What's with the sura on war?
I would like to take it as a metaphor for protecting ones beliefs. One should "fight" against the unbelievers and protect their religion. One should stand up for what one believes in to the end. This seems very possible because the Qur'an likes metaphors, however I think it is this sura that causes so much trouble. That gives "jihad" a bad name so to speak. If a person uneducated in Islam read this sura they would think it confirmed the notion that Islam promotes war and wants all non-muslims eliminated (most would take "unbelievers" to be all non-muslims even though it really means "those who do not believe in one God"). It also allows extremists the opportunity to twist the Qur'an to promote their less peaceful and deadly "jihad".
Yet its weird because on and off it goes on tangents about obeying God and his Apostle and about listening to the word of God. And preaches of peace for your self in your belief in God.
I don't think the sura is talking about actual war. But then, what is it talking about? Anyone have info they can share?
I am still not use to how the Qur'an is set up. It is definitely in some sort of order but I'm not sure what. It also doesn't tell stories like the Bible but gives you snipits of stories. Its almost like its saying "ok you know this story from the Torah/Bible, the information you are given now should fill in the missing parts of said story". The stories are also broken up throughout the book so you almost have to go back and forth reading to make sense of it all.
Also I have noticed things that like to repeat such as:
O ye who believe
Obey God and his Apostle
and turn not away from him
when ye hear (him speak)
Nor be like those who say
"We hear" , but listen not.
And with that collection of random notes, good night!
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Yeah, I've noticed that there is a lot of repeating in the Koran. Gets kinda monotonous, I think.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the suras are arranged in the order they were believed to have been written, other times they are ordered by the time period (what city Muhammad was in at the time).
The thing that really convinced me that Christianity was my true religion (and I am, of course, speaking for myself) was something I read once: 'When asked why the Muslim students weren't taught about peace and "love thy neighbor", the teacher replied "There is an entire sura devoted to "The Spoils of War." There is no sura called "Peace". ' That was a real moment of shock for me, and after all I'd read, it led me back to a very solid faith in Christianity.
Yes I've heard that too but I'd like to know the sura's purpose. I disagree with the idea that muslims are not taught about peace and respecting others. Because they are. The first sura talks a great deal about respecting other faiths. In all three books, there are things I don't agree with. I take it, since it seems so out of place with the rest of the Qur'an thus far, that it must have some logical purpose. Up until here the Qur'an has made a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it doesn't have one sura based on peace because it talks about peace all the way through in little snipits. Like a constant reminder...but it would have been nicer to have one on peace, and not one on war. The Qur'an deals a lot more with conduct than the Bible. Bible tells stories to teach us how to behave, the Qur'an just spells it out for you and uses metaphors. The Qur'an isn't as kind or soft as the Bible. Its a bit more blunt which I think can turn people off. Both books are saying the same thing just in different ways. Structure is different, messages are similar.
That doesn't mean I understand the Spoils of War.
Salaam alaikum,
ReplyDeleteI am by no means a scholar in Islam; heck, I can't even understand Arabic. I think ALLAH (swt) put this surah in the Qur'an because, unfortunately, war is a human reality and it is not going to go away. I don't think the Qur'an is encouraging war at all; on the contrary, it seems to be discouraging. It says to fight only to defend ourselves and ONLY as the very last resort (after all peaceful means have been exhausted). Furthermore, the Qur'an, sunnah, and hadith set very strict guidelines as to what is allowed in war. Women, children, the elderly, the sick, and any innocent people are not to be harmed at all (i.e. only fight against the people that are actually causing harm and oppression). Property is not to be destroyed, even trees and crops are forbidden to be damaged. Having all these strict rules makes war seem almost "pointless", in the sense that so many conflicts today are ultimately about gaining wealth and spreading terror to gain power. Basically, I believe that ALLAH is telling us that war is strongly discouraged, but if it must be done than here is a whole surah on how to conduct it properly. Perhaps there isn't a surah on peace because peace is spoken about so often in the Qur'an anyway, or maybe because peace is seen as the natural, inherent order of things and it doesn't need guidelines on how to live with it.
Thanks Banana Ann. That makes sense. I think coming from a Christian background it is sometimes hard for me to remember that the Qur'an is so literal and practical. It is a shame though that people misuse this portion all the time for their own gains.
ReplyDeleteYeah I wonder the same thing about peace. Its scattered throughout and pretty much mentioned in some way in every Sura but never comes out and says "Strive for world peace". Which the Bible doesn't really either except for "love thy neighbor as thy self". Which Islam has as well with different wording.
It's been a while since I read it, but I remember it and the next Sura being similar. War is a historical reality and the context here is important, I think. I would recommend checking out M. Asad's translation and notes for any bits you are unsure about. You can read it online here: http://www.wikimir.com/masad
ReplyDeleteOooo thanks Sarah! That will be ever so helpful. You have the best links. :)
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I love this post!
ReplyDeleteOne way that I have overcome my own prejudice in terms of verses like these is by studying the lives of those who lived around the Prophet (pbuh&hf) or even the Prophet (pbuh&hf) himself. To be honest, though, I found it easiest to study Imam Ali (a.s.) because he grew up with the Prophet (pbuh&hf) as his teacher so I think that you can really see how we are supposed to act in terms of peace when you study him & also the children of the Prophet (pbuh&hf) e.g. Fatima (a.s.). Your primary sources list looks like you may already have a few good books concerning Ahlul Bayt so reading them with those verses in mind does help!
I agree with you re "unbelievers" as well. It seems to me that one really has to do a lot to be classed as one, including completely rejecting the concept of God (swt).
Nahjul Balagha is one of my favorite books :)
ReplyDeleteYes unbelievers, in my mind, seems to mean "Those who do not believe in one God" . It does not mean "those who do not believe in the religion of Islam". So you really do have to completely reject God himself to be a true "unbeliever"
I am loving the terminology in the Qur'an. How muslim literally means "One who submits to God". This is not just "those who follow the religion called Islam" but in fact ALL who submit to God. Just had to say how much I am loving the all inclusiveness. No is left out :)