Murder in the Name of Allah — Page 62
Murder in the Name of Allah suicide. One can execute or murder, but no one can 'suicide' someone. . Surah Al-Kafirun, revealed in the early period of the Prophet'ssa ministry, is a direct statement of policy on the subject of freedom of conscience. The Prophetsa was asked to tell unbelievers there was absolutely no meeting-point between their way of life and his. As they were in complete disagreement, not only with regard to the basic concepts of religion, but also with regard to its details and other aspects, there could not possibly be any compromise between them. Hence, ‘For you, your religion, for me, my religion'. (109. 7). The Prophetsa was also repeatedly told not to worry if unbelievers were not ready to accept his message. He was not their wakil (guardian). . God says: 'Thy people have rejected the message that We have sent through thee, though it is the truth. Say: “I am not appointed a wakil over you. . ” This statement was made in the Meccan period, when the. Prophets and his followers were persecuted. Yet on his arrival in Medina, the statement was exactly the same, even though he now had power. It was, in fact, made even more explicit. . The first Medinite surah in which the subject of freedom of conscience was discussed was Al-Baqarah. The 257th verse of the surah contains the clearest pronouncement on the subject:. There shall be no compulsion in religion. Surely guidance has become distinct from error, whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress and believes in Allah has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. . This is the confident declaration of a prophet who has organised an umma in a town where his power is supreme. Lest the subject of jihad be misunderstood, Muslims are told that true virtue lies in good works and good faith (255-258) and the Majesty of God is called to mind in the. Throne verse (256). The commandment of 'no compulsion in religion' comes immediately after the Throne verse. Readers of the. Quran might have thought God wanted Muslims to spread Islam by force, because of its call to fight the umma's enemies and to offer special sacrifices to Allah. So the verse tells Muslims in no uncertain terms not to resort to violence in the name of conversion. The importance of this verse can be gauged from a hadith quoted in Jami of Tirmidhi. He said that the peak of the Quran is Al-Baqarah and that. Satan shall not enter the house of anyone who recites ten verses of this chapter (i. e. the first four verses, the Throne verse, the two verses which follow it -257-258- and the last three verses). 62