Part one: Roots of war of ideas In Muslim World

Preface

Understanding roots of war of ideas is essential to understand rules of ideas. Two terms here are the key words: Quraysh and the Saudis and their Wahabi faith. Quraysh had violated the religion of Abraham for its international trade between India and Europe, and for this reason waged war of ideas against the Prophet Mohamed who was sent as the final Messenger of Allah to restore the pure religion of Abraham. As a reaction of persecution Mohamed and his early Muslims immigrated to Al Madina and established the first and the ideal Islamic State in the time of the Prophet Mohamed. The Holy Quran has documented the pillars of this Islamic State and its high values and its direct democracy. It also has documented the debate of war of ideas in the time of the Prophet Mohamed when the Quran responded to Quraysh refuting their argument and their faith of idolizing saints and sacred tombs, and also in reforming the early Muslims.

The Quranic war of ideas defeated Quraysh, and made them accepting Islam to keep their interest and homogony. After the death of Mohamed, Quraysh restored its control , and step by step it restored its human made religion under many titles, the most famous one of them is Sunna. After the death of Prophet Mohammed Quraysh used the name of Islam and the name of Jihad in establishing the mighty Arab Muslim Empire that lasted about six centuries, where different dynasties from Quraysh ruled most of the known World, from the border of India and China to the border of France, controlling the Eastern trade that Europe needed badly .Christian Europe in that time was the ardent enemy to Muslim World, where the world was divided into two camps according to the Qurayshi human made Sunni religion: The camp of peace and believers and the European enemy camp of war and infidels. European leaders in church and states had the same attitude towards Muslim World according to the religious culture of Middle age where there were religious wars and religious persecution.

To reach India and to control the Eastern trade – as an aspect of war between Muslims and European Christian, Europe has discovered the new world and colonized Muslim and Arab World. As a reaction of this great transmission, the West in new world and Europe has entered the age of science and democracy and modern state controlling most of the world including Arab Muslim World.

 To restore their old glory and to rebuild a new one Muslim Empire that can face the Western side, Muslims in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries had two solutions: To follow the modern way of the West. This was the choice of Egypt under the rule of its ruler Mohamed Ali Pasha.  The different way is to restore the very fanatic school of the Sunni sect under the name of Wahhabism. This is the choice of the Saudi Family.

Wahhabism contradicts the religion of Islam in its faith, its values and its Jurisprudence. The Wahhabis are a very minute sect within the Muslim population; they are less than 1% of one billion and half. Through the Saudi oil and influence, and with US support, the Saudi were able to portray Wahhabism as the religion of Islam. Wahhabism is the religion of the Saudis and Al-Qaeda as well. Wahhabism has revived and restored the most fanatic Sunni sect in Muslim Medieval Age history and brought it to our modern times in the name of Islam. Accordingly, the Saudis and Al-Qaeda uphold together the same Sunni doctrine of Jihad that divides the world into two camps, (Muslim camp: Camp of belief and peace) (Enemy camp: camp of war and disbelief). They believe in the final holy war between the two camps at the end of this world. This is their Jihad against the West and the US. To make this Jihad they have to preside over and control all Muslims by imposing their fanatic Sharee’a on them. The fanatic terrorist Shiites in Iran and Iraq are just reaction to the Saudis and their Wahhabism.

Like Quraysh, the Saudis control the Holy Mosque in Mecca and use it to support their homogony and prestige. Like Quraysh, the Saudis use the name of Islam and Jihad in their war of Ideas against the West and against other Muslim sects and cults. So, as the Holy Quran hasd defeated Quraysh in war of ideas in the time of the Prophet Mohammed, it still the perfect way in is dismantling the Wahhabism and other fanatic terrorist groups in Muslim World.

This first section gives more details in its three chapters.

Chapter one: Historical roots of war of ideas in Islam and Muslims

 War of ideas in ancient Arabs and religion of Abraham

Ancient Arabs and Abrahamic religion ( Mellat Ibraheem or Islam) 

Two Lines of the Arab Tribes 

In the time of the Prophet Mohamed, the Arab tribes were two kinds. The northern Arabs belong to the prophet Abraham, through his son the prophet Ishmael, and the southern Arabs, or the tribes of Yemen. 

