Q: Quiet often in contemporary times various platforms on the internet like the one titled Answering Islam point out that islam is an intolerant religion and persecute followers of other faiths. To prove their point very often they use the Hadith: “I have been commanded to fight the people until they profess there is no God but Allah (Bukhari 385).” Can you kindly clarify the proper context and meaning of this hadith. The negative understanding these anti Islamic forces imply use this particular hadith to good effect to prove their point.
A: It is surprising that even in this time and age people can have these types of misunderstandings. Presently the Muslims are the most persecuted, tortured, traumatized and harassed people only because they cling firmly to their faith. It is an era when foreigners can come into a Muslim country and mercilessly massacre millions of women, children and the old, yet they can claim to be champions of peace. If those whose hands have not yet dried of the blood of the people of Nagasaki and Hiroshima can claim that they stand for peace, then this is a blatant lie and is totally misleading. Innocent people who stand up to protect their own lands from this type of “wild peace” are regarded as being in the wrong, no matter what they do to protect their families, integrity and wealth. For one second, ponder, if these oppressed and persecuted Muslims had to somehow conquer the lands of the oppressors in the same manner that the oppressors have run over their countries, will the non-Muslim world ever tolerate this? Even a cursory glance at what is going on in Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq and Afghanistan will make any unbiased person see the reality. Those who do not care to see the firsthand accounts of oppression, the torture, etc. being heaped upon the Muslims, or if they view the global situation unjustly and with bias, they cannot be expected to arrive at the correct conclusion.
As for the Hadeeth in question, this is not a general statement. At all times in the history of Islam, from the time of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), there were non-believers who were living in Muslim lands. The same continues till this day. They were always allowed the freedom of their religion. History bears testimony to this fact. Yes, if any individual is opposed to the real system of justice, he wants to confront the said system and prefers the life of oppression and cruelty, then what other solution can there be for such a person other than what is mentioned in the hadeeth. The clear verses of the Qur’aan speak for themselves and also clearly elucidate the context of the Hadeeth in question. Allah Ta`ala declares: “Allah does not forbid you from behaving cordially and justly towards those (kuffaar) who do not fight you for (reason of your) religion and who do not drive you out from your homes. Verily Allah loves those who are just. Allah forbids you from befriending (behaving sociably with) only those (kuffaar) who fight you for (reason of your) religion, who drive you out from your homes and who assist (your enemies) in driving you out (of your homes and countries). Those (Muslims) who befriend them are certainly oppressors (to themselves and to all Muslims).” [8/9: 60]
لَّا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّـهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ ﴿٨﴾ إِنَّمَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّـهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ وَظَاهَرُوا عَلَىٰ إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَن تَوَلَّوْهُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ ﴿٩﴾ (سورة الممتحنة )
رقم 25 – عن ابن عمر أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتى يشهدوا أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله ويقيموا الصلاة ويؤتوا الزكاة فإذا فعلوا ذلك عصموا مني دماءهم وأموالهم إلا بحق الإسلام وحسابهم على الله (بخاري 1/8)
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)