ISLAM FOR BEGINNERS BRS 107.pdf - CUEA

LESSONS 2 and 3MAJOR ATTITUDES OF NON-MUSLIMSTOWARDS ISLAM1. Some people manifest a narrow view in their declarationsThrough some inquiries, we have observed that there are many people who simply regardIslam as violence and war, particularly when they refer not only to history of Islam but alsoto what is said in the media every day. Although, a good number of violent acts andattitudes are mentioned and even glorified in the Qur’an (2:190; 4:74-77,84-89; 5: 35; 8:38;9:13,29; 47:4; 61:10), it would be so narrow to assert that Islam is violence. Sura 4: 74says:” Let those who fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other.Whoso fights in the way of Allah be he slain or be he victorious, on him we shall bestow avast reward”. War in Islam could be considered as God’s command but we still need toask a good number of questions: (1) which type of war the Qur’an is talking about? (2)What are the modalities of such war? (3) How should it be waged?Historically, we know that wars and raids were Arab customs that Muhammad and hiscompanions used for two major reasons: the feeding of the emigrants and the unity of theMadinans with the emigrants. Most of the first converts to Islam were slaves and poorpeople and those who migrated to Madina with Muhammad in order to escape persecutionfrom the Makkan polytheists and worshipers of idols had neither land for farming nor workto support them as Muhammad did encourage them. Having abilities in trading as goodMakkans (Trading was the major activity of Makkans), they went into what could havebeen the source of their daily bread but it briefly became insufficient for their needs. “Aready-made alternative was the Arabian custom of raiding unprotected caravans. Due tothese circumstances, trading changed into raiding, that is war and violence.” Muhammadinitiated great battles, which gave to the new community of the believers power, land andproperties. Raiding in its manifold forms continued during the time of conquests andexpansion of Islam, even after the death of the founder.In the beginning, only emigrants went to war but later on the movement of raiding becamean occasion of having booty; so Emigrants and Madinans went into it without caring againabout their differences. The movement became not only an opportunity of getting foodFrederic N. Mvumbi,OP Page 5 of 85