Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Forced Conversion: Difference between revisions

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==Forced Conversion==
 
The topic of forced conversion is a complicated one within the Islamic tradition. According to the Qur'an, there is "no compulsion in religion" and the traditional laws of jihad state that before attacking a Christian or Jewish enemy they must be offered the choice of submitting to Islamic political rule, paying the jizyah and entering dhimmitude. At the same time, however, the Islamic tradition records that Muhammad gave the pagans of Mecca and later all of Arabia only two choices: conversion to Islam or the sword. As such, people not considered "people of the book", id est Jews or Christians, are on this example to be given the choice of conversion to Islam or death. In many cases, such as when Muslims found themselves ruling over a polytheist population in India, the forced conversion of so many people has been seen to be impossible, and in its place these people have been offered dhimmitude. These practical exceptions did not, however, change the opinion of the fuquhaa' that all non-believers who are not Jews or Christians ought to be given the choice of Islam or death, forced conversion in effect.


===Qur'an===
===Qur'an===


{{Quote|1={{Quran|9|5}}|2=But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.}}
{{Quote|1={{Quran|9|5}}, translated by Yusuf Ali|2=But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the ''Pagans'' (ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ) wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.}}
 
The word ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ (''al-mushrikeen'') was also translated as "polytheists" (by Sahih International) or "idolaters" (by Pickthall) or "associators" (by Dr. Ghali) <ref>https://quran.com/9/5</ref>. Literally, al-mushrikeen are people who commit "shirk", that is "associating partners with Allah". Christians and Jews are also mushrikeen because Christians believe that Jesus is the son of god and Jews (according to Islam) believe that Ezra is the son of god and "they took their rabbis as lords besides Allah" (verses 9:30-31).<ref>https://islamqa.info/en/67626</ref> The words "mushrikeen" and "kaafireen" (infidels) are used interchangeably in this sura.<ref>
The verse 9:1 says "mushrikeen" (الْمُشْرِكِينَ). The verse 9:2 calls them "kaafireen" (الْكَافِرِينَ). It's the last word of both verses. https://quran.com/9/
</ref>


===Hadith===
===Hadith===


{{Quote|1={{Bukhari|1|2|24}}|2=Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save their lives and property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah."}}
{{Quote|1={{cite web|url=https://sunnah.com/bukhari/2/18 |title=Sahih Bukhari 1:2:25 |publisher= |author= |date= |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019180506/http://sunnah.com/bukhari/2/18 |deadurl=no}}|2=Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save ''their lives'' (دِمَاءَهُمْ) and property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah."}}
 
The Arabic word دِمَاءَهُمْ (dima'ahum) literally means "their blood" <ref>https://translate.google.com/#ar/en/%D8%AF%D9%90%D9%85%D9%8E%D8%A7%D8%A1%D9%8E%D9%87%D9%8F%D9%85%D9%92</ref>. Forms of the Arabic word for "blood" (دم) are often translated as "life" in English to soften the tone of the original. The literal meaning, though, is that new converts are "protected" from bloodshed.


{{Quote|1={{Bukhari|1|8|387}}|2=Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.' And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah." Narrated Maimun ibn Siyah that he asked Anas bin Malik, "O Abu Hamza! What makes the life and property of a person sacred?" He replied, "Whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', faces our Qibla during the prayers, prays like us and eats our slaughtered animal, then he is a Muslim, and has got the same rights and obligations as other Muslims have."}}
{{Quote|[https://sunnah.com/urn/42350 Sahih Bukhari 6:60:80]|Narrated Abu Huraira: The Verse:--"You (true Muslims) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind." (3:110) means, the best of peoples for the people, as you bring them with chains on their necks till they embrace Islam.
}}
 
{{Quote|1={{Bukhari|1|8|387}}|2=Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.' And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah." Narrated Maimun ibn Siyah that he asked Anas bin Malik, "O Abu Hamza! What makes the ''life'' (دَمَ) and property of a person sacred?" He replied, "Whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', faces our Qibla during the prayers, prays like us and eats our slaughtered animal, then he is a Muslim, and has got the same rights and obligations as other Muslims have."}}


