Answering Jihad
Page 13
My suggestion is that we engage Muslims proactively with love and friendship while simultaneously acknowledging the truth about Islam. This is not the final step in answering jihad, but it is the correct first step, and it offers a better way forward.
Appendix A
Appendix A, A Selective Timeline of Jihad in Islam
THE DATES LISTED are extrapolated from either Islamic traditions or from modern historical sources.
570: Birth of Muhammad
610: Inception of Islam
622: Flight to Medina / Starting Point of the Islamic Calendar
623: Muslims Begin Raiding Meccan Caravans
624: Nakhla Raid
624: Battle of Badr
625: Battle of Uhud
627: Battle of Khandaq
629: Battle of Muta
629: Conquest of Medina
630: Battle of Hunayn
630: Battle of Tabuk
632: Death of Muhammad
632: Apostate Wars
633: Invasion of Persia
637: Conquest of Syria-Palestine
639: Invasion of Egypt
643: Incursions into India
670: Incursions into Cyrenaica
711: Conquest of Spain
732: Muslims Defeated in the West by Charles Martel at Tours
1099: First Crusade
1187: Salah al-Din Defeats the Crusaders
1258: Mongols Sack Baghdad
1453: Byzantine Empire Falls to Ottoman Empire
1492: Spanish Inquisition and the Beginning of the Colonial Era
1683: Ottomans Defeated at Vienna
1918: End of World War I and the Colonial Era
1922: Dissolution of the Ottoman Empire
1928: Establishment of Muslim Brotherhood
1945: End of World War II
1948: Establishment of Israeli State
1948: Arab-Israeli War
1966: Execution of Sayyid Qutb
1967: Six-Day War
1979: Egyptian-Israeli Peace Accords
1988: Establishment of Al-Qaida
1993: Bombing of World Trade Center
2001: September 11 Attacks against the United States
2005: July 7 Bombings in London
2014: ISIS Establishes Caliphate
2015: Boko Haram Pledges Allegiance to ISIS
2015: November 13 Attacks on Paris
2015: December 2 Shooting in San Bernardino
Appendix B
Appendix B, Muhammad’s Words on Jihad in Sahih Al-Bukhari
BELOW IS A SELECTION of hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari. All the hadith are from the Book of Jihad, usually volume 4, book 52, but the numbering system has yet to be standardized. I have listed the below hadith by volume number and hadith number.
Sahih Al-Bukhari
4.43: Narrated ‘Aisha: (That she said), “O Allah’s Apostle! We consider Jihad as the best deed. Should we not fight in Allah’s Cause?” He said, “The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj-Mabrur (i.e. Hajj which is done according to the Prophet’s tradition and is accepted by Allah).”
4.44: Narrated Abu Huraira: A man came to Allah’s Apostle and said, “Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward).” He replied, “I do not find such a deed.” Then he added, “Can you, while the Muslim fighter is in the battle-field, enter your mosque to perform prayers without cease and fast and never break your fast?” The man said, “But who can do that?” Abu-Huraira added, “The Mujahid (i.e. Muslim fighter) is rewarded even for the footsteps of his horse while it wanders bout (for grazing) tied in a long rope.”
4.46: Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “The example of a Mujahid in Allah’s Cause—and Allah knows better who really strives in His Cause—is like a person who fasts and prays continuously. Allah guarantees that He will admit the Mujahid in His Cause into Paradise if he is killed, otherwise He will return him to his home safely with rewards and war booty.”
4.48: Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Whoever believes in Allah and His Apostle, offers prayer perfectly and fasts the month of Ramadan, will rightfully be granted Paradise by Allah, no matter whether he fights in Allah’s Cause or remains in the land where he is born.” The people said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Shall we acquaint the people with this good news?” He said, “Paradise has one-hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the Mujahidin who fight in His Cause, and the distance between each of two grades is like the distance between the Heaven and the Earth. So, when you ask Allah (for something), ask for Al-Firdaus which is the best and highest part of Paradise.” (i.e. The sub-narrator added, “I think the Prophet also said, ‘Above it [i.e. Al-Firdaus] is the Throne of Beneficent [i.e. Allah], and from it originate the rivers of Paradise.’”)
