Q: What is a kafir? Can a non-Muslim who only believes in the existence of Allah (SWT) but does not practice Islam be called a kafir?

Answer by Shinzey

Answer: In Arabic there are three meanings of the word ‘kaafir’ which are used in the Qur’an.

• The first meaning is ‘a person who does not accept or who denies’.

If a person has the knowledge of right and wrong and still he does not accept it or denies it then he is called a ‘kaafir’.

But, a person who doesn’t know about right and wrong and is on the wrong path, he is not a kaafir as he has no knowledge of the right path.

• The second meaning is the ‘one who conceals’.

Whoever has true revealed divine knowledge and conceals it from the masses then he is a ‘kaafir’.

Those who concealed Vedas from the masses were surely ‘kaafirs’.

Those who concealed Jesus Christ’s true message and altered it were definitely ‘kaafirs’.

Also those who keep the masses away from understanding the meaning of the Qur’an will come under the definition of ‘kaafir’.

• Third is the ‘one who is ungrateful’.

Gratefulness is an emotional response in lieu of some bestowment or gift from anyone. Whoever misuses any gift of bestowment conferred on him/her is also ungrateful.

Those who misused the divine knowledge of the Vedas, Gospels and Qur’an will fall under the category of being ungrateful or ‘kaafir’.

Apart from these literal meanings of ‘kaafir’, there is one more explanation of the word in Qur’an: whoever does not make the ‘Word of God’ the final arbitrator or the final adjudicator in his doubts and disputes is kaafir.

…وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ

…and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed, those are they that are the disbelievers. (Qur’an 5:44)

A large majority of so called Muslims may not escape the purview of this definition.

Kaafir is a word which is also being used for true Muslims. Those who reject the Devil are the Kafirs of Devility.

… فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ…

…whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle… (Qur’an 2:256)

Quran has only described the attributes of believers, hypocrites and kafirs.

Only at one place it has allowed to call someone kaafir to those who have clearly understood the truth but still are adamant on disbelieving.

Apart from these no one on the earth has the right to call anyone ‘kaafir’. It’s only ALLAH who knows who submitted to HIM and who is a kaafir.

Q: Who is Munafiq?

Answer: Surah baqarah: ayat 11-20

This ayah talks about munafiqs or the religious hypocrites. Munafiqs present themselves as reformers (islaah karne wale) but in actuality they are the troublemakers (fasadis). They, just like an unintellectual, bring disharmony in this well-balanced world and yet proclaim themselves to be the harbingers of change. And when it is told to them, “Believe, as the momin (a believer who totally submits to the will of God) does, they say , “Should we believe like these fools?” According to them, their business and their livelihood would run into loss if they do not lie and adapt the ways of a momin. Actually, these munafiqs are the real fools, which they fail to agree. They are descending towards huge loss slowly and gradually which they do not know. They are absolute fools because they do not believe in the law of cause and effect. The result of their deeds keeps accumulating and it will be paid to them in this word itself, but then it will be too late for them. They will not have time even for repentance as HE is the most just and pays back for your deeds, accordingly. Another characterstic of munafiq given in this ayah is that when they are in the company of true believers, they say that they are with them in all their endeavours. And when they get back to the people of their type or munafiqs, they say, “Our conversations with momins are mere humor and baseless.” Similarly, Allah’s law (which is unchangeable) would play a joke on these fools of which they do not know. HE will push them into darkness (the darkness of wit and understanding) so much so that they will never be able to come out of it. They will keep strolling in the wrong path and will never find the course of righteous men. These are people who buy ignorance for guidance, so their bargain brings no gain nor are they guided. The righteous men (momins) have bargained their life and possessions for paradise. They are aware that the Giver can take it whenever HE wants, it was always His. This ayah sights two parables in order to further clarify the temperament of a munafiq. In the first one, they are compared to those who light a fire (fire has benefits as well as drawbacks). As soon as the fire starts illuminating around them, Allah takes away its benefits and leaves them with its detrimental effects. This would throw them in darkness –a darkness of ignorance and foolishness. This is because they shed light on the things around them without the guidance of Allah. They believe in their self-created philosophies and reject the laws and teachings of Allah. Their ears and eyes are shut, they would never return back to wisdom. The second parable is about abundant rain befalling them with thunder, darkness and lightening. This rain is nothing but the crisis happening in and around the world, which would scare them to death. They would suffer in fear and panic for not having faith in Allah. They would try and take a few steps in light but again get confused and halt when darkness would block their path. Allah has some hope in them and says if they want they can return to the righteous path. Allah’s laws are unchangeable and He is the best estimator.

Q: What exactly does “Ghazwa-e-Hind” mean? How and when did such a term come into existence? Do Indian Muslims believe or support this theory?

Answer by Nabeela Tanveer:

…By the term ‘Ghazwa’ they are thinking that they will attack India… No!… rather India itself would attack the entire world!… but that attack would be of LOVE and the establishment of PEACE...

LET’S ANALYSE IN DETAIL THE TRUTH ABOUT GHAZWA-E-HIND!

THE BLESSED ONES!

It’s a very hot topic and a great ‘ghazwa’ indeed. The prophecy of the Ghazwa-e-Hind by the Prophet(PBUH) says that the people participating in it are the best of martyrs. This indicates that the ones taking part in it are surely the blessed ones!

The companions of the Prophet(PBUH) used to pray to be a part of it. First, we need to clear all our misconceptions regarding the great ghazwa, be they the misconceptions of Non-Muslims or Muslims themselves. What actually is Ghazwa e Hind? It is a victory of good over evil. It is a victory of the implementation of the laws chosen by our Lord over human laws. It is a sign of the coming of Satyug. Satyug, which will start from our beloved country, India. Are we all not waiting for the Satyug to come? Yes, we are and we are definitely eagerly waiting for Ghazwa e Hind. We too should pray and work to be a part of it as the great companions of the Prophet(PBUH) did.

MISUSE OF GHAZWA E HIND HADITH

One after hearing the term jumps to the conclusion that it is a war process in which Pakistan is having a conquest over India thereby successfully vanquishing it. The technology difference between the two countries is incomparable. Generally, Non-Muslims make fun of this and they have a right to do so. They blame Muslims of India for planning to wage war against them. If the Muslims of Pakistan are talking gibberish that they are going to conquer India in Ghazwa e Hind, first they have to look into the mirror that do they have the Islamic System in their country? It is now nearly seventy-three years of partition.

They failed to give us the model of an Islamic System where God’s chosen way of living is being followed, a model of compassion, a model of reformation wherein everyone is happy and satisfied and none is below the poverty line defined by Islam, where there is no corruption and oppression and no compulsion and iniquity on minorities. First, they need to layout and exhibit a system based on Justice and Equitableness. It won’t be the enforcement. People would themselves ask for that system to be followed after seeing the benefits and positive outcomes of the required system. This model was never established, instead, they only talk about the spread of the religion through the sword, the very ‘Deen’ which in itself is a mercy and a blessing to mankind. It is surely an attempt to contain the hatred against Hindus. What good do they expect to do with their hollow foundations of Islam?

Many Muslim leaders misuse the Ghazwa e Hind Hadith as an instrument of propaganda in the proxy war engaged in by Kashmir by powerful forces in Pakistan in the guise of a so-called Jihad. They are fighting for a piece of land, fighting for Kashmir, and not for Islam. In fact, the foundations of partition have no relation with Islam. Islam never divided land or an area. They took land to make a separate Islamic state, in which, never did they succeed.

Some scholars believe that the Hadith was fulfilled at the time of the Four Righteous Caliphs when several companions of the Prophet came to India to spread Islam. Some others believe that it might also refer to the invasion of Sindh by Arabs under Muhammad bin Qasim in the eighth century. But that area is called ‘Sindh’ and not ‘Hind’ by the Arabs, and also the Prophet (PBUH) was not present in that conquest. Although the idea of Ghazwa e Hind as a war against the contemporary Indian state has not been universally accepted, yet it continues to feature in the Jihadist discourse.

THE ISLAMIC STATE OF PAKISTAN?

Do the religious scholars of Pakistan think they possess an Islamic regiment fighting for God’s cause? It is a bitter truth that Pakistan, which laid its foundation in 1947 to be a Muslim country, has in actual nowhere Islamic System in practice. If you want to make an Islamic government right now, there would be discord over the mainstream teachings of Islam. There would be disagreements over which sect’s Shariah will be implemented? The question always remains will you impose the Shariah of Wahhabism? or the Shariah of Shiism? or Barelvis? or that of Sunni’s? Religious scholars in the whole world have conflicting opinions against each other, and there is nowhere in the whole world where the Islamic System is practised completely.

On the contrary, in Ghazwa e Hind, there would be a different scene as the people of God would lay their lives in the love of one Almighty God and spread His system all over the world, not by the sword but by their ideologies with love and wisdom.

GHAZWA AND SARIYA

It is the fight of Truth over falsehood, and the ‘Truth’ will always prevail. There is a starking difference between the two terms, ghazwa and sariya, commonly used for battles. The battles in which the Prophet (PBUH) himself was present are known as ‘ghazwa’ while, the battles in which he was absent are called ‘sariya’. Logically, how could there be a ‘Ghazwa’ in the physical absence of the Prophet (PBUH)? Ghazwas were those conquests in which the Prophet (PBUH) went out along with his companions, not necessarily the battles being fought. Out of the total forty-seven ghazwa conquests, only nine were fought. Now the point is: after the death of the Prophet (PBUH), how could there be a ghazwa?

HADITH RELATED TO GHAZWA E HIND

We find five narrations of Hadiths related to Ghazwa e Hind, and one of which was declared ‘Sahih’ by Imam Albani. Another one is also correct, while the remaining three are doubtful and seems incorrect.

The saying ascribed to the Prophet (PBUH) about Ghazwa e Hind is reported by Al Nisa’i in his “Sunan” by the name of “Ghazwatul Hind” and by Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his “Musnad”. It is reported in two different texts and through six different chains of narrators.

The first of the two texts is :

Narrated by Hazrat Sauban (RA) :

God shall save two groups of people from amongst my followers from hellfire. One, which shall fight in “Al-Hind” and the other, which shall accompany Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus) [on his return]

The second of the two texts is:

Narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) :

The Prophet (PBUH) promised us the battle of “Al-Hind”. Thus, if it happens in my lifetime, I should give away my life and all my belongings in it. If I am killed in it, I shall become the Best of Martyrs (of Islam) and if I (live to) return, I shall become a “free” Abu Hurairah! (i.e. free from Hellfire).

As we see, this clearly indicates that the revival of Hazrat Isa (A.S) and Ghazwa-e-Hind are two different events taking place at two distinct times. Some opinions of a few religious scholars touch logic which says that it is not a battle fought physically but a real jihad (endeavour, struggle) in the cause of Allah to spread his ‘deen’ worldwide, and they consider India to be an important destination while reaching for the whole world.

The hadith narrated by Hazrat Sauban is considered ‘Sahih’ by all, without any dispute. It is noticeable that because it is a ghazwa, the presence of the Prophet (PBUH) is necessary, and his presence can be possible in one sense only, that it may not be physical but allegorical which further simplifies that the battle should also be allegorical and not of arms and weapons. It is a great struggle in which love and compassion would play a vital role, not the weapons. It is the true struggle of acknowledging people with the Truth.

THE CHOSEN PEOPLE!

It is quite interesting to know the fact that the people living here in India are predestined to believe and accept the one Almighty God collectively en masse. In fact, the whole world is predestined in Allah’s plan to come towards Him. Quran has many ayahs foretelling that when you people will turn your backs, then Allah will bring some other people in your place as in Surah Muhammad,

“ If you turn back (from the Path) He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you! ” ( Quran- 47: 38 )

As in Surah Ma’idah, (Quran 5:54)

(5:54) Believers! If any of you should ever turn away from your faith, remember that Allah will raise up a people whom He loves, and who love Him….

On hearing the ayahs where the conversion of a nation is mentioned, the Sahaba, [companions of the Prophet (PBUH)] used to enquire about their identity, to which the Prophet (PBUH) repeatedly gave two answers, the people of Yemen and the people of Iran (Tirmidhi, Tabrani). Quite interestingly, Yemen is at the south while Iran is at the north of Saudi Arabia, and he pointed towards the races settled there. The hadiths are in the category ‘Sahih’ but the two answers seem conflicting. In this type of situation, correlation is to be found by the scholars. It is well known that Aryans lived in Iran while at that time Yemen was populated by Dravidh and Sindhi races. If we correlate the two different answers of the Prophet (PBUH), we could conclude that India is the only place in the entire world where all three of these races settled. Earlier, they were individual races, but when they assembled, they were collectively known as ‘Hindus’. As the Prophet pointed towards the races, it is like he clearly pinpointed the people who would be called “Hindus” in the future.

THE TORMENT OF THE ALMIGHTY

Not only the conversion of a nation was foretold, but the hour when all this would happen, was also mentioned as in these three different ayahs of the Holy Quran:

As in Surah Sajdah, (Quran 32:5)

(32:5) He governs from the heaven to the earth and then the record (of this governance) goes up to Him in a day whose measure is a thousand years in your reckoning. 

As in Surah Saba, (Quran 34:29, 34:30)

(34:29) They ask you: “When will this promise (of Resurrection) be fulfilled, if what you say is true?”

^{(34:30) Say: “Your day is appointed, you can neither hold back its coming by an hour, nor hasten it by an hour.”}

As in Surah Hajj, (Quran 22:47)

(22:47) They ask you to hasten the punishment. Allah shall most certainly not fail His promise; but a Day with your Lord is as a thousand years of your reckoning.