1. Yamani South Arabs of Kahtan 

The Southern Arab tribes established a civilized kingdom in Yemen, among them were the kingdom of “Maeen” “Hemyar” and “Sheba” which was mentioned in the Quran (27:23 to 44) (34:15 to 21) They were famous for their water dam of “Maareb.” After the collapse of that dam, many of their tribes immigrated to another places. For example: To Yathrib [tribes of “Aws” and “Khazraj”] who became the partisans of the prophet Mohammed, after his immigration to “Yathrib,” which has become “Al Madina,”, another tribe immigrated to Mecca around the sacred Mosque; it was the tribe “Jorhom.”   To the south of Iraq, the tribe of “Al Manazerah” established the kingdom of “Al Hayrah” under the influence of the Persian Empire. South of Syria, there were tribes of “Ghassanids” established another kingdom under the influence of the Roman Empire. “Kalb” was the biggest southern tribe in southern Syria in the seventh century. They were allies of Quraysh, helped Quraysh in its northern trade to Syria before Islam, and helped the Omawy family in establishing their kingdom under the name of Islam.

2. The Northern Tribes children of Abraham

According to Islamic tradition, the history of Mecca goes back to Abraham(Ibrahim) who built the Kaaba ( The Holy sacred mosque ) with the help of his elder son Ishmael in around 2000 BCE .

All the northern tribes belong to the prophet Ishmael, son of the prophet Abraham. The Quran mentions how those two prophets rebuilt the sacred mosque in Mecca, prayed to God to create a nation from the children of Ishmael, and to send a messenger of God from among them (2:125 to 129) (22:26 to 27). This messenger was Mohammed, who belonged to Quraysh, the most famous and powerful Arabic tribe.

Before and during the time of Abraham there were only the tribes of Kahtan in Yemen and in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula. So, Ishmael – after his father had left him with his mother ( Hajar ) in Mecca, was raised among the Yamani Kahtani tribe named Jorhom. He married wife from them.  

The two prophets, Abraham and Ishmael preached the pure monotheism, known in the Quran as (Mellat Ebraheem) or Islam, the true religion of Abraham.

War of ideas in religious fields in the time of Abraham in old Arabian Peninsula

1- The two kinds of war of ideas

Preaching Islam in that early time of Abraham was the oldest successful way of war of ideas. We have no evidences to show how they did it, but according to the Quan, many aspects of Mellat Ebraheem were still kept and upheld many centuries after Abraham , in spite of big violations committed by the mighty tribe of Quraysh in its opposite war of ideas against Mellat Ebraheem. This means we have here the two kinds of war ideas in the religious fields, one that aims to deceive people and the other to undeceive them.

The final prophet Mohamed was revealed the Quran to restore the pure religion of Abraham, Islam or Mellat Ebraheem.

The Quran confirmed the pure revelation of the prophets, before and after Abraham, ( 2/ 41 & 89 & 97 & 101)( 3 / 3 & 50 )( 4 / 47 & 163 )( 5 / 48 ) (14/ 31 ) ( 46/12) (39/ 65) ( 41/ 43)( 42 / 13 ), cited many verses from the Holy messages of Abraham and Moses to preach people in that time : (  53 / 36 : 62  )  ( 87 / 1 : 19 ). Quran also ordered Mohamed and Muslims and children of Israel and all people of Scripture to follow the pure religion of Abraham or Mellat Ebraheem. ( 2/ 130 & 135 )( 3/ 95 ) ( 6 / 161)(16/ 123) (22/ 78). According to the Quran, the two lineages of Abraham, Arabs and Children of Israel violated the pure religion of their old father Abraham. This gives us a brief account of the war of ideas in its positive and negative kinds.

2-Peace, justice and religious freedom as aspects of the positive war of ideas in religion of Abraham

Allah says in the Quran : ( We verily sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance, that mankind may establish justice ) (57 : 25 ). Justice is main aim for all the prophets and the Holy Scriptures. This is explained in pure Islam, or Mellat Ebraheem , as the best preach of reform. This reform is the core of a peaceful intellectual war of ideas that addresses the human conscience.

Islam in Religion of Abraham and even in original Arabic Language has two meanings, Islam  from ( Tasleem ) or( Submission) in faith in dealing with God, and  Islam from ( Salam) or (peace) in dealing with people.

Islam in dealing with Allah, the Creator is the pure monotheism. Mohamed was ordered to say : (Say: Surely, (as for) me, my Lord has guided me to the right path; (to) a most right religion, the faith of Ibrahim the upright one, and he was not of the polytheists. Say. Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are (all) for Allah, the Lord of the worlds; No associate has He; and this am I commanded, and I am the first of those who submit) (6 / 161: 163). This is Islam as submission to God alone. This confirms the freedom of humans and justice and equality among them, as they have only one master, and one Lord, who is the Creator of the universe. The next verse says: (Say: What! shall I seek a Lord other than Allah? And He is the Lord of all things; and no soul earns (evil) but against itself, and no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another; then to your Lord is your return, so He will inform you of that in which you differed. ) (6/  164).

