Message #17683

[Ruhi_Rose]

This brother is pretty confused;  he apparently isn't quite sure of the boundaries of the topic he raised and that's the reason he is going off-topic as he proceeds with his response.

However, I would like to pick two of his misinterpreted off-topic points and explain them because these are important Quranic contents and their misinterpretations must not be left unanswered.
 

Those who believe say, "Why is not a sura sent down (for us)?" thus when a sura of categorical meaning is revealed, and fighting is mentioned therein, thou wilt see those in whose hearts is a disease looking at thee with a look of one fainting from death, which is more fitting for them-  (47:20)

Believers who are peaceful people, pray that Allah reveals the true meaning of (ideological) fighting in Al-Kitab. When real meaning of Qital/Fighting (ideological fight) is clarified from Sooras/chapters of Quran, the people in whose hearts is a disease (see 2:8-12 for the people whose hearts have disease, are the people who like to wage violence/war in earth and they don't realize that they are themselves the violence makers). These people don't like this clarification of Qital verses, which is against their sentiments of war mongering and their faces show death like features, which is in-fact more apt for them as they love violence and to die for it. 

This commentary is completely wrong.

Verse 47:20 continues on to 47:21.  But the brother posted only V.47:20 and hid Verse 47:21 to deceive readers and justify his misreading.  Secondly, his commentary makes no sense, turning facts upside down, and no compatibility between the original Verses and his commentary.

Here is the complete message conveyed by Allah concerning this aspect:

"Those who believe say, "Why has a surah not been sent down? But when a precise surah is revealed and fighting is mentioned therein, you see those in whose hearts is hypocrisy looking at you with a look of one overcome by death. And more appropriate for them [would have been]    47:20.

Obedience and good words. And when the matter [of fighting] was determined, if they had been true to Allah , it would have been better for them."  47:21.

"Those who believe ..."  refers to the big talkers who aren't true to their word, whose promises are showboats but fail when put to the test.  These are the hypocrites.  So when Allah commands fighting through His Revelations, then those cowardly hypocrites turn nervous and back off.  This is up to Verse 47:20.   Then in Verse 47:21 Allah says it would have been more appropriate and much better for them if they had obeyed His Commandment in the matter of fighting and thus proven their loyalty to Him.

 
Let us review below Ayas in Quran about physical fighting:

5:27-29  وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الْآخَرِ قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ  لَئِن بَسَطتَ إِلَيَّ يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِي مَا أَنَا بِبَاسِطٍ يَدِيَ إِلَيْكَ لِأَقْتُلَكَ ۖ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ  إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَن تَبُوءَ بِإِثْمِي وَإِثْمِكَ فَتَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَاءُ الظَّالِمِينَ

And recite over them the news in truth of the two sons of Adam. When they both gave sacrifice to be close (to Allah) then it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. "He said I will definitely kill you." "He said surely Allah accepts (the sacrifice)from those who guard." "If you will stretch out your hand towards me to kill me, I will not stretch out my hand towards you to kill you. Surely I fear Allah the Lord of the Worlds." "Surely I intend that you reside with my sin (in killing me ) and with your sin. So you will be from the companion of fire. And that is the reward of the oppressors."  (5:27-29)

What is the lesson we get from the above Ayas? When some one attacks you physically you are not to strike back, why? because Allah is there to recompense fully the evil doers? (See related post of Qasas : https://topicsfromquran.com/2017/06/04/qasas/)A grave evil act like murder will stay in the psyche of the perpetrator and will haunt him and eventually destroy his psychology. A person doing bad acts can not live peacefully like a person  with clean conscience who does not have to fear everyday getting recompensed for his evil actions. If there is a choice, it is always better to leave the scene where some one attacks you to cause bodily harm. 

No, no.  That's not the lesson at all.  You can strike back, but you shouldn't take the initiative.  Self defense is fully approved by Allah Almighty.   Let's analyse it with care.

"But recite unto them with truth the tale of the two sons of Adam, how they offered each a sacrifice, and it was accepted from the one of them and it was not accepted from the other. (The one) said: I will surely kill you. (The other) answered: Allah accepts only from those who ward off (evil).

Even if you stretch out your hand against me to kill me, I shall not stretch out my hand against you to kill you, indeed! I fear Allah, the Rab of the Worlds.

Indeed! I would rather you should bear the punishment of the sin against me and your own sin and become one of the owners of the fire. That is the reward of evil-doers."  (5:27-29).

Verses 5:27-29 are not about a person killing his victim while the victim willingly offers his life at the mercy of the aggressor as a show of "peace."  This Verse is a condemnation of the act to initiate  aggression.    Hence the victim tells his aggressor that he won't stretch out his hand to kill him because he doesn't want to be the first to attack.   Allah knows best the details, but perhaps the victim may not have had the means to defend himself and so he was killed by his aggressive brother.

Righteousness does not demand that if someone is subjected to aggression, they must surrender to the aggressor instead of defending themselves.  But  righteousness does demand that a man should not take the initiative to carry out aggression even if they know the aggressors are scheming to attack them.  They should be ready to repel the attack, but not begin hostilities so that the responsibility of pre-emptive aggression is squarely on the one who was scheming.   This is the lesson conveyed by Verses 5:27-29. 


Proof of self-defense which is permitted in the Noble Quran.  Fighting must be defensive, not aggressive:

"Permission (to fight) has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged" Holy Quran 22:39

"And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but be not aggressive. Surely Allah loves not the aggressors."   2:190 

"Allah loves not the public utterance of harsh speech save by one who has been wronged. Allah is ever Hearer, Knower."   4:148

The Noble Quran allows retaliation but also greatly appreciates perseverance. 

"If you punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient."  (16:126).

 Thus, if you retaliate, you are not doing anything wrong and your conduct is within the bounds of right conduct.  If you bear patiently, perhaps the reward from Allah in the Hereafter will be still greater as endurance on the face of injustice requires immense humility, sabr and courage.  But retaliation is completely permissible.

Related post:
Noble Quran allows fighting in self-defense