4.52: Narrated Sahl bin Sa’d: The Prophet said, “A single jihad in Allah’s Cause in the afternoon and in the forenoon is better than the world and whatever is in it.”
4.53: Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, “Nobody who dies and finds good from Allah (in the Hereafter) would wish to come back to this world even if he were given the whole world and whatever is in it, except the martyr who, on seeing the superiority of martyrdom, would like to come back to the world and get killed again (in Allah’s Cause). Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, “A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah’s Cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon is better than all the world and whatever is in it. A place in Paradise as small as the bow or lash of one of you is better than all the world and whatever is in it. And if a virgin from Paradise appeared to the people of the earth, she would fill the space between Heaven and the Earth with light and pleasant scent and her head cover is better than the world and whatever is in it.”
4.54: Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “By Him in Whose Hands my life is! Were it not for some men amongst the believers who dislike to be left behind me and whom I cannot provide with means of conveyance, I would certainly never remain behind any Sariya’ (army unit) setting out in Allah’s Cause. By Him in Whose Hands my life is! I would love to be martyred in Allah’s Cause and then get resurrected and then get martyred, and then get resurrected again and then get martyred and then get resurrected again and then get martyred.”
4.59: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is! Whoever is wounded in Allah’s Cause…. and Allah knows well who gets wounded in His Cause…. will come on the Day of Resurrection with his wound having the color of blood but the scent of musk.”
4.63: Narrated Al-Bara: A man whose face was covered with an iron mask (i.e. clad in armor) came to the Prophet and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Shall I fight or embrace Islam first?” The Prophet said, “Embrace Islam first and then fight.” So he embraced Islam, and was martyred. Allah’s Apostle said, “A little work, but a great reward.” (He did very little [after embracing Islam], but he will be rewarded in abundance.)
4.65: Narrated Abu Musa: A man came to the Prophet and asked, “A man fights for war booty; another fights for fame and a third fights for showing off; which of them fights in Allah’s Cause?” The Prophet said, “He who fights that Allah’s Word (i.e. Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah’s Cause.”
4.66: Narrated Abu ‘Abs: (who is ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Jabir) Allah’s Apostle said, “Anyone whose both feet get covered with dust in Allah’s Cause will not be touched by the (Hell) fire.”
4.72: Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, “Nobody who enters Paradise likes to go back to the world even if he got everything on the earth, except a Mujahid who wishes to return to the world so that he may be martyred ten times because of the dignity he receives (from Allah).
Narrated Al-Mughira bin Shu’ba: Our Prophet told us about the message of our Lord that “Whoever amongst us is killed will go to Paradise.” ‘Umar asked the Prophet, “Is it not true that our men who are killed will go to Paradise and theirs (i.e. those of the Pagans’) will go to the (Hell) fire?” The Prophet said, “Yes.”
4.73: Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Abi ‘Aufa: Allah’s Apostle said, “Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords.”
4.80: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “Allah welcomes two men with a smile; one of whom kills the other and both of them enter Paradise. One fights in Allah’s Cause and gets killed. Later on Allah forgives the killer who also gets martyred (in Allah’s Cause).”
4.176: Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar: Allah’s Apostle said, “You (i.e. Muslims) will fight with the Jews till some of them will hide behind stones. The stones will (betray them) saying, ‘O ‘Abdullah (i.e. slave of Allah)! There is a Jew hiding behind me; so kill him.’”
4.195: Narrated Anas: The Prophet set out for Khaibar and reached it at night. He used not to attack if he reached the people at night, till the day broke. So, when the day dawned, the Jews came out with their bags and spades. When they saw the Prophet, they said, “Muhammad and his army!” The Prophet said, “Allahu Akbar! (Allah is Greater) and Khaibar is ruined, for whenever we approach a nation (i.e. enemy to fight) then it will be a miserable morning for those who have been warned.”
