxation. Currently, he works in a major 5 Allah will surely help one who helps nian Christians in the early 1900s: If one Him. Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty.” CPA firm as an International Tax advisor. reads Chapter Anfal in its entirety, how- (22:41) ever, it becomes abundantly clear that The Holy Qur'an also instructs Mus- Endnotes the Chapter is not encouraging Muslims lims how to treat prisoners of wars— to commit genocide, but is preparing releasing them as a good gesture, or for 1 Muslims to fight their first battle against Please note that Ahmadiyya Muslim ransom after the aggressor has been de- community treats “In the name of Allah the a much stronger enemy. The Chapter feated. gracious and merciful” as the part of the Surah opens with the description of the Battle “And when you meet in regular but not by other Muslims. As a result, when the of Badr with a prophecy that Muslims battle those who disbelieve, smite their translation of the Holy Qur'an used by Don will win this war despite the odds against necks; and, when you have overcome Richardson is compared to the translation them, and, thus, are ordered to fight cou- them, bind fast the fetters — then af- prepared by Ahmadiyya community, the 6 references might be off by one verse. rageously. The Battle of Badr was the terwards either release them as a first battle fought by Muslims against favour or by taking ransom — until the 2 Don Richardson, “Violent Verses, Violent an army three times their size and with war lays down its burdens.” (47:5) superior equipment. The survival of the Deeds”, Secrets of Holy Qur'an, Regal, Additionally, the Holy Prophet USA, 2003, p. 553 Haleem, Abdel, Muslim community was at stake. As Muhammadsaw also laid down rules for “Understanding the Qur'an: Themes and Styles, such, the imagery of the verse is pur- war time: (1) the old and women and I.B. Tauris, London and New York poseful in ensuring that the community children are not to be killed, and the , 2001, p. xxviii-xxix4 4 did not waver in its valor. possibility of peace should always be The Holy Qur'an, English Translation and kept in view (Abu Dawud), (2) when Commentary, Edited by , Quranic Verses Ignored First Edition, 1969., p. 73 Muslims enter enemy territory, they 5 Don Richardson, p. 55 by Don Richardson should not strike terror into the gen- 6 The Holy Qur'an, English Translation and Richardson also purposely brushes eral population, and should not permit Commentary, Edited by Malik Ghulam Farid, aside as abrogated those verses which ill-treatment of common folk (Muslim), First Edition, 1969., p. 375

24 MuslimSunrise Dhimmis & Jizya

Don Richardson’s book entitled, Secrets of the Koran has dedicated chapter ten to making allegations against Islam for the abusive and supremacist treatment meted out to non-Muslims under Muslim rule, known as dhimmis. He uses several references from two authors: Bat Ye’or and Ibn Warraq. These authors point to alleged abusive practices perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire and Muslim governments throughout history.

By Naser Shams

s is typically the case with The Holy Qur’an forbids Islamophobic propagandists, imposing Islamic beliefs on the scholarship is underwhelming. However, it anyone who disagrees with is important to expose them Abecause authors like Richardson exploit the them. It protects people who ignorance of the masses and prop themselves up as experts in areas in which they lack disagree and their rights to fundamental knowledge. In making accusations of cruel and oppres- maintain their beliefs. The sive treatment of non-Muslims, Richardson, as well as Bat Ye’or and Ibn Warraq, coinci- protected party is termed dentally ignores several fundamental and in Arabic. foundational aspects of this topic. First, and most embarrassing, they conveniently over- look the teachings in their own Bible. Second, fire. And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, worshippers of Baal, an idol god, into a temple they conspicuously ignore the teachings of both of men and of beasts…And Moses said where he was going to provide an offering to the Holy Qur’an and focus on those writings unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? Baal. Instead, Jehu surrounded the temple with that deviate from Quranic teachings. Third, …therefore kill every male among the little ones, armed men and ordered them to kill all the they have ignored the example of the Holy and kill every woman that hath known man by people inside and then burn the temple to the Prophet’s treatment of non-Muslims. Fourth, lying with him..” [31:7-] ground. One wonders why a repentance was they ignore context. The above verses indicate that the armies not considered. of Moses, under the command of God (who is These, and other instances from the Bible, Biblical Atrocities believed by Christians to be Jesus), killed all were perpetrated in situations which may have When quoting from the Bible it is important males, seized all women, children and wealth, justified such harsh behavior. Thus, as Mus- to understand that Christians believe every word and burned the cities to the ground. The Israel- lims, it would be unjustified to criticize without to be “inspired by God.” With that basis, when ites then killed all of the defenseless male chil- context. Richardson, Bat Ye’or and Ibn Warraq Moses warred against the Midianites, the treat- dren and all female widows, saving the female would do well to learn this lesson. ment of their enemies is documented in the Book children for themselves. How did Richardson, of Numbers: Bat Ye’or and Ibn Warraq conveniently over- Biblical Version of the Jizya Tax “…[the Israelites under Moses’ command] look this incident from their Holy Books? Whenever a state of war exists there are slew all the males…And the Children of Israel In another Biblical example we see decep- three possible outcomes: [i.e. the Israelites] took all the women of Midian tion as the basis of indiscriminately slaughter- Subdue the enemy captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil ing defenseless people who differed in beliefs. Be subdued by the enemy of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their In Chapter 10 of II Kings, verses 18 to 25, Jehu, Mutually negotiate a peace treaty goods. And they burnt all their cities wherein the king, after seizing control of Samaria, cun- The Holy Qur’an forbids imposing Islamic they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with ningly orchestrated a plan to congregate the beliefs on anyone who disagrees with them. It

SPRING 2010 25 protects people who disagree and their rights to maintain their beliefs. The protected party is termed dhimmi in Arabic. Although the dhimmis could not be levied the Islamic Zakaat tax (2 ½ The Holy Prophet was % of their uninvested wealth), they were re- quired to pay a tax called jizya, which supported particular in fulfilling his the costs of the army and their protection. Im- portantly, a dhimmi was not required to serve in covenants with other parties. the army. This tax of subjects is also documented in The Ahadith confirm that he the Bible. A few examples of jizya in the Bible include: had several treaties with “He [David] defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the various parties including Jews, ground; and he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And the Christians and Magians. Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.” [II Samuel 8:2] “Then David put garrisons among the In another incident the daughter of Abu Bakr, you, a play on the words As-Salaamu Alaikum, Arameans of Damascus, and the Arameans be- Asma, inquired from the Holy Prophet about Peace be upon you. Although his wife, Aisha, came servants to David, bringing tribute. And her mother who was a pagan. Specifically, she was enraged, the Prophet gave a mild response, the LORD helped David wherever he went.” [II asked whether she should keep good relations Wa-Alaikum, And upon you [Bukhari, Book 84, Samuel 8:6] with her mother to which the Holy Prophet Hadith # 61]. Jewish attitudes grew more bold “And they brought every man his present readily replied that she should [Bukhari, Book and their poetry encouraged attacks on Mus- [to Solomon], vessels of silver, and vessels of 53, Hadith # 407]. lims and the assassination of the Holy Prophet. gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, In handling disputes between Muslims and Unfortunately, over time the relationship horses, and mules, a rate year by year.” [I Kings non-Muslims, the Holy Prophet always exer- culminated into extreme hostility where the Jew- 10:25] cised justice and equity. There was one instance ish tribes conspired with the enemy pagans in We see that Jesus condoned this levy: where two Muslims traveled to Khaibar, the Jew- violation of the standing treaty of co-existence, “…Jesus spoke to him first, saying, ‘What ish settlement, at a time when there was a peace thus making it a matter of national security for do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings treaty between them and Muslims. The Mus- the Muslims. This drew a stern response from of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from lims parted and later on found a Muslim mur- the Prophet and resulted in a state of war and their sons or from strangers?’ When Peter said, dered. Naturally, the Muslim suspected the the eventual defeat or expulsion of the three ‘From strangers,’ Jesus said to him, ‘Then the Jews. The Muslims, thus, complained to the Jewish tribes of Medina. Given the circum- sons are exempt.’” [Matt 17:25 to 26] Prophet of this suspicion, but the Prophet would stances, this treatment was justified and ex- Thus, it was an accepted norm to pay a jizya not accept that as a basis for retaliation. The pected by the Jews of Medina who acknowl- type of tribute as a subject of a conquering sov- Prophet asked the Muslims to take an oath of edged their own treachery and exploitation of ereign nation. Although a tax-free world would who the murderer was, but they replied they the Muslim’s generosity. be nice, it is impractical. had not witnessed the act. Then the Prophet stated that, similarly, the Jews can take an oath A Need for Common Sense The Prophet’s Example stating they did not commit the murder. The Muslims then complained about trusting the If Muslims throughout history are in viola- The Holy Prophet was particular in fulfilling oaths of disbelievers. At that, the Holy Prophet tion of the teachings of the Qur’an and the ex- his covenants with other parties. The Ahadith himself paid the blood money for the murder, ample of the Prophet, it is not today’s Muslim’s confirm that he had several treaties with vari- but refused to falsely accuse the Jews without responsibility to defend them insofar as it is not ous parties including Jews, Christians and evidence [Bukhari, Book 53, Hadith # 398]. the responsibility of Christians to defend the Magians. In following his example, the pro- In one of the earliest surviving biographies witch hunts, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisi- tected status of dhimmis was extended initially of the Holy Prophet, the Sirah Rasool-ullah by tion, etc. Those Muslims who deviate from the to the People of the Book, or Jews and Chris- Ibn Ishaq, an account of the Christians from clear teachings of Islam are to be held account- tians, but later was extended to Zoroastrians, Najran is included. Although the Christians dis- able for their own actions. However, for Hindus and Buddhists. agreed with Islam, the Holy Prophet allowed Richardson, Bat Ye’or and Ibn Warraq to hold The Holy Prophet admonished Muslims to them to pray in his mosque without any op- them as the role models of Islam is a blatant be mindful of this special pact with non-Mus- pression. advertisement of their underdeveloped schol- lim minorities. In Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated The same biography examines the deterio- arship and double standards. that the Holy Prophet said, “Whoever killed a rating relationship between the Jews and the person having a treaty with the Muslims, shall Muslims. The Prophet tolerated frequent Naser Shams is an active member of the not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its abuses, intrigues and insults from various Jews. Zion, IL branch of the Ahmadiyya Muslim aroma radiates a span of forty years” [Book For example, at one point he was addressed with Community. He holds a Bachelor’s of 53, Hadith # 391]. As-Saamu Alaikum, meaning Death be upon Science in Accountancy and is a CPA.

26 MuslimSunrise We, as American citizens, have a patriotic duty to comprehend the dynamics that keep our democracy strong. We should be well-informed and engage the world around us based on fact, not fear. Since 9/11, religious and political elements within the European and American Occident have invigorated their engagement against Islam based on the same stratagems from the past—fear and suspicion. Thus, Islam is seen through a flawed prism of distortion and negative discrimination as the threat to the West; Islam’s founding Prophet is scripted as a sex-crazed pedophile who butchered people indiscriminately; the monopoly on religious extremism is Islam’s alone; and its adherents are terrorist fanatics lacking compassion and mercy.. Apostasy in Islam By Alhaj Dhul-Waqar Yaqub

SPRING 2010 27 Fortunately for the seekers of truth, reality counters the general media perception of Islam in America. The author and missionary Don Richardson’s book Secrets of the Koran has the potential to reinforce among non-Muslims the sterotypical views in reference to apostasy in Islam. Richardson’s declaration that, “Reverters are tagged as apostates, and the penalty “There should be no compulsion in for apostasy under Sharia law is death”1 reinforces a religion: Surely, right has become 5 longstanding conjecture distinct from wrong…” gives the that apostasy in Islam is a commandment that under no capital crime punishable circumstances may force be resorted to with death. for the purpose of converting non-Muslims

The objective of this article is to in- to Islam. vestigate and assess the subject of apos- tasy in Islam from Holy Qur’an. Ulti- mately, it will be clear that the concept of ent interpretations. But those in whose apostasy (irtadda in Arabic)2 as it ex- hearts is perversity pursue such thereof Holy Qur’an: Freedom of isted in medieval Christianity is alien to as are susceptible of different interpre- Conscience and Belief Islam and that the Sharia law of apostasy tations, seeking discord and seeking has nothing to do with Islam. wrong (of their own choice) interpreta- Freedom of conscience and belief are tion of it. And no one knows its right the basic principles of Islam. The verse Methodology (true) interpretation except Allah and where Allah says, “There should be no those who are grounded in knowledge; compulsion in religion: Surely, right has This investigation and assessment of they say, ‘We believe in it; the whole is become distinct from wrong…” 5 gives apostasy in Islam requires clarification of from our Lord.’ And none heed except the commandment that under no circum- the methodology which will be used to those gifted with understanding.” 3 stances may force be resorted to for the deduce facts from the primary source, the Thus, the Qur’an has two types of purpose of converting non-Muslims to Holy Qur’an. This methodology has a verses: verses that are “decisive in Islam. It makes no difference whether standard and fundamental rule: meaning” (muhkam), and verses that are non-belief was before or after one’s ac- The standard and fundamental rule “susceptible to different interpreta- ceptance of Islam. Compelling a person pertaining to the correct interpretation of tions” (mutashabih). The right way to through coercion to accept religion or to the Qur’an is explained by the Qur’an it- interpret mutashabih verses is that their punish a person for leaving a religion is self. Allah says, “He it is Who has sent interpretation must agree with the verses clearly forbidden. The nonbeliever and down to thee the Book; in it there are that are muhkam. If the interpretation of the apostate are entitled to the freedom verses that are decisive in meaning – the mutashabih verses, does not agree to accept or reject religion without force they are the basis of the Book – and there with the muhkam verses, then they are or punishment, especially not death.6 are others that are susceptible to differ- to be dismissed as incorrect.4 The above mentioned verse not only

