Terrorism and Jihad: An Islamic Perspective –Part – 5
By Dr. Zakir Naik
Muslims ruled India for about 1000 years. As a whole, no Muslim ruler forced the non-Muslims in India to accept Islam.
The Truth about Jihad: The Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah Ch. No. 2 V. No. 190:
“Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:190]
The Qur’an says, you can fight those who fight you, but do not transgress limits, for Allah (swt), Almighty God, does not like those who transgress. Allah continues in Surah Baqarah Ch. No. 2 V. No. 193:
“Fight them until there is no (more) Fitnah (tumult and oppression) and (until) religion (i.e. worship) is (acknowledged to be) for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression (i.e. assault) except against the oppressors.” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:193]
If you study Islamic history you will come to know the truth. There is a book written by Prof. Rama Krishna Rao on the Life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). In it he states that there were about 22 encounters in the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in which about one thousand and eighteen human beings were killed.
Compare this to the casualties of World War II, in which ten million civilians were killed and ten million soldiers were killed – twenty million dead – and thirty four million were injured. Imagine the magnitude of human suffering caused by these wars.
One can easily realise the difference between the casualties of these wars. Yet people talk about Islam and state that Islam was spread by the sword and killing is prescribed in Islam. Tell us, who talks about World War I and World War II, and criticizes the nations and its leaders that led to these wars and fought in them?
It is a common misconcep-tion that the religion of Islam was spread by the sword. ‘Islam’ is an Arabic word, which comes from the root words ‘SALM’ which means peace and ‘SILM’ which means submitting your will to Allah, the one and only Almighty God. Hence Islam means peace acquired by submitting your will to Allah (swt). Anyone who submits his/her will to Almighty God to acquire peace is called a Muslim. If you translate ‘Islam was spread by the sword’ it means peace was spread by the sword. Islam propagates spreading and maintaining peace in the world. Its teachings state that as far as possible, an individual or the state should not fight, should not be violent, and should not use the sword – except as a last resort. Islam gives permission that force can be used to eliminate tyranny and oppression and to achieve and sustain peace – to let peace prevail.
Every country in the world, every government in the world, has a police force and the police use force against criminals who try to disrupt peace. We praise the police when it uses force against criminals in order to let peace and justice prevail. Similarly, Islam gives permission to use force only as a last resort, when some people create FITNAH (meaning oppression and injustice) and FASAAD (meaning corruption, mischief, and nuisance) in the world. As Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Maidah Ch. No. 5, Verse No. 32
“…Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption (done) in the land - it is as if he had slain humankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved humankind entirely.” [Surah Al-Maidah 5:32]
So Allah tells us in the Qur’an that if any human kills any other human, whether it be a Muslim or Non-Muslim, unless it be for murder or for creating mischief in the land or for creating FITNAH or FASAAD in the land, it is as though as if he killed the whole of humanity. (Allah doesn’t say that only if you kill a Muslim, it is as though as if he killed the whole of humanity).
And if anyone saves any other human being, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, it is as though as if he saved the whole of humanity. This is what this glorious Book proclaims, and people allege that it is the source of violence, the source of disruption of peace! Those who wish to continue with and perpetuate their injustice, tyranny, oppression and falsehoods say such a monstrous lie and calumny.
The glorious Qur’an provides guidance on how peace can prevail. Check it out! Obtain a copy of the translation of the Qur’an. Read it. You will be pleasantly surprised. Discover the truth about all these issues by yourself, directly by reading the translation of the Glorious Qur’an.
The Sword of Islam: Was Islam spread by the Sword? Let’s examine this issue.
The best reply to the allegation that Islam was spread by the sword, is given by De Lacy O’Leary, a very famous historian. He writes on page no. 8 of his book ‘Islam at the Crossroads’: “History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated.”
We Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years and we did not use the sword. Later on the crusaders came and wiped out the Muslims – there was not a single Muslim who could openly give the Adhan. The Muslims did not use the sword.
Muslims ruled India for about 1000 years. The Muslims had the power – they ruled India for about 1000 years. They did not use force. As a whole, no Muslim ruler forced the non-Muslims in India to accept Islam. Today, more than 80% of the Indians are non-Muslims. These 80% non-Muslims in India, are giving Shahaadah – they are bearing witness – that Islam was not spread by the sword. If the Muslims had wanted, they could have forced each and every Indian to accept Islam at the point of the sword. They did not do so.