4.196: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,’ and whoever says, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,’ his life and property will be saved by me except for Islamic law, and his accounts will be with Allah, (either to punish him or to forgive him.)”
4.199: Narrated Ka’b bin Malik: The Prophet set out on Thursday for the Battle of Tabuk. He used to prefer to set out on Thursdays.
4.248: Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr: A man came to the Prophet asking his permission to take part in Jihad. The Prophet asked him, “Are your parents alive?” He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet said to him, “Then exert yourself in their service.”
4.257: Narrated ‘Abdullah: During some of the Ghazawat of the Prophet a woman was found killed. Allah’s Apostle disapproved the killing of women and children.
4.259: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle sent us in a mission (i.e. an army unit) and said, “If you find so-and-so and so-and-so, burn both of them with fire.” When we intended to depart, Allah’s Apostle said, “I have ordered you to burn so-and-so and so-and-so, and it is none but Allah Who punishes with fire, so, if you find them, kill them.”
4.260: Narrated ‘Ikrima: ‘Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn ‘Abbas, who said, “Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, ‘Don’t punish (anybody) with Allah’s Punishment.’ No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, ‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.’”
4.261: Narrated Anas bin Malik: A group of eight men from the tribe of ‘Ukil came to the Prophet and then they found the climate of Medina unsuitable for them. So, they said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Provide us with some milk.” Allah’s Apostle said, “I recommend that you should join the herd of camels.” So they went and drank the urine and the milk of the camels (as a medicine) till they became healthy and fat. Then they killed the shepherd and drove away the camels, and they became unbelievers after they were Muslims. When the Prophet was informed by a shouter for help, he sent some men in their pursuit, and before the sun rose high, they were brought, and he had their hands and feet cut off. Then he ordered for nails which were heated and passed over their eyes, and they were left in the Harra (i.e. rocky land in Medina). They asked for water, and nobody provided them with water till they died. (Abu Qilaba, a sub-narrator said, “They committed murder and theft and fought against Allah and His Apostle, and spread evil in the land.”)
4.265: Narrated Al-Bara bin Azib: Allah’s Apostle sent a group of the Ansar to Abu Rafi’. ‘Abdullah bin Atik entered his house at night and killed him while he was sleeping.
4.268: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle called, “War is deceit.”
4.271: Narrated Jabir: The Prophet said, “Who is ready to kill Ka’b bin Ashraf (i.e. a Jew)?” Muhammad bin Maslama replied, “Do you like me to kill him?” The Prophet replied in the affirmative. Muhammad bin Maslama said, “Then allow me to say what I like.” The Prophet replied, “I do (i.e. allow you).”
4.280: Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri: When the tribe of Bani Quraiza was ready to accept Sa’d’s judgment, Allah’s Apostle sent for Sa’d who was near to him. Sa’d came, riding a donkey and when he came near, Allah’s Apostle said (to the Ansar), “Stand up for your leader.” Then Sa’d came and sat beside Allah’s Apostle who said to him, “These people are ready to accept your judgment.” Sa’d said, “I give the judgment that their warriors should be killed and their children and women should be taken as prisoners.” The Prophet then remarked, “O Sa’d! You have judged amongst them with (or similar to) the judgment of the King Allah.”
4.286: Narrated Salama bin Al-Akwa’: “An infidel spy came to the Prophet while he was on a journey. The spy sat with the companions of the Prophet and started talking and then went away. The Prophet said (to his companions), ‘Chase and kill him.’ So, I killed him.” The Prophet then gave him the belongings of the killed spy (in addition to his share of the war booty).
4.300: Narrated Abu Talha: Whenever the Prophet conquered some people, he would stay in their town for three days.
Appendix C
Appendix C, What is the Caliphate?