28 MuslimSunrise gives the commandment that force nulled, cancelled, replaced)…” 9 In acts of a few is shameful. Can Muslims should not be used for the purpose of reality, there is absolutely no verse in assess the worth of Christianity based converting non-Muslims to Islam, but it the Qur’an which is abrogated. The on the rogue behavior of the Ku Klux also gives the reason why forced con- Qur’an itself testifies to its own purity Klan and be fair-minded? The answer is version is not a viable option to accept- and integrity. The well-known verse: no. ing truth freely. Islam proposes that “Verily, We Ourself have sent down “right has become distinct from wrong” this Exhortation and most surely We Conclusion: and anyone who has sincerity of the will be its guardian” (Qur’an 15:10) heart or mind may access truth easily. leads to no other conclusion. If the ab- Apostasy is the renunciation of Is- By the same token, if a person “turns rogation of any part of the Qur’an be lam by a Muslim. Every Muslim has an back from his religion,” the same prin- conceded, the promise about its pro- option to renounce Islam but no one has ciple will apply. Islam is manifest truth. tection becomes null and void, for in the right to declare another apostate. An Anyone who sincerely desires to see this that case it would be impossible to dis- organization, government agency, Imam truth can easily see it; but if a person tinguish the abrogated portions from or Shariah court cannot declare another does not desire to see it, no force or pun- the rest of the Book.10 an apostate. Apostasy by itself, which ishment can make him see it. Thus, a per- Christian critics focus on verses of is not aggravated by rebellion, treason son who has become a Muslim has the the Qur’an, which gave the Holy or aggression against the State, does not option of renouncing Islam after having Prophet Muhammadsaw and the young incur any penalty or punishment in this declared his faith in it. Muslim nation the authority to defend life. Islam’s concept of freedom of con- themselves from aggressors. These science and belief is perfectly compat- critics are shameless as they take Alhaj Dhul-Waqar Yaqub, a convert to the ible with one of the most important docu- verses out of context to support their Ahmadiyya Muslim Community since 1969, ments of our time—the United Nations points of view. In the Qur’an, Allah serving on its National Aamila. He has held Universal Declaration of Human Rights says, “And if they break their oaths career occupations as CEO Nonprofit (UDHR) of 1948. Article 18 of the UDHR after their covenant, and attack your industry, Executive Management in the declares: religion, then fight these leaders of Proprietary Education industry. Everyone has the right to freedom of disbelief, surely, they have no regard thought, conscience and religion. This for their oaths that they may desist” Endnotes right includes freedom to change his re- (Qur’an 9:12). The context of this verse ligion or belief and freedom, either alone is that the Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW or in community with others and in pub- and the Muslims were subjects of ag- 1 Don Richardson, Secrets of the Koran, lic or private, to manifest his religion or gression for the purpose of annihilat- (Ventura, California, USA, Regal Books/Gospel belief in teaching, practice, worship and ing Islam by force. These aggressors Light, 2003), p. 24 observance. acted treacherously and resorted to all 2 Abdul Mannan Omar, The Dictionary of The Islam’s compatibility with Article 18 sorts of foul means to annihilate Islam. Holy Qur’an, (Hockessin, DE Noor Foundation – of the UDHR follows from “There shall It was only such men that Muslims had International Inc., 2003), p. 207 be no compulsion in religion: Surely, been commanded to fight. 3 Published under the auspices of Hadhrat right has become distinct from Those who rejected Islam after hav- Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud, Second Successor wrong…” 7 and “…whoever rejects the ing believed in it and took up aggres- of the Promised Messiah, The Holy Qur ’an faith, his work has doubtless come to sion for the purpose of annihilating Is- with English Translation and Commentary, Vol. naught, and in the Hereafter he will lam, however, would be fought not be- 1, Part II, (Oriental and Religious Publishing Corporation Ltd., , West Pakistan, be among the losers.” 8 The words, cause of their apostasy, but because 1965), 3:8, p.365 “rejects the faith” means turning of their aggression toward Islam. This apostate. Apostasy, however condem- seems to be the real issue that Chris- 4 ibid, commentary 299, p. 365-368 nable, is only a spiritual offense that tian critics have to face. There is no 5 ibid, commentary 2:257, p.325 is to be settled in the “Hereafter,” not death penalty associated with apos- 6 ibid, commentary 263, p. 325, 326 in the temporal world. tasy. However, within the context of The essence of freedom of con- war, those who took up treason, rebel- 7 ibid, 2:257, p.325 science, belief ,and to change one’s re- lion or hostility against Islam were 8 ibid, commentary 5:6, p.605 ligion without any legislative under- fought against as enemies of the Is- 9 Don Richardson, Secrets of the Koran, pinning of punishment by death is lamic State. (Ventura, California, USA, Regal Books/Gaspel clearly stated in the aforementioned Our Christian critics have unfairly Light, 2003), p. 58 Qur’anic verses. However, author and charged Islam with being a religion of 10 Published under the auspices of Hadhrat missionary Don Richardson, attempted war and view Muslims as a bunch of Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud, Second Successor to dismiss the verse that says, “There terrorist thugs. No doubt there are of the Promised Messiah, The Holy Qur ’an shall be no compulsion in religion: Muslim rogues who have hijacked Is- with English Translation and Commentary, Vol. Surely, right has become distinct from lam and use Islamic phraseology in 1, Part II, (Oriental and Religious Publishing wrong…” (Qur’an 2:257) by alleging carrying out their insanity, but to Corporation Ltd., Rabwah, West Pakistan, that “…it has been abrogated (i.e. an- judge the entire religion based on the (1964) 2:107, commentary 113, p. 162-164.

SPRING 2010 29 Madrassas in Islam Ayesha Noor Rashid

n October 2006, more than 80 madrassa students were killed in a missile strike in the Bajaur tribal area. Al-Qaida militants Iwere believed to be using the madrassa as a shelter. The next day in a convention of 20,000 tribal men, Maulana Faqir Muhammad declared, “our Jihad will continue, God willing,” confirming allegations. Madrassas, literally “places for learning/studying,” have existed for over a millennium. Madrassas are alleged to be inherent hubs of extremism, but if so, the same must be proved of madrassas the daily life of the average Muslim that re- taught. Additionally, some madrassas taught historical roots. mained untouched by all-pervasive attitude to- . In secular studies, logic, medicine and In his book, Secrets of the Koran, Don wards “knowledge” as something of supreme astronomy were a standard curriculum. Richardson discusses the current state of value for Muslim being.”2 Just like the modern education system, lec- madrassas, but assumes what is true of According to Rosenthal, there has always tures were offered throughout the winter while madrassas today is true of madrassas of days been a unique place for education in Muslim the summer was off. According to a fatwa by past. society that grew exponentially over the a jurist from Algeria: Madrassa history can be traced back to the years. Scholars travelled large distances to “During winter, religious scholars taught “suffah,” a verandah in Prophet Muhammad’s quench their thirst for knowledge. Madrassas students exhaustively and meticulously a mosque in Medina which provided shelter to served as a breeding ground in developing small number of areas of their expertise, bring- the homeless and needy. Quickly, however, the scholars from early Islam through the medi- ing to students’ attention previous research suffah became the first Islamic educational in- eval era. on these issues as well as their own evalua- stitute, and nurtured many early Islamic schol- Soon after Prophet Muhammad’s death, tion of this research. During this season, the ars. The suffah residents were the As’hab us- his mosque, known as “The Prophet’s scholars did not permit themselves to be idle Suffah, spending their lives in austerity with Mosque”, became a formal institution of edu- or take any time off.”3 Prophet Muhammad. Among the As’hab us- cation. His companions taught there for sev- Thus, students could digest issues they Suffah, Hadhrat Abu Hurairah became re- eral generations. In 972 CE, Azhar mosque studied. Critics such as Don Richardson liken nowned for his excellent memory and was the was founded in Cairo and became the most madrassas to Nazi camps4, whereas the late foremost collector of Prophet Muhammad’s say- influential Islamic educational institute. It was University of Pennsylvania professor George ings (Hadith) – collecting a record 5,374 not until the early 11th century that formal Makdisi, known as a myth breaker, notes that Ahadith. Hadhrat Salman al-Farsi was a great madrassas were created. Preceded by kutubs madrassas served as the model for the first scholar of Christianity and Zoroastrianism, and (elementary schools) and mosques, European and American universities.5 an eminent linguist. Because the As’hab us- madrassas became a third educational insti- Muslim scholars of that era were versed Suffah also served in the military, they partici- tute for exigent scholarly needs. In 1005, the in conventional Islamic education, excelled pated in defensive battles. The majority of their Fatimid built the first madrassa in in medicine, astronomy, mathematics, philoso- lives, however, were spent obtaining education.1 Egypt. Within a few decades, the madrassa’s phy, economics, anthropology, politics, his- The As’hab us-Suffah’s example reflects the library amassed 6500 books on subjects rang- tory and much more. Through a semi-quanti- great emphasis Islam lays upon education. In ing from religion to astronomy. In 1067, tative measure in History of Science, George fact, the very first verse of the Holy Qur’an (96:2) Nizamul Mulk Hassan bin Tusi built the sec- Sarton divides the highest achievements in revealed to Prophet Muhammad commanded, ond madrassa in Baghdad, leading to a net- science into ages of 50 year segments. He “Read.” Many of Prophet Muhammad’s tradi- work of madrassas being built across the notes a continuous succession of segments tions echo this emphasis on education. He says, entire Islamic empire. from 750 to 1100 - 250 years of unprecedented “It is the duty of every Muslim man and every Ample monetary and book donations Muslim scholarship dominance in research6. Muslim woman to acquire knowledge” made pre-colonial era madrassas the emblem The advent of madrassas ensured that (Baihiqi). He further says, “a learned one is of prosperity, mostly founded by influential scholarship throughout the Muslim empire superior to a worshipper,” (Abu Da’ud,Timidhi). people, including women. Unlike the curricu- continued. Al Biruni (973-1048), a famous Mr. Rosenthal, a renowned researcher of epis- lum of many of today’s madrassas, early astronomer, astrologist and mathematician, temology in Islam, states: madrassas comprised both religious and secu- was a madrassa graduate. Ibne Sina (980- “There is no branch of Muslim intellectual lar subjects. For religious education, the 1037), known as Avicenna in the west, just life, of Muslim religious and political life, and of Qur'an, books of Ahadith, and Arabic were like madrassa students of today, memorized

30 MuslimSunrise the Qur’an at age 10. He went on to learn in decaying madrassas. The Government of and the 1992-93"Man of the year” award from medicine, chemistry, alchemy, physics, Pakistan started to concede to the Muslim the International Biographical Centre of Cam- mathematics, poetry and psychology and clergy from 1974 when the Ahmadiyya bridge. is known as “doctor of doctors”. Imam Muslim Community was declared to be non- Further, President Obama was a madrassa Ghazali (1058-1111), known as Algazel to the Muslim. Military dictator General Zia-ul Haq student in Indonesia at the tender age of 6. west, was also a madrassa graduate and an augmented the trend, attempting to imple- Although allegations to the contrary were authority on Islamic Theology; his work en- ment a corrupt form of Shariah in Pakistan. launched, it has been established that the compasses logic, astronomy, medicine, His regime is considered the darkest era in madrassa he attended was a modern madrassa mathematics, biology and cosmology. Even Pakistan’s history. General Haq financed that aimed at providing religious and secular the great Persian poet Jalal-ud-Din madrassas with Zakat funds, thus provid- education. Rumi(1207-1273), often known simply as ing plentiful funds for the mullahs’ extrem- For Don Richardson, scholars like Al- Rumi, was a madrassa teacher. ist machinations. With this type of doctrine Biruni, Imam Ghazali, Hadhrat Mirza Tahir The architectural value of some infiltrating madrassas, subsequent Ameri- Ahmad, Maulana Dost Muhammad Shahid and madrassas is also important, as they be- can aid during the Afghan-Soviet war fur- all Muslims who condemn extremism are only came the principal forms of religious archi- ther spread militant ideology. pseudo Muslims10. In his eyes, Al Azhar, tecture from the 13th to 17th centuries. The The U.S. also had a large part to play in Sulaimaniyya complex, and Sulaymaniyya Complex of Istanbul, the Sul- the spread of the madrassas in Pakistan. the madrassa President Obama attended are all tan Hasan madrassa of Cairo, the Ulug Beg Under President Jimmy Carter, the U.S. es- pseudo madrassas. The above facts notwith- madrassa in Samarqand, the Hawza com- tablished a $500 million fund to prepare standing, Richardson contends that early Mus- plex in Najaf, and the sanctuary at Qom, Mujahideen to fight against the occupying lims were extremists, despite the insurmount- Iran are distinguished for their design and Soviet forces in Kabul. This figure eventu- able evidence of their emphasis on peace and beauty. Some madrassas served as ally increased to $4 billion and the project education. mosques, hospitals, hospices, large kitch- was given the title “Operation Cyclone.” It Indeed, Don Richardson’s most revealing ens, fountains, gardens, pools, baths and primarily aimed at promoting Jihadi culture secret is his failed attempt to hide 1000 years of covered markets. Adorned with beautiful in Pakistan, and the establishment of Islamic enlightenment behind a mere 30 years of admit- domes, tile mosaic, intricate calligraphy, and seminaries was an integral part of the op- ted indiscretion. 9 floral designs, some madrassas occupied eration. Ayesha Noor Rashid holds a Masters in multiple buildings, serving as dormitories, Although madrassas are deteriorating 7 International Economics and writes on lecture rooms and prayer halls. by the day, there are madrassas that exist issues ranging from Islam to South Asian Thus, exhaustive evidence exists to that are like the madrassas from early Is- culture. She resides in Virginia. demonstrate the religious, educational, so- lam. For instance, Jamia Ahmadiyya (origi- cial and architectural culture and purpose nally called Madrassa Ahmadiyya) has of early madrassas, not that they promoted branches in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, UK, Endnotes extremism. Nigeria, Canada and Germany, with plans 1 See Adam Hani Walker, As’hab us-Suffa: Great It was not until the colonial times that to continually expand. Although a prima- lovers of the Holy Prophet madrassas suffered, reflecting the predica- rily religious institute, Jamia Ahmadiyya 2 ment the Muslim Ummah faced—internal offers secular courses as well. The Jamia See Franz Rosenthal, Knowledge triumphant: the strife of Muslim rulers, colonization of the Ahmadiyya system has functioned for more concept of knowledge in medieval Islam. Pg 2. (Leiden: Brill, 1970) , and emerging methods of than 100 years and its graduates are spread all education from the West. This left over the world. No Jamia graduate or student 3 See Wadad Kadi, Education in Islam: Myths and madrassas to serve as the sole institutions has ever been associated with militant activi- Truths, Comparative Education Vol. 50. No 3. to protect Muslims from western influences. ties. Besides their excellence in Qur’an, Hadith, 4 See Don Richardson, Secrets of Koran. Pg 179 Instead of adopting new ways of educa- and Islamic law, Jamia graduates have proved 5 S. Zaimeche, Fallacies surrounding the decline tion in madrassas, however, the Muslim their worth in linguistics, history and logic. of Muslim civilization, Foundation for Science, clergy discontinued secular education and Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (1928-2003), the Technology and Civilization, June 2004. prevented Muslims from attending western 4th Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Commu- 6 schools. Despite this increasingly mono- nity, a Jamia Ahmadiyya graduate, is world Abdus Salam, Islam and Science: Concordance or Conflict. , March 1995 lithic educational curriculum, madrassas re- renowned for his intricate knowledge of vari- sisted extremist rhetoric and did not con- ous sciences. His book “Murder in the Name 7 See Andrew Peterson, Dictionary of Islamic tribute to a rise of militancy in the Muslim of Allah” written in 1956 vehemently rejected Architecture, 1999 world. any form of extremism in the name of Islam well 8 See Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Murder in the Until the first half of the 20th century, before the very creation of extremist madrassas. Name of Allah, 1956 and C. D Malbouisson, Islamic madrassas were financially impoverished . His scholarly treatise “Revelation, Rational- Religious Schools “Madrassas”, background, 2007 Thus, Saudis began to spread the Wahhabi ity, Knowledge and Truth” addresses various 9 Paul M. P. Bell, Pakistan school of thought throughout all issues of conflict between the religious and madrassas by financing them, planting the scientific worlds. Maulana Dost Muhammad ’s Madrassas-Weapons of Mass Instruction? Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, seeds of a narrow-minded and intolerant Shahid (1927-2009), another Jamia Ahmadiyya California, 2007. Muslim clergy8. Besides Wahhabi’s, the graduate, emerged as a great modern histo- Government of Pakistan also played a role rian, adorned with the title “king of references” 10 Don Richardson, Secrets of Koran, Pg 179