In the above two ayahs of surah Saba, there is a warning, but here in Surah Hajj, the word “azaab”, (i.e. punishment) is used. There was a warning of a duration of one day fixed by the Almighty to which not a concession of a second would happen. Allah never goes against His promise, and a day with our Lord is of thousand years of what we reckon. Keeping these three ayahs altogether in mind, we conclude that after every thousand years, Allah changes the system sent by Him, while the earlier system is taken back. It is rejected not because it was invalid or not up to the marks, but because it gets corrupted by the people, so when he takes away the previous system, it is with punishment for the people living on the edge of the millennium. Then, Allah implements another system. The last time, which we can pinpoint with surety when the new system was implemented, was with the birth of the Prophet (PBUH). Then, what happened after a thousand years as they have already crossed to which we find a ‘Sahih’ hadith wherein an extension of 500 years is mentioned for this ummah :

Narrated Sa’d ibn Abi Waqas:

The Prophet (PBUH) said: I hope my community will not fail to maintain their position in the sight of their Lord if he delays them half a day. Sa’d was asked: How long is half a day? He said: It is 500 years.

(Abu Dawood Book 32, Number 4336)

If we count 1500 years from the birth of the Prophet (PBUH), then they would complete in 2026 wherein the change of a nation as a whole for the new system being implemented and torment for the earlier members of the ummah is being predicted. If we count it from the year of the revelation on the Prophet then the conversion of the nation would go further forty lunar years which is 2064. As we see the hour of the coming of this nation as an ummah of the Prophet (PBUH) is fixed which is after 1500 years from the Prophet (PBUH).

THE TRUE BELIEVERS!

This nation has to come in Allah’s plan. They don’t have ‘Tauheed’, the oneness of God yet, but their training and conditioning are already going on by the Lord. Allah has started giving them a status in the world as their image as a powerful nation is emerging, and India is gradually becoming stronger politically and economically. When that great change would happen, those already trained people would accept Islam and would go forward with God’s laws to the entire world, and they won’t turn their backs like we people do, as mentioned in Surah Muhammad:

(47:38)…..and they will not be like you

When a person accepts Islam with all his senses is thousand times far better than a traditional Muslim. As this whole nation is predestined to change and accept Islam, then one hundred crore count would certainly shake the world. Their passion and furore would not let them stop until the true message of the Lord reaches everywhere. Those traditional Muslims are of no use as if given power would only tie in chains and spread anarchy. The chosen people of God would emerge from India only and go against all odds to the whole world, and then the whole world would come to Islam. They will spread the true essence of Islam, and not a single tent would be spared where Islam won’t enter as described in a Hadith. This is the ghazwa mentioned by the Prophet (PBUH) in which he would be present spiritually. The great event would happen which the Quran describes as in Surah Tawbah,

(Quran 9:33) He it is Who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the True Religion that He may make it prevail over all religions…

To dominate and prevail this ‘Deen’, way of living life, over all the religions of the world, the Quran doesn’t allow the use of force or compulsion. Even where the Islamic system is implemented, the usage of force on personal levels like forcing Muslims to pray etc is strictly forbidden. In this world, Allah has given us free will, i.e. He has given us a choice to believe or not to believe as there is no compulsion in ‘deen’. Punishments in the law are made for the ones who spread corruption and influence society through their bad deeds in one way or the other.

THE TRUTH OF GHAZWA E HIND

After all the above discussion, we hereby repeat it again, Ghazwa e Hind is not a conquest wherein India will be attacked by the so-called believers, rather India itself would attack the non-believers and the entire world, but that attack would not be of arms and weapons but that of LOVE and COMPASSION.

Q: Why does the Quran says not to befriend non-Muslims in verse 5:51?

Answer by Sana Siddiqui:

The Quran does not restrict Muslims from befriending non-muslims. All those Aayahs in the Quran that appears to command otherwise, must be analysed as per the proper context.

O, believers! Take neither Jews nor Christians as guardians—they are guardians of each other. Whoever does so, will be counted as one of them. Surely Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. [Quran 5:51]

At first glance, Aayah 5:51 appears to prohibit friendships with Jews and Christian, but before we understand this Aayah, let us see what the Quran says about the friendship between Non-muslims and Muslims.

The believers must not take the disbelievers as friends rather than believers. And whoever does that has no (protection) from Allah in any matter, except that you should totally keep away from them. [Quran 3:28]

Do those who take the disbelievers for friends rather than the believers, seeking honour from them? But, indeed, all honour belongs to Allah [Quran 4:139]

And He has revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah being disbelieved and ridiculed, you should not sit with them unless they enter into some other discourse…[Quran 4:140]

O’ you who believe, take not for intimate friends others than your own people. They spare no effort to cause you loss. They love that which distresses you. Malice has come out of their mouths while what is concealed in their hearts is still worse. We have made the signs clear to you, if only you understand. [Quran 3:118]

Look, you are the ones who love them and they do not love you. You believe in all the books; (On the other hand,) when they meet you, they say, “We believe”, and when they are alone, they bite their finger-tips out of rage against you. Say, “May you perish in your rage.” Surely, Allah is All-Aware of what lies in the hearts. [Quran 3:119]

When we take all the above Aayahs into consideration and have a closer look at them, we get to know that we are not restricted from befriending the non-muslims, instead, we are given some principle and guidelines in the Quran which compel and guide us to use our wisdom and knowledge in different circumstances to manage our actions accordingly.

Let’s understand all the above-mentioned Aayahs:

Aayah 4: 139-140, commands Muslims to not exclude/leave the believers (from befriending) while befriending only the disbelievers (the people who refuse to believe). At the same time, in these Aayahs, it is also instructed to leave a place where Aayahs of Allah are rejected, disrespected, insulted and mocked; it is also commanded not to sit with those people who do that. However, it also suggests that when such a conversation/discussion ends or someone else starts talking, then, one can sit with them. So, this indicates to us that the Qur’an does not completely forbid us from making friends with non-Muslims, but simply says that we should keep ourselves away from a place where the Aayahs of Allah are mocked and from people who do that.

Aayah 3: 118-119, means that going away from our own people and making intimate bonds with others by compromising against the interests of the believers and telling others the secrets that could be used against them (the believers), shall be strictly avoided. And here, the word ‘others’ is not used for Kafirs or non-Muslims, but it is a general instruction. Further, it is told that these are those people whose malice is expressed from their mouth. Thus, it can be inferred that we should not tell our deep secrets to those people whose words or nature express to us that they are against us or our loved ones, so that they may not use them

Thus, from the commands in Aayah 3:28, 4: 139 and 3: 118, it can be understood that we should not make them (disbelievers) friends or confidante by excluding and leaving the believers. These Aayahs only show that the Qur’an doesn’t forbid us completely from befriending non-Muslims, but rather, it says that leaving believers, going against their benefits or shaking hands with people who are conspiring against them (the believers) is prohibited. They only mean that beside befriending non-Muslims and wishing good for them, one should also keep friendship with the people of faith, behave well with them, take care of their interest and befriend them too. Thus, the Quran doesn’t stop us from befriending non-Muslims, rather, it is guiding us that we should not compromise our relations with the believers in doing so.