In real life, People have had diversified faiths, even within the same religion or even within the same cult or school of thinking. Quran confirms that all people will be judged for the diversity of their faiths by God alone and only on judgment day: ( 2: 113 , 3: 55 , 10 : 93 , 16 : 124 , 5 : 48 , 39 : 3 , 7: 46 ). God alone is the One who can monitor the real feelings of the human heart in this life and the only one who- on the Judgment Day will tell us of our religious disputes. It’s up to every human to choose monotheism, paganism or atheism; it’s his freedom of belief and he will be responsible before God alone on the last Day. Any one claims this right to himself is claiming divinity upon himself. This is against the religion of Islam and its faith in dealing with God.

In dealing with people, Islam means (Salam) or peace. Any peaceful one is Muslim regardless of his or her belief. In field of peace, all peaceful people are Muslims, no matter how deferent their inner believes are. God says: “O you who believe inter peace wholeheartedly” (2:208). Thus God ordered the believers to inter peace reign. We remember here that the salutation of Islam is peace “ Alsalamu alikum”or” Peace be upon you” and that “peace” is one of God’s wholly names [Al salam]. All of this expresses the confirmation of peace in Islam in dealing with people.

In the same time, the terms of (Shirk) and ( Kufr) have together the same meaning in the Quran: ( 9 / 1: 12 & 17 ). In English (Shirk) and (Kufr) mean: disbelief, unbelief, blasphemy, atheism, infidelity, polytheism and idolatry. In Quran, (Shirk) and (Kufr) have two meanings: In dealing with God, they mean disbelief in God, unbelief, blasphemy, atheism, infidelity, polytheism and idolatry.  This is the field of faith. No one has any authority to interfere in the field of religion. It is up to Allah alone to judge all people in the Day of Judgment. Accordingly, it is unlimited freedom of religion in belief and in speech and in practicing any kind of worshipping. The one who violates this religious freedom is ( Kafir and/ or Mushrik). So, in dealing with people, (Shirk) and ( Kufr) mean killing people in the name of God, persecuting them and all kinds of religious war and religious persecution that violate the religious freedom which is the core of Islam.

3- Abraham established peace in Arabian Peninsula

According to the Quran, the sacred holy Mosque in Mecca is the first and the oldest House of Allah in this earth.( Most surely the first house appointed for men is the one at Bekka, blessed and a guidance for the nations. In it is clear signs, the standing place of Ibrahim, and whoever enters it shall be secure, and pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah, (upon) everyone who is able to undertake the journey to it.)(3/ 96 : 97 ).

Before and in the time of Abraham, there was a continuous bloodshed in the ancient Arabian Peninsula. It is the nature of the Arab tribes. Because of this chaos, the old sacred mosque of Allah in Mecca, or Bakka, in that time was abandoned.

God sent Abraham to preach Islam to reform Arabs and to rebuild the Sacred Mosque in Mecca and to call all people to do pilgrimage.: (And when We assigned to Ibrahim the place of the House, saying: Do not associate with Me aught, and purify My House for those who make the circuit and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves. And proclaim among men the Pilgrimage: they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path. )( 22/ 26 : 27).

Ishmael helped his father in rebuilding the House of Allah in Mecca to be a place for worshipping Allah alone and to be a resort for people to enjoy peace, security. (Remember We made the House a resort for men and a place of safety; and: Appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing-place of Ibrahim. And We enjoined Ibrahim and Ismail saying: Purify My House for those who visit (it) and those who abide (in it) for devotion and those who bow down (and) those who prostrate themselves) (2 / 125).

Not only (whoever enters it shall be secure) ( 3/ 97 )but also those who are in journey of pilgrimage along with their animals brought with them for sacrifice: (5/ 2  ). Moreover, there were four  sacred months every year for peace : (Surely the number of months with Allah is twelve months in Allah's ordinance since the day when He created the heavens and the earth, of these four being sacred; that is the right reckoning; therefore be not unjust to yourselves regarding them,  ) ( 9 / 36 ).

So, in pure Islam, the religion of Abraham, there a place for peace all the time: ( The Sacred  Mosque in Mecca ) and the four sacred months every year. Beside the pilgrimage and the sacred mosque and the sacred four months, the other rituals in religion of Abraham like the five daily prayers and fasting month of Ramadan are means to purify human soul and to be more pious in dealing peacefully with people and in worshipping Allah alone. (2/ 21 )

Ishmael fulfilled his promise after his great father and maintained the same way: ( And mention Ismail in the Book; surely he was truthful in (his) promise, and he was a messenger, a prophet. And he enjoined on his family prayer and almsgiving, and was one in whom his Lord was well pleased.) (19 / 54 : 55 ).