The Muslims ruled the Arab lands for 1400 years. They were the lords and the rulers of the Arab land for 1400 years. The Britishers and the French came and ruled for a few years. But as a whole, the Muslims have been the rulers of the Arab lands for the past 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians. Coptic Christians means that they are Christians since generations. These more than 14 million Coptic Christians, are giving Shahadah, they are bearing witness that Islam was not spread by the sword.
Indonesia is the country which has the maximum number of Muslims. Let me pose you this question:
Which Muslim army went to Indonesia?
Malaysia has more than 50% of its population as Muslims.
Which Muslim army went to Malaysia?
Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?
Which sword are we talking of?
Thomas Carlyle gives the reply. In his book “Heroes and Hero worship”, he says, “The sword indeed, but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely in a minority of one, in one man’s head alone. There it dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he takes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as it can.”
He is talking about the sword of intellect.
Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an in Surah Nahl:
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction and argue with them in a way that is best.” [Surah An-Nahl 16:125]
The Qur’an speaks of the sword of intellect which conquers the hearts of human beings. We have to find the correct sword.
An article had appeared in “The Plain Truth” Magazine. It was a reproduction of the Reader’s Digest Almanac year book, 1986. It gave a report of the increase in the major world religions in a span of 50 years, between 1934 to 1984. It stated, ‘In this span of 50 years between 1934 and 1984 the religion that grew the maximum was Islam. It grew by 235%, while Christianity grew by a mere 47%.
Let me once again ask a simple question: which war took place between 1934 and 1984 which forced human beings to accept Islam? Which war?
Today, the fastest growing religion in America and also in Europe is Islam. Who is forcing these Americans at the point of the sword to accept Islam? Who is forcing the Europeans to accept Islam at the point of the sword? Who?
The Truth of Islam shall Prevail
Do you know that after 11th September 2001, the CNN relayed a news item in the month of June 2002 that said that after 11th September 2001 in a span of approximately ten months, 34000 Americans accepted Islam? The more they attack Islam, the more the truth of Islam will prevail.
As Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an: And say, “Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, (by nature), ever bound to depart.” [Surah Al-Isra 17:81]
The more you try and suppress the truth, the more the truth will prevail. Imagine, with all the media that they have at their disposal: the CNN, the BBC, other news channels – and everyone attacking Islam, yet the best seller in America today is the Bible of the Muslims – they don’t even know the Qur’an by its name!
The translation of the Qur’an is the best seller. People want to know what kind of religion Islam is, and when they read the Qur’an, it opens up their hearts. The sword conquers their hearts and they accept Islam.
This is a fulfillment of a promise given by Almighty God in the Qur’an in no less than three different places. Almighty God says in Surah At-Tawbah Chapter No. 9 Verse No. 33 and in Surah As-Saff Chapter No. 61 Verse No. 9:
“It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it.” [Surah At-Tawbah 9:33] and [Surah As-Saff 61:9]
Allah repeats the message for the third time in Surah Al-Fath Chapter No. 48, verse No. 28, where Allah says:
“It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth to manifest it over all religion. And sufficient is Allah as a Witness.” [Surah Al-Fath 48:28]
Allah’s promise is: the more they attack this ‘deen’ of Haq (the truth), the more the truth of Islam will prevail. And you will find that Allah has his own ways of making this happen.
As Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al-e-Imran Chapter No. 3 Verse No. 54
“And they (i.e. the disbelievers) planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners.” [Surah Al-e-Imran 3:54]
I would like to end this treatise with the following quotation of Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson: “People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realise that the Islamic bomb has been dropped already - it fell the day MUHAMMAD (pbuh) was born.”
(To be concluded)
(The English translation of verses of the Glorious Qur’an is taken from the translation published by Saheeh International.)
(Dr Zakir Naik is the President of the Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation and can be reached at zakir@irf.net)
Muslims ruled India for about 1000 years. As a whole, no Muslim ruler forced the non-Muslims in India to accept Islam.
