Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | THE BASIS OF INTER-COMMUNAL RELATIONSGod’s word and become aware of the nature of the Islamic message before they aregiven safe conduct to their own domiciles. All this, even though they are stillidolaters: “If any of the idolaters seeks asylum with you, grant him protection, so that he mayhear the word of God, and then convey him to his place of safety. That is because the idolatersare people who lack knowledge.” (Verse 6)This shows how Islam was keen to reach out to every heart with its guidance. Nosingle case was to be taken lightly. Whoever appeals for protection shall be grantedit. Anyone who seeks such asylum cannot at the same time try to join a hostile forceseeking to undermine the Muslim community. Hence granting protection to such aperson provides him with the opportunity to listen to the Qur’ān and to get to knowthe true nature of the Islamic faith. When God’s word is heard in such anatmosphere, hearts may well respond positively. Even if they do not, the Muslimsare still required to ensure the safety of anyone who appeals for their help until he isreturned to a place where he feels secure.This is one of the sublime heights to which Islam raises its community. Protectionis provided for an idolater, an enemy who might have participated in persecution ofthe Muslims themselves. Now they are required to give him safe conduct until he hasreached a place where he feels secure outside the Muslim state. This is a mark of theIslamic method of action. It is a method of guidance, and guidance remains itsultimate goal even when its efforts are concentrated on the protection of the land ofIslam.Yet some people claim that the purpose of Islamic jihād was to compel people toaccept Islam. There are others who try to defend Islam against such a charge byclaiming that jihād was merely a war of self defence within national borders. Bothneed to look at this great instruction given to the Prophet and the Muslimcommunity: “If any of the idolaters seeks asylum with you, grant him protection, so that hemay hear the word of God, and then convey him to his place of safety. That is because theidolaters are people who lack knowledge.” (Verse 6)This religion seeks to provide knowledge to those who lack such knowledge, andto give protection to whoever appeals for protection, even though they may belongto the enemy camp and who might have fought to suppress the Islamic message. Itresorts to the use of force only to destroy physical forces that prevent people fromlistening to God’s word and stop them from knowing what He has revealed. Suchforces deprive them of the chance to follow God’s guidance and force them intosubmission to beings other than God. When such physical forces have beendestroyed and impediments have been removed, individuals are given protection,despite choosing to remain unbelievers. Islam only informs them of God’s wordwithout subjecting them to fear or pressure, and grants them protection and security,the fact that they continue to reject God’s message notwithstanding.56