Thus, the Aayah 5:51, which states that do not befriend Jews and Christians, is just a brief command which must be understood in the light of other Aayahs of the Qur’an, which are discussed above.

Now, in the end, we will discuss the most important Aayahs of the Qur’an regarding the relationship and friendship with the non-Muslims. All the other Aayahs that we have gone through on this subject will be considered/understood under these two Aayahs:

Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. [Quran 60:8]

Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion – [forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers. [Quran 60:9]

It is clear from these Aayahs that the Qur’an does not prevent us from befriending non-Muslims (Jews, Christians, polytheists etc.), unless they fight with us based on religion, expel us from our homes because we talk about Islam. The Qur’an in fact, commands us to deal with them with justice.

Q: Why does the verse 2.223 of the Qur’an compare the wife to a tilth, and allows the husband to approach her whenever and however he wishes?

Answer by Tabassum:

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

Sura: 2 Ayah: 223-

نِسَاؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَكُمْ فَأْتُوا حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّىٰ شِئْتُمْ ۖ وَقَدِّمُوا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ مُلَاقُوهُ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Your wives are like tilth for you, so come to your tilth when and how you like. And send good beforehand for yourselves. And keep your duty to Allah, and know that you will meet him. And give good news to the believers.

In this ayah, it is not the Women who has been called as “Tilth”, rather it is wife that has been compared to a farm which a farmer owns. Only a farmer, specially the one living in deserts, knows and can explain the value of a farm. He loves his farm the most and takes care of it more than anything else. A farmer looks to it that his farm always stays protected from all types of dangers.

It is a farmer who, with love and good expectations, sows seeds into the farm and eagerly waits for the new crop that arrives. He becomes delighted seeing crops prosper & flourish in the field.

Moreover, the word “Hars” (حَرْثٌ) used in the above ayah not only refers to Farms/Fields/Tilth, but it also refers to earnings which are saved by someone. It is obvious that people take intense care of their savings. They take care that no one robs it, nor should it get depleted, nor should it get depreciated. Same is the case with the fields of a farmer, he takes similar care of his Farm.

This example of love, care and attachment of a farmer to his farm has been used to describe the love, care and attachment of a man to his wife and his offsprings.

Allah has, therefore, compared women to a precious farm whose responsibility has been put upon the shoulders her husband. And she deserves utmost care and respect.

Further, Allah has mentioned in a very manner that you can establish a relation with your wife as you wish.

Allah has allowed one to approach women however they wish but it is to be understood that relationship must be established in a manner that will make way for thriving your breed. The Quran has ordered to refrain from approaching women during her menses and in ways which are not fertile.

The same can be seen in the below ayah.

Sura: 2 Ayah: 217

They ask you about menstruation. Say: “It is an impurity. So, keep away from women during menstruation; and do not have intimacy with them until they are cleansed. But when they are cleansed, then go to them from where Allah has commanded you. Surely Allah loves those who are most repenting and loves those who keep themselves pure.

In the same ayah, Allah is reminding us that if you do not treat your wife well or approach her in an inadequate manner then remember that you have to meet Allah one day and you will be accountable for all that you have done.

Allah further gives glad tidings to those who have acted in the prescribed way.

Note: It is not only in Quran that a wife is compared to tilth or farm. There is similar instance in Vishuddh Manusmriti- the book of sanatan dharma, where a women is compared to the soil.

Manu 9:33

“By the sacred tradition the woman is declared to be the soil, the man is declared to be the seed; the production of all corporeal beings (takes place) through the union of the soil with the seed.”

Q: What is the meaning of Jihad in Islam? Is it really such a violent religion?

Answer by Nabeela Tanveer:

 Jihad is the most misunderstood and misused term in today’s era. There are many self acclaimed Jihadists across the globe like ISIS, Kashmiris and many more. But to your surprise, literally the term “Jihad” (verb Jahada) doesn’t refer to fight, instead it means to exert, continuous strive and struggle for peace. It is not used once in the whole Quran in the sense of waging war. According to Quranic terminology fighting in a war is called “Qital”. Qital is only one aspect of Jihad. If some people come against in the way of striving for peace and a clash or struggle happens, then that struggle is a little part of greater Jihad. Jihad and terrorism totally opposes each other. All terrorists are bad but the worst creatures on the surface of the Earth are the ones who use religion for terrorism.

CONDITIONS OF WAR:

Even this Qital in Islam is not an act of mad brutality. Quran has elucidated war is not permissible without the fulfillment of certain conditions.

1) Defensive War:

As in Quran(22:39-40), permission (not order) to fight back is granted to those people who have been persecuted. In every court of law in the world to fight back in defense is permitted and is not a crime.

2) Offensive War:

As in Quran(4:75), where not only permission but order is given to believers to fight against the tyrants and oppressors for the people being severely oppressed, irrespective of their religion. Islam gives sanctity to each human life without religious discrimination.Islamic State exists nowhere in the world today. But if it does, then also offensive war is not allowed for the expansion of Islamic State or for the spread of Islam.

3) Breach of Agreement:

Quran(9:4) gives permission (not order) to fight for if any nation or tribe breach an agreement or a pact.

As mentioned earlier, there’s no other condition except these three for Qital and one cannot fight for the acquisition of territory or for the expansion of Islamic State. The basic purpose of Islam entirely fails if someone is enforced to be a muslim by coercion. It is clearly stated in the Holy Quran(10:99) that Amighty Allah is all powerful to make everyone on Earth a muslim by force, but He has given choice and we are also strictly not allowed to use force as Faith is by heart.

“And if your Lord had (enforced) His will those who are on the earth would have believed one and all. Would you then constrain the people to become believers (while Allah has not forced them to believe)?” Quran(10:99)

CODE OF CONDUCT OF WAR:

If any of these conditions happen and the fight is inevitable, then Quran, Hadith and Sunnah have given some code of conduct mandatory during a war.

Some of the orders mentioned in the Holy Quran:

The ayahs of Surah Baqarah, Quran(2:190-193) are wholly misused and misunderstood not by non Muslims but also by so called Muslim terrorists. All of these four ayahs are taken out of context wherein the Almighty orders to be firm in the thick of the battle and to be steadfast in the face of the enemy. These orders are for the battlefield when any one of the three conditions mentioned earlier appears. People who opposes these ayahs deliberately omits to quote the whole ayah or the continuing ayah.

“Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight with you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah does not love the transgressors.” Quran(2:190)

Here, they omits the part of the ayah mentioning not to transgress limits even during war.

“And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter……” “But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” Quran(2:191-192)

Here, Quran clearly tells that tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. This part of the ayah and the continuing ayah(2:192) is overlooked deliberately. The enemies themselves triggered war and they will cease only when they starts losing and here Allah asks believers to forgive them as Allah is also Oft- forgiving.

“And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.” Quran(2:193)

In this ayah also, the part where Quran tells not to be hostile (while in the battlefield) except to oppressors is left being quoted.