SPRING 2010 31 All through human history it has been rec- ognized that in certain circumstances and un- der certain conditions polygamy is not only permissible but fully justified. The main pur- pose of marriage is the safeguarding of chas- tity. That very purpose might make polygamy desirable and even necessary in certain cases. The Holy Qur'an neither prohibits po- lygamy nor mandates it. The verse regarding polygamy was revealed after the Battle of Uhud when many Muslim men were killed, leav- ing many widows and orphans behind. This permission was given to safeguard the rights of the women and children and to prevent their social and moral degradation in a society where mostly men were earning members. It can be deduced from this verse that the Holy Qur'an actually encouraged monogamy, while not prohibiting polygamy: “And if you will fear that you will not be fair in dealing with the orphans, then marry of women as may be agreeable to you, two or Polygamy in the haps the arts, of his niece Martina, with whom, three or four and if you fear you will not deal after the death of Eudocia, he contracted an justly, then marry only one or what your right Holy Qur'an and incestuous marriage.”1 Islam is vehemently hand possesses. That is the nearest way to opposed to incestuous marriages and the Holy avoid injustice.” (Al Qur'an 4:4) the life of Holy Qur'an categorically forbade this and de- This verse was not permitting polygamy saw scribed very precise boundaries: as some new invention, but was putting Prophet “Forbidden to you are your mothers, and bounds on a practice that had always existed. your daughters, and your sisters, and your The Holy Prophet married twelve times in fathers’ sisters, and your mothers’ sisters, and his life. In his youth, however, the Holy Khaula Rehman MD brother’s daughters, and sister’s daughters, Prophet was married to one woman, Hadhrat slam is a universal religion for all and your foster-mothers that have given you Khadija, for fifteen years, and did not engage times to come and has a universal suck, and your foster-sisters, and the moth- in any wild and lighthearted amusements. Af- approach applicable to all times and ers of your wives, and your stepdaughters, ter Hazrat Khadija all of his marriages, except circumstances. The Holy Qur'an who are your wards by your wives with whom to Hazrat Ayesha, were with either widows or tackled certain social issues or you have consorted, but if you have not con- divorcees with young children who otherwise Ivices that were of paramount concern in an sorted with them, there shall be no sin upon had no prospects. All his marriages were to emphatic manner; other issues dealt with in a you, and the wives of your sons that are from fulfill the responsibilities of his , gradual and incremental manner; yet others it your loins; and it is forbidden to you to have to pass on Islam to the next generations as a left to the wisdom of the societies and indi- two sisters together in marriage, except what practical legacy. By marrying these pious viduals. When Islam was revealed 14 centu- has already passed; surely, Allah is Most For- women, he was able to insure that the female ries ago there were no well-defined rules about giving, Merciful.” (Al Qur'an 4:24) population was adequately trained in the new marriage, not only in Arab society, but Chris- Islam set these boundaries for both Mus- religion. With his marriages he taught Mus- tian society, too. Numerous Roman census lims and Christians. Polygamy was never for- lims compassion with women and abolished declarations attest to many husbands and bidden in the religious scriptures of Judaism certain customs, and removed the social stig- wives being siblings. Some of these incestu- and Christianity. The first instance of po- mas that were so firmly attached to slaves, ous relationships were even in the royal fam- lygamy in the Bible was that of Lamech in widows, elderly women and divorcees. To the ily, such as the Roman Emperor Claudius, the Genesis 4:19: “Lamech married two women.” Muslim society, he proved that there was noth- Roman Emperor Caligula, the Roman Emperor Several prominent men in the Old Testament ing undesirable in these types of women as Nero and Queen Agrippina (mother of Nero). were polygamists: Abraham, Jacob, David, marriage prospects. The famous historian Edward Gibbon has dedi- Solomon, Moses and others all had multiple Most of his marriages were after migration cated a chapter to the Emperor of Byzantine, wives. In 2 Samuel 12:8, God, speaking through to Medina. During those eight years he had Heraclius, who was a contemporary of the the prophet Nathan, said that if David’s wives to fight defensive wars, teach Islam, lead daily Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw, in his book The and concubines were not enough, God would prayers, and he was spending most of his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. He have given David even more. Solomon had night in prayer. If one analyzes the kind of writes, “Heraclius … was detained from the 700 wives and 300 concubines, according to 1 heavy responsibilities he had during that time defense of his Empire by the charms, and per- Kings 11:3. period, one would wonder how much time he

32 MuslimSunrise was spending with his wives. It must also be “Enemies of Islam have insisted in depict- remembered that the faith that he preached “The Qur’anic ing Muhammad as a sensual individual and a forbade intoxicants, looked unfavorably on dissolute man, trying to find in his marriages comforts and luxuries, and that the Holy institution of evidence of a weak character not consistent Prophet’s own life was a model of simplicity with his mission. They refuse to take into con- and rigorous asceticism. sideration the fact that during those years of The Holy Qur'an has inculcated the polygamy was a piece his life when by nature the sexual urge is spirit that should inspire the relationship strongest, although he lived in a society like between husband and wife: ‘Of His Signs of social legislation. It that of the Arabs, where the institution of it is that He has created mates for you of marriage was almost non-existent, where po- your own species that you may find peace was designed not to lygamy was the rule, and where divorce was of mind through them, and He has put love very easy indeed, he was married to one woman and tenderness between you.’ (30:22). gratify the male alone, Khadija, who was much older than him- Then there is the admonition, ‘Consort with self, and that for twenty-five years he was her them graciously. Should you dislike them, faithful, loving husband. Only when she died it may be that you dislike something in sexual appetite, but to and when he was already more than fifty years which Allah has placed much good’ (4:20). old did he marry again and more than once. The Holy Prophet summed it up in these correct the injustices Each of these marriages had a social or politi- words, ‘The best among you is the one who cal reason, for he wanted through the women treats his spouse well and in that respect I done to widows, he married to honour pious women, or to es- am better than all of you.’ (Tirmidhi) tablish marriage relations with other clans and An American Justice Pierre Craibites orphans, and other tribes for the purpose of opening the way for has rightly observed, “Muhammad, 1300 the propagation of Islam. With the sole excep- years ago assured to the mothers, wives, tion of Aisha, he married women who were and daughters of Islam a rank and dignity female dependants, neither virgins, nor young nor beautiful. Was not yet generally assured to women by the this sensuality?”5 laws of the West.”2 Karen Armstrong also who were especially So, my humble request to the reader is that wrote in her book Muhammad: a Prophet do not judge the Holy Prophet by present day for our times: vulnerable.” circumstances or according to our individual “The Qur’anic institution of polygamy was limited responsibilities, but judge him by real- a piece of social legislation. It was designed Karen Armstrong also wrote in her book izing the scope of his responsibilities and his not to gratify the male sexual appetite, but to Muhammad: a Prophet for our times: eventual achievements. No wonder, Karen correct the injustices done to widows, or- Armstrong wrote in her biography, phans, and other female dependants, who Muhammad: a Biography of the Prophet, “If were especially vulnerable. All too often, un- of scarcity, it took courage and compassion we could view Muhammad as we do any other scrupulous people seized everything and left to take financial responsibility for four women important historical figure we would surely the weaker members of the family with noth- and their children. Muslims must have confi- consider him to be one of the greatest ge- ing. They were often sexually abused by their dence that God would provide.”3 niuses the world has known.”6 male guardians or converted into a financial It is in this light and context that marriages asset by being sold into slavery. Ibn Ubayy, of the Holy Prophet should be understood. Endnotes for example, forced his women slaves into Whereas other Muslims were given a limit of 1 prostitution and pocketed the proceeds. The Edward Gibbon. The Decline and Fall of the four wives in the Holy Qur'an, the Divine com- Roman Empire . Edited and abridged by Hugh Qur’an bluntly refutes this behavior and takes mand for the Holy Prophet was more liberal in Trevor-Roper. Phoenix, 1970. Pages 419-420. it for granted that a woman has an inalienable order to allow him to discharge his religious, 2 John Davenport, Mohammad Amin. right to her inheritance. Polygamy was de- social and political responsibilities. So, char- Mohammad and Teachings of Qur'an. Published signed to ensure that unprotected women acter of a Prophet cannot be judged just by by Sh. M.Ashraf, 1945. Original from the would be decently married, and to abolish the plurality of wives but by how he behaves to- University of Wisconsin– Madison. Digitized old loose, irresponsible liaisons; men could wards them. Sir William Muir writes: by Google in Sep. 27, 2007. Page 114. have only four wives and must treat them eq- “In domestic life the conduct of 3 Karen Armstrong. Muhammad: A Prophet for uitably; it was an unjustifiably wicked act to Muhammad is exemplary. As a husband his our times. Harper Collins, 2006. Pages 145-147. devour their property. fondness and devotion were entire. As a fa- 4 Sir William Muir, The life of Mahomet: from The Qur’an was attempting to give women ther he was loving and tender. In his youth he original sources. Smith Elder and Company, a legal status that most Western women would lived a virtuous life; and at the age of twenty- London, 1878. Page 527. not enjoy until the nineteenth century. The five he married a widow forty years old, dur- 5 Laura Veccia Vaglieri. An Interpretation of emancipation of women was a project dear to ing whose lifetime for five and twenty years Islam. Edition 2, 1957. Pages 67-68. the Prophet’s heart, but it was resolutely op- 4 he was a faithful husband to her alone.” 6 Karen Armstrong. Muhammad: a Biography posed by many men in the ummah, including Professor Laura Vaglieri writes in defense of the Prophet. Phoenix Press paperback, 1991. some of his closest companions. In a society of the Prophet Muhammad’s multiple wives: Page 52.

SPRING 2010 33 Circumcision in Islam

By Lubna Roohi Malik lam, male circumcision has been consid- birth and intercourse, and can even cause ered a religious norm. Among the various death in some cases. This practice pre- schools of Islamic thought, the Hanafis dates Islam and is first found in the 160s n his book Secrets of and Malikis believe it to be a practice of BC in Egypt. the Koran, Don the Prophetsaw and highly recommended, Contrary to Richardson’s allegations whereas the Shafi’is and Hanbalis believe that Islam encourages female circumcision, Richardson alleges it to be required. There are some small there is no basis in Islamic law—either in that Islam endorses fringe Muslim sects that reject male cir- the Qur’an or five of the six authentic cumcision all together because it is not books of Hadith of the Prophet—support- and mandates circumci- mentioned in the Qur’an. ing this harmful practice. Recognizing the sionI for both genders. In support of the vast majority of Mus- heinousness of this act, the highly re- lims who believe it is highly recommended spected Sunni Muslim Al Azhar Univer- Although it is true that Islam, or obligatory upon Muslim men is scientific sity in Egypt has rejected any notion that like Judaism, requires male evidence that male circumcision is necessary female circumcision is Islamic and the na- for proper hygiene. In fact, recent medical tion of Egypt has formally banned this prac- circumcision, Islam’s legal experts have proven that the risk of contract- tice. Some Islamic schools of law, such as sources of the Holy Qur’an ing a sexually transmitted disease is greatly the Shafi’is and Hanbalis, believe the act minimized for circumcised males. to be not forbidden. and of the Holy It is also important to note that It is only in one of the authentic books Prophet in no way mandate unlike Richardson’s allegation, male Mus- of Hadith, Sunan Abu Dawud, and later lim converts are not required or expected Islamic sources that female circumcision female circumcision. This to become circumcised. The majority of is mentioned. The two instances in Sunan brief article will explore the Muslims circumcise their infant children Abu Dawud where the Prophet is quoted within the first seven days of their birth. as speaking on these practices, the reasons for male circumci- When done at an older age, circumcision Prophet says to “not cut off too much, as sion and those against is done under a local anesthetic. It is en- it is a source of pleasure for the woman tirely the choice of the new convert and more liked by the husband,” and that female circumcision. whether or not to be circumcised. In fact, “circumcision is a Sunnah for a man, and in Bukhari, the most authentic book of a source of respect for a woman.” In the Male Circumcision Hadith, it is related that when Hadhrat non-canonical historical Islamic texts, two Salman accepted Islam, the Prophet did not main examples are often cited: first, when Male circumcision, also known as ask him to undergo circumcision. Hadhrat Uthman, the third caliph of Is- khitân, is an Islamic ritual indicating pu- lam, ordered the circumcision of two fe- rity. Although the Qur’an does not man- Female Circumcision male slaves for their purification because date this practice, male circumcision is a they had come to him to accept Islam; practice that introduces males to Islam and Female circumcision, commonly known second, when the nieces of Hadhrat is common among all Muslim men. Prior to as female genital mutilation, is culturally Ayesha, the wife of the Prophet, were the advent of Islam, male circumcision was practiced in some parts of Asia, Africa, and being circumcised, and Ayesha allowed practiced by the Jews, many Christians, South America. Widely condemned by in- for entertainment of the girls during their and many Arabs. The Holy Prophet and ternational organizations such as the circumcision. his sons were also circumcised. The United Nations and the World Health Or- Thus, in terms of Islamic sources hadith on male circumcision indicate that ganization, this practice creates a lot of of law, there is only one authentic book this practice is fitra, or the act of a refined health problems for women who undergo of Hadith that mentions female circumci- person. Thus, since the beginning of Is- it and induces a lot of pain during child- sion; the other five, and much more au-

