freediver wrote on Aug 31
st, 2014 at 9:23pm:
So what does "fall back [into error and disbelief]" in 88 mean? and in 89: "So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah . But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them"?
Firstly, do you understand the meaning of the term "emigrate"? Probably not.
It is referring to the first emigration - the hijra, when the muslims moved from Mecca to their new home in Medina. "emigrate" in this context is referring to a sort of "rite of passage" - a metaphor for abandoning the old way and embracing islam. So actually, 'emigrate' in this sense is the exact opposite you probably imagine it, and it is proof that the verse is referring to people who never embraced ("emigrated") islam in the first place.
Secondly, "turn away" is not the correct translation. Yusuf Ali (the closest thing to a standard translation) - instead used the term "turn renegades" - or in other words, not merely remove themselves from islam, but to turn hostile against the muslim community. And lets just think this through a little rationally shall we?
1. 4:88 introduces the hypocrites and makes it clear that these are disbelievers who are pretending to be believers in order to sow discord
2. 4:89 continues on saying not to take these people as allies, and then gives permission to muslims to kill them in the event that they turn hostile ("turn renegades").
Now, just pause and think about this FD - *IF* these verses were really talking about apostates, it would need to refer to people who previously believed, and then decided to disbelieve - agreed?
and yet the whole time, from 4:88 right through to 4:91, it only ever refers to people who disbelieved from the very beginning. Explain to me, if you can FD, how a people specifically described as hypocrites - who 4:88 explains had been led astray, and whom would never find a way to God,
how can they then suddenly "turn away" from God?This is how FD's version of 4:88-4:91 goes:
1. there are hypocrites amongst you, these people have been led astray, and will never find the right path (4:88)
2. These people wish you to join them in disbelief, so don't make allies with them
3. *HOWEVER* if these people decide to turn to disbelief - kill them all.
make sense to you?
Obviously "turn away" has a different meaning. And a rational reading of the verses can only lead one to make the following interpretation about 4:88-4:91:
1. warning muslims that there are hypocrites amongst them, who wish to lead them to disbelief - and not to take them as guardians
2. Nevertheless, until they actually initiate hostilities, they must be free to live amongst them
3. Once they initiate hostilities - kill them where they can be found
4. However as soon as they (the ones who initiated hostilities) sue for peace, or restrain themselves (or find refuge with a 3rd party who the muslims have a treaty with), then the killing must stop.