PRIORITY OF ACCORD/TREATY OVER WAR

“And if they incline to peace, then incline to it….” Quran(8:61-62)

If in between the war, the enemy turns towards reconciliation and asks for an accord or a pact then Allah commands to accept the peace treaty. Here also comes the query that they themselves initiated the war and then talk of an agreement from them indicates that they are losing but Quran asks the believers to prefer reconcilement over war while comforting them that Allah will help if enemies intend to cheat.

Quran asks to provide shelter to one who seeks protection (during the war) and forbids to make someone accept Islam under any threat.

“And if any one of the polytheists seek your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.” Quran(9:6)

Code of conduct given by the Prophet Muhammad SAW:

*Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path.

*Do not mutilate dead bodies.

*Do not lay hands on the womenfolk, children, old people and on the labourers.

It is to be noted here that the women and labourers were present in the battlefield to help in war (indirectly involved). How can one openly fire in a town when Islam allows to fight with those only who are directly involved.

*Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful.

*Slay not any of the enemy’s flock, save for your food.

*Avoid injuring non-combatants and Do not misbehave with the people who remained in their houses (and didn’t participate directly in the battlefield) after the victory.

*It is not permitted to stop the supply of water to the enemies.

*Humane treatment towards prisoners of war.

GORILLA WARFARE:

Gorilla Warfare is in itself an art of war but Islam doesn’t gives permission for it. Announcement is mandatory before waging a war. If believers suspect that after breaching the agreement the enemies are ready to fight then also they cannot attack quietly and they have to give them time period minimum of four months.

Conclusion: Gita and Holy Vedas also talk about war. In Gita, Sri Krishna asks Pandavs to fight with their relatives when they denied. Atharved(12:5:62) tells us how to behave with disbelievers during a war. It is not correct to cut off some ayahs of the Holy Quran from their context or omit the continuing ayahs.

Permission (and in one case order) to wage war against the forces of evil sums up the aims and objects of Qital in Islam. It has its moral functions, i.e. self preservation and the preservation of the moral order in the world.

Do you still think that Islam promotes violence??

Q: Is jihad a duty of Muslims?

Answer: First of all, let’s understand what exactly Jihad means.

To understand any concept we should take into account the literal as well as the contextual meaning from the authentic sources. When it comes to understand the concept of Jihad, we should, first, break all the stereotypes and decondition our minds.

Usually the word ‘Jihad’ is taken as synonymous to violence, terrorism, war etc., although the word jihad does not mean anything like that.

In the Quran, the word Jihad occurs at several places, however, it is not used in sense of fighting/violence. Those are the worst creatures, who are misusing the whole concept of jihad and doing wrong in the name of Islam.

As far as Quran is concerned, it uses the word ‘Qital’ for fighting, whereas, the meaning of Jihad is continuous struggle to establish an everlasting peace. One of such struggles could be war or fighting if it is required to establish peace.

According to Quran, there are only (strictly) three situations when a war can take place:

a– Quran recommends a defensive war against anyone who tries to create hurdles for the establishment of peace, who come to fight with you and creates trouble for you.

Quran tells in surah hajj 22:39–40

Permission (to fight) has been granted to those for they have been wronged.Verily Allah has the power to help them. (22:39)

those who were unjustly expelled from their homes for no other reason than their saying: “Allah is Our Lord.” If Allah were not to repel some through others, monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques wherein the name of Allah is much mentioned, would certainly have been pulled down. Allah will most certainly help those who will help Him. Verily Allah is Immensely Strong, Overwhelmingly Mighty. (22:40)

Here, Quran also gives a comprehensive code of conduct to not to destroy anyone’s religious place.

b- Quran also recommends the offensive war only to uplift the deprived and oppressed people for their legal and human rights. Quran says in 4:75

“Why should you not fight in God’s cause and for those oppressed men, women, and children who cry out, ‘Lord, rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors!

Islam does not permit war to capture lands or make any state or to force the religion.

c- Quran also permits the offensive war when there is a breach of agreement although it is not recommended but a choice in the given circumstances.

Quran in 9:4 says:

As for those who have honoured the treaty you made with them and who have not supported anyone against you: fulfil your agreement with them to the end of their term. God loves those who are mindful of Him.

Furthermore, those who think jihad is to fight people so that they accept Islam, should know that Quran specifically forbids any kind of coercion in religion.

In surah yunus (10:99) it says:

Had your Lord willed, all those on earth would have believed altogether. Would you, then, compel people, so that they become believers?

CODE OF CONDUCT OF WAR

In a situation when war becomes inevitable, there is a Code of conduct that is mentioned in Quran:

• There should be no oppression even in the battlefield and Allah does not like the oppressors. In surah AL-BAQARAH (2:190) Quran says:

Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. … Allah does not like transgressors.

• One should fight until the peace is established against the oppressors and no action can be taken against anyone except oppressors.

Quran says in 2:193:

Fight them until there is no Fitnah any more, and obedience remains for Allah. But, if they desist, then aggression is not allowed except against the transgressors.

• The agreement of peace is given preference over any kind of war even if one doubts that the opposite party have bad intentions.

Quran mentions in 8:61-62:

If the enemy is inclined towards peace, make peace with them. And put your trust in Allah. Indeed, He ˹alone˺ is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing. If they intend to deceive you, then, Allah is all-sufficient for you. He is the One who supported you with His help and with the believers.

• If an enemy asks for shelter then one should give shelter and make sure to send them to a safe place.

Quran says in 9:6:

And if any of those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity seeks asylum, grant him asylum that he may hear the Word of Allah, and then escort him to safety for they are a people who do not know.

The Code of conduct as declared by Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) are:

• Women (including medical professionals), children, senior citizens and labourers should not be harmed.
• Fruit bearing trees and crop fields should not be harmed.
• Nothing should be set on fire.
• Worship places of enemies should not be harmed.
• After victory, one should not misbehave with those who did not participated in the war.

By the above discussion, it shall be clear that Jihad isn’t holy war to convert or oppress people.

Jihad is continuous effort and struggle in the way of Almighty God to attain His pleasure. Striving for the good is jihad, to be kind towards ones parents is jihad, to control our evil desires is jihad, to work for establishing peace is Jihad. War, to establish peace, can only be one of the forms of Jihad, as per the conditions discussed above. Thus, in this particular sense, Yes, Jihad is a duty of every muslim.

Question: Does the Islamic Law Shariah allow wife-beating?

Answer by Hammad:

This is a topic regarding which people are usually confused & believe that beating one’s wife is allowed in Islam. They think so because of a small confusion with the translation of Ayah 34 of Surah 4 of the Qur’an. The word which makes them think that it is okay to beat their wives is ‘wazaribuhunna’ which people usually translates as ‘and hit/strike them’.

Now, let’s have a look at an incident from the times of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). A few ladies came to him one day & to complain that their husbands beat them. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that those among you who beat their wives are not good people.

The thing is that the word ‘za-ra-ba which comes in ‘wazribuhunna has a lot of different meanings. It means ‘to hit’, ‘to travel’, ‘to seal’, ‘to wrap over’, ‘to explain logically’ etc. The meaning changes with the context.

