seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Quran 9:1. A declaration of immunity from God and His Messenger to the polytheists with whom you had made a treaty.
2. So travel the land for four months, and know that you cannot escape God, and that God will disgrace the disbelievers.
3. And a proclamation from God and His Messenger to the people on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage, that God has disowned the polytheists, and so did His Messenger. If you repent, it will be better for you. But if you turn away, know that you cannot escape God. And announce to those who disbelieve a painful punishment.
4. Except for those among the polytheists with whom you had made a treaty, and did not violate any of its terms, nor aided anyone against you. So fulfill the treaty with them to the end of its term. God loves the righteous.
5. When the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them. And capture them, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayers, and pay the alms, then let them go their way. God is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
6. And if anyone of the polytheists asks you for protection, give him protection so that he may hear the Word of God; then escort him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.
This is from the commentary at the beginning of this new chapter, titled "Repentance".
The title of this chapter is taken from the opening statement, which contains a declaration of immunity from obligations with such of the idolatrous tribes as had repeatedly broken their engagements. This declaration is one of the most important events in the history of Islåm, for hitherto the Muslims had constantly suffered from the hostility of the unscrupulous idolatrous tribes who had no regard for their treaties, dealing a blow at the Muslims whenever they had an opportunity of doing so. The chapter is known under various other names, al-Taubah or Repentance, being the best known. This is not really a new chapter, and this accounts for the Bismillåh being omitted from the opening. It is admittedly a part of the last chapter, while a distinct name has been assigned to it by reason of the importance of the declaration of immunity, from which it takes its name. A reference to the seventh and the eighth sections of the last chapter will show that the idolaters repeatedly broke the agreements which bound them to remain on peaceful terms with the Muslims. This frequent violation ultimately led to the declaration of immunity, because it was impossible that the Muslims should be bound forever by the terms of those agreements, while their enemies could repudiate them with impunity.
Now on to the verses.... same commentary.... this is from verse 1.
This verse is to be read along with v. 4, which makes a clear exception in favour of those who did not fail in their agreements. It is a fact that the idolatrous tribes of Arabia broke their agreements with the Muslims again and again , yet the Muslims were enjoined to accept peace if the disbelievers consented to it, even after repeated violations. But this state of things could not continue long, for it was soon found that it was impossible to trust such neighbours. This repudiation of agreements took place on a large scale when the Muslims were absent on the Tab∂k expedition. The first thirteen verses of this chapter were publicly proclaimed by ‘Alß, on the occasion of the pilgrimage in the ninth year of the Hijrah, and the following announcements made as the result: (1) that no idolater shall approach the Sacred House after this; (2) that no one shall go naked round the Ka‘bah . The attitude of the tribes to whom this ultimatum was given through ‘Alß is well indicated in their reply: “O ‘Alß, deliver this message to thy cousin (i.e. the Prophet), that we have thrown the agreements behind our backs, and there is no agreement between him and us except smiting with spears and striking with swords”
By the day of the greater pilgrimage is meant either the ninth of Dhu-l-Ïijjah, when all pilgrims gather together in the plain of ‘Arafåt, or the tenth when they assemble in Minå.
Only two tribes, the Banß Óamrah, and the Banß Kanånah, are related to have adhered to their treaties. The exception given here makes it clear that the Muslims were not fighting with the idolaters on account of their religion, but on account of their having been untrue to their engagements.
The clear exception of the last verse shows that by the idolaters here are meant, not all idolaters or polytheists wherever they may be found in the world, not even all idolaters of Arabia, but only those idolatrous tribes of Arabia assembled at the pilgrimage who had first made agreements with the Muslims and then violated them.
The exception here has given rise to much misconception. It is thought that it offers to the disbelievers the alternative of the sword or the Qur’ån. Nothing is farther from the truth. The injunction contained in the first part of the verse establishes the fact that the whole verse relates to certain idolatrous Arab tribes who had broken their engagements with the Muslims, and who had now been apprised of a similar repudiation by the Muslims. The order to kill them and to make them prisoners and to besiege them and ambush them amounts clearly to an order to fight against them, as it is in war only that all these things are made lawful. They had so often broken their word that they could no more be trusted. Yet, if they joined the brotherhood of Islåm, and there was an absolute change in their condition, the punishment which they otherwise deserved could be remitted. It was a case of forgiving a guilty people who had repented. It should also be noted that a mere confession of the faith is not required; what is required is an absolute change, so that the old crimes are all abandoned. Therefore, along with the confession of the faith, it is required that they should keep up prayer and pay the poorrate. The subject is further clarified in the next verse and the following section.
I told my husband, some time ago, if we are invaded by Islam.... ask for protection. But then again.... I don't think that would work for us.... because we are hidden in the capitalist state along with all the people who think money is more important than God. Those people who believe money makes the world go around..... and don't credit God at all for creating it, and setting it to spin on it's axis around the sun, and then populated it, cleaned it away with a flood, and populated it again.
The problem here is broken agreements. Tribes made agreements with other tribes.... and those agreements were broken. The Muslims always seemed to be on the poopy end of the stick. So, God told them to stop dealing with those who wouldn't keep their word.
Can I tell you about the TV Western I watched yesterday? Paladin was hired to protect a family and stop a blood feud. A man from the other family in the feud, lay dead on the ground. Paladin asked the guy who was hiring him... how long the man was going to have to lay there. I swear I thought he was going to say "three days". You know like the two Prophets in Revelation in the Bible. They were slaughtered and laid out in public for three days.... but nope.... the guy was going to lay there until the top guy of the other side of the blood feud came to get him. Paladin said he didn't want the job because of the dead body.
Then the very man they were waiting for came riding in and shot up the place, killing a bunch of men, and then rode out. Paladin went after him to bring him back to stand trial for killing the men. When he caught up with the guy.... the guy told him he wanted no part of the feud by they wouldn't leave him alone. All he wanted to do was take off his gun and live in peace. This is a TV Western so Paladin said he would let him do that. But things didn't go swimmingly and the guy picked up his gun again.... and tried to kill more of them.... and threatened Paladin.... and Paladin shot him dead. Paladin was sorry he had to shoot the guy.
So.... that's what this is about.... sometimes you have to give a guy a chance to show he's changed. And.... sometimes you have to kill a guy.
