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To You Your Religion and To Me Mine: Difference between revisions
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{{Underconstruction}} | {{Underconstruction}} | ||
[[File:Al-Kafirun.png|290px|right|thumb]] | [[File:Al-Kafirun.png|290px|right|thumb]] | ||
This article analyzes the apologetic claim that [[The Holy Qur'an: Al-Kafiroon (The Disbelievers)|Surat al-Kafiroon]] (the [[Disbelievers]], [[Atheists]]) preaches religious tolerance. | |||
==Qur'an== | ==Qur'an== | ||
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===Context=== | ===Context=== | ||
This Surah was revealed in Mecca before Prophet Muhammad become a military leader. Islamic historian al-Zuhri writes that during this period “the unbelievers of the Quraysh did not oppose what he [Muhammad] said. If he passed the place where they sat together, they pointed to him and said: 'This young man of the tribe of Abd al-Muttalib proclaims a message from heaven!'” However, “this they continued to do until Allah began to attack their gods…, and until He proclaimed that their fathers who died in unbelief were lost [to hellfire]. Then they began to hate the Prophet and show their enmity to him.” | This [[Surah]] was revealed in Mecca before Prophet [[Muhammad]] become a military leader. [[Islam|Islamic]] historian al-Zuhri writes that during this period “the unbelievers of the Quraysh did not oppose what he [Muhammad] said. If he passed the place where they sat together, they pointed to him and said: 'This young man of the tribe of Abd al-Muttalib proclaims a message from heaven!'” However, “this they continued to do until Allah began to attack their gods…, and until He proclaimed that their fathers who died in unbelief were lost [to hellfire]. Then they began to hate the Prophet and show their enmity to him.” | ||
Muslim chronicler Baihaki further records (in Proof of Prophecy)<ref>Baihaki, Dala'il al-ncbuwwa, coc. Tornberg 232, fol. 85a</ref> Muhammad’s disciple Amru ibn al-Aas’ testimony of Quraysh leaders’ discussion concerning Muhammad's verbal attacks on them and their religious beliefs: “Never have we had to tolerate from anyone what we have had to tolerate from this man. He slanders our fathers, criticizes our religions and divides our people, and blasphemes our gods. Such grievous things have we tolerated from this man…” Muhammad, who was nearby and heard this conversation, responded with, “Men of Quraysh! I will surely repay you for this with interest.” The rest of the details are covered by the [[tafsir]] literature: | Muslim chronicler Baihaki further records (in Proof of Prophecy)<ref>Baihaki, Dala'il al-ncbuwwa, coc. Tornberg 232, fol. 85a</ref> Muhammad’s disciple Amru ibn al-Aas’ testimony of Quraysh leaders’ discussion concerning Muhammad's verbal attacks on them and their religious beliefs: “Never have we had to tolerate from anyone what we have had to tolerate from this man. He slanders our fathers, criticizes our religions and divides our people, and blasphemes our gods. Such grievous things have we tolerated from this man…” Muhammad, who was nearby and heard this conversation, responded with, “Men of Quraysh! I will surely repay you for this with interest.” The rest of the details are covered by the [[tafsir]] literature: | ||
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===Summary=== | ===Summary=== | ||
The authoritative and wholly Islamic sources tell us that, following Muhammad's "shameful"<ref>Francis Edwards Peters,Muhammad and the Origins of Islam, SUNY Press, p.169</ref> verbal attacks on the native pagan beliefs, the people of Quraysh still had hopes for reconciliation. In what appears to be history's first ever attempt at inter-faith dialogue with the followers of Islam, they would visit Muhammad with different proposals of compromise so that he could accepted one of them and the dispute between them would be brought to a peaceful resolution.<ref name="Wahidi">[http://www.altafsir.com/AsbabAlnuzol.asp?SoraName=109&Ayah=0&search=yes&img=A Surah 109 Ayah 1-6] - Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi, trans. Mokrane Guezzou, 2011 Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought</ref><ref name="kathir"></ref> They were even willing to part with their wealth and women, and follow and obey him as their leader, on the condition that he would not speak ill of their gods.<ref name="maududi">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/quran/maududi/mau109.html|2=2013-05-06}} Surah 109 Ayah 1-6] - Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, Tafhim al-Qur'an</ref> In response to their efforts at making peace, Muhammad recited surat al-Kafirun, declaring his "rejection of all that which they worship" and showing that the disbelievers are all "one people ... because disbelief in all its many manifestations has one thing in common – that is, falsity".<ref name="kathir">[{{Reference archive|1=http://sunnahonline.com/library/the-majestic-quran/434-tasfir-of-chapter-109-surah-al-kafirun-the-disbelievers|2=2013-05-06}} Tafsir of Chapter 109: Surah Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers)] - Tafsir Ibn Kathir (SunnahOnline)</ref> This response was then later [[Abrogation |abrogated]] by verses ordering Muslims to physically attack disbelievers, and "the Prophet (pbuh) did fight them."<ref name="Abbas">[http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=73&tSoraNo=109&tAyahNo=6&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2 Surah 109 Ayah 1-6] - Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas, trans. Mokrane Guezzou, 2012 Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought</ref><ref name="Jalalayn">[http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=109&tAyahNo=6&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2 Surah 109 Ayah 1-6] - Tafsir al-Jalalayn, trans. Feras Hamza, 2012 Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought</ref> | The authoritative and wholly [[Islam and Scripture|Islamic sources]] tell us that, following Muhammad's "shameful"<ref>Francis Edwards Peters,Muhammad and the Origins of Islam, SUNY Press, p.169</ref> verbal attacks on the native [[Paganism|pagan]] beliefs, the people of Quraysh still had hopes for reconciliation. In what appears to be history's first ever recorded attempt at inter-faith dialogue with the followers of Islam, they would visit Muhammad with different proposals of compromise so that he could accepted one of them and the dispute between them would be brought to a peaceful resolution.<ref name="Wahidi">[http://www.altafsir.com/AsbabAlnuzol.asp?SoraName=109&Ayah=0&search=yes&img=A Surah 109 Ayah 1-6] - Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi, trans. Mokrane Guezzou, 2011 Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought</ref><ref name="kathir"></ref> They were even willing to part with their wealth and women, and follow and obey him as their leader, on the condition that he would not speak ill of their gods.<ref name="maududi">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/quran/maududi/mau109.html|2=2013-05-06}} Surah 109 Ayah 1-6] - Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, Tafhim al-Qur'an</ref> In response to their efforts at making peace, Muhammad recited surat al-Kafirun, declaring his "rejection of all that which they worship" and showing that the disbelievers are all "one people ... because disbelief in all its many manifestations has one thing in common – that is, falsity".<ref name="kathir">[{{Reference archive|1=http://sunnahonline.com/library/the-majestic-quran/434-tasfir-of-chapter-109-surah-al-kafirun-the-disbelievers|2=2013-05-06}} Tafsir of Chapter 109: Surah Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers)] - Tafsir Ibn Kathir (SunnahOnline)</ref> This response was then later [[Abrogation |abrogated]] by verses ordering Muslims to [[Jihad|physically attack]] disbelievers, and "the Prophet (pbuh) did fight them."<ref name="Abbas">[http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=73&tSoraNo=109&tAyahNo=6&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2 Surah 109 Ayah 1-6] - Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas, trans. Mokrane Guezzou, 2012 Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought</ref><ref name="Jalalayn">[http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=109&tAyahNo=6&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2 Surah 109 Ayah 1-6] - Tafsir al-Jalalayn, trans. Feras Hamza, 2012 Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought</ref> | ||
==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||