So, in this ayah of the Qur’an it has come with the meaning ‘to explain logically’ not ‘to hit or strike’.

Q: Some Hindus think that Muslims will dominate over Hindus as their population increases. Why is this so & what does an Indian Muslim think about it?

Answer:

There is a widely spread misinformation that a deliberate population burst among Indian Muslims is intended to overtake the majority community within a few decades. Such statements, however, completely lack data to support them.

India’s population has been growing steadily. Therefore, the talk of a new population control law has ensued. But before the bill is drafted and passed, news agencies, aided by the rulers, have fired debates over this, kindling hatred among communities. Many leaders, state and religious, can be heard claiming that Indian Muslims have a hidden agenda to increase their population; thus, the law must focus on hindering them.

The argument the hate mongers make is two-pronged:

1. Muslim men practice polygamy, a gross generalization of an entire community, and
2. They have more children than other communities.

Before arriving at any conclusion, let’s have a look at the actual data.

POLYGAMY AND POPULATION SURGE: FACTS AND FIGURES

Which community is most polygamous in India?

Indian constitutional law prohibits polygamy for Hindus but allows it for Muslims. However, no law prohibits a Hindu man from having multiple mistresses. There are instances where the courts have given women in live-in relationships rights equal to that of a wife [1]. Public leaders often conveniently ignore these cases.

According to the 1961 census, the last census to look at marriages by religions and communities, 5.7% Muslims, 5.8% Hindus, 6.7% Jains, 7.9% Buddhists, and 15.25% Adivasis were polygamous. Muslims had the lowest percentage of polygamy in 1961. It is to be noted that Adivasis are often counted as Hindus in most matters and contribute significantly to the overall Hindu population despite the obvious differences in their culture and traditions. Despite polygamy being illegal, Hindus had the highest percentage of polygamy among Indian communities. Moreover, It is not a big leap to assume that many cases of polygamy went unreported. A 1974 survey confirmed this data, reporting 5.6% polygamy in Muslims and 5.8% in upper-caste Hindus [2]. However, recording data on marriages by religion and community was stopped after the 1961 census and has not resumed despite the increasing attempts of the government to collect as much data as possible from its citizens.

Polygamy: Poor Vs. elite class

Historically, polygamy has been prevalent in prosperous communities and elites rather than poor ones. For instance, in recent history, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, at the time of his death, had four wives and numerous concubines [3]. The politician, Ram Vilas Paswan, had two wives [4, 5]. Industrialists like Ramkrishna Dalmia [6] and P. Rajagopal [7] were polygamous.

The facts mentioned above go against the propaganda that is spread around the country to kindle hatred and give an unfair view of the current scenario.

Does polygamy facilitate population growth?-A logical explanation

In India, the sex ratio (female/male ratio) is low, i.e., there are more men than women in the country, across all communities. If we assume that all men marry one woman, then there will be men of age that will be left unmarried. Now, if we assume that a Muslim man marries four women, then the proportion of unmarried men will further increase. This will eventually decrease the population in a completely polygamous community. This makes it clear that the idea that Muslim men having four wives will exponentially increase the Muslim population is illogical and only used to spread hatred. If Muslims become as extensively polygamous as the propagandists portray them to be, then their population growth rate will become lower than that of the Hindus that are supposedly monogamous.

Fertility rate among communities

According to the national data on the fall in fertility rate (NFHS survey 2005-06 and 2015-16), the decrease in the fertility rate of Muslims (3.40 – 2.62) was 22.94%, much greater than that of Hindus (2.59 – 2.13; 17.8%) and the national average (2.68 – 2.18;18.65%) [8].

The fall in the fertility rate of Hindus is less than the national average. Given the current trends, the population growth rate of Muslims will actually decrease with time. In the light of such data, the narrative of ‘population jihad’ becomes nothing but a lie to ‘divide and rule’ the country, control the citizens, and distract from the gaping errors in governance.

Population growth: Actual reason

Education also has an impact on the number of children per family. As families become educated, they invest more time and resources in one child. This decreases the overall reproduction rate. The literacy among Muslims is lower than even the Dalits. If the government wants to fairly curb population growth, then it should focus more on making laws to ensure education for everyone, paying attention to the backward and minority communities.

POPULATION GROWTH: BOON OR BANE

Now, let’s analyze if the increase in population growth is so great a matter of concern as it is propagated. If managed properly, greater populations are more economically robust. The current global economic trends predict China to be the largest economy by 2050, followed by India and USA. Interestingly, the population too follows the same trend with China having the highest population followed by India and USA [9,10]. This indicates that it is the improper management and distribution of resources, rather than the population itself that pulls down a country. However, in the absence of adequate management, a reduction in the population growth rate becomes imperative. Many developed countries are facing a negative population growth rate that is reducing their workforce and threatening their economic stability. That is why there is a steady demand for workforce in the developed countries from developing countries and subsequent pressure on the former to curb the population growth in the latter. Because power ultimately falls into the hands of a country with greater manpower.

Therefore, the government should focus more on laws that will reduce the difference between the rich and the poor, instead of putting citizens against each other to control them. The decrease in economic disparity will empower people and benefit the country. This, combined with harmony among communities will lead to the true progress of this nation.

CONCLUSION

The notion that Indian Muslims are deliberately planning to increase their population to overtake the majority community is nonsensical and against the established facts. Instead of blaming Muslims, we must ensure proper education of our people along with fair distribution of resources to eliminate economic disparity in society and bring it much-required peace and prosperity.

REFERENCES

• Property Rights Of Women In A Live-In Relationship And Laws Relating Thereto

• Muslim women and the surprising facts about polygamy in India

• Ranjit Singh – Wikipedia

• Ram Vilas Paswan discloses divorce with first wife – Times of India

• Ram Vilas Paswan – Wikipedia

• Dalmia Group – Wikipedia

• The rise and fall of Saravana Bhavan Rajagopal: The ‘dosa king’ with a notorious past

Q: On Eid-ul-Adha, why can’t we pay to the poor instead of sacrifice?

Answer: Many people often think why we can’t just pay some amount to the needy instead of sacrificing an animal and then distributing it among the distressed people.

Well, Allah (S.W.T) has mandated some actions upon the believers and each action has its own importance and lessons to teach.

For example: Salah brings the people of all sects together in the mosque, thereby removing the social stigma among the people. It also enhances the value of punctuality. It also makes one feel that he is always being watched upon by his Lord. There are various other virtues and benefits of “Salah” which one can gain, if offered with physical & mental presence.

Similarly, other acts have some other virtues which are supposed to be developed.

The question says why can’t we pay? We can’t pay because paying the poor, feeding, and helping the distressed is already mandated upon the believers with the means of Zakat. Which means, the virtue of helping others by monetary means has been already imposed and mandated. It is also interesting to know that Islam is the only religion which mandates this act upon its believers.