34 MuslimSunrise thentic books, do not speak of this prac- tice. Further, Sunan Abu Dawud states self wears. And do not give them such that the aforementioned ahadith are da’if, work as is beyond their power to perform, or substandard and greatly varied, thus Islam & and if you ever happen to give them such not to be strongly relied upon. Addition- work, you should help them in doing it.” ally, the Prophet of Islam was very detailed The words, “you should help them in about all aspects of a Muslim’s life, includ- Slavery doing it,” means the work given to the ing internal processes such as menstrua- slaves should be of such a nature that if tion; thus, it is highly unlikely that he By Uzma Javeed the masters had to perform it, he would would overlook something as allegedly im- not find it disgraceful. portant as female circumcision. Even the lavery is the state in which one Greater than this, however, Islam wives of the Prophet who often elucidated person comes under the aimed at the total emancipation of slaves on practices relating to the women never complete domination of another. and visualized the day when slavery mentioned anything relating to female cir- S would be extinct. A prime example is A slave is one who surrenders all that ra cumcision. Thus, the Prophet who did not is of his own, including his body, life, Hadrat Bilal , a black slave from Ethiopia forbid female circumcision but did go so family, and all else to the control of who converted to Islam. One of the most far as to instruct a woman who circumcised trusted and loyal companions of the Holy another. He becomes the property of his saw ra girls to not cut it all off because there is owner. The slave is destined to live Prophet , Hadhrat Bilal has a fascinat- benefit in not circumcising girls, could not ing story: under his master; enjoying whatever ra possibly have endorsed this practice as rights and privileges that is allowed to When Bilal Ibn Rabah was sold to required by Islam. The women of the him by his owner. Master Umayyah ibn Khalaf, he was only Prophet’s time knew that the Prophet was The Holy Qur'an brought the slave a small boy. His master would always re- averse to the practice, but as there was no and master onto the same plane of psy- mind him, “I am your owner, and you are Divine commandment forbidding it, he sim- chological awareness. Thus, it opened my slave, you must obey me because ply advised tempering the process to safe- up ways for achieving freedom and en- your god has been made from wood and guard the well-being of the woman being abled the slave to protect that freedom mine is from gold. This is the god’s will.” circumcised. once attaining it. The Holy Qur'an … One day he [Bilal] overheard his mas- Even the historical Islamic instances states: ter talking about a man claiming that there aforementioned raise common sense con- “Have We not created for man two is only one God. [His master said,] “Do cerns. Hadhrat Uthman was clear that dur- eyes, and a tongue and two lips, and you know what this means? It means that ing the time of the Prophet when women I, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, the noble person have We not shown him the two great ra accepted Islam, they were not told to un- ways of evil and virtue? But he attempts of Makkah and Bilal al-Habashi , the ig- dergo circumcision, but merely to offer not the high mountain road. And what norant black slave, must have the same prayer and stay away from idolatry. Why, God... Is that possible?” … Bilal Ibn should make thee know what the high ra then, would Hadhrat Uthman—the third mountain road is? It is the setting free Rabah was inspired by the idea of one rightly guided successor of the Prophet— of a slave, or the feeding in a day of God, [and] … decided to meet Prophet require a convert to Islam to be circum- Muhammadsaw . Upon seeing the Holy hunger an orphan who is of kin or a saw ra cised for purification? poor man cleaving to the dust.” Prophet , Bilal Ibn Rabah had discov- As illustrated in discussions both on The simplicity and excellence of the ered the truth and immediately accepted male and female circumcision, the former teachings of Islam, combined with this the religion of Islam. … When Umayyah was certainly endorsed and encouraged by special injunction about slaves, made a ibn Khalaf discovered what his own the Prophet and former prophets, such as deep impression upon the slaves of “slave” had done, he tortured him. He Abraham, whereas the latter was not only physically abused him in many ways, yet Arabia who began to call upon the Holy ra not endorsed by the Prophet, but was tem- Prophet as a deliverer. The new religion Hadrat Bilal simply said “ absolute pered and controlled because of its harm- spread rapidly among the slave popula- oneness...absolute oneness” throughout ful effects. So many hundreds of years tion and the proportion of slaves was all the pain. ago, the Prophet of Islam knew of the ill extraordinarily large among the early As was the common case for so many effects of female circumcision and warned converts. former slaves in the early Islamic period, against it that science now can show. How Hadhrat Bilalra was eventually bought and Even in the earliest days of Islam, ra could Islam possibly endorse this prac- slaves were not treated with contempt freed by Hadhrat Abu Bakr . Thus, tice? It makes little intuitive sense. in Muslim society. Abu Zarra, a compan- Hadhrat Bilal’s story is only one of myriad ion of the Holy Prophetsaw relates that examples of the torture that slaves en- the Prophet used to say: dured prior to Islam, and the great respect, Lubna Roohi Malik is a law student at the “Your slaves are your brethren. So if freedom, and love they enjoyed after ac- University of Chicago Law School. She any one of you happens to have a slave, cepting Islam. graduated with an A.B. in Public Policy and give him the same food that he himself Uzma Javeed is a student at Wisconsin International Affairs from Princeton eats, and the same clothing that he him- Colleges majoring in Journalism. University, and also studied Human Rights at Oxford University.

SPRING 2010 35 Compilation of the Holy Qur'an Into a Text

Zia H Shah MD

rofessor Theodor Nöldeke, the well- known Orientalist writes, “Since the use of the Koran…is much more extensive Pthan…the Bible…, it [the Koran] has been truly described as the most widely-read book in existence. This circumstance alone is sufficient to give it an urgent claim on our attention.”1 As non-Muslims begin to learn about the Holy Qur'an, one of the immediate issues is how it was compiled. Reginald Bosworth Smith gave four lectures in 1874 before the Royal Institution of Great Britain, which took on a book form titled Mohammed and Mohammedanism. He wrote in this book, “In the Koran we have, beyond all doubt, the exact words…without subtraction and without addition. We see with our own eyes [the] birth and adolescence of a religion.”2 Sir William Muir less, and yet the Qur'an remained safe against Sir William Muir testifies to the compilation agrees with this position. In 1885 he was elected corruption and interpolation and has continued and preservation of the Holy Qur'an in a de- the Principal of Edinburgh University and held to enjoy perfect security. This distinction of the tailed appendix to his biography of the Prophet the post till 1903. He writes, “There is otherwise Qur'an is not shared by any other revealed Book. Muhammad. In the 1878 edition of his book the every security, internal and external, that we Especially in the case of the Bible, new research Life of Mahomet from original sources there is a possess a text the same as that which Mahomet has established beyond doubt that it is nowhere very detailed description of how the text of the himself gave forth and used…The conclusion, close to the Holy Qur'an in this distinction. Some Holy Qur'an was preserved early in its history.5 which we may now with confidence draw, is that of this information is covered in two History Coming from a non-Muslim who wrote this after the [Quranic] editions of Abu Bakr and of Channel documentaries entitled Banned from the an extensive study of the Hadith and the early Othman were not only faithful, but … Bible I and Banned from Bible II. biographers of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw, complete…. We may upon the strongest The Qur'an was written by the scribes during it becomes assuring research that the Holy Qur'an presumption affirm that every verse in the the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammadsaw. It was has indeed been preserved for all these centu- Coran…is the genuine and unaltered collected in a book form in the time of his first ries. Below is a Reader’s Digest version of his composition….”3 Caliph, Abu Bakrra, and the master copy was testimony from one of his other books: The Holy Qur'an predicted very early in the stored with the Prophet’s widow, Hafsara, who “But by degrees variety crept into the ministry of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, was daughter of the second Caliph, Omar. John many transcripts from this compilation, and “Surely, We Ourself have sent down this Exhor- Davenport has given a summary of this process: the Caliph Othman was persuaded to apply a tation, and we will, most surely, safeguard it.” “While Mohammed lived, the Koran was trenchant remedy. Zeidra [the chief amanuen- (Al Qur'an 15:10). The chapter of the Qur'an kept in loose sheets only. His successor, Abu- sis of the Prophet] was appointed to the re- with this promise was revealed at Mecca Bekr, first collected them into a single volume, cension of his former work [of seeking out (Noldeke) when the life of the Holy Prophet and not only from the palm leaves, skins, and shoul- the various Suras as they were written on palm his followers was extremely precarious. It was der-bones of mutton whereon they had been leaves, tablets, and the minds of men]; and as then that disbelievers were challenged to do their written, but also from the mouths of those who the differences were mainly of dialect and ex- worst to destroy it and were warned that God had committed them to memory; and, when the pression, a syndicate was nominated of three would frustrate all their designs because He Him- transcript was completed, the keeping of it was Coreish [Quraish] authorities to act as final self was the Guardian of the religion and its scrip- entrusted to Haphsa [Hafsa], the daughter of judges in the matter. The various readings ture, the Qur'an. The challenge was open and Omar, one of the widows of Mohammed, in or- were searched out from all the provinces of unequivocal and the enemy strong and ruth- der for its being consulted as an original. “4 the Empire, and the new collection was as-

36 MuslimSunrise similated to the pure Meccan dialect in which Mahomet had given utterance to his inspira- tion. Transcripts were then multiplied, and for- warded to the chief cities as standards for reference. All previous copies were called in, and committed to the flames. The recension of Zeid has been handed down unaltered. So carefully has it been followed, that there is but one and the same Coran in use through- out the vast bounds of the Mahometan world. Various readings are almost unknown. The few limitations are almost entirely confined to the vowel forms and the diacritical points, which, having been invented at a later pe- riod, formed no part of the original or of Zeid’s recension. There is every security that the work of Zeid was executed faithfully and, indeed, the acceptance of Coran by Ali and his party, the antagonists of the unfortunate Othman, is the surest guarantee of its genuineness.”6 Although Muir’s political analysis of ‘Ali is a complicated issue, it is clear that there This above pictured manuscript— was a consensus about the security and the preservation of the text of the Holy Qur'an known as “Mushaf of Othman”— among the early Muslims after the death of the Prophet Muhammadsaw and that consen- held by the Muslim Board of sus has continued among all Islamic sects. Uzbekistan, is the earliest existing Every Qur'an in the entire world will have ex- 9 actly the same number of chapters and verses written version of the Qur'an. in exactly the same order. Professor Nicholson, says in his Literary History of the Arabs, “the Koran is an exceed- is a specialist on the New Testament and has Endnotes ingly human document, reflecting every phase shown scores of internal contradictions in the of Muhammad’s personality and standing in Bible. If the Holy Qur'an had not been from 1 Encyclopedia Britannica Edition 1911. Under close relation to the outward events of his God and had not been preserved, it would heading ‘Koran’ page 898. life, so that here we have materials of unique have had contradictions and interpolations 2 and incontestable authority for tracing the in a similar fashion. But history is a witness Reginald Bosworth Smith, Mohammed and Mohammedanism, 1889 edition. Page 18. origin and early development of Islam—such that it is not so. The Holy Qur'an says, “Will materials as do not exist in the case of Bud- they not, then, meditate upon the Qur’an? 3 Sir William Muir. Life of Mahomet. 1878. dhism or Christianity or any other ancient re- Had it been from anyone other than Allah, Pages 561-563. 7 ligion.” they would surely have found therein much 4 John Davenport. An apology for Mohammed Professor Theodor Nöldeke writes, “Slight disagreement.” [Al Qur'an 4:83] and the Koran. 1869. Pages 67. The book is clerical errors there may have been, but the This above pictured manuscript—known available on Archive.org. Qur'an of Othman contains none but genuine as “Mushaf of Othman”— held by the Mus- 5 elements…. Efforts of European scholars to lim Board of Uzbekistan, is the earliest exist- http://books.google.com/ prove the existence of later interpolations in ing written version of the Qur'an.9 6 Sir William Muir. The Coran: Its Composition the Koran have failed.8 The Bible had a temporary role in human and Teaching and the Testimony it Bears to the It has become an inconvenient truth for history. If it had been meant for all times to Holy Scriptures. The Macmillan Company, the Christian apologists that the fact that the come, the Omniscient and Omnipotent God 1920. Pages 37-40. Bible is not the literal word of God has be- who revealed it would have also ensured 7 Reynold Alleyne Nicholson. A literary history of come an open secret in this information age. its preservation. He did exactly that in the the Arabs. Charles Scribner’s sons,1907.Page 143. Bart D. Ehrman, Distinguished Professor of case of the Holy Qur'an. 8 Encyclopedia Britannica Edition 1911. Under Religious Studies at the University of North Zia H. Shah is a doctor practicing in sleep heading ‘Koran’ page 905. Carolina and author of twenty different books and lung disorders in upstate New York. Zia including his most recent Jesus, Interrupted: is also the editor of the Alislam eGazette, an 9 http://www.unesco.org/webworld/ Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the international publication of the Ahmadiyya nominations/en/uzbekistan/reading.htm Bible (And Why We Don’t Know About Them), Muslim Community

SPRING 2010 37 Hadhrat Ayesha: A loving marriage to the Holy Prophet of Islam

Looking at truly authentic sources, the Most historians agree with the following Holy Qur'an states: dates in the : Khaula Rehman, MD ‘And assess the orphans until they attain the age of marriage; then, if you find sound 610 AD: Islam was founded when the adhrat Ayeshara was the judgment in them, release their property to Prophet received his first revelation third wife of the Holy them.’ (Al Qur'an 4:7) 615 AD: Muslims migrated to Abyssinia. Thus the Qur'an gives a clear definition of ra saw 621 AD: Hadhrat Ayesha was engaged Prophet Muhammad and adulthood and marriageable age— when one to the Prophet Muhammadsaw. H ra the daughter of Hadhrat Abu Bakr and has attained a good measure of mental matu- 625 AD: Hadhrat Ayeshara was married to Hadhrat Zaynabra (Um Rumaan). She was rity. As such, the property of the orphans the Prophet. young when she married the Holy Prophet, must be handed over to them when they have but her age was never an issue until it has mature intellect to properly manage it. So the The time before Islam is known as the time Qur'an rejects the marriage of immature girls of ignorance. Tabari in his treatise on Islamic recently become an issue for and boys as well as entrusting them with seri- history, reports, “In the time of ignorance he Islamophobicwriters. It is important to note ous responsibilities. [Abu Bakr] married Um Rumaan. … She bore that any Hadith which does not conform to Hadhrat Ayeshara, when asked to describe him Abdul Rahman and Ayesha. All of his four the teachings of the Qur'an should be rejected the Prophet’s character, answered that his children which are mentioned here were born for the obvious reasons that the Qur'an is the character was the Qur'an (Abu Dawud). What during the time of ignorance.”1 There is a fif- word of God and has been precisely he did was what the Qur'an taught; what the teen year period from the beginning of Islam Qur'an taught was nothing else than what he preserved, whereas the Ahadith are to the marriage of the Prophet with Ayesha. If did. Thus, the Holy Prophetsaw could not have Ayesha was born before Islam, thus in the saw collections of sayings of the Holy Prophet married a little immature child as it is against time of ignorance, then she was at least 15 recorded long after the Prophet’s death. the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. years old at the time of her marriage.