ALTHOUGH THE CALIPHATE has been an aspiration for many Muslims in the past century, it has been especially prominent in the news since ISIS proclaimed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as the caliph and the worldwide leader of all Muslims.
Traditionally, the caliph is the head of the Muslims. According to Sunnis, the first four caliphs were called rashidun, or the “rightly guided” caliphs. These were Muhammad’s immediate successors: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. The fourth caliph, Ali, is a point of extreme controversy. Some Muslims believe that he, being Muhammad’s cousin and next of kin, ought to have been the leader immediately after the death of Muhammad. These Muslims are the Shia, and they see Ali as the first imam.
Thus tradition traces the schism between Sunni and Shia to the institution of the caliphate. Today, approximately 80 percent of the Muslim world is Sunni, and 10–15 percent is Shia. The remaining 5–10 percent are a variety of minor sects and denominations, such was the sect to which I belonged.
The caliph has not always been universally recognized even by Sunnis, particularly since the Mongol invasion of Baghdad in 1258 AD. Shortly after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, despite a degree of popularity among Muslims, the caliphate was finally abolished in 1923.
Since then, many Muslims envision the caliphate with nostalgia, hearkening back to the Golden Age of Islam as discussed in Question 6. There can be no caliph now, according to many Muslims, because no nation-state truly represents an Islamic state. As discussed in Question 7, many feel that the Muslim rulers are sycophants to Western leaders, abandoning true sharia for the dream of modernization or perhaps even financial rewards. Many believe this is true even of those nations that purport to adhere to sharia, such as Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.
When a true Islamic state comes, according to many Muslims, then the institution of the caliphate can be reinstated, and the Muslims of the world will be able to reunite under that banner once more. That is the sentiment that drives ISIS, and that resonates with many young Muslims who have been flocking to Syria and Iraq.
They are not alone. According to Sean Oliver-Dee, a research fellow and scholar at Oxford University in England, “A poll of Muslims in Egypt, Pakistan, Morocco and Indonesia in 2007 found that 65 percent of those interviewed desired to unify all Muslim countries into a single Muslim state; a caliphate.” He points out that young Muslims are particularly drawn to an international community, as “a UK poll in 2010 found that 33 percent of Muslims under the age of twenty-four supported a worldwide Islamic caliphate based upon shari’a law.”
For more information on the caliphate, I recommend Sean Oliver
-Dee’s booklet The Caliphate, or his far more detailed and scholastic The Caliphate Question.
Appendix D
Appendix D, Ahmadi Muslims and Details About My Former Sect of Islam
IN THE COURSE OF THIS BOOK I mentioned that I was part of a particular sect of Islam, which was Ahmadiyyat. Many Muslims consider it a heterodox sect, outside the fold of Islam. I believe this conclusion is quite problematic, and that Ahmadis are certainly Muslim.
My position is simple: Ahmadis are Muslims because they believe and proclaim the shahada, “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his Messenger.” That was the necessary and sufficient requirement as delineated by the traditions of Muhammad and that Muslims follow even today. Muhammad went so far as to say that anyone who says the shahada cannot be excommunicated no matter what, according to Sunan Abu Daud, hadith number 2526. But in addition to meeting the necessary and sufficient requirement, Ahmadis also practice the Five Pillars of Islam and believe the Six Articles of Faith, putting them very close to Sunni orthodoxy, closer by far than some other Muslims such as some Sufis. The Ahmadi practice of Islam is virtually indistinguishable from most other Sunnis.
Regardless, some people are concerned about the Muslim charge that Ahmadis are not Muslims. Here is what I hope to convey in this short appendix:
The criticism that “Ahmadis aren’t Muslim” is a partisan and fundamentalist view, much like Sunnis that call Shia non-Muslim, or Catholics who call Protestants non-Christian, etc.
The simplistic view that “Ahmadis aren’t Muslim” is an unsophisticated understanding of individuals. My life is an example of a more multi-textured reality than such a monochromatic view allows.