[Note: Zakat is an Islamic finance term referring to the obligation that an individual has to donate a certain proportion of wealth each year to charitable causes. Zakat is a mandatory process for Muslims and is regarded as a form of worship.]

Now let us see what the reason for sacrifice is.

1. Sacrifice of the animal is a remembrance of the great sacrifice of Prophet Abraham (A.S). He was about to sacrifice his most beloved son on the orders of his Lord. But Allah was only testing him with a great test and so Allah replaced his son with a lamb.

Quran 37:107

And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice,

2.This practice is also meant to realize the pain of losing something very close to you. If this virtue is not developed in you, then the sacrifice is wasted and it is the same as the one which happens daily in the slaughter house.

Allah instructs not to consume the more than 1/3rd of the sacrificed animal & share it among the needy. (Quran 22:28)

So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.

Allah further mentions in the Quran 22:37

It is neither their flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah, but what does reach Him is the taqwā (the sense of obedience) on your part.

Conclusion:

Allah does not see how many animals you sacrificed but HE rather sees how well you have developed the virtue within yourself.

Q: Is there any sentence written in the Quran about whether Kafir should be killed?

Answer by Tabassum:

Before you read the answer to this question, I would like you to understand the widely misunderstood term ‘Kafir’. You can go through the following link for the same:

WORK’s answer to What is a kafir? Can a non-Muslim who only believes in the existence of Allah (SWT) but does not practice Islam be called a kafir?

Now, let’s come back to the question. Yes, there are ayahs in the Quran that talk about killing. These ayahs instruct the warriors in the battle field to kill the enemies in war. These instructions came at the time when the enemies [i.e. The deniers of Allah’s law in MECCA (Kaafir)] had broken the peace treaty signed between the Muslims and themselves.

Allah (S.W.T) has instructed the people at the battlefield to kill the enemies if they fight and leave them if they want peace and do not wish to fight.

Quran Chapter 9 verse 5 says:

Kill the polytheists ˹who violated their treaties˺ wherever you find them,1 capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them on every way.

Then, Quran Chapter 9 verse 6 says:

And if anyone from the polytheists asks for your protection ˹O Prophet˺, grant it to them so they may hear the Word of Allah, then escort them to a place of safety, for they are a people who have no knowledge.

It is clear from above that Allah (S.W.T) has asked the Muslims to refrain from killing those people who seek peace and protection. Not only does Allah asks Muslims to refrain from killing such people but also asks to escort them to a safe place and give them protection.

In fact, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) had also given code of conduct to be followed in the same battle field that instructs the Muslims not to kill anyone who is not directly involved the war.

During his life, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gave various injunctions to his forces and adopted practices toward the conduct of war. The most important of these were summarized by Caliph, Abu Bakr, in the form of ten rules for the Muslim army:

O people! I charge you with ten rules; learn them well!

Stop, O people, that I may give you ten rules for your guidance in the battlefield. Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those that are fruitful. Slay not any of the enemy’s flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them alone.

(Aboul-Enein, H. Yousuf and Zuhur, Sherifa, Islamic Rulings on Warfare, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College, 22.)

Therefore, it is clear from above that Quran has not instructed to kill every Kafir, but the instruction had come for those people who were directly involved in the war and did not wish to peacefully resolve their differences.

You can further go through the the following link to understand about the conditions of war prescribed in Islam:

WORK’s answer to Is jihad a duty of Muslims? in Misconception About Islam

Q: How can Islam claim to be a religion of peace, when blasphemy is punishable by death?

Answer by Hammad Nasir-

Islam does not prescribe any punishment for blasphemy. Those who think otherwise are just misunderstanding the laws of Islam. This discussion that whether the one who insults the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or Islam should be killed or not started about 200 years after his death. During his lifetime, no one was ever killed for mocking or insulting him or Islam, which clearly shows that he never encouraged killing anyone in the name of blasphemy. It implies that this law of blasphemy being punishable by death has nothing to do with Islam.

Now, let’s have a look at an event from the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

Once a man crossed the path of the Prophet while he was sitting with his companions. He cursed the Prophet by saying-“death be onto you”. In return to which the Prophet only said- “and onto you”. This man abused the Prophet on his face that too in front of the companions, on this, the companions got extremely angry & asked the Prophet for permission to kill that man, but the Prophet of compassion clearly refused it.

Let us also have a look at what the Qur’an has to say in this matter:

“O’ you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allah, if you should [truly] be believers. (The Qur’an 5:57)

In the Ayah above, Allah (God) has clearly mentioned not take those who ridicule the deen/religion as allies. He has not asked us to kill or torture them. The point to note here is that this ayah came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Medina when & where he was in power & those who were against him were in the minority. He had all the authority to treat them in whichever he wanted, but he never ever acted harshly on blasphemy.

Let us look at one more ayah:

“And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the Ayahs of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation.” (The Qur’an 4:140)

In the Ayah above, Allah has commanded the believers that they should not sit with the people who ridicule or deny his Ayahs. Furthermore, he added that one is allowed to sit with them once they get engaged in some other conversation. Again there is no command for killing or anything like that!!

After going through all these Ayahs, how can one derive that blasphemy is punishable by death in Islam? Hasn’t Allah clearly stated the laws regarding this as described above? Again, this all is just the result of a misunderstanding of the laws of Allah. It is high time we start learning on our own using the intellect and wisdom that Allah has provided us instead of believing in what others interpret, proclaim or preach!

Q: How is the practice of sex slaves justified in Islam?

Answer by Zainab-

Keeping sex slaves is completely unjustified in Islam. Islam doesn’t support anything against moral and ethical values.

As a practical matter, slavery is synonymous with the ill-treatment and undue exploitation of slaves. What Islam says about slavery is exactly the opposite. Slavery is not the exploitation that happens after human trafficking. The idea behind not prohibiting enslavement is to protect the slaves from every abuse by either freeing them in a safer environment or keeping them along while giving them every human right.

The very idea of keeping sex slaves is immoral and disgusting. Islam talks about human rights for slaves and asking to treat slaves with kindness and compassion. How can it simultaneously encourage to exploit women slaves sexually? The two views are impossible to be reconciled.

Keeping slaves, whether a man or woman, is not prohibited. Its permission comes conditionally within certain limits.

One of the limits is prohibiting a married man from having any sexual relation with a woman slave. Making sexual relations with any woman other than one’s own wife is prohibited.

The Ayah 23:5-6 says:

“And they who guard their private parts. Except from their wives OR what they possess rightfully, for indeed, they will not be blamed.”

Here in the Ayah, the conjunction ‘or’ shows alternative i.e., either wives or what you possess rightfully (slaves)are allowed for you (in a righteous way). So, while having a wife, a man cannot develop a sexual relationship with any other woman.

However, from this ayah, one might think that the slave girls are allowed without marriage. But this is not the case. Another ayah tells us when having relations with captive women become allowed.

