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

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{{QuranHadithScholarsIndex}}
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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|[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 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|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|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|[[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={{citation|title=The Life of Muhammad|trans_title=Sirat Rasul Allah|ISBN=0-19-636033-1|year=1955|publisher=Oxford UP|author1=Ibn Ishaq (d. 768)|author2=Ibn Hisham (d. 833)|editor=A. Guillaume|url=https://archive.org/details/GuillaumeATheLifeOfMuhammad/page/n1/mode/2up|page=547}}<BR>{{citation|title=سيرة ابن هشام ت طه عبد الرؤوف سعد|author1=ابن إسحاق|author2=ابن هشام|url=https://app.turath.io/book/7450|publisher=al-Maktabah al-Shamilah|volume=vol. 2|page=403}}|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?"


He answered, "You are dearer to me than father and mother.  How great is your clemence, honour, and kindness!  By God, I thought that had there been another God with God he would have continued to help me."
He answered, "You are dearer to me than father and mother.  How great is your clemence, honour, and kindness!  By God, I thought that had there been another God with God he would have continued to help me."
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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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{{Quote|1={{Muslim|19|4366}}|2=It has been narrated by 'Umar b. al-Khattib that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.}}
{{Quote|1={{Muslim|19|4366}}|2=It has been narrated by 'Umar b. al-Khattib that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.}}


{{Quote|1={{Muslim|19|5917}}|2=Suhail reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said on the Day of Khaibar: I shall certainly give this standard in the hand of one who loves Allah and his Messenger and Allah will grant victory at his hand. Umar b. Khattab said: Never did I cherish for leadership but on that day. I came before him with the hope that I may be called for this, but Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) called 'Ali b. Abu Talib and he conferred (this honour) upon him and said: Proceed on and do not look about until Allah grants you victory, and 'Ali went a bit and then halted and did not look about and then said in a loud voice: Allah's Messenger, on what issue should I fight with the people? Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: Fight with them until they bear testimony to the fact that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger, and when they do that then their blood and their riches are inviolable from your hands but what is justified by law and their reckoning is with Allah.}}
{{Quote|1={{Muslim|31|5917}}|2=Suhail reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said on the Day of Khaibar: I shall certainly give this standard in the hand of one who loves Allah and his Messenger and Allah will grant victory at his hand. Umar b. Khattab said: Never did I cherish for leadership but on that day. I came before him with the hope that I may be called for this, but Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) called 'Ali b. Abu Talib and he conferred (this honour) upon him and said: Proceed on and do not look about until Allah grants you victory, and 'Ali went a bit and then halted and did not look about and then said in a loud voice: Allah's Messenger, on what issue should I fight with the people? Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: Fight with them until they bear testimony to the fact that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger, and when they do that then their blood and their riches are inviolable from your hands but what is justified by law and their reckoning is with Allah.}}


{{Quote|1={{Muslim|19|5918}}|2=Sahl b. Sa'd reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said on the Day of Khaibar: I would certainly give this standard to a person at whose hand Allah would grant victory and who loves Allah and His Messenger and Allah and His Messenger love him also. The people spent the night thinking as to whom it would be given. When it was morning the people hastened to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) all of them hoping that that would be given to him. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Where is 'Ali b. Abu Talib? They said: Allah's Messenger, his eyes are sore. He then sent for him and he was brought and Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) applied saliva to his eyes and invoked blessings and he was all right, as if he had no ailment at all, and coraferred upon him the standard. 'Ali said: Allah's Messenger, I will fight them until they are like us. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Advance cautiously until you reach their open places, thereafter invite them to Islam and inform them what is obligatory for them from the rights of Allah, for, by Allah, if Allah guides aright even one person through you that is better for you than to possess the most valuable of the camels.}}
{{Quote|1={{Muslim|31|5918}}|2=Sahl b. Sa'd reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said on the Day of Khaibar: I would certainly give this standard to a person at whose hand Allah would grant victory and who loves Allah and His Messenger and Allah and His Messenger love him also. The people spent the night thinking as to whom it would be given. When it was morning the people hastened to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) all of them hoping that that would be given to him. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Where is 'Ali b. Abu Talib? They said: Allah's Messenger, his eyes are sore. He then sent for him and he was brought and Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) applied saliva to his eyes and invoked blessings and he was all right, as if he had no ailment at all, and coraferred upon him the standard. 'Ali said: Allah's Messenger, I will fight them until they are like us. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Advance cautiously until you reach their open places, thereafter invite them to Islam and inform them what is obligatory for them from the rights of Allah, for, by Allah, if Allah guides aright even one person through you that is better for you than to possess the most valuable of the camels.}}
 
