Another example including verse 8:61
polite_gandalf wrote on Jan 9
th, 2018 at 10:24am:
A bit more about the thematic flow of the Quran:
Chapter 9 is not the only chapter that deals with warfare and who should and shouldn't be killed during war. Another important reference is the preceding chapter (8). Now its important to point out that chapter 9 is the only verse that doesn't contain the "bismillah" (in the name of God) prefixed at the beginning. This is widely understood by scholars to be the case because chapter 8 and chapter 9 are meant to be a continuous narrative. Why is this important? There are a couple of significant commands in chapter 8 related to warfare, which IMO should be contextualised with chapter 9:
8:39...
And fight them until there is no fitnah* and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah . And if they cease - then indeed, Allah is Seeing of what they do.
*"fithah" literally means "disorder" and is commonly interpreted as oppression.
8:61...
And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah . Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.
The message is clear: fight against oppression, but incline towards peace if ever your enemy does so.
That is about as opposite a doctrine of 'aggressive war' as you can get. But more importantly, contextualised with chapter 9, and the "garr kill all non-believers" narrative seems even more ridiculous.
And there are other verses that clearly command muslims to not be aggressors in war.
The same again:
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1469837313/111#111http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1469837313/126#126http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1498873017/8#8http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1513048082/269#269Here is the context - clearly not a doctrine of self defence. It cites, as justification for war, disbelief (8:12, 8:38, 8:39, 8:42, 8:57, 8:65), money and spoils of war (8:67, 8:69), treaty violations (no matter how trivial), as well as fear on the part of Muslims of treachery or treaty violations (8:58). It even cites "your enemy, and others besides whom, you may not know but whom Allah does know" as just targets (8:60). It instructs Muslims to prepare for war and to terrorise these people (8:12). Verse 8:60 is translated as either threatening or terrifying disbelievers with military preparations. It follows this by putting the onus once more on the other party to pursue peace in the face of this terror and preparation for war, and it this particular statement (8:61) that Gandalf tries to claim is a doctrine of self defence. Finally, verse 8:73 contains a general call for Muslims to unite under an Islamic state to impose Islam on non-Muslims.
Chapter 8 extractshttps://www.noblequran.com/translation/
12. (Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels, "Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes."
13. This is because they defied and disobeyed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever defies and disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.
14. This is the torment, so taste it, and surely for the disbelievers is the torment of the Fire.
15. O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve, in a battle-field, never turn your backs to them.
16. And whoever turns his back to them on such a day - unless it be a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own), - he indeed has drawn upon himself wrath from Allah. And his abode is Hell, and worst indeed is that destination!
17. You killed them not, but Allah killed them. And you (Muhammad ) threw not when you did throw but Allah threw, that He might test the believers by a fair trial from Him. Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.
34. And why should not Allah punish them while they stop (men) from Al-Masjid-al-Haram, and they are not its guardians? None can be its guardian except Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V.2:2), but most of them know not.
35. Their Salat (prayer) at the House (of Allah, i.e. the Ka'bah at Makkah) was nothing but whistling and clapping of hands. Therefore taste the punishment because you used to disbelieve.
36. Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcomed. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell.
37. In order that Allah may distinguish the wicked (disbelievers, polytheists and doers of evil deeds) from the good (believers of Islamic Monotheism and doers of righteous deeds), and put the wicked (disbelievers, polytheists and doers of evil deeds) one on another, heap them together and cast them into Hell. Those! it is they who are the losers.
38. Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief) their past will be forgiven. But if they return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded (as a warning).
39. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world ]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-See