{{Quote|1={{Bukhari|5|59|643}}|2=Narrated Qais: Jarir said "Allah's Apostle said to me, "Won't you relieve me from Dhul-Khalasa?" I replied, "Yes, (I will relieve you)." So I proceeded along with one-hundred and fifty cavalry from Ahmas tribe who were skillful in riding horses. I used not to sit firm over horses, so I informed the Prophet of that, and he stroke my chest with his hand till I saw the marks of his hand over my chest and he said, O Allah! Make him firm and one who guides others and is guided (on the right path).' Since then I have never fallen from a horse. Dhul-l--Khulasa was a house in Yemen belonging to the tribe of Khatham and Bajaila, and in it there were idols which were worshipped, and it was called Al-Ka'ba." Jarir went there, burnt it with fire and dismantled it. When Jarir reached Yemen, there was a man who used to foretell and give good omens by casting arrows of divination. Someone said to him. "The messenger of Allah's Apostle is present here and if he should get hold of you, he would chop off your neck." One day while he was using them (i.e. arrows of divination), Jarir stopped there and said to him, "Break them (i.e. the arrows) and testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, or else I will chop off your neck." So the man broke those arrows and testified that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah. Then Jarir sent a man called Abu Artata from the tribe of Ahmas to the Prophet to convey the good news (of destroying Dhu-l-Khalasa). So when the messenger reached the Prophet, he said, "O Allah's Apostle! By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I did not leave it till it was like a scabby camel." Then the Prophet blessed the horses of Ahmas and their men five times.}}
{{Quote|1={{Bukhari|5|59|643}}|2=Narrated Qais: Jarir said "Allah's Apostle said to me, "Won't you relieve me from Dhul-Khalasa?" I replied, "Yes, (I will relieve you)." So I proceeded along with one-hundred and fifty cavalry from Ahmas tribe who were skillful in riding horses. I used not to sit firm over horses, so I informed the Prophet of that, and he stroke my chest with his hand till I saw the marks of his hand over my chest and he said, O Allah! Make him firm and one who guides others and is guided (on the right path).' Since then I have never fallen from a horse. Dhul-l--Khulasa was a house in Yemen belonging to the tribe of Khatham and Bajaila, and in it there were idols which were worshipped, and it was called Al-Ka'ba." Jarir went there, burnt it with fire and dismantled it. When Jarir reached Yemen, there was a man who used to foretell and give good omens by casting arrows of divination. Someone said to him. "The messenger of Allah's Apostle is present here and if he should get hold of you, he would chop off your neck." One day while he was using them (i.e. arrows of divination), Jarir stopped there and said to him, "Break them (i.e. the arrows) and testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, or else I will chop off your neck." So the man broke those arrows and testified that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah. Then Jarir sent a man called Abu Artata from the tribe of Ahmas to the Prophet to convey the good news (of destroying Dhu-l-Khalasa). So when the messenger reached the Prophet, he said, "O Allah's Apostle! By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I did not leave it till it was like a scabby camel." Then the Prophet blessed the horses of Ahmas and their men five times.}}
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{{Quote|1={{Muslim|1|35}}|2=Abu Malik narrated on the authority of his father that he heard the Apostle (may peace be upon him) say: He who held belief in the unity of Allah, and then narrated what has been stated above.}}
{{Quote|1={{Muslim|1|35}}|2=Abu Malik narrated on the authority of his father that he heard the Apostle (may peace be upon him) say: He who held belief in the unity of Allah, and then narrated what has been stated above.}}
{{Quote|[[w:Ahmad ibn Hanbal|Imam Ahmad]], 4869. Classified as Sahih  by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2831. Archived at [https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20160810221616/https://islamqa.info/en/43087].|The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have been sent just before the Hour with the sword, so that Allah will be worshipped alone with no partner or associate, and my provision has been placed in the shade of my spear, and humiliation has been decreed for those who go against my command.”}}
===Sira===


