ism

1490
2:150 - So from whencesoever thou startest forth turn thy face in the direction of the Sacred
Mosque; among wheresoever ye are turn your face thither that there be no ground of dispute
against you among the people except those of them that are bent on wickedness; so fear them
not but fear Me; and that I may complete My favors on you and ye may (consent to) be guided.
2:191 - And slay them wherever ye catch them and turn them out from where they have turned you
out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred
Mosque unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you slay them. Such is the reward of
those who suppress faith. 205206
205 This passage is illustrated by the events that happened at Hudaibiya in the sixth year of the Hijra, though it is not clear
that it was revealed on that occasion. The Muslims were by this time a strong and influential community. Many of
them were exiles from Mecca, where the Pagans had established an intolerant autocracy, persecuting Muslims,
preventing them from visiting their homes, and even keeping them out by force from performing the Pilgrimage during
the universally recognised period of truce. This was intolerance, oppression, and autocracy to the last degree, and
the mere readiness of the Muslims to enforce their rights as Arab citizens resulted without bloodshed in an agreement
which the Muslims faithfully observed. The Pagans, however, had no scruples in breaking faith, and it is unnecessary
here to go into subsequent events. (2.191)
206 Suppress faith: in the narrower as well as the larger sense. If they want forcibly to prevent you from exercising your
sacred rites, they have declared war on your religion, and it would be cowardice to ignore the challenge or to fail in
rooting out the tyranny. (2.191)
2:217 - They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: "Fighting therein is a grave
(offence); but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah to deny
Him to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque and drive out its members. Tumult and
oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back
from your faith if they can. And if any of you turn back from their faith and die in unbelief their
works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be Companions of the Fire and
will abide therein. 237238239
238 The intolerance and persecution of the Pagan clique at Mecca caused untold hardships to the holy Messenger of
Islam and his early disciples. They bore all with meekness and long-suffering patience until the holy one permitted
them to take up arms in self-defence. Then they were twitted with breach of the custom about Prohibited Months,
though they were driven to fight during that period against their own feeling in self defence. But their enemies not only
forced them to engage in actual warfare, but interfered with their conscience, persecuted them and their families,
openly insulted and denied God, kept out the Muslim Arabs from the Sacred Mosque, and exiled them. Such violence
and intolerance are deservedly called worse than slaughter. (2.217)
5:2 - O ye who believe! violate not the sanctity of the Symbols of Allah nor of the Sacred Month nor
of the animals brought for sacrifice nor the garlands that mark out such animals nor the people
resorting to the Sacred House seeking of the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But
when ye are clear of the Sacred Precincts and of pilgrim garb ye may hunt and let not the
hatred of some people in (once) shutting you out of the Sacred Mosque lead you to
transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another in righteousness and piety but
help ye not one another in sin and rancor: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment.
686687688689690
690 See n. 205 to ii. 191. In the sixth year of the Hijra the Pagans, by way of hatred and persecution of the Muslims, had
prevented them from access to the Sacred Mosque. When the Muslims were re-established in Makkah, some of them
wanted to retaliate. Passing from the immediate event to the general principle, we must not retaliate or return evil for
evil. The hatred of the wicked does not justify hostility on our part. We have to help each other in righteousness and
piety, not in perpetuating feuds of hatred and enmity. We may have to fight and put down evil, but never in a spirit of
malice or hatred, but always in a spirit of justice and righteousness. (5.2)
5:97 -Allah made the Ka'ba the Sacred House an asylum of security for men as also the Sacred
Months the animals for offerings and the garlands that mark them: that ye may know that Allah
hath knowledge of what is in the heavens and on earth and that Allah is well acquainted with
all things. 803804805
803 The Sacred or Prohibited Months are explained in n. 209. ii. 194, and n. 687, v. 2. (5.97)
804 See v. 2 and n. 688. (5.97)
805 All sorts of people from all parts of the earth gather during the Pilgrimage. They must not think that they are strangers,
that nobody knows them, and that they may behave as they like. It is the House of Allah, and He has supreme
knowledge of all things, of all thoughts, and all motives. As the next verse says, while He is Oft-forgiving, Most
Merciful. He is also strict in enforcing respect for His ordinances. (5.97)
Go to UP
1490