4 -The dangerous war of ideas done by Quraysh dismantled religion of Abraham

From the time of Ishmael, Mecca which surrounds the Holy sacred mosque has become the center of the religion of Abraham. The Yemen tribe “Jorham” governed Mecca until 440 A.D., when the leader of “Quraysh”, “Kossay” son of “Kelab”, defeated “Jorham” and occupied Mecca, giving the glory to the northern Arab tribes, children of Abraham and Ishmael. “Kossay” was the fourth grandfather of the prophet Mohammed.

Under his leadership, “Quraysh” has become the most powerful tribe since then, and the religious and commercial leader of all the Arab tribes. Quraysh restored paganism in Arabian Peninsula and in Mecca. Around the 5th century CE, the Kaaba (The Sacred Mosque) in Mecca, was a place of worship for the deities of Arabia's pagan tribes. Mecca's most important pagandeitywas Hubal, which had been placed there by the ruling Qurayshtribe, and remained until the 7th century CE, when the final Prophet Mohamed made the Islamic reform.

5- International trade of Quraysh was the reason of dismantling religion of Abraham

In the 5th century, the Quraysh took control of Mecca, and became skilled merchants and traders. In the 6th century they joined the lucrative spice tradeas well, since battles in other parts of the world were causing trade routesto divert from the dangerous sea routes to the more secure overland routes. The Byzantine Empirehad previously controlled the Red Sea, but piracyhad been on the increase. Another previous route, that from the Persian Gulfvia the Tigrisand Euphratesrivers, was also being threatened by exploitation from the Sassanid Empire, as well as being disrupted by the Lakhmids, the Ghassanids, and the Roman–Persian Wars. Mecca's prominence as a trading center surpassed the cities of Petraand Palmyra.

By the middle of the 6th century, there were three major settlements in northern Arabia, all along the south-western coast that borders the Red Sea, in a habitable region between the sea and the great desert to the east. This area, known as the Hejaz, featured three settlements grown around oases, where water was available. In the center of the Hijaz was Yathrib, later renamed Medina. 250 mi (400 km) south of Yathrib was the mountain city Ta’if, north-west of which lay Mecca. Although the area around Mecca was completely barren, it was the wealthiest of the three settlements with abundant water via the renowned Zamzam Welland a position at the crossroads of major caravanroutes.

The harsh conditions and terrain of the Arabian Peninsula meant a near-constant state of conflictbetween the local tribes, but once a year they would declare a truce and converge upon Mecca in an annual pilgrimage. Up to the 7th century, this journey was intended for religious reasons by the pagan Arabs to pay homage to their shrine, and to drink from the Zamzam Well. However, it was also the time each year that disputes would be arbitrated, debts would be resolved, and trading would occur at Meccan fairs. These annual events gave the tribes a sense of common identity and made Mecca an important focus for the peninsula.

Camel caravans, said to have first been used by Muhammad's great-grandfather, were a major part of Mecca's bustling economy. Alliances were struck between the merchants in Mecca and the local nomadic tribes, who would bring goods – leather, livestock, and metals mined in the local mountains – to Mecca to be loaded on the caravans and carried to cities in Syriaand Iraq.  Historical accounts also provide some indication that goods from other continents may also have flowed through Mecca. Goods from Africaand the Far Eastpassed through on route to Syria including spices, leather, medicine, cloth, and slaves; in return Mecca received money, weapons, cereals and wine, which in turn were distributed throughout Arabia. The Meccans signed treaties with both the Byzantines and the Bedouins, and negotiated safe passages for caravans, giving them water and pasture rights. Mecca became the center of a loose confederation of client tribes, which included those of the Banu Tamim. Other regional powers such as the Abyssinian, Ghassan, and Lakhm were in decline leaving Meccan trade to be the primary binding force in Arabia in the late 6th century.

6- Two strong Families inside the Tribe of Quraysh 

Under the leadership of Quraysh, northern and southern Arab tribes changed the history of the world after the death of the prophet Mohammed. Quraysh had many but the most powerful families inside Qurash were the sons of Hashim (the family of the prophet Mohammed) and the family of “Omayya.” The two families were cousins and grandsons of the leader of “Mecca” and “Quraysh” (“Kossy” son of “Kelab”). “Abd Manaf” was the son of Kossy and he had two sons, “Abd Shams” and “Hashim.”. “Omayya” son of Abd Shams established a new powerful family, while his uncle “Hashim” established another powerful family through his son “Abdel Mottalib” and had ten sons including Abdullah, the father of the prophet Mohammed. So, Mohammed was the son of Abdullah, son of Abdel Mottalib, son of Hashem, son of Abd Manaf, and son of Kossy (the founder of the glory of Quraysh). 