The Truth about Jihad: The Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah Ch. No. 2 V. No. 190:
“Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:190]
The Qur’an says, you can fight those who fight you, but do not transgress limits, for Allah (swt), Almighty God, does not like those who transgress. Allah continues in Surah Baqarah Ch. No. 2 V. No. 193:
“Fight them until there is no (more) Fitnah (tumult and oppression) and (until) religion (i.e. worship) is (acknowledged to be) for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression (i.e. assault) except against the oppressors.” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:193]
If you study Islamic history you will come to know the truth. There is a book written by Prof. Rama Krishna Rao on the Life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). In it he states that there were about 22 encounters in the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in which about one thousand and eighteen human beings were killed.
Compare this to the casualties of World War II, in which ten million civilians were killed and ten million soldiers were killed – twenty million dead – and thirty four million were injured. Imagine the magnitude of human suffering caused by these wars.
One can easily realise the difference between the casualties of these wars. Yet people talk about Islam and state that Islam was spread by the sword and killing is prescribed in Islam. Tell us, who talks about World War I and World War II, and criticizes the nations and its leaders that led to these wars and fought in them?
It is a common misconcep-tion that the religion of Islam was spread by the sword. ‘Islam’ is an Arabic word, which comes from the root words ‘SALM’ which means peace and ‘SILM’ which means submitting your will to Allah, the one and only Almighty God. Hence Islam means peace acquired by submitting your will to Allah (swt). Anyone who submits his/her will to Almighty God to acquire peace is called a Muslim. If you translate ‘Islam was spread by the sword’ it means peace was spread by the sword. Islam propagates spreading and maintaining peace in the world. Its teachings state that as far as possible, an individual or the state should not fight, should not be violent, and should not use the sword – except as a last resort. Islam gives permission that force can be used to eliminate tyranny and oppression and to achieve and sustain peace – to let peace prevail.
Every country in the world, every government in the world, has a police force and the police use force against criminals who try to disrupt peace. We praise the police when it uses force against criminals in order to let peace and justice prevail. Similarly, Islam gives permission to use force only as a last resort, when some people create FITNAH (meaning oppression and injustice) and FASAAD (meaning corruption, mischief, and nuisance) in the world. As Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Maidah Ch. No. 5, Verse No. 32
“…Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption (done) in the land - it is as if he had slain humankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved humankind entirely.” [Surah Al-Maidah 5:32]
So Allah tells us in the Qur’an that if any human kills any other human, whether it be a Muslim or Non-Muslim, unless it be for murder or for creating mischief in the land or for creating FITNAH or FASAAD in the land, it is as though as if he killed the whole of humanity. (Allah doesn’t say that only if you kill a Muslim, it is as though as if he killed the whole of humanity).
And if anyone saves any other human being, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, it is as though as if he saved the whole of humanity. This is what this glorious Book proclaims, and people allege that it is the source of violence, the source of disruption of peace! Those who wish to continue with and perpetuate their injustice, tyranny, oppression and falsehoods say such a monstrous lie and calumny.
The glorious Qur’an provides guidance on how peace can prevail. Check it out! Obtain a copy of the translation of the Qur’an. Read it. You will be pleasantly surprised. Discover the truth about all these issues by yourself, directly by reading the translation of the Glorious Qur’an.
The Sword of Islam: Was Islam spread by the Sword? Let’s examine this issue.
The best reply to the allegation that Islam was spread by the sword, is given by De Lacy O’Leary, a very famous historian. He writes on page no. 8 of his book ‘Islam at the Crossroads’: “History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated.”
We Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years and we did not use the sword. Later on the crusaders came and wiped out the Muslims – there was not a single Muslim who could openly give the Adhan. The Muslims did not use the sword.
Muslims ruled India for about 1000 years. The Muslims had the power – they ruled India for about 1000 years. They did not use force. As a whole, no Muslim ruler forced the non-Muslims in India to accept Islam. Today, more than 80% of the Indians are non-Muslims. These 80% non-Muslims in India, are giving Shahaadah – they are bearing witness – that Islam was not spread by the sword. If the Muslims had wanted, they could have forced each and every Indian to accept Islam at the point of the sword. They did not do so.