{{Quote|1=[http://www.amazon.com/Life-Muhammad-I-Ishaq/dp/0196360331/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252901691&sr=8-1#reader The Life of Muhammad]<BR>Ishaq. I (Author), Guillaume. A (Translator), Oxford University Press, 2002, p. 547|2=[Abu Sufyan] stayed the night with me [the narrator] and I took him in to see the apostle early in the morning and when he saw him he said, "Isn't it time that you should recognize that there is no God but Allah?"
{{Quote|1=[http://www.amazon.com/Life-Muhammad-I-Ishaq/dp/0196360331/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252901691&sr=8-1#reader The Life of Muhammad]<BR>Ishaq. I (Author), Guillaume. A (Translator), Oxford University Press, 2002, p. 547|2=[Abu Sufyan] stayed the night with me [the narrator] and I took him in to see the apostle early in the morning and when he saw him he said, "Isn't it time that you should recognize that there is no God but Allah?"
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===Qur'an===
===Qur'an===


{{Quote|1={{Quran|9|5}}|2=Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.}}
{{Quote|1={{Quran|9|29}}|2=''Fight'' (قَٰتِلُوا۟) those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.}}
 
The word قَٰتِلُوا۟ (''qaatiloo''), translated as "fight", is derived from the root ق-ت-ل (q-t-l). The basic [[The Meaning of Qatal|meaning of this root]] is "to kill" <ref>https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D9%82_%D8%AA_%D9%84</ref>. Nouns like "murder" (قتل) and "murderer" (قاتل) are also derived from this root. The word qaatiloo is an imperative verb <ref>http://corpus.quran.com/wordmorphology.jsp?location=(9:29:1)</ref>, which commands to murder people [until they are giving money to the Muslims].


===Hadith===
===Hadith===
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When the children of a woman (in pre-Islamic days) did not survive, she took a vow on herself that if her child survives, she would convert it a Jew. When Banu an-Nadir were expelled (from Arabia), there were some children of the Ansar (Helpers) among them. They said: We shall not leave our children. So Allah the Exalted revealed; "Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error."}}
When the children of a woman (in pre-Islamic days) did not survive, she took a vow on herself that if her child survives, she would convert it a Jew. When Banu an-Nadir were expelled (from Arabia), there were some children of the Ansar (Helpers) among them. They said: We shall not leave our children. So Allah the Exalted revealed; "Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error."}}


{{Quote|Ibn Ishaq|Ibn Abbas said: it was revealed with regard to a man from the tribe of Bani Salim whose two sons converted to Christianity but he was himself a Muslim. He told the Prophet: "Shall I force them to embrace Islam they insist on Christianity", hence Allah revealed this verse. But, it is abrogated by the verses of "fighting"… Surah 48 verse 16, Surah 9 verse 73 and Surah 9 verse 123.<ref name="David Bukay">David Bukay - [http://www.politicalislam.com/blog/abrogation-and-the-koran/ Abrogation and the Koran] - School of Political Science, The University of Haifa</ref><ref name="Answering Islam">Sam Shamoun and Jochen Katz - [http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Menj/taqiyyah.htm Sunni Muslims and Taqiyyah] - Answering Islam</ref>}}
{{Quote|Ibn Ishaq|Ibn Abbas said: it was revealed with regard to a man from the tribe of Bani Salim whose two sons converted to Christianity but he was himself a Muslim. He told the Prophet: "Shall I force them to embrace Islam they insist on Christianity", hence Allah revealed this verse. But, it is abrogated by the verses of "fighting"… Surah 48 verse 16, Surah 9 verse 73 and Surah 9 verse 123.<ref name="David Bukay">David Bukay - [http://www.politicalislam.com/blog/abrogation-and-the-koran/ Abrogation and the Koran] - School of Political Science, The University of Haifa</ref>}}