38 MuslimSunrise One hadith states that Ayesha said: “This from there that we find these accounts in revelation: ‘Nay, but the Hour is their ap- some books. Tehzeeb al-Tehzeeb, one of pointed time (for their full recompense), Ayesha’s marriage at the most well known books on the life and and the Hour will be more grievous and reliability of the narrators of the traditions more bitter’ (54:47) was revealed to a young and ascribed to the Holy Prophetsaw, reports Muhammad at Makkah while I was a play- impressionable age that, “narratives reported by Hisham are ful girl.’”2 3 The general consensus is reliable except those that are reported that Chapter 54 was revealed eight years and the mutual love through the people of Iraq.” It further before migration to Medina, indicating states that Malik Ibn Anas also objected that it was revealed in 615 AD. If Ayesha and harmony of her on those narratives of Hisham which were was a young girl of even 4 or 5 in 615 AD marriage helped her reported through people of Iraq.6 Meezaan when this chapter was revealed, she al-Aitidaal, another book on the narrators would have been 14 or 15 at the time of idealize her husband of the traditions of the Prophet reports that marriage. and his teachings to when he was old, Hisham’s memory suf- Similarly, Ibn Hajar, a famous histo- fered quite badly.7 Thus, it seems that rian, writes, “Fatima daughter of the Holy such a degree that she Hisham’s memory had failed at that ad- Prophetsaw was born at the time the vanced age and he could not remember Ka’bah was rebuilt, when the Prophet was became a perfect details. 35 years old. … She was five years older student and an ideal The people who take pity on Hadhrat than Ayeshara.”4 If this statement is fac- Ayeshara should not forget that she took tual, Ayeshara was born when the Prophet teacher for pride in being his wife. In fact, all the was 40. Thus, Ayesha would have been Prophet’s wives tried to surpass one an- 15 when she married the Prophet. generations to come. other when it came to showing their love According to most historians, Asma, to him. It is related that before his demise, Ayesha’s elder sister was 10 years older the Prophet told his wives that whoever than Ayeshara. It is narrated that Asma illustrates that Hadhrat Ayeshara was not a has longer hands amongst them will meet died at the ripe old age of 100 years, 73 little child at the time of her marriage. him first in paradise. His wives took it liter- years after the migration to Medina. Thus, according to various accounts, ally and began to measure the length of Thus, Amsa would have been 27 at the Ayesha’s age at the time of her marriage to their hands. The Prophet smiled and said time of the migration, and Ayeshara would the Prophet was between 15 and 19. that by long hands he meant the one who have been 17. Under this explanation, Fifteen hundred years ago there was no was more generous. Such was the standard Ayeshara would have been married at 19, system of formal education for children of love, care and respect the Prophet’s two years after migration.5 spanning a period of a decade or two. As wives had for him. Interestingly, Ayeshara was engaged to soon as children were able they would learn At another time, after the demise of the Jubayr Ibn Mutim before the Holy the trade of their father or household work Prophet, plain bread of finely ground wheat Prophetsaw. According to Tabari, Ayesha’s from their mother, they were married. flour was presented to Hadhrat Ayeshara. father, before migrating to Abyssinia in 615 Ayesha’s marriage at a young and impres- Instead of eating the bread and enjoying AD, tried to spare her the dangers and dis- sionable age and the mutual love and har- its softness, she tearfully recalled that the comfort of the journey by solemnizing her mony of her marriage helped her idealize Prophet all his life ate very hard bread made marriage to her fiancé. However, the en- her husband and his teachings to such a out of handmilled crushed wheat, and that, gagement was broken by the bridegroom’s degree that she became a perfect student too, was often not enough to satiate his father in fear of persecution because Abu and an ideal teacher for generations to hunger. Hence she could not eat it out of Bakrra had accepted Islam. It is, therefore, come. She enjoyed a status in the society grief. This is not the face of a forced mar- reasonable to assume that if Ayeshara was far greater than any first lady or queen. She riage, but the memory and love of an affec- ready to take the responsibility of a wife in was the mother of all the believers and was tionate and exemplary relationship. 615 AD, she was definitely not a little child renowned for her intelligence, wisdom, ten years later when she married the learning and knowledge. Her unique sta- Endnotes Prophet. tus enabled her to narrate more than 2200 1 Tareekh-e-Tabari Vol 1 Part-II, P-250. After the death of the Prophet’s first sayings of the Holy Prophet about all as- 2 wife, Khaula came to the Prophet advising pects of the religion. Sahih Bukhari. Vol.6 , book 60, hadith 399. 3 him to marry again. The Prophet asked her The accounts which describe Ayesha http://www.usc.edu/schools/colleg regarding the choices. She said, “You can to be 9 at the time of her marriage can be e/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/ marry a bikr or a thayyib.” When the traced to one person, Hisham Ibn Urwah. hadith/bukhari/ 4 Prophet asked the identity of the bikr she Hisham lived in Medina for the first 71 years Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Vol 4, Pg 377. mentioned Ayesha’s name. Bikr is used for of his life. His students included people 5 Ibn Kathir, Vol 8, Pg 371, Taqribu’l-tehzib, a fully grown and mature virgin lady, not a like Malik Ibn Anas. Not a single person Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani, Pg 654. 6 child. Thayyib is used for a woman who from Medina has corroborated this ac- Tehzeeb al-Tehzeeb Vol. 11, pg. 48 - 51. has been divorced or widowed. This also count. Hisham then migrated to Iraq. It is 7 Meezaan al-Aitidaal. Vol. 4, pg. 301 - 302.

SPRING 2010 39 Significance of Jumu’ah in the Holy Qur’an By Mubasher Ahmad, M.A., LL.B.

The chapter of the Holy Qur’an entitled Al-Jumu’ah (The Friday) shows how important it is for Muslims to participate in the worship of God and keep themselves saved from being absorbed in materialism.

he Quranic injunction to most important day in the Jewish God had commanded the Jews: observe the Jumu’ah calendar, so, too, is Friday the best of “Transgress not in the matter of (Friday) prayer should not all days of the week for Muslims. Sabbath!” (4:155). But, as is written in be confused with the For Muslims, observance of the the Jewish scriptures, at times the Jews Jewish observance of the Jumu’ah prayer comes at noon. did transgress and incurred the curse TSabbath. While the Sabbath is a day of Muslims are asked to leave aside all of God. However, the Qur’an makes it total rest for the Jews, Jumu’ah is a business and social enterprises when clear that violating the sanctity of the special day for congregational prayer the call to prayer is made in the middle Sabbath was only symptomatic of their during a working day. Concerning the of the working day. However, Muslims transgressing attitude. God’s anger Jewish sacred day of Sabbath, the Qur'an are allowed to work before and after the toward the Jews was the result of many refers to the incidents when the Jumu’ah prayer time. The Qur’an (2:66; other wrongdoings combined together Israelites violated its sanctity, incurring 4:48) reminds the People of the Book with the desecration of the Sabbath. the wrath of God. For them Saturday was that their disregard in observing the The Qur’an says that they were cursed fixed as the Sabbath — a day to not Sabbath had serious spiritual “…because of breaking of their engage in any worldly work. This day consequences for them. covenant, their denial of the Signs of was to be spent with family in The obligation to observe the Sabbath God, their seeking to kill the prophets joyfulness, prayers and spiritual was included in the Ten Commandments. unjustly, and their saying: ‘Our hearts contemplation. As the Sabbath is the Thus the Qur’an makes the reference that are wrapped in covers’…” (4:156).

40 MuslimSunrise The chapter of the Holy Qur’an en- titled Al-Jumu’ah (The Friday) shows how important it is for Muslims to par- ticipate in the worship of God and keep themselves saved from being absorbed “O ye who believe! in materialism. To understand the signifi- cance of Jumu’ah prayer, it is helpful to review the entire text of Chapter Al- When the call is made Jumu’ah. It is a short chapter in length with only twelve verses, divided into two sections. for prayer on Friday, In the first section, God is glorified as the Holy, the Mighty, the Wise, and Lord of immense Grace. Specific mention is hasten to the made of Prophet Muhammadsaw being raised among the unlettered people. At the time the ignorant Arabs were in the remembrance of Allah, depth of immorality, and spiritual values were missing. Greed for materialist gains and leave off all was rampant. To the illiterate and ill-man- nered people of Arabia, the Prophet showed the Signs of God, purified them, business. That is best for instructed them in observing high moral and spiritual values embodied in the Qur’an, and taught them wisdom. Conse- you, if you only knew.” quently, the Prophet succeeded in trans- forming the uneducated sons of the (62: 10) desert, making them teachers and spiri- tual leaders of the world. They ended up establishing a new, benevolent and mag- nificent civilization. In Chapter Al Jumu’ah, the raising of meeting their Lord (through death) be- of Jumu’ah: “O ye who believe! When of Prophet Muhammadsaw is also men- came merely their hallmarks. Thus, the the call is made for Prayer on Friday, tioned for those who had not yet joined Sabbath was meant as a last resort for hasten to the remembrance of Allah, him in Islam during his lifetime. This such people who would only give leave and leave off all business. That is best prophecy illumines that, in the future, the to their worldly pursuits when explicitly for you, if you only knew” (62: 10). Prophet would metaphorically be present mandated by God to do so and spend After the Prayer is over, unlike the Jew- among his people in the latter days to some time in His worship. ish Sabbath, going back to one’s busi- revive Islam. In religious history, evi- In the above Quranic context, the sec- ness is allowed, but still the believers dence of such a miraculous revival is ond section of Chapter Al-Jumu’ah con- are exhorted to remember Allah: “And found when Jesussa, son of Marysa, was tains a warning to the Muslims not to when the Prayer is finished, then dis- raised as the Messiah among the Jews, follow the example set by the Jews. In- perse in the land and seek of Allah’s 1300 years after Mosessa. Unfortunately, stead, it commands observance of the grace, and remember Allah much that the Jews of Jesus’ time rejected their Friday prayer, leaving aside trade, com- you may prosper”(62:11). Messiah who was teaching them love of merce and all worldly entertainments. In Thus, true prosperity is found in re- God and fellow humans, and not to de- the latter days, a vast majority of Mus- maining connected with God, and not with sire the material world. The Jews of Jesus’ lims would get involved in the craze of worldly gains and entertainments. “That time had forgotten the essence of their worldly pursuits; therefore, the need for which is with Allah is better than amuse- religion; they were more inclined to the stressing observance of the Jumu’ah ment and merchandise, and Allah is the literal interpretation of their religious law, prayer was to increase at the time of Best of providers” (62:12). Honesty and forgetting the ultimate end –meeting with their Messiah when they would become fear of Allah should remain ever-present, God. Thus the bookish knowledge of their like the Jews and become diverted from even when engaged in worldly affairs. religious leaders was of no avail to them remembering Allah due to their involve- There should not be any moment when in recognizing the Messiah who taught ment in trade, commerce or other amuse- we may forget Allah, and bring someone them to detach their hearts from love of ments. else in our heart instead. this world. Chapter Al- Jumu’ah explains Addressing the believers, the that the Jews remained engrossed in love Qur’an makes it clear that it is better Imam Mubasher Ahmad is Missionary of the of their materialistic pursuits, worldly for them if they seek nearness of God Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the merchandise and entertainments, and fear all the time, and especially at the time Midwest Region.