7- The Two Powerful Families of Quraysh Ruled the Muslim Empire 

The cousin family (sons of Hashem and sons of Omayya) had reached an agreement after years of competition. The sons of Hashem were the religious leaders and the sponsors of the sacred mosque, while the sons of Omayya were the leaders of the commercial trade caravans that took two trips to Syria and Yemen each summer and winter. During the appearance of Mohamed, the religious leader of Mecca was the prophet’s uncle Al Abbas (son of Abdel Mottalib) and the leader of Quraysh trade was Abu Sofiam (son of Harb and grandson of Omayya).  

Mo’aaweya, the son of Abu Sofian, was the first king of the Omawy dynasty. He ruled the Arabic Muslim Empire between 661 and 680 A.D. The Omawy dynasty ruled the Arabic Muslim Empire between 661 and 750 A.D. After the Omawy dynasty, the grandsons of Al Abbas ruled this Empire for five continuous centuries, between 750 and 1258 A.D.

The four righteous rulers or [Al Kholafa’a Al Rashedeen.],were chosen by the majority of the people to rule in the time between the death of the prophet Mohammed, and the establishment of the Omawy Empire,[632-661]. They were: Abou Bakr [632-634], then Omar, [634-644], then Othman, [644-656] the last of them was: Ali, [656-661]. No one of them appointed his son to be his successor, and there were some aspects of democracy, which were destroyed by the Omawy family when they established their dictator kingdom. [661-750] 

Because of the contradiction between Omawy dynasty and the four rulers before them, the four rulers were called the righteous successors, or [Al Kholafa’a Al Rashedeen]. But all of them [righteous or not] were from Quraysh.                  

It means that Quarysh ruled this empire for more than six centuries.  The Arabic Muslim Empire extended from the border of China to the border of France. This mighty empire was firstly established by using the name of Islam under the leadership of Quarysh and by the swords of the northern and southern Arab tribe’s fighters.  

8- The Prophet Mohammed 

The prophet Mohammed was born in Mecca in 571, after forty years was revealed by God to the people as the final prophet of all mankind to reform (Millat Ibraheem) or the religion of Abraham, and to confirm the truth in the previous holy divine messages. Because of the severe prosecution, the early Muslims had to immigrate twice to “Al Habasha” of Ethiopia. Then the prophet and most of his believers immigrated to Yathreb of Al Madina in 623. He became the leader of the new state until his death in 632. During those years (623-632 or 1-11) most of the Arab tribes became Muslims, including Quraysh. After many battles and differing political relations, all of the tribes centered on Quraysh and led Quraysh to be the leader of the Muslim Arab Empire.  

During his rule the prophet’s closest friends were his cousin Ali (son of Abu Taleb), his son-in-law, and his friends Abu Bakr, Omar and Othman; besides sa’ad son of Ibadah, the leader of the partisans (Al Ansar). In his first years in Al Madina, the prophet Mohammed united all the immigrants and partisans in one nation, inside a unique brotherhood, and by the democratic rule, he handled all the problems inside his new state and defended it against the continuous attack of Quraysh and its partisans from the other tribes. At last he defeated Quraysh itself.  

9- Why did Quarysh accept Islam? 

To Brave Quraysh in many battles was a miracle which made the desert tribes around Quraysh reconsiders their situation. For them, the new Islamic state was peaceful, and the new religion was a movement to reform their old religion of Abraham. At the same time, Quraysh made use of them in its commercial trade caravans, and when they came to the sacred mosque in their pilgrimage. In all cases, the new state of Islam and the new religion are the direct weapon of the other tribes to eliminate the homage, the power, and the hegemony of the mighty tribe of Quraysh. That is why the desert Arab tribes converted to Islam.  

Those tribes controlled the commercial desert routes north to Syria and south to Yemen, where Quraysh used to bring Indian merchandise from Yemen to Syria and the Roman merchandise to Yemen, then from Yemen by sea to India.  

This worldly trade by Quraysh was endangered by the new Muslim desert tribes who used to be allied to Quraysh, but they became their enemies and followers of the religion of Mohammed. Quraysh also lost its religious trade inside their home, Mecca, which depended on the statues of the idols around the sacred mosque after the tribes became Muslims.  