===Scholars===
===Scholars===
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Ibn Kathir in the version of his tafsir abridged by Sheikh Muhammad Nasib Ar-Rafa‘i, has [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Menj/taqiyyah.htm|2=2011-11-25}} this] to say (note that this portion has not been translated by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri who is responsible for the ''abridged'' version of Tafsir Ibn Kathir widely available on the internet):
Ibn Kathir in the version of his tafsir abridged by Sheikh Muhammad Nasib Ar-Rafa‘i, has [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Menj/taqiyyah.htm|2=2011-11-25}} this] to say (note that this portion has not been translated by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri who is responsible for the ''abridged'' version of Tafsir Ibn Kathir widely available on the internet):


{{Quote||Allah says: "There is no compulsion in religion", meaning: do not force anyone to embrace Islam, because it is clear and its proofs and evidences are manifest. Whoever Allah guides and opens his heart to Islam has indeed embraced it with clear evidence. Whoever Allah misguides blinds his heart and has set a seal on his hearing and a covering on his eyes cannot embrace Islam by force...hence Allah revealed this verse. '''But, this verse is abrogated by the verse of "fighting...Therefore, all people of the world should be called to Islam. If anyone of them refuses to do so, or refuses to pay the Jizya they should be fought till they are killed. This is the meaning of compulsion.''' In the Sahih, the Prophet said: "Allah wonders at those people who will enter Paradise in chains", meaning prisoners brought in chains to the Islamic state, then they embrace Islam sincerely and become righteous, and are entered among the people of Paradise.<ref>Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 253 to 286, Surah Al-Imran, ayat 1 to 92, abridged by Sheikh Muhammad Nasib Ar-Rafa‘i [Al-Firdous Ltd., London, 1999: First Edition], Part 3, pp. 37-38</ref>}}
{{Quote|Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, Al-Firdous Ltd., London, 1999: First Edition, Part 3, pp. 37-38|Allah says: "There is no compulsion in religion", meaning: do not force anyone to embrace Islam, because it is clear and its proofs and evidences are manifest. Whoever Allah guides and opens his heart to Islam has indeed embraced it with clear evidence. Whoever Allah misguides blinds his heart and has set a seal on his hearing and a covering on his eyes cannot embrace Islam by force...hence Allah revealed this verse. '''But, this verse is abrogated by the verse of "fighting...Therefore, all people of the world should be called to Islam. If anyone of them refuses to do so, or refuses to pay the Jizya they should be fought till they are killed. This is the meaning of compulsion.''' In the Sahih, the Prophet said: "Allah wonders at those people who will enter Paradise in chains", meaning prisoners brought in chains to the Islamic state, then they embrace Islam sincerely and become righteous, and are entered among the people of Paradise.<ref>Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 253 to 286, Surah Al-Imran, ayat 1 to 92, abridged by Sheikh Muhammad Nasib Ar-Rafa‘i [Al-Firdous Ltd., London, 1999: First Edition], Part 3, pp. 37-38</ref>}}