The Muslims ruled the Arab lands for 1400 years. They were the lords and the rulers of the Arab land for 1400 years. The Britishers and the French came and ruled for a few years. But as a whole, the Muslims have been the rulers of the Arab lands for the past 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians. Coptic Christians means that they are Christians since generations. These more than 14 million Coptic Christians, are giving Shahadah, they are bearing witness that Islam was not spread by the sword.
Indonesia is the country which has the maximum number of Muslims. Let me pose you this question:
Which Muslim army went to Indonesia?
Malaysia has more than 50% of its population as Muslims.
Which Muslim army went to Malaysia?
Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?
Which sword are we talking of?
Thomas Carlyle gives the reply. In his book “Heroes and Hero worship”, he says, “The sword indeed, but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely in a minority of one, in one man’s head alone. There it dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he takes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as it can.”
He is talking about the sword of intellect.
Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an in Surah Nahl:
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction and argue with them in a way that is best.” [Surah An-Nahl 16:125]
The Qur’an speaks of the sword of intellect which conquers the hearts of human beings. We have to find the correct sword.
An article had appeared in “The Plain Truth” Magazine. It was a reproduction of the Reader’s Digest Almanac year book, 1986. It gave a report of the increase in the major world religions in a span of 50 years, between 1934 to 1984. It stated, ‘In this span of 50 years between 1934 and 1984 the religion that grew the maximum was Islam. It grew by 235%, while Christianity grew by a mere 47%.
Let me once again ask a simple question: which war took place between 1934 and 1984 which forced human beings to accept Islam? Which war?
Today, the fastest growing religion in America and also in Europe is Islam. Who is forcing these Americans at the point of the sword to accept Islam? Who is forcing the Europeans to accept Islam at the point of the sword? Who?
The Truth of Islam shall Prevail
Do you know that after 11th September 2001, the CNN relayed a news item in the month of June 2002 that said that after 11th September 2001 in a span of approximately ten months, 34000 Americans accepted Islam? The more they attack Islam, the more the truth of Islam will prevail.
As Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an: And say, “Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, (by nature), ever bound to depart.” [Surah Al-Isra 17:81]
The more you try and suppress the truth, the more the truth will prevail. Imagine, with all the media that they have at their disposal: the CNN, the BBC, other news channels – and everyone attacking Islam, yet the best seller in America today is the Bible of the Muslims – they don’t even know the Qur’an by its name!
The translation of the Qur’an is the best seller. People want to know what kind of religion Islam is, and when they read the Qur’an, it opens up their hearts. The sword conquers their hearts and they accept Islam.
This is a fulfillment of a promise given by Almighty God in the Qur’an in no less than three different places. Almighty God says in Surah At-Tawbah Chapter No. 9 Verse No. 33 and in Surah As-Saff Chapter No. 61 Verse No. 9:
“It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it.” [Surah At-Tawbah 9:33] and [Surah As-Saff 61:9]
Allah repeats the message for the third time in Surah Al-Fath Chapter No. 48, verse No. 28, where Allah says:
“It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth to manifest it over all religion. And sufficient is Allah as a Witness.” [Surah Al-Fath 48:28]
Allah’s promise is: the more they attack this ‘deen’ of Haq (the truth), the more the truth of Islam will prevail. And you will find that Allah has his own ways of making this happen.
As Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al-e-Imran Chapter No. 3 Verse No. 54
“And they (i.e. the disbelievers) planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners.” [Surah Al-e-Imran 3:54]
I would like to end this treatise with the following quotation of Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson: “People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realise that the Islamic bomb has been dropped already - it fell the day MUHAMMAD (pbuh) was born.”
(To be concluded)
(The English translation of verses of the Glorious Qur’an is taken from the translation published by Saheeh International.)
(Dr Zakir Naik is the President of the Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation and can be reached at zakir@irf.net)
posted by Rozio Gibran | 12:20 PM
1 Comments:
I am a Hindu. My religion teaches me to love all as all are children of God. Hate is ungodly. My religion also teaches me that God is one and different people try to reach Him in different ways. All these ways are right as all of them lead the people to Him.
Life is the gift of God. How a human being can take away God's gift to other human beings? When we love other human being we pray to God. When we hate other human beings we commit a crime against God.
DR. Zakir, do you find any difference between these teachings and teachings of Islam?
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