SPRING 2010 41 Richardson asserts that the Qur'an places the story of Adam in paradise. Yet, all doubts on this score are laid to rest in the Qur'an when it says in 2:1, “I am about to place a vicegerent in the earth.” It was on earth, then, that Adam and all that followed took place. Muhammad saw himself described the Nile and the Euphrates as the two rivers of the garden where Adam lived. The Hadith also place Adam in Mesopotamia. Later, in the Qur'an it says, “And We did create you and then We gave you shape; then said We to the angels, ‘Submit to Adam,’ and Adam and they all submitted. But Iblis did not; he would not be of those who submit.” (7:12). The Eve in the Qur'an is ripe with figurative language. Events that cannot have literally taken place on this earth are shown to have occurred in a figura- Holy Qur'an tive sense. God did not command the angels to fall prostrate before Adam, as Richardson alleges, but that the angels would render ev- By Nadia Qazi ery help to Adam. Thus, the angels were com- manded to help Adam in his work after Adam was made a Prophet by helping him instill good ideas into the minds of men and exhorting them to accept Adam as a Messenger of God. Further, Iblis, who was never an angel in the Qur'an, was also commanded to submit. This proves that his inclusion is also figura- tive. Although the chief angel is Gabriel, the chief of evil spirits is Iblis. When Iblis refused to submit to Adam, he was degraded from his position. As a Jinn, or secret creation of God, he story of Adam has always certain events from the Bible, including the Iblis had the power to obey or disobey Him, delighted and entranced. For story of Adam and Eve. He writes, “The Ko- unlike the angels who are created to obey God. Christians, the story confirms ran would later reveal that he [Muhammad] The dialogue in the Qur'an between Iblis and the belief in original sin, and thought Adam and Eve sinned, not in an Allah does not necessarily show they ex- places blame upon Eve. For earthly garden, but in paradise. Muhammad changed words. Rather, it conveys the state TMuslims, Adam marked the beginning of had the erring couple cast to Earth only after of things and presents a picture of the condi- organized religion for mankind, and was the they sinned (see Koran 7:19-24 or 7:20-25).” tions that came after Iblis’s refusal to submit. reason for mankind’s battle with the devil. In Moreover, he writes that when God com- Richardson mentions 7:19-24 and 7:20-25 both religions, Adam is considered to be manded the angels to “submit” to Adam, and as problematic. When God commands Adam unique, a first. For Christians, the first man; Satan did not, that Satan was actually prov- to dwell with his wife in the garden and to eat for Muslims, the first Prophet. Whether ing he worshipped God alone, and should be whatever he likes except from a certain tree, examining the story from the Christian or applauded. Of course, Richardson is igno- this garden is not Heaven, but a garden-like Islamic perspective, it is rich and layered with rant of the fact that in the Qur'an Satan was place where Adam first lived. As stated, the meaning. Yet some authors, such as Don never a “fallen angel,” but a different creature story of Adam takes place on earth. Heaven Richardson, point to the story of Adam in the altogether, made, metaphorically, of fire. Also, is a place from which no one who enters it will Qur'an as an example of Muhammad’ssaw the angels were never told to prostrate before ever be expelled (15:49), whereas Adam is made supposedly “flawed” understanding of the Adam in the Qur'an, as they were in the Bible, to quit the garden spoken of in this verse. Biblical story. Little do they realize that the but to submit to him in the sense that they According to the Bible, the forbidden tree was Quranic version of events is quite practical, would work for his mission on earth. This the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Yet in drawing on metaphors to explain what really article will explain the true secrets of the Qur'an the Qur'an, after eating the forbidden fruit, happened, and, most importantly, not placing in light of the story of Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve become naked, which means the blame for the fall of mankind on Eve. Often authors like Richardson quote Qu- that, unlike knowledge which is a source of In Richardson’s book, Secrets of the Ko- ranic verses with weak translations, or take goodness, the tree was a source of evil, mak- ran, he alleges that Muhammadsaw demon- verses out of context, failing to mention verses ing Adam exhibit weakness. The Quranic view strated gaps in his knowledge when relating that put Islam’s message into perspective. makes intuitive sense because to deprive man

42 MuslimSunrise of knowledge is to defeat the very purpose this Satan had led Adam astray, Adam’s na- for which he had been brought into be- kedness, or his own weaknesses, became Satan had succeeded in ing. Elsewhere the Qur'an mentions two manifest to him. It was Divine Grace which trees, good trees and evil trees (14:25 & kept their weaknesses from becoming mani- causing a split in the 27). Good trees refer to pure fest to others. Some of Adam’s own things, and evil to evil things. weaknesses had been community, and, as a The tree metaphor continues hidden from him in 7:21-23. The tree described is and he came to not a tree in the literal sense, but a realize them result, some of the family or tribe from which he was only after bidden to keep aloof, because the his enemy weaker members left the members of the family were his en- lured him emies and they wished him harm. In away fold. Adam then 7:21, we are told that a certain Sa- tan whispered to Adam and Eve, gathered together the “Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree, lest you should “leaves,” i.e. the become angels or beings that live forever.” Another read- youth of the ing of the word malakain (two angels) is two kings or community rulers. This reading is sup- ported in 20:121: “Shall I and began to lead you to a tree of eter- nity, and to a kingdom reunite and which shall never be de- cayed.” The wicked man reorganize who is presented as Sa- tan came to Adam and his people told him the reason God had forbidden him to with their have relations with his family was because they wished to bring about his help. downfall; but now, the that Adam was told to leave family felt friendly towards was not Heaven because Sa- him, the danger had tan cannot approach anyone passed, and they would there, and Heaven is a place prove a source of strength of peace, not enmity or hatred. for him. Adam, however, As one sees from the Qu- made an error of judgment, but ranic account of Adam, Adam’s did not willfully disobey God’s spiritual journey relates how, from commandment. The Qur’an explains, the very beginning of creation, God “He (Adam) forgot to observe Our com- created man and provided the means mandment and We found in him no deter- for attaining a high spiritual status. In mination to do evil” (20:116). Thus, no essence, the story of Adam is a story of blame on Adam, and certainly none on Eve. from his position of security. man’s ultimate humanity, frailty, and humble It is important to note that this Satan is Satan had succeeded in causing a split beginnings. not the same Iblis, chief of the evil spirits, in the community, and, as a result, some of but rather a human with Satanic qualities, the weaker members left the fold. Adam Nadia Qazi is a graduate of Loyola University intent on leading Adam astray. In the Qu- then gathered together the “leaves,” i.e. Chicago, with a minor in Islamic World ranic account, God continuously refers to the youth of the community and began to Studies. the one who refused to submit to Adam as reunite and reorganize his people with their Iblis, while the person who led him astray help. Later, in 7:25, Adam was commanded Endnotes was Satan. The Holy Prophet tells us that to emigrate from the land of his birth be- Ahmad, Mirza Tahir. The Holy Qur'an, with English Translation and Commentary. Surrey: Is- his name was Harith, which literally means cause enmity and hatred had sprung up be- lam International Publications, 1988. a farmer, which is further evidence of his tween different members of his community. Richardson, Don. Secrets of the Koran. being a human being and not a spirit. Once This is further evidence that the “garden” Ventura: Regal Books, 2003.

SPRING 2010 43 Battle of Badr By Naeem Ahmad Rathore

Don Richardson asserts (p. 44) that the Prophet saw ‘shattered the existing peace’ by his raids to inter- cept and harass Meccan trade caravans. The fact is that after the Emigration the Prophet SAW concluded friendly agreements with other residents of Yathrib (now called Madinah), which were the several local tribes of Jews and the pagan Arabs, with provision for the common defense. The nascent Muslims community of Madinah comprised of the Emigrants, who had fled from the persecution from the Quraish of Makkah, and members of tribes of local farmers, the Aus and the Khazraj, known collec- tively as the Helpers or Ansar, had pledged to de- fend God’s Prophet SAW and to protect him as they would their own families. There, too, were some disaffected people including those who had lost their prominent social position owing to the arrival of the Prophet SAW, as well as the Jews whose preeminent position as People of the Book was now threatened.

44 MuslimSunrise The Quraish of Mecca were not con- truce with their belligerent neighbors Obaidah B. Harithra, his uncle Hamzara, tent with expelling the Prophet SAW and for the duration of the ensuing conflict. and his other cousin, Alira, to be his continued their efforts of intimidation, The Quraish had a force of 1000 men, champions. Alira and Hamzara dis- coercion and corruption. Their targets 100 horses and 700 camels. patched their opponents in a single for subversion were the disaffected The movements of the Quraish were blow, but Obaidahra and Shaiba Muslims and the Jews of Madinah. The not entirely secret to the Prophet SAW. wounded each other. Hamzara dis- Muslims had to take precautions and But his mission required a decisive en- patched Shaiba. Obadiahra, too, died a many went to bed fully armed4. Other counter that would turn the course of short while later. defensive measures included making events in their favor. He took counsel The lines then drew near each other treaties with neighboring tribes, send- with his companions and twice the Emi- and the Quraish were routed in the first ing out intelligence gathering recon- grants and the Ansar rose to declare rush. Many of their leaders like Ummaya naissance parties, and interfering with their willingness to go forward, regard- b. Khalaf and Abul Bakhtari fell. And the Meccan trade caravans as they passed less of the prize value of the caravan. chief antagonist, Abu Jahl, too, was killed near Madinah. The Quraish had to send Abu Sufyan had, in the meantime. de- by two teenage brothers from the Ansar . larger escorts with their caravans and toured past the Muslim army. He sent Regarding the claim of ‘heinous assas- this extra expense served to multiply word to the Quraish that, because the sinations’ (p. 45), there is mention in some their determination to do away with the property and persons were safe, there books that al Nadr was killed on the way Prophet SAW and his followers. A state was no need for any action and they back from Badr due to his personal in- of war, therefore, existed between the should go back. This was not, how- volvement in the murder of the Prophet’s Muslims and the Quraish. Alliances and ever, what Abu Jahl wanted. He de- SAW foster brother, Harith b. Abi Hala. treaties were formed on both sides and clared, “By God, we will not go back The Chapter Anfal was revealed to the there were many skirmishes. The Mus- until we have been to Badr.” Badr was Prophet SAW before, during, and after the lim parties were comprised of the Emi- also one site of Arab fairs where mar- Battle of Badr. It deals with the mission grants. kets were held. “We will spend three (V. 5-8, 13-14), the promise of God’s help The Prophet SAW was seeking an end days, slaughter camels and feast, drink (V. 9-12), conduct during battle (V. 15, 16), to the continuous state of fear and in- wine and the girls will play for us. The the treatment of prisoners (V. 70-71), and security that his followers had to en- Arabs will hear that we have come and the division of spoils (V. 2, 41). The dure; indeed he needed an opening for gather together, and respect us in the Prophet SAW was guided in all aspects of an era of relative peace so his message future. So, come on.” Many other building morale of his followers (V. 65, 66), of peace and worship of One God could nobles, however, counseled a return. and the salient events are analyzed (V. 42 spread in the land. But with cunning and cajoling, Abu Jahl -44). The strategy to be followed after the The Prophet SAW received intelli- held the majority together. This is a battle is also outlined (V. 59-64). There is gence of a Meccan trade caravan that clear refutation of the claim that the no difficulty in understanding verses 8:13- was going to pass near Medina and was Makkans were at Badr to defend an ac- 14, (p. 56) if one believes it to be a revela- under the command of Abu Sufyan B. tual en route caravan. (p. 126) tion from the Almighty to His servant, Harb, and escorted by mounted men at The Prophet SAW and the Muslims during, or even prior to, the battle. (p. 55). arms. The Prophet called upon the Emi- continued till they reached the nearer A plain reading shows the verse to be a grants and Ansar to form a large party wells of Badr. Because it had rained record of God’s command to the angels to to harass the caravan. Because the in- during the night and made the ground inspire the believers during the fighting tention was not to engage in battle, compact on the side near Madinah, the to kill – strike at the upper part of the neck many were reluctant, or did not think it wade across became muddy, making it – or to incapacitate – strike off their fin- mandatory, to participate. The Muslim unfit for cavalry. The next morning, Fri- gertips. The recording of the revelation force had 313 men, 70 camels and two day the 17th of Ramadan, the Quraish and the sequence of events are well horses. marched in at daybreak. The armies ar- establised in the Qur’an and in many Abu Sufyan got wind of the rayed themselves facing each other authentic Ahadith. Muslim’s preparations and sent a fast The claim that the Makkah force rider to Makkah asking the Quraish to ‘recognized their clansmen and did not Naeem Ahmad Rathore is an engineer and come out in defense of their property. have the heart to kill them’ (p. 44) is an active member of the Long Island chap- He also changed course and took a belied by the following account: The ter of the AMC, where he resides. longer route through the coastal low- armies arrayed themselves facing each lands to Makkah. The Quraish were other. The Meccans Utba b. Rabia, his Endnotes elated at the opportunity to defeat the brother, Shaiba, and his son, Walid, Muslims in battle in defense of their challenged the Muslims to single com- 1. Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Ullah Tran, by A. property, while uprooting the young bat. Three of the Ansar eagerly stepped Guillaume sapling of the new faith. All notables forward. The Quraish, however, would of the Quraish made ready to set off to not fight them, and demanded peers 2. Mirza Bashir Ahmad Khatimun Nabiyyeen avail this golden opportunity. The from their own tribes. The Prophet SAW 1996 Edition Quraish even arranged a temporary then called upon his second cousin

SPRING 2010 45 ‘Allah’ is an Arabic word that trans- lates as ‘the one and only God.’2 Allah has always been ‘Allah’, the proper name of God. In English, the ‘god’ can be used in the plural form and can be feminine, ‘goddess’. ‘God’ can be used as an at- Etymology tributive term to describe a person such as “god-like.” ‘Allah’ is a unique word that has no plural nor can adjectives or nouns be attached to it. ‘Allah’ cannot be used to describe anyone or anything. Many lexicologists have examined of the name ‘Allah’ in depth to try and find a pos- sible root. In Lisan al-Arab, the authori- tative Arabic lexicon, they have looked at root words such as l-w-h, meaning to shimmer which also means to create. However, they later found that these “Allah” views have little foundation and are not well known.3 Another meaning of l-w-h is to be hidden and it is mentioned that By Saba Naseem Sibaweh, the father of Arabic grammar, suggested the possibility of lahun (de- rived from l-w-h), meaning the hidden one, The dictionary defines etymology as “the study of the is the root of ‘Allah’. He based this pos- sibility on the weakness of other argu- origins of words or parts of words and how they have ments and was himself unsure. A more recent and common view is that ‘Allah’ is a contraction of al (the) and Ilaha arrived at their current form and meaning. An etymology (god) to form Allah meaning “the God”. ‘Ilaha’ has the meaning of god, deity, or often shows the different forms the word has taken in worthy of worship and is derived from the verb to worship. For this contraction, passing from one language to another, and sometimes one has to question why the first letter of ilaha dropped out to form ‘Allah’. Al- 1 though many believe that the repetition shows related words in other languages.” and usage of al-ilaha eventually turned into ‘Allah’. This view, however, is not well established as many of the oldest Arab grammarians do not even consider this possibility. According to the famous Etymology of a word in any language word meaning to cut and translates as “an grammarian Abu Ali al-Nahwi, the first other than Arabic often means to find out instrument for cutting.” Therefore, in letter of ilaha can never be dropped in which language it came from and then Arabic the word for scissor is actually a Arabic grammar.4 how it was altered over time. In Arabic, noun for the verb that means to cut: an The Promised Messiahas says of the however, it means how a particular noun attributive name. word Allah: is derived from its trilateral verb root. The The root w-s-m, however, presents a “Allah is the name of the Supreme Arabic word for “name/noun” is itself case in which the name is a ‘given’ name Being, Who is the sole possessor of all believed to have been derived from two and marks that particular person. For ex- perfect attributes and is free from all de- roots: s-m-w meaning to take up a high ample, a person could be named Leo. This fects. In the Arabic language, the word position and w-s-m meaning to mark or name then uniquely defines that person Allah is never used for any other thing brand. The root s-m-w means to describe and is called a Proper Noun in English. or being. No other language has a dis- the high station of someone or some- The name defines it completely with all tinctive name for the Supreme Being. The thing, in other words, to assign an at- its attributes. Interestingly and names found in other languages are all tributive name. An attributive name is unsurprisingly, the word ‘Allah’ is a attributive or descriptive and are often called a Common Noun and is applicable proper noun and not a derived attribu- used in the plural, but the word ‘Allah’ is to all those who have the same attribute. tive name. It is not derived from any verb never used in the plural. It is a simple For example, in the Arabic language, the root in Arabic, nor is there any word de- substantive, not derived. It is never used word for scissor is derived from the root rived from this word in Arabic. as a qualifying word. Hence, in the ab-