Finally, Quraysh had to accept Islam to keep its political and commercial interest. It was the same interest that made Quraysh persecute Muslims and fight them before. In that time, Abu Sofian, the head of the Omawy family was the leader of Quraysh in the political and commercial field, and Al Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle, was the religious leader of Quryash. The two leaders together had to accept Islam when Mohammed invaded Mecca peacefully and forgave its people. Abu Sofian and Al Abbas were the grandfathers of the two dynasties (Al Omaweyyeen and Al Abbaseyeen) who ruled the Muslim Empire between [661- 1258]

10 - The Omawy Family Used Islam to Restore its Power. 

However, the Omawy family was the ardent enemy of the prophet Mohammed, except Othman, son of Affan, one of the early Muslims and closest friend of the prophet. The rest of the Omawy family became Muslim and tried to restore their influence under Islam step by step after the Prophet’s death.  

Quraysh in Mecca and Al Madina were united together under the name of Islam. This made the desert tribes revolt against the Muslim state after the death of the prophet Mohammed in the war of apostasy. In this critical situation, Abu Bakr was chosen by Quraysh to be the successor of the prophet, or Khalifa, after him. The new leader sent many armies under commandants of the new Quraysh Muslims.

After defeating the apostasy movements, Quraysh wanted to get rid of their trouble, and to use their ardent strength in establishing a new empire under the name of Islam. The ex-apostates became the soldiers of the Muslim armies that invaded other countries, and established the new Arab empire under the commandants of Quraysh during the rule of the first righteous Khalifa, Abu Bakr (632-634), followed by Khalifa Omar (634-661), then Othman (644-656), and finally, Ali (656-661).

In the time of Othman, son of the Omawy family, the family controlled him and his empire. For this reason, some Arab tribes revolted against him, killed him and appointed Ali, son of Abu Taleb, the cousin of the prophet Mohammed, as Khalifa. This was the beginning of the civil wars between Muslims.                 In these wars, most of the Arab desert tribes supported the fighting leaders of Quraysh against each other, but many clans of these tribes revolted against all the leaders of Quraysh, They were [AL Khawarej] who killed Ali, son of Abu Taleb, and tried to kill Mo’aweyah, the leader of the Omawy family. The civil wars between Quraysh ended with the victory of Mo’aweyah, who became founder of the Omawy Empire, which had much opposition.  

11-. The Opposition inside the Omawy Empire 

Among them was “Al Khawarej” or the revolutionists that were the ardent enemies of Quraysh, believing that Al Khalifa should be any righteous Muslim, even if he was a slave. Al Khawarej were the active armed oppositions against the Omawy Empire from the first Khalifa, Mo’awyah, son of Abu Sofian, who ruled between 661 and 680, until that last Khalifa, Marawan, son of Mohamed, who was killed by the Abbasy army in Egypt in 750.  

 Al Khawarej was not the only opposition. There were also patriots of the occupied countries in Iran, Iraq, Egypt, and North Africa, who revolted against the severe rule of the Omaween. The Sheeah were the continuous opposition, believing in the right of Ali and his descendants, not only to rule but also to be the religious saints of Islam.  

Moawyah, the first Khalifa of Omawy family, appointed his son, Yazeed, to be his successor. It was the precedence in inheritance of the throne in Muslim history, and Yazeed, the first to inherit the throne. He was faced by continuous revolutions from inside Quraysh, Al Ansar (or the partisans), and the sheeah.   In his short rule (680-683), he defeated all the revolutions, killed Al Husain, son of Ali, the grandson of the prophet Mohammed, many people of the family of the prophet, thousands of people of Quarysh, the partisans in Al Madina, and violated the sacred mosque in Mecca. As a result of his policy, the civil wars broke out inside Quraysh itself and another Khalifa appeared from inside Quraysh (Abdullah, son of Alzobayr), but the Omaween reestablished their kingdom under the leadership of Marwan, son of Al Hakam (who ruled between 683-685) and his son, Abdel Malek (685-705). Their grandsons ruled the Arab empire until 750, when the family of Abbas destroyed the kingdom of Omaween.  

12 - The Abbasy Dynasty 

The emperors of Omaween defeated all the revolutions in a cruel way that made Al Shee’ah chose the secret organization in resistance where the real leader from the prophet family was unknown, except for a few unknown people, under the title of “call for the chosen from the people of the prophet Mohammed.” In some development of that secret organization, the Omaween poisoned and killed the secret leader of that organization who belonged to the family of Ali, son of Abu Taleb. Before his death he revealed all his secrets to his cousin Mohammed, son of Ali, son of Abdullah, son of Al Abbas. Thus, the leadership of this secret sheeah movement transferred from the house of Ali, to the house of Al Abbas. The activists of Al sheeah did not know the new change until their army appeared suddenly and defeated the last Omawy Khalifa, Marwan, in the battle of Alzab in 749 and the release of the new Khalifa of the new dynasty, who was from the house of Al Abbas.  

