The Holy War — Page 259
Proceedings—Debate 3 June 1893 259 because the order was to kill everyone. And this usually happens in every epidemic that some people indeed survive by the will of God. But how can you hide the women of plunder and purchased women that the Quran deems lawful, who in fact had guardians and carers present? Look at S u rah al-A h z a b in which this is written: 1 اَهُّيَاٰۤي ُّيِبَّنلا ۤاَّنِا اَنْلَلْحَا َكَل َكَجاَوْزَا ْۤيِتّٰلا َتْيَتٰا َّنُهَرْوُجُا َو اَم ْتَكَلَم َكُنْيِمَي In this verse ownership is by buying, and فيء [ fai’ ] refers to plunder. And that which Sir Syed Ahmad Khan has said in explanation of this verse it is not the occasion to comment on, but later I shall show the error he makes. We have shown the difference in the battles of Moses, that they were by the command of God and with His signs, whilst the battles of the Quran were clearly a matter of policy, in support of which never was any miracle shown and the reverence accorded to them goes against the attributes of God, so we cannot consider them to be Divinely ordained. 2) It is true that the Children of Israel borrowed the gold and silver of the Egyptians, but that gold and silver belonged to the true Master who is God, and that same God permitted them to keep it with themselves, so where is the excess in this? The Quran has decreed the Jizyah [tax] and a life of humiliation for the People of the Book. Although they were exempt from open massacre, you cannot say that paying the Jizyah and being disgraced is nothing small and completely harmless. There is necessarily some harm in this. I will not give you any additional historical references as to 1. O Prophet, We have made lawful to thee thy wives whom thou hast paid their dowries, and those whom thy right hand possesses ( S u rah al-A h z a b, 33:51). [Publisher]