Ayah 33:50 says:

“Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives] and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her; [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess, [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort [i.e., difficulty]. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”

In the above ayah, a list of women, who are allowed for men, is given. Since, all the mentioned women (like daughters of paternal uncles, paternal aunts, maternal uncles and maternal aunts) becomes allowed for men only by establishing the Nikah, thus, captive women will also be allowed for a man only after they enter his Nikah. This is also an attempt to save women slaves from exploitation.

The Quran also tells that, for a believer, it is impermissible to have any relation with women before the Nikah. The instructions are given in the following Ayah 4:25:

“And whoever of you have not the means wherewith to wed free, believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those (captives and slaves) whom your right hands possess, and Allah has full knowledge about your Faith, you are one from another. Wed them with the permission of their own folk (guardians or masters) and give them their Mehr according to what is reasonable; they (the above said captive and slave-girls) should be chaste, not adulterous, nor taking boy-friends. And after they have been taken in wedlock, if they commit illegal sexual intercourse, their punishment is half that for free (unmarried) women. This is for him among you who is afraid of being harmed in his religion or in his body; but it is better for you that you practice self-restraint, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

This Ayah forbids establishing sexual relationships without marriage. Those believers who can’t afford to marry a free woman because of their demands should practice self-restraint or they may marry a slave woman providing her with the due compensation (Mehr).

There is nowhere in the Quran permission for men to have sexual intercourse with their female slaves without Nikah.

We can only grasp a complete understanding of any topic mentioned in the Quran by analysing all the Ayahs on the topic together to have a holistic view. A single ayah in support of a certain claim might not be able to give the right view that the Quran presents on the subject. Moreover, we must analyse things in accordance with the principles provided in the Qur’an. Any explanation against the principles of the Qur’an will be unworthy of acceptance and will be the clear patchwork of lies.

In brief, Islam only permits sexual relationships with slave girls only after marrying them.

Q: Why does the Quran give the authority to kill non-Muslims? Why does Quran give authority to destroy other religion worship places?

Answer by Tabassum-

There are two parts of this question:

Let us answer each one by one:

• Why does the Quran give the permission to kill non muslims?

There are some statements in the Quran which mentions about killing the enemy which are as follows:

Allah says in the Holy Quran 8:39

And fight them until there is no fitnah (unrest or rebellion, especially against a rightful ruler) and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah. And if they cease – then indeed, Allah is Seeing of what they do.

In the above ayah, Muslims have been asked to fight until there is no Fitnah.

Fitnah is the condition when someone or a group of people has disturbed peace of a state. Islam commands to fight in such conditions until peace is re-established.

Fitnah, if looked upon carefully is more dangerous than murder. Because fitnah will continue to take the inner peace of people and lead to ultimate devastation

It is notable that the above ayahs were revealed in the battlefield. Islam has given certain conditions of fighting a war. Apart from these conditions, in no case fighting or war is allowed. Moreover, Islam is the only religion to give the best code of conduct during war.

For other details regarding clearing misconceptions about fighting/killing of non-muslims, conditions of war and code of conduct of war as per Islam one can refer to the following link:👇

WORK’s answer to Is jihad a duty of Muslims? in Misconception About Islam

Further in this same verse (Quran 08:39) the following is being mentioned:

But If the disbelievers want to stop (And ask for resolution or peace), then leave them, because Allah sees what they do and nothing is hidden from Him.

It is obvious that oppressor (enemy) will ask for stopping the war only when they have realized that they are at danger now and may lose. However, Allah commands the believers to establish peace and stop fighting..

In addition, not only does Islam permits to kill the enemy in the battlefield but similar statements to kill the enemy (irrespective of the enemy’s religion) are present in other books of religion as well.

Moreover, Allah commands in the Quran not to make fun of other’s idols of worship . [Quran al-An‘aam 6:108]. How can HE then instruct to kill the worshippers of these idols for no reason?

It is therefore, concluded that Allah has ordered to kill the enemy until peace is established but these verses are applicable only on the battle ground and have nothing to do with anything outside that.

If there had been any instructions in the Quran to kill the non muslims then, the most Islamic country “Saudi Arabia” would have never allowed non-muslims to stay in their country and become prosperous.

Let us now discuss the second part of the question:

• Why does the Quran give authority to destroy other non muslim worship places?

Allah says in the holy Quran (Surah 22:40)

If Allah were not to repel some through others, monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques wherein the name of Allah is much mentioned, would certainly have been pulled down.

Allah is instructing not to demolish any of the worship places of others whether it is the worship place of Jews, Christians or other idolaters. Muslims are forbidden from demolishing these worship places because they all are worshipping one God at all these places in different manners.

Allah does not let a group of people or a community have authority forever. Every now and then He repels one group by means of another.

If this had not been the case, the permanent dominator would have created chaos not only in the political and economic spheres, but would have encroached upon the places of worship as well. Thus, Islam specifically asks not to destroy religious places of others.

Conclusion: It is clear from the above narration that Allah does not instruct any community to demolish the worship places of another community. ALLAH has instructed to bring people out of darkness by teaching them about GOD and not by insulting others Idols, nor by destroying religious places. Whosoever had done that in past in the name of Islam had certainly transgressed the limits and violated the laws of Allah.

Q: Did Muhammad spread Islam by the sword?

Answer: It is just another one of those blames put on Islam by haters to defame it & its followers.

This allegation that-Islam was spread by the sword-have been deliberately spread since earlier days to malign Islam. At that time, people didn’t have much means to gain knowledge & learn about reality, but today the reality check can be done quite easily as there are a lot of means and proves available on various platforms (like the internet, social media etc.) to refute the claim.

Defending the past incidences won’t be fruitful as there will be people who will still not believe in what we would tell them about the past, so Leaving the past, let’s discuss the current scenario. Isn’t Islam one of the fastest-growing religions in the world? In Europe, the USA, Japan, India etc, Islam is one of the most rapidly growing faiths. The question is: Who is spreading Islam in these places through the sword or by force?

Everywhere in the world, force and power are being used against Muslims. Whether it is China abusing & exploiting the rights of Uyghur Muslims, Myanmar burning Rohingya Muslims, the US bombing Yemen & Syrian Muslims or Muslims killing other Muslims, we find that the Muslims are the people who are being killed in large numbers by others and they are the most oppressed community in the world. Thus, they don’t have that much power to spread Islam by force; still, Islam is among the fastest-growing religions in the world. Which sword is doing this? People must ponder over the question that: What is making people enter Islam if it is not the sword or any other compulsion?

If you make a list of people who have converted to different religions, you will find that an overwhelming majority of converts who are scientists, intellectuals, artists and celebrities have entered Islam than any other faith. What is it about Islam that makes these intellectuals & celebrities turn towards it? One must think about it. These influential people choose Islam without any force and pressure.

Thus, such allegations (like the sword or money being used to spread Islam) are just another blame on Islam & the beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When people don’t find anything to harm Islam, they use these kinds of false propaganda to serve their purpose. We can only request people to study the facts to find out the truth instead of believing such widespread lies. When analysed justly, they will certainly find those qualities in Islam that have let people believe in its truth.