In the new dynasty of the house of Al Abbas, the sheeah was divided into two branches; one with loyalty to the house of Ali, continuing his way of resistance against the new empire, the other shee’ah obeyed the new dynasty.  

The first khalifa of Abbaside dynasty was Abu Al Abbass, his surname was Al Saffah, or the shedder of blood, who ruled between 750 and 754. The second Khalifa, Abu Ja’afar Al Mansour (754-775) was the one who established and cemented the Abbaside Empire, which lasted until 1258, but the Abbasy Empire did not control all Muslim Arab’s world as the Omawy dynasty had.  

During the Abbaside Empire (750-1258), the shiites established their empire in Egypt and Syria between (909- 1171). Some members of the Omawy family escaped from the massacres held by the new Abbasy Empire, and reached the Muslim Spain where he established a new kingdom, which lasted from 756 to 1027. Other kingdoms in North Africa and Central Asia were established by sheeah, but all of them belonged to Quraysh. For this reason they believed in a saying attributed to the prophet which confirms that the ruler of any Muslim state should be from Quraysh. Under the rule of Quraysh, the real Islam of the prophet Mohammed and his state became absent.

13-Quraysh; the most famous tribe in the world:

This tribe used the religion of Abraham and the other Arab tribes for its benefits, and for its interests it persecuted The final prophet Mohammed and his followers, then it accepted Islam to keep its power and leadership, then used the name of Islam to establish its mighty Empire during the omawy dynasty [661-750], the Abbasy dynasty[750-1258], the Fatimy dynasty between north Africa and Syria [909-1171] and the Omawy dynasty in Spain[756-1031]. Before these dynasties, Quraysh ruled the Muslim state after the death of the prophet Mohammed, during the righteous successors, who belonged to Quraysh also.

In its history, Quraysh was genius in handling war of ideas. By its war of ideas, Quraysh has dismantled Islam and its concept of Jihad, the core of war of ideas.

14 - After Islam, Quraysh restored its human made religion under the title of Sunna

During the civil wars among Arab Muslims, every political sect tried to justify its political aim by inventing sayings ( Hadeeth ) and attributing them to the prophet Mohamed , many decades after his death. This opened doors for anyone to invent hadeeth for other purposes. Those sayings were increased in number under the title of Sunna and written two centuries and more after the death of the Prophet Mohamed. It has become the most respectable human made religion for most of Muslims.

Quraysh is the real player in inventing this Sunni human made religion. Accordingly, Quraysh destroyed the real Islam before and after the Prophet Mohamed. Quraysh was the most powerful tribe before the Prophet Mohamed. To keep its power, Quraysh persecute Mohamed and his early followers, then accepted Islam, and then used it to establish its mighty empire. In establishing this mighty empire, Quraysh restored its human made religion but under a new title : Sunna.

Sunna in Arabic means jurisprudence and the way or the method. Quraysh attributed that Sunn to the Prophet Mohamed although it contradicts the real Islam and its Holy Quran in values, faith and laws. However, this Sunn was applied by the Qurayshi caliphates and other   sultans for many centuries. This Sunna has four schools; the most fanatic one is Hanbaleyya.

 By the European influence, Arabs and Muslims in the modern times were about to be reformed but the Saudi family has restored and revived Hanbaleyya, the most fanatic Sunni sect under the name of Wahhabism.

15 -Arabs in Modern History

Najd resumes its role

In the dry arid desert of Najd, during Middle ages, the mighty wild Arab clans from many tribes used to attack the caravan of the pilgrimages, and any caravans passed by their desert which lies between Iraq, and Al Hejaz, where the sacred places of Muslims. This was their means of life, and they had no religious justification. However, they had such a justification under the motto of Al Khawarej, Al Zinj , and Al karameta movements where their [secular] war for loot became an [ Islamic Jihad] which gave them the permission to kill the innocent civilian people, and/or enslave them as well.

During the Ottoman Empire, Al Hejaz and its sacred places was under the custody of the Ottoman Emperor himself, but its domestic governance was under the rule of Al Ashraf, means, people who belong to the family of Aly, the cousin of the prophet, and his wife Fatima, the daughter of the prophet.

