A Critical Analysis of 'Real Islam'. Its People ... - Bukti dan Saksi

Chapter 9
The Battle of Badr
(Revised from an original article by Anwar Shaikh a renowned Indian Islamic scholar and historian)
The Battle of Badr is a tiny event by any stretch of the imagination, yet it has significantly influenced
the course of human history. A deeper study of the March 624 event reveals that it served as the first
successful exhibition of the Islamic doctrine known as Jihad. Emboldened by this small success, Jihad
gained permanent foothold as a pillar of Islam, inspiring perpetual war against infidels ever since. Jihad
served as the practical foundation of the Muhammad’s Arabic Empire, and as a fundamental pillar of his
Spiritual Empire, which sprang from the ashes of the Jihadic combat which first established his political
Empire. Muhammad succeeded in transforming the concept of Allah into a new principal of Holy War,
but this author claims that Jihad was ordained primarily for the purpose of establishing his vision of
Islamic-Arab Cultural Imperialism. To establish if this is true, we must first look into the geographical
and political background of Arabia, because the physical conditions of a land play a major role in
determining its habits and culture.
At the time of Muhammad, the economic plight of Arabia created a pastoral society which had
developed into two groups: firstly, the majority, known as the Bedouins, who had not only to keep
wandering in search of pastures but also supplement their meager livelihood by resorting to brigandage,
which meant raiding other tribes and commercial caravans. Though it was sheer looting, it assured them
solace, security and survival, and so was not looked down upon as sinful but a source of power, pleasure
and prestige. This institution of brigandage known as ghazwa (razzia) had existed long before the advent
of Muhammad. The Umayyad poet al-Qutami has alluded to this custom in his two verses: "Our business
is to make raids on the enemy, on our neighbor and on our own brother, in case we find none to raid but a
brother."
It appears that even before Muhammad’s time, robbing others was a compulsive trait of the Arab
national character, considered more an act of honor and manliness than immorality. Realizing its
significance, the Prophet converted this institution into a religious doctrine called 'Jihad', renaming it the
Holy War against infidels, but in fact was just one mans effort to build an Empire. The Arab Empire built
thereby was in essence exactly like any other empire, except in appearance it was designed to look godly.
The doctrine of Jihad, then, is a derivative concept incorporating the Arab custom of 'razzia' (raiding for
booty), and seeks ascendancy of Arabia and annihilation of non-Arabs in the name of Allah, the Most
Merciful. What is really stunning is not the application of the doctrine to dominate and subjugate others,
but that those so engaged believe in a man who told them God sanctifies murder, slavery, lying, rape,
arson, and thievery against other human beings (non-Muslims) as acts of great piety to be rewarded.
Though we have already studied the nature of Jihad, in view of its complexity and emotional appeal,
it is necessary to be repetitive for elucidating this bloodthirsty war mechanism. The first principle of Jihad
is that a person loses his free will and becomes a slave of Allah "Verily Allah has purchased the believers
their lives and their properties; For theirs (in return) is paradise. They fight in His (Allah's) cause, so
they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him." (9:3). Now we know
that Paradise is a place of luxury abounding in beautiful virgins and boys, where everything is available
free and where toil, sickness, ageing and death are unknown. Moreover, we have learned that Allah's
‘cause’ is simply killing infidels. We read in The Disputer 58:20 ; "Those (unbelievers) are Satan's party;
why Satan's party, surely, they are the losers! Surely, those who oppose God and His Messenger, those
are among the most abject. God has written 'I shall assuredly be the Victor, I and My Messenger...." We
have also already quoted Repentance 9:25 where Muslims get the specific command to wage a war
against Christians and Jews "until they pay the tribute out of hand and have been humbled".
And what is Allah's cause? With regard to infidels, the cause of Allah is to convert or simply to kill
them. And what is an infidel? He or she is someone who denies Muhammad; it does not matter a jot if
he/she is a lover of God! So fond is Allah of murdering the unbelievers to glorify Himself and
Muhammad that He has permanently divided humanity into two perpetually hostile groups. In a nutshell,
it means that Muslims are God's party because they do not love their closest relations if they happen to be