{{Quote|[http://www.amazon.com/Quran-Its-Interpreters-Mahmoud-Ayoub/dp/0791465225 The Qur’an and it Interpreters]<BR>Mahmoud M. Ayoub, SUNY Press, 1984, Volume I, pp. 253-254|Mujahid said, "This was before the Apostle of God was commanded to fight against the People of the Book. God’s saying, ‘There is no compulsion in religion’ was abrogated and he was commanded to fight against the People of the Book in Surat Bara‘ah" (Q. 9:29). (Wahidi, pp. 77-78) … According to other traditions, the verse was revealed in reference to the People of the Book, who should not be compelled to enter Islam so long as they pay jizyah (poll tax). The verse is, therefore, not abrogated. Tabari relates on the authority of Qatadah, "Arab society was compelled to enter Islam because they were an unlettered community [ummah ummiyah], having no book which they knew. Thus nothing other than Islam was accepted from them. The people of the Book are not to be compelled to enter Islam if they submit to paying the jizyah or kharaj [land tax]." The same view is related on the authority of al-Dahhak, Mujahid, and Ibn ‘Abbas (Tabari, V. pp. 413-414). Tabari agrees with this view and asserts that the verse applies to the people of the two Books (Jews and Christians) and the Zoroastrians (Majus)… Qurtubi relates yet another view which asserts, "It was in reference to captives who, if they are of the People of the Book, are not to be compelled if they are adults; but if they are Zoroastrians or idolators, be they old or young, they shall be forced to accept Islam. This is because their master could not benefit from them if they were idolators." Qurtubi adds, "Do you not see that animals slaughtered by them would be unlawful to eat and their women could be married [to Muslims]? They practise the eating of carrion and other such unclean things. Thus their master would find them unclean and therefore it would be difficult to benefit from them as his slaves. Hence, it becomes lawfull for him to compel them" (Qurtubi, II, p. 280; see also Shawkani, I, p. 275).}}
{{Quote|[http://www.amazon.com/Quran-Its-Interpreters-Mahmoud-Ayoub/dp/0791465225 The Qur’an and it Interpreters]<BR>Mahmoud M. Ayoub, SUNY Press, 1984, Volume I, pp. 253-254|Mujahid said, "This was before the Apostle of God was commanded to fight against the People of the Book. God’s saying, ‘There is no compulsion in religion’ was abrogated and he was commanded to fight against the People of the Book in Surat Bara‘ah" (Q. 9:29). (Wahidi, pp. 77-78) … According to other traditions, the verse was revealed in reference to the People of the Book, who should not be compelled to enter Islam so long as they pay jizyah (poll tax). The verse is, therefore, not abrogated. Tabari relates on the authority of Qatadah, "Arab society was compelled to enter Islam because they were an unlettered community [ummah ummiyah], having no book which they knew. Thus nothing other than Islam was accepted from them. The people of the Book are not to be compelled to enter Islam if they submit to paying the jizyah or kharaj [land tax]." The same view is related on the authority of al-Dahhak, Mujahid, and Ibn ‘Abbas (Tabari, V. pp. 413-414). Tabari agrees with this view and asserts that the verse applies to the people of the two Books (Jews and Christians) and the Zoroastrians (Majus)… Qurtubi relates yet another view which asserts, "It was in reference to captives who, if they are of the People of the Book, are not to be compelled if they are adults; but if they are Zoroastrians or idolators, be they old or young, they shall be forced to accept Islam. This is because their master could not benefit from them if they were idolators." Qurtubi adds, "Do you not see that animals slaughtered by them would be unlawful to eat and their women could be married [to Muslims]? They practise the eating of carrion and other such unclean things. Thus their master would find them unclean and therefore it would be difficult to benefit from them as his slaves. Hence, it becomes lawfull for him to compel them" (Qurtubi, II, p. 280; see also Shawkani, I, p. 275).}}
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==See Also==
==See Also==


*[[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Dhimmitude]]
{{Hub4|Converts|Converts}}
*[[Jihad (Primary Sources)]] ''- A hub page that leads to other articles related to Jihad (Primary Sources)''
{{Hub4|Jihad (Primary Sources)|Jihad (Primary Sources)}}


==External Links==
==External Links==


*[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/013-forced-conversion.htm|2=2012-08-15}} What does the Religion of Peace Teach About... Forced Conversion] ''- [[The Religion Of Peace]]''
*[http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/013-forced-conversion.htm What does the Religion of Peace Teach About... Forced Conversion] ''- [[The Religion Of Peace]]''


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Dhimmitude]]
[[Category:Dhimmitude]]
[[Category:Islamic Law]]
[[Category:Islamic Law]]
[[Category:Jihad and Terrorism]]
[[Category:Jihad]]
[[Category:Kafir (infidel)]]
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