Islam versus terrorism

[Haarith]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
ASALATU WASALAMU ALAYKA YA RASULLALLAH Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Most respected Imam may you live a 1000 years.
Imam saheb (some) non-Muslims are linking us to terrorism because of the following verse:

" Then when the sacred months have passed, slay the associators wherever you find them and catch them, and confine them and sit in wait for them at every place; again if they repent and establish prayer and give the poor-due then leave their way. Verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."
(Al Quran 9:5)

Alhamdulillah I know that Islam prohibits terrorism.

The Qur'an Ul-karim states unequivocally:
"There is no compulsion in religion." (Al Quran 2:256)

"God does not forbid you, with regard to those who do not fight you for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loves those who are just." (Al Quran 60:8)

Imam saheb how can I explain them the meaning of verse 5 surah 9?

May Allah give us knowlegde.
Jazakallahu khayran...
Wassalamu 'alaykum

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


All Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, and Final Messenger of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam


Jazak'allah for your question. The verse [5] of Surah [9] of Al Qur'an states :

Then when the sacred months have passed, then slay the infidels wherever you find them for violation and catch them and confine them, and sit in wait for them at every place. Again if they repent and establish prayer, and give zakat then open the way for them. Surely Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

The first part of the verse relates to the 'sacred months' in which security was also given to the infidels, according to the tafsir 'Ruh al Bayan'. The four months are the months of Rajab, Dhul Qadah, Dhul Hajjah and Muharram. Because war was forbidden AT THAT TIME, these months were known as the 'sacred months'. By 'mushriqeen' it is meant those polytheists of the Arab nation, who had made a covenant or promise not to make war or killings, yet they broke this promise. This promise was known as the covenant of 'Bani Hamzah', and is related to them, for that time, not to the mushriqeen of today.


The majority of scholars do say that this verse is common for all the infidels of the world, whether they are Arab or non-Arab, black or white, that at some point, it may become necessary.


From this latter view it is relevant that in a muslim state, where the kuffar break the covenant and agreement, or break the laws of Islam, that it is permissible to impose capital punishment upon them, unless they repent, and accept the religion of Islam.


Nevertheless where no Islamic state exists, and the laws are not Islamic, and we also have our freedom to practice religion as and when we wish, then how is it that we be the perpertrators of a religion which demands peace and security, just as you stated in verses 2:256 and 60:8. We would be insane to impose certain verses of the Qur'an al kareem upon the majority of people, who give us the freedom to practice our religion, yet we do not even have the stance or recognition in their eyes.


What would then be more favourable?


To propagate our religion, and say how good it is, or to make judgements for killings ?


Indeed Allah the Almighty is the Wise One, and it is He who guides and misguides.


May Allah the Almighty give us all the towfiq to understand and act upon His Book properly, and then to make judgements, which would otherwise lead us to disrepute.




Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab



M. Waseem Ashrafi