Through Force or Faith? — Page 153
Chapter 2 — Islamic Teachings about Jihad 153 them, and relieve the minds of a people who believe… ( S u rah at-Taubah, 9:12–14) Explanation: In these verses permission is granted to confront those people who blatantly violate the peace treaties and state laws. It should be borne in mind that one connotation of دين (Faith) is governance and law and طعن means inflict a wound with a spear. (Lis ā n al-‘Arab) Thus, ْ وَطَعَنُوا فِي دِينِكُم would mean breaking the law. Besides, with regard to non-Muslims, it could very well mean state law because they are not liable under the ‘Shariah’ (Divine Law). At the end of the verse it is said, َ لَعَلَّهُم ْ يَنتَهُون , that they may desist, is to express the hope that, as a consequence of it, they may withdraw from their attitude and, by renouncing war, may start a peaceful and reconciled coexistence. In the succeeding two verses, while enumerating further rea- sons to fight against such infidels, it is clearly stated that ْ ٍ وَهُم بَدَؤُوكُم أَوَّل َ مَرَّة that is, every mischief and trouble has had its origin in the infidels. This is confirmed by the tense used in the very verse. The tense َ َ تُقَاتِلُون ل َ أ tells that the ordinance is to fight someone who is at war because َ تُقَاتِلُون is tense of ‘Muf ā ‘ilah’ then وَهُم بَدَؤُوكُم ْ أَوَّل َ مَرَّة explicates itself that they have already raised sword against you and are belligerent, untrustworthy, and seditious. They are plot- ting to expel the Prophet from Madinah. Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah as says, With a thoughtful look at all these verses, a sensible person can understand that coercion has nothing to do with this site. In fact the idolaters of Arabia had carried