Nowadays it is wrongly stated that the Koran incites violence, that the book contains general calls to ‘war’ your fellow man! Calls to hit and shoot indiscriminately! But is that really so? As a Muslim you might wonder whether you have any interest in acting so hostile in this way. What about the so-called hateful verses from the Quran? Doesn’t the following quote incite violence? , Therefore cut down on their necks and cut down on all their fingers . , The answer is: No. In fact: unlike the rest of the Koran, it is not even addressed to humans! You can read how that works below.
Quran 8:12
When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, so strengthen those who believe. I will strike fear into the hearts of the disbelievers. Then cut the necks and cut them on all their fingers . ,
If we read the verse in its entirety, it is clear that it is not the Muslims who should cut the necks but God calls on the angels to strengthen the believers and fight with them! It saves a lot of misery when we read the texts in a slightly broader context.
Badr
The verse above comes from Sura 8, which deals entirely with the battle of Badr, a place about 150 kilometers from Medina. With 300 men, the Muslim army is in a significant minority compared to their enemy with over 1000 soldiers. Nevertheless, the great military force was defeated! So this verse tells that the Muslim army has been assisted by the angels. That’s all this verse does.
Peace treaty
A peace treaty had been concluded between the Muslims in Medina and the pagans in Mecca, since the Meccan pagans violated this treaty, Sura 9 was revealed, containing the declaration of exemption from the pagans with whom the Muslims had made a treaty. For the pagans it is now make or break, because they did not keep to the agreements, they are expected to convert to Islam or enter into an armed struggle. Of course this does not apply to everyone, see verse 9:4 second part:
, If you therefore repent, it will be better for you, but if you turn away, know that you cannot escape from God. And give tidings of a painful Punishment on the disbelievers, except those of the idolaters with whom you have made a covenant and who have failed in nothing, nor helped anyone against you. So
whoever has kept the covenant need not fear any fight or conversion.
The verse of the sword
Back to the idolaters who violated the covenant.
Quran 9:5
,When the holy months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them, seize them and besiege them and await them in every ambush. But if they repent and perform the prayers and give alms, nothing will hinder them. God is forgiving and merciful.,
First of all, rest is observed during the holy period of four months, which gives the pagans extra time to reflect. When this period is over, everything can be done in all fierce fighting. Because it is an armed conflict, the enemy can only get rid of it if he converts to Islam, see the second part of the verse.
Asylum and good treatment
But it is not always a clash of arms among those Muslims, even if someone surrenders during the war and without converting to Islam, the defector must be granted asylum. See verse 9:6
,And if one of the idolaters asks you for protection, grant him protection that he may hear the word of Allah, and then lead him to a place where he is safe.,
Without ifs and buts and it is clear from this verse that the Qur’an forbids killing or harming those who have surrendered. The next verse from the same chapter emphasizes that only the violators of the treaty should
be fought to some extent .
Quran 9:7
, How can there be a covenant for the idolaters with God and His Messenger, except those with whom you have made a covenant in the Sacred Mosque? So as long as they are faithful to you, be faithful to them. Indeed, Allah has love the pious,
That according to the verse of the sword, Muslims should not start war but only defend themselves is evident from this verse. Still in chapter 9.
, Will you not fight a people who have broken their oaths and plotted to drive out the Messenger and were the first to begin against you? Do you fear them? Nay, God is most worthy of that you would fear Him if you were believers ,
Sura 9 in short
This chapter from the Koran gives instructions on how to act during the war. Pagans had agreed with the Muslims not to attack each other anymore. After a short time this treaty was violated by the pagans, after which war was declared, with the exception of those who have failed in nothing, who need not be fought or converted. In principle, the battle continues until the enemy converts to Islam, but even if the enemy surrenders, he must be protected without conditions. See 9:6
Finally
It turns out that no matter how scary and bloody the verse of the sword (That’s really his name) sounds, or rather, no matter how scary and bloody the verse of the sword is portrayed, it is actually not that scary and bloody at all. . If it is only read a little attentively, it does not even have to be placed in a historical context, that is sometimes said, that is nonsense, because the Koran assumes that it is for all time, so why would you put it in a historical context? need to think about context? There is no mention in the Koran that it is the Muslim’s task to fight people of other faiths until they convert. Chapter 9 that we talked about above is one of the last suras that were revealed, with the statement of the ‘Islam critics’ in mind that this is the most violent chapter, and that the last suras abrogate the previous (peaceful) suras , (which is not the case, but that’s besides the point), we see that the verse of sword also does nothing other than calling on the Muslims to defend themselves. It is sometimes objected that answering violence with violence is always wrong, to those people I say: Then America should not have done anything after the attacks of September 11, 2001. War is terrible, but it has existed since time immemorial, so we were allowed to If we end up in war, let’s make the best of it and act as justly as possible.