46 MuslimSunrise sence of a parallel word in the English language, the original name “Allah” has been retained throughout the translation [of the Qur'an].”5 There are others who trace ‘Allah’ back to the Hebrew name of Eloh for God. According to the Columbia Encyclope- dia, ‘Allah’ is “derived from an old Semitic root referring to the Divine and used in the Canaanite El, the Mesopotamian Ilu, and the biblical Elohim.” While those names for the Divine are correct, accord- ing to Minan-ul-Rehman, written by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadsa, the Prom- ised Messiah, Arabic is the first language and all other languages are derived from it, thus indicating that ‘Allah’ preceded the aforementioned words for the Divine. At the Great Religions Conference in Lahore in 1896, he said: “We have shown in our book Minan- ul-Rehman that the Arabic language is the only language which can claim to be Divine, the foundation from which all sorts of knowledge flow, the mother of all tongues and the first as well as the last medium of Divine revelation. It is the first, because Arabic was the word of God which was with God and was at last revealed to the world from which men learned to make their own lan- guages, and the last, because the last Divine Book, the Holy Qur'an is also in Arabic.”6 As mentioned, in the Qur'an Allah re- Prophet was any different than the God manded to judge justly between you. Al- vealed the message of Islam to who sent the Holy Prophetsaw and the lah is our Lord and your Lord. For us is Muhammad saw with “the language of his Qur'an. The Holy Qur'an states, “And the reward of our works, and for you the people” to spread to all mankind.7 It say, ‘We believe in that which has been reward of your works. There is no quar- should therefore be noted that ‘Allah’ revealed to us and that which has been rel between us and you. Allah will gather cannot have been influenced by other revealed to you; and our God and your us together, and to Him is the return. languages and that the usage of El and God is one; and to Him we submit.’”8 42:16 Elohim in the Bible and Torah actually This clearly states that we all worship are derived from ‘Allah’. the same God. Even in Arab countries Saba Naseem is a sophomore at the Since ‘Allah’ is the proper name for today, ‘Allah’ is used by the Christians University of Arkansas, majoring in the one God and has been around in pre- and Jews to refer to God. Even in the Journalism, Middle Eastern Studies, and Islamic times, one cannot say that the Bible, God is translated as ‘Allah’. French with a minor in Arabic. god for Muslims is different from the As many people search for a root for God for the Jews or the Christians. Al- ‘Allah’, it becomes clear that they are Endnotes lah is the God for all mankind. The name searching in vain. Generations of Ara- 1 Encarta Online has simply been changed over time to bic grammarians over thousands of 2 Arabic- English Hans Wehr Dictionary. See El or Elohim, but they still refer to the root Žþßþêþ years have not come to a consensus on 3 See Lisan al-Arab Volume VIII pg. 539 under word ‘Allah’, the unique name for God. the derivation of ‘Allah’, but in this day Arabic root ßþîþéþ Two of the six articles of faith in Is- and age, the truth has been realized 4 See Arabic lexicon Mukhtarul Sihah Volume I lam are to believe in all the prophets of through the Promised Messiahsa: page 9 Allah which include Mosessa, Jesussa, To this, then, do thou invite mankind. 5 Five Volume Commentary of the Holy Qur'an and Abrahamsa and to believe in all the by Mirza Basheeruddin Mahmood Ahmad And be thou steadfast as thou art com- 6 Arabic, The Source of all Languages by books of Allah. Therefore, Muslims do manded, and follow not their evil incli- Muhammad Ahmad Mazhar, i not hold the belief that the God who sent nations, but say, ‘I believe in whatever 7 Al Qur'an, chapter 14 verse 5 down messengers before the Holy Book Allah has sent down, and I am com- 8 Al Qur'an, chapter 29 verse 47

SPRING 2010 47 a closed-up mass, then We opened them out? And We made from water every liv- ing thing. Will they not then believe?”9 Is it a miracle or not? The Holy Qur’an as the The Qur'an was revealed in a society where few could read or write, yet its text has been preserved for more than 14 cen- Miracle of turies. Such a claim cannot be made for the Bible. These facts are examined in a saw companion article, Compilation of the the Holy Prophet Holy Qur’an into a text. Is it a miracle or not? The Qur'an issued a historic challenge Religious tolerance is not the only not only to the contemporaries of the Zia H. Shah, MD teaching wherein the Holy Qur'an excels. Prophet but to men in all ages: “Were all Since 1982 half a million people have died of mankind to come together and wish to in America in alcohol related traffic produce the like of the Qur’an, they Illiterate himself, scarcely accidents.3 The Holy Qur'an emphatically would never succeed, however much they able to read or write, he forbids alcohol, saving the believers from aided each other.”10 A book attributed to this mother of evils. Is it a miracle or an untaught person and yet no one dares was yet the author of a not? take up the challenge! Professor Laura book which is a poem, a Similarly, Sir Godfrey Higgins wrote, Vaglieri, who served as professor of Ara- “By the law of Mohamed all games of bic and at Naples Eastern code of laws, a Book of chance were expressly prohibited: the University, wrote: Common Prayer, and a beneficial tendency of this law surely no “Although the opponents of Islam one will deny. He is refused all merit for were invited b30 ILCS 105/5.719 newy Bible in one, and is rever- his morality, because it is said that he Muhammad to compose a book similar to enced to this day by a sixth only copied it from the Bible. I have not his own, or, at least, a chapter… nobody observed the prohibition of this vice ei- was able to produce anything which of the whole human race ther in the decalogue or the gospels.”4 could stand comparison with the Qur'an; as a miracle of purity of Fifteen million people now display signs they fought the Prophet with arms but of gambling addiction in America. The failed to match the excellence of the style, of wisdom, and of Holy Qur'an nipped the evil in the bud. Qur'an.” 11 Is it a miracle or not? truth. It was the one Is it a miracle or not? Sir Godfrey Higgins wrote in the de- miracle claimed by fense of the Prophet, “a philosopher, per- German philosopher Johann Wolfgang Mohammed—his ‘standing haps, may suspect that when the prophet von Goethe said, “As often as we ap- [Muhammad] was availing himself of the proach the Qur'an, it always proves re- miracle’ he called it; and a excellent moral precepts of Christianism, pulsive anew; gradually, however, it at- miracle indeed it is.1 he had sense, not only to take the good, tracts, it astonishes, and, in the end forces but to leave the evil; to adopt the moral- admiration.”12 13 Professor Laura Vaccia Reginald Bosworth Smith ity, but to avoid the hired priesthood Vaglieri explains: which, in his day, had filled the world “The miracle of Islam par excellence with bloodshed and misery, and was rap- is the Qur'an, through which a constant ecently, Swiss idly reducing it to a state of the most and unbroken tradition transmits to us voters have backed a debasing ignorance.”5 The Holy Qur'an news of an absolute certainty. This is a ban on building forbade monasticism in clear terms.6 book which cannot be imitated. Each of mosques with Fourteen hundred years later the Catho- its expressions is a comprehensive one, minarets in their lic Church is following suit in their nego- and yet it is of proper size, neither too Rcountry. The Holy Qur'an, revealed in tiation with the Anglican Church.7 8 Is it long nor too short. Its style is original. the desert of Arabia in the seventh a miracle or not? There is no model for this style in Arab century, stated that the purpose of The Qur'an was revealed in a seventh literature of the times, preceding it. The defensive warfare is to preserve the century tribal society yet it has 800 effect which it produces on the human sanctity of cloisters, churches, verses stressing the study of nature. Is soul is obtained without any adventitious synagogues and mosques. The Qur'an it a miracle? It anticipates both the Big aid through its own inherent excellences. named the place of worship of the Bang and that all living things require and The verses are equally eloquent all Muslims as the last on this sacred list.2 contain water, “Do not the disbelievers through the text, even when they deal Is the Qur’an a miracle or not? see that the heavens and the earth were with topics, such as commandments and

48 MuslimSunrise “The Holy Qur’an is not matchless merely on account of the beauty of its composition, but is matchless on account of all its excellences which it claims to comprise and that is the truth, for whatever proceeds from God Almighty is not

unique only on account of one quality but on account of every one of its qualities. Those who do not accept the Holy Qur’an as comprehensive of unlimited eternal truths and insights, do not value the Qur’an as it should be valued.”18

prohibitions, which must necessar- judging and of treating others as we illustrious. Year of publication 1829. Pages ily affect its tone. Stories of Prophets, should wish ourselves to be judged and 35. Printed by G. Smallfield, Hackney. The descriptions of the beginning and the treated;” that is, the recipe to judge af- book is available on the Archive.org. end of the world, enumerations and ex- fairs in a fair and unbiased manner.16 The 5 Sir Godfrey Higgins Esq, An apology for positions of the divine attributes are re- Holy Qur'an says, regarding limitless the life and character of the prophet peated but repeated in a way which is knowledge and insights contained in the Mohamed or the illustrious. Year of so impressive that they do not weaken scripture, “Say, ‘If every ocean becomes publication 1829. Pages 30. Printed by G. Smallfield, Hackney. the effect. The text proceeds from one ink for the words of my Lord, surely, the 6 topic to another without losing its ocean would be exhausted before the Al Qur'an 58:23. power. Depth and sweetness, qualities words of my Lord were exhausted, even 7 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/ which generally do not go together, are though We brought the like thereof as 2009/11/091121_anglicans_nh_kv.shtml found together here, where each rheto- further help.’”17 8 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/ ric figure finds a perfect application. 8405437.stm How could this marvelous book be the The messiah of this age, 9 Al Qur'an 21:31. work of Muhammad, an illiterate Arab Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas 10 Al Qur'an 17:88. who in all his life composed only two or explains: 11 Laura Veccia Vaglieri. An Interpretation of three verses, none of which reveals the Islam. First published in 1957. Goodward least poetic quality?” 14 Is it a miracle books, 2004. Page 42-44. “The Holy Qur’an is not matchless or not? 12 RVC Bodley. The Messenger. Double Day Bernard Shaw who was awarded the merely on account of the beauty of its and Company Inc, 1946. Page 237. composition, but is matchless on account Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925, said, 13 http://www.alislam.org/Qur'an/Qur'an-and- of all its excellences which it claims to “I have always held the religion of non-Muslims-20080128MN.pdf comprise and that is the truth, for what- Muhammad in highest esteem because 14 Laura Veccia Vaglieri. An Interpretation of ever proceeds from God Almighty is not of its wonderful vitality. It is the only Islam. First published in 1957. Goodward religion which appears to me to possess unique only on account of one quality books, 2004. Page 42-44. but on account of every one of its quali- that assimilating capability to the 15 Muhammad and teachings of Qur'an By ties. Those who do not accept the Holy changing phases of existence which can John Davenport, Mohammad Amin make it appeal to every age. I have Qur’an as comprehensive of unlimited Published by Sh. Muhammad Ashraf, 1964. prophesied about the faith of eternal truths and insights, do not value Original from the University of California, 18 Muhammad, that it would be acceptable the Qur’an as it should be valued.” Is it Digitized by Google.com on Dec 5, 2008, 27 to the Europe of tomorrow as it is be- a miracle or not? pages. ginning to be acceptable to the Europe 16 Reginald Bosworth Smith, in the preface of his, Muhammad and Mohammedanism. 1889 of today.”15 Is it a miracle or not? Endnotes edition. I invite the Christian readers in the 17 words of Reginald Bosworth Smith, “to 1 Reginald Bosworth Smith, Muhammad and Al Quran18:10. discriminate between the accidental and Mohammedanism, 1889 edition. Page 290. 18 Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Karamat- the essential, the transitory and the 2 Al Qur'an 22:42. us-Sadiqin, Ruhani Khaza eternal; above all, constantly to turn the 3 http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving- ’in, Vol. 7, pp. 60-62. mirror in upon oneself, and to try to statistics.html 19 http://www.alislam.org/Qur'an/ make sure that one is complying with 4 Godfrey Higgins Esq, An apology for the life that great principle of Christianity of and character of the prophet Mohamed or the

SPRING 2010 49 Abrogation in the Holy Qur'an By Saira Bajwa

he Promised Messiahas’s abide by. This belief leads to a situation points out that Muslims who believe they advent marked a much in which some parts may become have the right to force Islam upon others needed rejuvenation of abrogated and others may not, leaving may simply believe that some verses, Islam. Since the demise of the validity of the entire Qur'an open to such as, “There shall be no compulsion the Holy Prophetsaw, some contention and rendering this Holy book in religion” (2:257), can be cancelled out. TMuslims have adopted beliefs which go unreliable. Abrogation, therefore, makes it impos- against the very core of Islam. The Holy In his book, Secrets of the Koran, Don sible to rely on any Quranic verses.1 Qur'an, which encapsulates the complete Richardson uses the un-Islamic concept The doctrine of abrogation can be teachings of Islam, remains the light for of abrogation to make several accusa- traced back to the middle ages when it the Muslim ummah. In spite of this tions against Muslims. Richardson claims was introduced to Muslims on the basis safeguard, some Muslims have come to that Islam redefines the very concept of of certain weak Hadith. It is said that the believe that parts of the Holy Qur'an were God by introducing a Lord whose prom- Holy Prophetsaw once was reciting the abrogated, or cancelled out, by other ises and commandments can be contra- Qur'an in front of an audience of both verses of the Holy Qur'an, thus making dicted by His own words, making every- Muslims and idol- worshippers when Sa- those cancelled verses unnecessary to thing he says open to debate. Richardson tan inserted his own words in praise of