{{Quote|1={{Bukhari|3|39|531}}|2=`Umar expelled the Jews and the Christians from Hijaz. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had conquered Khaibar, he wanted to expel the Jews from it as its land became the property of Allah, His Apostle, and the Muslims. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) intended to expel the Jews but they requested him to let them stay there on the condition that they would do the labor and get half of the fruits. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) told them, "We will let you stay on thus condition, as long as we wish." So, they (i.e. Jews) kept on living there until `Umar forced them to go towards Taima' and Ariha'.
}}


===Scholars===
===Scholars===
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==The "No Compulsion" Verse==
==The "No Compulsion" Verse==
{{main|Let There be no Compulsion in Religion}}


Note that this verse has been [[List of Abrogations in the Qur'an|abrogated]] by {{Quran|9|5}}
Note that according to some scholars in the classical period, this verse was [[List of Abrogations in the Qur'an|abrogated]] by {{Quran|9|5}}


===Qur'an===
===Qur'an===
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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>}}


===Scholars===
===Scholars===
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• It is said that it was related about the captives who were People of the Book. They are not compelled when they are adults. '''If they are Magians, young or old, or idolaters, they are compelled to adopt Islam because their captivity does not help them when they are idolaters'''. Do you not see that their sacrifices are not eaten nor their women married. That is what Ibn al-Qasim reported from Malik. Ashhab said that children are considered to have the din of those who captured them. If they refuse that, they are compelled to become Muslim.''' Children have no din and that is why they are compelled to enter Islam so that they do not go to a false din'''. '''When other types of unbelievers pay the jizya, they are forced to become Muslim''', whether they are Arabs or non-Arabs, Quraysh or otherwise. This will be dealt with in Surat at-Tawba.}}
• It is said that it was related about the captives who were People of the Book. They are not compelled when they are adults. '''If they are Magians, young or old, or idolaters, they are compelled to adopt Islam because their captivity does not help them when they are idolaters'''. Do you not see that their sacrifices are not eaten nor their women married. That is what Ibn al-Qasim reported from Malik. Ashhab said that children are considered to have the din of those who captured them. If they refuse that, they are compelled to become Muslim.''' Children have no din and that is why they are compelled to enter Islam so that they do not go to a false din'''. '''When other types of unbelievers pay the jizya, they are forced to become Muslim''', whether they are Arabs or non-Arabs, Quraysh or otherwise. This will be dealt with in Surat at-Tawba.}}
{{Core POTB}}


==See Also==
==See Also==


{{Hub4|Converts|Converts}}
{{Hub4|Jihad (Primary Sources)|Jihad (Primary Sources)}}
{{Hub4|Jihad (Primary Sources)|Jihad (Primary Sources)}}
==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]]''


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:QHS]]
[[Category:QHS]]
[[Category:Dhimmitude]]
[[Category:Dhimma]]
[[Category:Islamic Law]]
[[Category:Shariah (Islamic Law)]]
[[Category:Jihad and Terrorism]]
[[Category:Jihad]]
[[Category:Kafir (infidel)]]
[[Category:Fiqh (legal theory)]]
[[Category:Human rights]]
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