abdulhakeem
11-08-03, 11:17 PM
Q.1. I have heard that a verse in the Qur’an gives an order to “kill unbelievers wherever we find them.” On the other hand, I know that Islam forbids the killing of innocent people regardless of their faith. Please explain.
A.1. The Qur’anic verse you refer to is quoted wrongly and out of context. It is Verse 191 of Surah 2, but if we read it in context, we realize that it is totally different from what you have quoted. Here is the translation of Verses 190-193: “Fight for the cause of God those who fight against you, but do not commit aggression. God does not love aggressors. Kill them wherever you may find them, and drive them away from wherever they drove you away; for oppression is even worse than killing. However, do not fight them near the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you first there. Should they fight you, then kill them. Thus shall the unbelievers be rewarded. But, if they desist, know that God is Much-Forgiving, Merciful. Fight them until there is no more oppression and submission is made to God. If they desist, let there be no hostility except against the wrongdoers.”
As you see, the verse is concerned only with those who are aggressors, fighting Muslims because they believe in Islam, and driving them away from their homes, or fighting us near the Sacred Mosque in Makkah. It is such people that we may kill wherever we find them. The verse is not concerned with all unbelievers, and certainly not with those who are willing to live with us in peace. It is as God says: “No hostility except against the wrongdoers.”
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=30125&d=11&m=8&y=2003
A.1. The Qur’anic verse you refer to is quoted wrongly and out of context. It is Verse 191 of Surah 2, but if we read it in context, we realize that it is totally different from what you have quoted. Here is the translation of Verses 190-193: “Fight for the cause of God those who fight against you, but do not commit aggression. God does not love aggressors. Kill them wherever you may find them, and drive them away from wherever they drove you away; for oppression is even worse than killing. However, do not fight them near the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you first there. Should they fight you, then kill them. Thus shall the unbelievers be rewarded. But, if they desist, know that God is Much-Forgiving, Merciful. Fight them until there is no more oppression and submission is made to God. If they desist, let there be no hostility except against the wrongdoers.”
As you see, the verse is concerned only with those who are aggressors, fighting Muslims because they believe in Islam, and driving them away from their homes, or fighting us near the Sacred Mosque in Makkah. It is such people that we may kill wherever we find them. The verse is not concerned with all unbelievers, and certainly not with those who are willing to live with us in peace. It is as God says: “No hostility except against the wrongdoers.”
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=30125&d=11&m=8&y=2003