Debunking Islamophobic Myths about 26 Wartime Verses: Part 3 on Verse 9:123

Removing Misconceptions About The Close Infidels Mentioned In 9:123 Main Points: 1. It was commanded in the verses of Surah Taubah to wage jihad against religious persecutors and tyrants of Makkah, not peace-loving Indians or non-Muslims. 2. The disbelievers in Surah At-Tawbah verse 123 can be identified, indicating that this passage is not intended for all disbelievers. 3. When the Jews plotted to assassinate the Holy Prophet of Islam, verse 9:123 was revealed. ----- By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 5 April 2022 Some people have recently objected to the 26 verses of the Holy Quran, despite the fact that they were revealed in the historical context of war between Muslims and the Pagans of Makka. Despite the fact that their appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court, some social media users continue to circulate misleading information about these verses. As an ordinary student of theology, I have based my research and understanding of these verses on articles and interpretations found in New Age Islam and other publications. I hope people become more aware of the truth and refrain from spreading false information, as lying is forbidden in all Dharmas and Belief systems. The third verse used to spread false information is as follows: Allah Azzawajal says, “O you who have believed, fight those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous.” (9:123) We learned in the previous parts that most of the verses of Surah Taubah pertain to Arabs who not only breached the peace deal but also imposed aggression and religious persecution on Muslims, forcing them to fight in tragic wars like Badr, Uhud, and Khandaq. They attacked the Prophet of Islam and martyred his holy teeth in the Battle of Uhud. Amr Ibn Qumiyah slammed a stone against the Prophet’s face (peace be upon him), causing his sanctified lips and face to bleed. They acted with ferocity, martyring 108 companions (Sahaba), including migrants (Muhajirin) and supporters (Ansar). They were not content with such heinousness. According to historical records, they attacked Madinah with a strong force of ten or twenty thousand battalions. The Sahaba protected it by digging a trench (Khandaq). They also violated the Hudaybiyyah peace agreement after it had been signed. In the passages of Surah Taubah, it was commanded to wage jihad against such despicable unbelievers and polytheistic Arabs, rather than the peace-loving Indians or non-Muslims. Now we need to figure out who the disbelievers are in Surah At-Tawbah verse 123, which urges believers to wage jihad against "those adjacent to you of the disbelievers." There are two points of view on the subject. The first view is that the close disbelievers refer to the Jews of Madinah, such as the Banu Qurayzah, Banu Nadhir, and Banu Qainqa'. The second view is that the close disbelievers in this verse allude to the Romans, who lived in Shaam, now Syria, which was closer to Madinah than Iraq, as mentioned in Abi Saud's commentary. (Tafsir Abi Saud, V. 4, p.112) The Jews of Banu Qurayzah, Banu Nadir, and Banu Qainqa, who arrived in Madinah and grew so wealthy that they controlled the trading marketplaces of the city, are most likely the close disbelievers referenced in the verse. They also had a range of moral disorders, such as usury, lying, plotting conspiracies at all hours of the day and night, and distorting divine precepts to further evil purposes and personal gain. Despising and envying Muslims had become second nature to them. The Arab tribes of 'Aws and Khazraj, later known as companions' supporters (Ansar), were always harassed by the Jews due to their economic ruin. They were regularly in debt to the Jews, and they were obliged to mortgage their women and children to the Jews of Madinah as a result of the debt. One of the reasons for the Jews of Madinah's dominance was that they were not only People of the Book but also bright and wise. The Muslims only had to deal with one nation in Makkah, which was idolater, ignorant, and arrogant, but Madinah was a crossroads for various nations and religions. As a result, after migrating to Madinah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) forged an agreement with the Jews of Madina, which has come to be known as 'Saheefa' in history and biographies. Its provisions were extensive, and they were important for the restoration of peace and order. Its objective was to keep the internal peace and order of the city intact. If a threat came from the outside, it was decided that all the tribes of Madinah would unite together and combat it. This pact was founded on the principle of equality. The provisions of this treaty ensured that all the civil and religious rights of the people of Madinah were protected without discrimination. However, the Jews did not abandon their nature and began a covert campaign against Islam and its adherents. For example, the two Madinah tribes, 'Aws and Khazraj (Ansar of Companions), had been battling for decades before the Prophet's migration (peace be upon him). When they were reconciled, however, the Jews attempted to rekindle hatred and reignite a civil war between the two tribes. As a result of the civil war that happened prior to the Prophet's migration, both tribes had become vassals of the Jews. These Jews devised a covert plot to assassinate the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet and his followers were in danger of being killed because of these Jews. As an illustration, consider the event of Hazrat Talhah ibn Bara. When his life was about to come to an end, he prepared a will in front of his companions (Sahaba) saying, "If I die in the night, do not inform the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), lest he come to the burial and the Jews attack him." (Usd ul Ghaba Fi Marfa Al Sahaba, Vol: 3, p.81) The hypocrites of Madinah were also at the forefront of this plot. Their leader was Abdullah b. Ubay. The Jews were his allies. The Makkan polytheists pushed them to attack our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him), threatening to do such and such if they did not. Ka'ab b. Ashraf was another thorn. In other words, the Jews of Madinah were unable to keep their agreement for a long time. When a Muslim woman went to sell milk in Banu Qainqa', the Jews tormented her and stripped her naked in front of the market, and when the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked them to talk about it, they returned the treaty document and decided to fight. Their cunning and malice had grown to the point that they planned to assassinate the Holy Prophet quietly (peace be upon him). By divine revelation, the Prophet, on the other hand, was apprised of their terrible plot. It was for these reasons, reasons, and situations that the believers were commanded in this verse (9:123) to pay attention to “the close disbelievers” and subsequently deal with those in distant areas. According to the context of this scripture, the believers should first fight the Jews who live near them, such as Banu Nadir and Banu Quraiza (The Jews of Madinah). This verse (9:123) does not imply that Muslims should unnecessarily line up with guns and AK 47 against non-Muslim brothers living in their neighbourhoods, localities, villages, towns, and cities, and shoot their human brothers with bullets, as Islamophobes are attempting to create such an illusion by provoking Indian brothers. According to the mystical interpretation of Surah Taubah 9 verse 123, believers should first battle and wage jihad against their closest disbelievers, namely their lower self (Nafs-e-Ammara), and this combat is regarded as a greater Jihad (Jihad-e-Akbar). (Continuing) Bibliography 1. The Verses of Jihad- Meaning, Denotation, Reason of Revelation and Background- Part 4 2. Understanding the 26 Controversial Verses of the Quran and Their Context: Why Wasim Rizvi's PIL Should Be Rejected 3. Quoting Qur’an’s Fighting Verses In Isolation To Promote Violence Or Defame Islam Amounts To Treacherous Misrepresentation Of Its Message Of Peace And Reconciliation 4. The Much discussed and debated Medinian Verses Relating to Fighting ------ Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. Part 1: Debunking Islamophobic Myths about 26 Wartime Verses: Part 1 on Verse 9:5 Part 2: Debunking Islamophobic Myths About 26 Wartime Verses Of Quran Considered Militant And Exclusivist: Part 2 On Verse 9:28 URL: https://www.newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/islamophobic-myths-wartime-verses-/d/126728 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism