Quran Facts | 9: 111 – Allah Promises Fighters Will Be Rewarded With Paradise
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9: 111 – Allah Promises Fighters Will Be Rewarded With Paradise

Introduction

It is alleged that several verses of the Holy Quran incite believers to commit violence against non-Muslims by way of aggression. Such verses are misused by extremists to commit acts of violence against non-Muslims. However, a holistic and consolidated study of the verses, the teachings of the Holy Quran and the historical narratives of the aggression of the opponents of Islam, as well as the broader context of the Roman-Persian wars clearly demonstrates that these wartime injunctions were defensive in nature. The conflicts occurred due to oppression of fundamental freedoms including the freedom of conscience and practicing one’s religion of choice. Islamic teachings permits military engagement as a defense and protection of fundamental human freedoms.

Surely, Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their property in return for the Garden they shall have; they fight in the cause of Allah, and they slay and are slain-- a promise that He has made incumbent on Himself in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Quran. And who is more faithful to His promise than Allah. Rejoice, then, in your bargain which you have made with Him; and that is which is the supreme triumph. (9:111)

 

Allegation

The allegation against verse 9:111 is that it encourages extremist acts such as suicide attacks by stating that ‘Allah has purchased the persons and property of the believers’.

 

Context

The defensive war Muslims had fought with their opponents has a historical context which needs to be explained here. When the Holy Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) began proselytizing Islam and the concept of the One Unified God in Mecca, he faced bitter persecution and opposition for thirteen years. The Islamic doctrine challenged idolatry of a multitude of Gods which was the prevalent culture in Mecca. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) and the Muslims eventually sought migration and gained an invitation to Medina where the Holy Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) served as arbitrator to their feuding tribes. There was an open declaration of war by way of a letter that demanded the release of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) to the Meccans. This  led to the seizing of Muslim assets in Mecca and trading them for other goods which would have been used to fund the war against Islam. Muslims won the first battle but the idolaters kept up their efforts with subsequent battles raising a confederate army of an alliance against Muslims in order to destroy the movement.

 

Verse 9:111 is referring to this context of a defensive military engagement that took place with those who unjustly attempted to destroy the Islamic movement on the basis of its religious beliefs. The Muslims who fought against such enemies had fought for the fundamental freedoms of conscience and human rights. This verse is encouraging the Muslims to give up their worldly desires and careers and fight for this great cause knowing that they may lose the enjoyment of their properties and even their life. The verse says that this has been the law of God in previous scriptures where believers have been martyred in the cause of establishing religion that preaches justice with fundamental freedom of conscience in the face of oppressive authority. The verse is stating that just as Judaism and Christianity prevailed over their enemies, so is God’s promise binding that the Muslims will also prevail over their enemies.

 

Further, there is no explicit or implicit interpretation of ‘purchasing of the believers persons’ as suicide attacks. The verse explicitly mentions ‘slain or be slain’ which clearly means fighting on the battlefield.


Fundamental Teachings of Islam

The following verses of the Holy Quran clearly state that fighting is only permitted as a defensive recourse against oppression and that fundamental freedom of religion and conscience must be maintained at all times.

 

1) Conditions on permission to fight– must be defensive and to protect universal freedom of conscience

Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged — and Allah indeed has power to help them. Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’. And if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah will surely help one who helps Him. Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty. (22:40-41)

 

The fundamental verses of the Quran (22:40-41) that permit Muslims to undertake military engagement clearly outline conditions which are defensive and where Muslims were being attacked and persecuted on the basis of their beliefs. Further, the verses clearly state that such undertaking must extend to a universal freedom of conscience where churches, cloisters and synagogues must be protected. This is also further validated by Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (on whom be peace) covenants with the Christians instructing Muslims to never attack Christians on the basis of religion and beliefs.

 

And fight them until there is no persecution and religion is wholly for Allah. But if they desist, then surely Allah is Watchful of what they do. (8:40)

 

Verse 8:40 above further endorses the principle that taking up an armed conflict must only be in context of protecting freedom of religion, and if the enemy desists then one should cease hostilities.

 

Some allegation narratives consider that ‘religion being wholly for Allah’ in this verse means that only Islam is to be enforced as a religion. However this allegation is negated by 22:40-41 above which clarifies that the principle of the Quran is freedom of religion and fighting is not permitted to enforce any one religion.

 

2) Peace and reconciliation with the enemy must be sought at all times

The Quran states that during wartime, seeking peace and reconciliation is a duty. This is emphasized to such a great degree that even if one fears that the enemy is seeking peace out of deception (as a strategy of war) one should still incline to it and put their trust in Allah (see 8:62-63 below).

 

And if they incline towards peace, incline thou also towards it, and put thy trust in Allah. Surely, it is He Who is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. And if they intend to deceive thee, then surely Allah is sufficient for thee. He it is Who has strengthened thee with His help and with the believers. (8:62-63)

 

And if two parties of believers fight against each other, make peace between them; then if after that one of them transgresses against the other, fight the party that transgresses until it returns to the command of Allah. Then if it returns, make peace between them with equity, and act justly. Verily, Allah loves the just. (49:10)

 

And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is freely professed for Allah. But if they desist, then remember that no hostility is allowed except against the aggressors. (2:194)

 

3) Peace as a fundamental desired state of affairs in Quran

The term ‘Islam’ itself is derived from the root ‘Salema’ which means peace. The traditional greeting used by Muslims translated to ‘peace be with you’. Peace is a prominent theme in the Holy Quran and a fundamental desired state of affairs. Following are a few verses from the Holy Quran that illustrate the fundamental value of peace.

Peace on you-- a word of greeting from the Merciful Lord. (36:59)

And make not Allah a target for your oaths that you may thereby abstain from doing good and acting righteously and making peace between men. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (2:225)

Thereby does Allah guide those who seek His pleasure on the paths of peace, and leads them out of every kind of darkness into light by His will, and guides them to the right path. (5:17)

And Allah calls to the abode of peace, and guides whom He pleases to the straight path. (10:26)

And the servants of the Gracious God are those who walk on the earth in a dignified manner, and when the ignorant address them, they say, ‘Peace!’ (25:64)

He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace, the Bestower of Security, the Protector, the Mighty, the Subduer, the Exalted. Holy is Allah far above that which they associate with Him. (59:24)

 

4) There can be no compulsion in religion

The Holy Quran declares in 2:257 that there can be no compulsion in religion. The meaning of any given verse of the Holy Quran must comply with this rule. Therefore, any given verse of The Holy Quran addressing armed engagement cannot be taken to mean waging war on disbelievers or infidels on account of their beliefs. This negates the assertion that Quran sanctions violence against disbelievers.