50 MuslimSunrise goddesses. It is said that these words sign, command, or a verse of the Qur'an) their prophets brought to them from God. came from Satan but were recited by the refers to Quranic verses in this context. Knowledge disappears from the earth Holy Prophetsaw as part of the revealed Nothing in the verse indicates that the when those who have knowledge disap- passage. The idol-worshippers pros- word ayah refers to Quranic verses. Both pear from the earth.” trated in praise of their goddess, which in the preceding and the following The last sentence the Holy Prophetsaw surprised and then embarrassed the Holy verses, a reference is made to the People repeated three times. 5 Prophetsaw. The incident is completely of the Book and their jealousies against This disappearance of knowledge is fabricated but has been accepted by the new revelation, which clearly shows manifested in those Muslims who fail to many Muslims, some of whom believe the that the ‘Ayah’ spoken of in this verse as understand the correct relationship be- Holy Prophet would not say such things, being abrogated, refers to the previous tween two verses, and thus conveniently and so they offer another version in revelations. It is pointed out that the pre- theorize that one verse must cancel out which Satan interrupts in his own voice, vious Scriptures contained two kinds of the other. When the true meaning of the modulated just like Prophet commandments: those which, owing to verse does become clear, the abrogation Muhammad’s. This fabricated incident changed conditions and the universality theory no longer holds true. Following has been dubbed the ‘lapse of of the new Revelation, required Abroga- this pattern, the number of supposed Muhammad’.2 Neither version of this fab- tion, and those containing eternal truths abrogated verses have been reduced ricated Hadith renders the Holy Qur'an which needed resuscitation so that from 500 to only five. When Muslims indubitable. If Satan is capable of inter- people might be reminded of the forgot- cease to reflect upon the contents of the polating revealed speech, then no pro- ten truth.4 It became necessary, there- Holy Book, they are themselves at fault phetic revelation can be treated as pure fore, to abrogate previous revelations if the meaning of the Holy Qur'an did not divine communication. which were not universal in scope, and dawn upon them. The Qur'an teaches, As a solution to this dilemma, Muslim to restore the forgotten revelations. The “None shall touch it except the pure and commentators point to 22:53: “But Allah Qur'an has abrogated all previous scrip- clean” (56:80). Those who do not pos- removes the contamination due to Satan tures because only it can be a relevant, sess these qualities will not have access and re-establishes His own communica- eternal message for all mankind. This is to the deeper meanings of the Qur'an. tion and Allah is Knowing, Wise” This the sole meaning of this verse which re- The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam verse is used as proof of abrogation of mains consistent with the spirit of the believes that the word of God cannot be verses which are not true. This, however, Holy Qur'an. abrogated. The Promised Messiahas cannot be the solution to verses which To say that any part of the Qur'an is States: “The Holy Qur'an is that authen- have allegedly been tampered with by abrogated is an accusation against God. tic, pure, and final word of God in which Satan because if one was to adopt their “Verily, We Ourselves have sent down man has absolutely no involvement, not flawed logic, it could be said that Satan this Exhortation, and most surely We will even to the extent of a dot or stroke. In himself had also injected these very be its Guardian” (Al-Hijr, 15:10). To ac- all its contexts, in all its words and mean- words into the Qur'an, thus leaving no cept that God has sent a perfect book for ing, it is from Allah the Exalted in totality guarantee that the Holy Qur'an is the pure the guidance of mankind and then to ac- and no sect of Muslims has any excuse revelation from God. This Quranic quo- cept the concept of Abrogation clearly not to accept is as such. Its each and tation is in fact complementary to the pre- contradicts the Qur'an and therefore Is- every word has an excellent order of con- ceding sentence: “And We have not sent lam, yet many Muslim commentators have tinuation and succession. It is an immu- before thee any messenger or Prophet but adopted this view. The Holy Prophet of table revelation- the letters of which have when he had any messages, Satan mixed Islamsaw warned of a critical time when been counted and because of being a up with them his own plan.” Many Mus- true knowledge about the Qur'an would miracle in itself, it will always remain safe lim commentators rely on this verse to disappear until the advent of the Prom- from any kind of change or interpola- declare that Satan adds his own words to ised MessiahAS): tion.” 6 divine revelation. Instead of translating On one occasion the Holy Prophetsaw the Arabic word ‘Umniyah’ as ‘plan’, they said: (Endnotes) 1 translate it as ‘messages’. Although the ‘O men, acquire knowledge before Don Richardson, Secrets of Koran. Pages 18, 58 Arabic language allows both transla- knowledge disappears.’ 2 Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Commentary of Holy tions, the latter translation contradicts Those who heard him asked: Qur'an. Chapter 22, Verse 53. the spirit of Islam and is thus incorrect.3 ‘O Prophet of God, how will knowl- 3 Alislam.org, Misconceptions about the Holy The authority of the Qur'an is also edge disappear while we have the Holy Qur'an cited by those who espouse this errone- Qur'an in our possession?’ 4 Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Commentary of the Holy ous dogma in 2:107: “Whatever message The Holy Prophetsaw replied: Qur'an. Chapter 2, verse 107 We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We ‘In the same way in which it happened 5 Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Invitation to bring one better than that or the like before. Your mother may have mercy on Ahmadiyya, page 154 thereof. Dost thou not know that Allah you. Do you not see that the Jews and 6 Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Azala Auhum. Vol. 2 has the power to do all that He wills?” the Christians possess their books? But page 219 Some Muslim commentators incorrectly they have not the least regard for the believe that the Arabic ‘ayah’ (message, teachings contained in the books, which

SPRING 2010 51 News, Views and Reviews Book Review

The Belief and ers of the truth. As the author himself Richardson asserts, “Although Mus- says, this book was written to explain the lims always claim that Muhammad used true guidance of Islam and its great teach- bloodshed only for ‘justifiable self de- the Life in the ings, and was written for those who mis- fense’, he very definitely was the aggres- understand the religion of Islam and sor!” those who keep ill will of it. Through historic accounts Holy Qur'an Publishers Weekly states that Don Puthiyavalapp leaves no doubt that the By Abdur Rahman Puthiyavalapp Richardson “takes 111 of the Qur’an’s ‘war Prophet Muhammadsaw engaged in war (Available from Alislam.org) verses’ out of their historical contexts and only when he was commanded to defend claims that this selection proves that con- himself and his people by Allah. He ex- Reviewed by Humera Bajwa temporary Islam is a dangerous and mili- plains that at the time of the advent of tant faith.” If however, you are searching Islam the disbelievers persecuted the for the true instructions given to Mus- Muslims, they expelled them from their he Belief and the Life in the lims regarding war then you would be well houses and stopped them from worship- Holy Qur’an (2005, 456 advised to read the chapter entitled “The ping at the Holy Ka’ba. The persecution Religion and Religious Wars” in The Be- became very extreme but rather than fight Tpages) is a compilation of the lief and the Life of the Holy Qur’an. back, Muslims abandoned their homes knowledge and teachings found in the Through Qur’anic verses, commentary and their properties and migrated to and historic accounts, the author helps Medina in hope of practicing their faith Holy Qur’an. It is the result of research the reader to better understand the guid- without further persecution. However, the undertaken over many years by the ance found in the Holy Qur’an. disbelieving Makkans followed the Mus- Richardson claims in his book that the lims to Medina and attacked them there. author, Abdur Rahman Puthiyavalapp. Qur’an commands Muslims to kill those It was at this point that God gave The content of this book’s 20 chapters who reject Islam. However, Puthiyavalapp Muhammadsaw the command to fight a de- simply explains the relevant verses from fensive war. He quotes the following is expansive, providing proofs for the the Qur’an and provides evidence from verse from the Qur’an: “And why should existence of God, and the Holy Qur’an Islamic history to show such verses ap- you not fight in the cause of Allah and plied only to those who had relentlessly for the rescue of the weak men, women being the true word of God. The book persecuted and murdered innocent Mus- and children- who say, ‘Our Lord, take us also details the major themes of the lims and become deserving of death for out of this town whose people are op- their own transgressions. pressors, and give us a friend from Thy- Holy Qur’an, including the attributes Puthiyavalapp opens his chapter en- self and give us from thyself a helper.’ “ of God, the Prophets and the Jinn. titled “The Religion and Religious Wars” This book is very well referenced and with the statement, “Nobody is allowed researched. It is clear to see that the au- What led the author to embark on such to use force for the acceptance of Islam,” thor spent a lot of time over many years thorough research? He explains that he as the Qur’an states, “There is no com- collating the information provided in this pulsion in religion” (Sura Al Baqarah). He book. Although this book has been trans- had doubts regarding faith when explains that through the Qur’an God in- lated from its original language, as is growing up. These doubts resulted structs Muslims to let him accept Islam noted in the introduction, this book is who is willing to accept it and let him who written in an easily understandable lan- from reading books that distanced him is willing to reject Islam, reject Islam (re- guage, therefore the translation does not from religion. fer to Sura Al Kafirun). There is no clearer take away from the content of this work. Ironically, such a book has recently way of articulating that force cannot be After comparing both works, the reader been published: Secrets of The Koran by used to spread Islam. In this well refer- can come to just one conclusion: The Don Richardson. This book claims to ex- enced chapter Puthiyavalapp gives de- only secret about Richardson’s book is pose what the Holy Prophet tails on the conditions under which Mus- that it is filled with baseless lies designed Muhammadsaw and the Holy Qur’an were lims are allowed to engage in war. He ex- to misinform, whereas Puthiyavalapp’s “really all about.” Secrets was reviewed plains that if the freedom of worship of work can only increase the earnest in the immediate past issue of the Muslim any party is hindered through the use of seeker’s understanding about true Islam. Sunrise and served as a catalyst for the force, only then does the Holy Qur’an present issue’s content. The Belief and give permission for a defensive war. This Humera Bajwa has worked as a teacher the Life of the Holy Qur'an is a perfect instruction is found in the Qur’an: “And in England and currently studies Arabic response to the allegations put forward fight in the way of Allah against those at the Foreign Service Institute. She by Richarsdon, and is a must read for seek- who fight against you” (2:191). resides in Arlington, Virginia.

52 MuslimSunrise Perspectives: Mean-spirited Criticism ...there is no end to criticism, if it is done for the fun of it. eople like to criticize others. Criticism is not objectionable as long as it isP not done just for the sake of it. There must be an objective to be accomplished when we criticize someone or something. There is no end to criticism if it is done for the fun of it, as Mullah Nasruddin found out. Mullah Nasruddin is a character, real or fictional is open to debate, but his stories are well established in Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey. One day Mullah went to the market, taking his son with him. There he bought a donkey, and on the way home he let his son ride while he himself walked alongside on foot.

SPRING 2010 53 After they had gone some distance The Holy Qur’an has stated chapter or even a verse like one in the they came upon some people who began Qur’an. It is not a statement of arrogance. talking about the pair. “The world is get- emphatically many places as It simply states that if you have a criti- ting crazier and crazier,” they said. “That cism or objection to any of the teachings lout of a son is sitting there at ease on a challenge to others that they on the Holy Qur’an then bring a substi- the donkey, making his old father walk should try and bring another tute or alternative and compare the op- alongside dripping with sweat.” tions. In the final analysis, you will find Mullah heard this comment and had chapter or even a verse like that the Holy Qur’an presents a teaching his son climb down, and he himself took which is practical, morally sound, logical a seat on the donkey’s back. “Now the one in the Qur’an. It is not a and in conformity with nature. people will be satisfied,” he murmured. statement of arrogance. It When Christians or Jews criticize the Soon they came upon another group Holy Qur’an about the Jihad of the Sword who likewise were expressing their simply states that if you have while misquoting it most of the time, what thoughts about Nasruddin and his don- do they offer in its place from the Bible? key, and indeed, loudly enough that the a criticism or objection to any Read Chapter 20 verses 13 to 20 in the Mullah could hear them. “Have you ever of the teachings on the Holy book of Deuteronomy which states that seen anything like that? That must be an you should kill every male and take unto unnatural father who makes his poor boy Qur’an then bring a substi- thyself all women, the little ones and the run on foot while he himself rides proudly cattle. It further clarifies by the words: along on the donkey!” tute or alternative and com- “thou shall save alive nothing that Mullah momentarily halted the don- pare the options. In the final breatheth.” key. “Climb up here with me!” he said to According to the Bible, it is a com- his son. analysis, you will find that mandment that was actually followed ac- A short distance later they came upon cording to Book of Number 31:7. another party, who likewise expressed the Holy Qur’an presents a Even if you misinterpret the direction their opinion clearly. “Such animal abuse! teaching which is practical, of the Holy Qur’an about Jihad, it is much Isn’t that shameless, for a cleric to tor- better than the instructions in the above ment such a poor donkey! Couldn’t the morally sound, logical and in referenced verse from the Bible. The Holy two of you use your own legs and give Qur’an commands that once the enemy the donkey a little rest?” conformity with nature. lays down their arms, make peace with Mullah stopped once again. “Let’s them. The Bible says once the enemy has climb off!” he said to his son. lost, enslave all women and children, kill They both dismounted and walked In another version, Mullah told his son all males and cut down all tress other than along on foot beside the donkey. But they that you can never please the people no the fruit trees. Is this the alternative we had not gone far when they came upon matter what you do. are invited to? another group of people who also had As soon as the people had gone on The same holds true for the Holy something to say about them. They their way he said to his son, “If you ever Prophet of Islam. Instead of just criticiz- heaped ridicule upon them: should come into the possession of a ing him, bring the example of another “Such a cheapskate! It’s just like him donkey, never trim its tail in the presence prophet and let us compare them. The to buy a donkey and is then too stingy of other people. Some will say that you Holy Prophet was an orphan, husband, to use the animal.” have cut off too much, and others that father, general, soldier, neighbor, states- “He must be afraid that he will rub the you have cut off too little. If you want to man and a teacher. Bring an example of fur off its body.” please everyone, in the end your donkey someone in any one of these categories “Which of the three is the greatest will have no tail at all.” and let us match him to the Holy Prophet donkey?” Mullah’s stories are repeated to bring and see who comes out shining. “They just might as well carry the don- up social issues for people to think about. I know there are people who are going key home.” The main thing to note is that all the people to keep on criticizing just like the ones in No sooner said than done! Mullah who criticized him did not offer an alterna- Mullah Nasruddin’s town. They only re- Nasruddin followed this advice. tive. That is when criticism is useless, non- flect their ignorance and lack of sincerity. productive, just for fun and without any The Holy Qur’an tells us that when we The story ends in different versions. objective or purpose. meet such people, we should just say Sa- One version is that the Mullah and his son People criticize the Holy Qur’an and laam, or Peace be on you, and keep going. decided to carry the donkey on their shoul- the Holy Prophet of Islam all the time. Of course if Mullah followed this com- ders since that was the only scenario left. What is their objective and purpose? mandment, I would have to look for an- While they were balancing the donkey What alternatives do they have to offer? other story to make my point. I know there crossing a bridge, the donkey fell down in The Holy Qur’an has stated emphati- are plenty of others around. the river. So the episode ended because cally many places as a challenge to oth- without the donkey, there was no play. ers that they should try and bring another Falahud Din Shams

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