Under the Ottomans, the Arab- Muslim countries became so backward, and the wild tribes of Najd were more backward and savage. The situation became worst during the weakness of the Ottoman Empire from the eighteenth century, when the strong European states; England, France, and Russia, competed to inherit the [Sick demised man.].                                      

The response of this situation came from two different places in the Muslim Arab world, Najd and Egypt. Najd was the most backward place in that time, and Egypt was the only place which still had some enlightenment and some contact with the civilized world. Each place had reacted according to its nature.

 Najd reacted by giving the Wahaby doctrine which revived the faith of Al Khawareg, Al Zinj, and Al Karameta.  Under the name of Islam and Al Jihad the first Saudi state was established, according to the basic treaty between the fanatic zealot scholar [ imam] Mohammed son of Abdel Wahab, and the prince Mohammed son of Saud, in 1745, confirming the two words: Blood, blood and Destruction, destruction. By the wahaby Jihad, the small Saudi principality became a mighty terrorist state, threatened the weak vulnerable Ottomam Empire by its continuous attacks, and its bloodsheds and destructions in the Arabian Peninsula, Syria and Iraq.

 Egypt

Egypt reacted according to its peaceful nature and its historical, civilized, and geographical aspects under the rule of its ambitious leader; Mohammed Aly, who modernized Egypt by the help of Europe, specially France, as a first step to reform the Ottoman Empire itself. The helpless Ottoman Emperor was against his ambitious ruler in Egypt. To destroy him and to destroy the Saudi Wahaby notorious state in the same time, the Ottoman Sultan ordered Mohammed Aly of Egypt to eliminate the Saudi state. Mohammed Aly wanted to get rid of the backward quarrelsome Ottoman army in Egypt to initiate his own new strong modern Egyptian army which may enable him to reform the Ottoman Empire, or to establish a new Empire instead of it. The campaign against the Saudi state was the only way to get rid of the old Ottoman army and to establish a new one. After some years and some battles, Mohammed Aly destroyed the Saudi state, and its capital ’Al Dar’eiah’ in 1818.                      

After two decades, the European countries helped the helpless Ottoman Sultan against Mohammed Aly, when he was about to eliminate the Ottoman Empire and establish a new strong one under his rule. By dismantle the Egyptian power in 1840; the next step was the occupation of the Arab countries one by one, including Egypt itself, which was occupied by England in 1882

Arabs under the European colonialism:

Religious and National states instead of Democratic states

Between 1840- 1914, Great British, France, Germany, and finally Italy were the major players, while the demised Ottoman Empire and Arabs  and Muslims were the victims of that play which was ended by the world war one. England occupied Egypt and Sudan, and had its influence in Iran, the Persian Gulf, and the Arabic coast, beside millions of Muslims in India. France occupied  Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.  Finally, Italy occupied Libya by 1911, while Germany tried to root its influence peacefully in Iraq, through its friendship with the helpless Ottoman Emperor, who still had Syria, Iraq and some parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

This European colonialism had strong reaction inside Arab world and in the old demised Ottoman Empire as well. The Ottoman Sultan responded to Germany against England and France, giving Germany the free opportunity to threaten the British interests in India, Iraq, Iran and the Gulf. In the same time he declared the slogan of the “Islamic league” to evoke millions of Muslims against England in Egypt and India, and against France in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and other parts of Africa.

This declaration of the Islamic league means the call for Al Jihad. Being unable to fight the mighty two empires of British and France, the available way of Jihad for Muslims was to massacre the Arab Christian minorities in Syria, and their population in Lebanon, where there were a lot of Western Christian missions.  This declaration – also- confirmed the Wahaby faith of Najd, and gave it a publicity and acceptance, instead of the peaceful passive Muslim Sufi faith.   To face the Mighty Christian European occupation, the Wahabi doctrine was the only way, and its people were freedom fighters, while its thousands of victims were just Arabs; Muslims and Christians.

Najd became famous and no longer forgotten, The military campaign of Mohammed Aly destroyed the first Saudi state, but the Wahaby doctrine became more rooted inside Najd where its people found in this faith their own identity. The Wahaby faith found more followers outside Najd, not only because it was the available reaction against the Christian European colonialism, but also because the Sufi Muslim scholar were too ignorant to rebut the Wahaby arguments.

In the last decades of the nineteenth century, the Saudi family rebuilt its state, but they destroyed it by their own domestic disputes and wars. This second Saudi state gave another revive to the Wahaby faith, and made it the controversial issue of Muslim world from Morocco to India, and during the time pilgrimage every year. The Wahaby doctrine had thousands of ardent followers and partisans in Syria and India, where there were a continuous bigotry and enmity between Muslims and Non - Muslims. The Wahaby Faith gave the religious justification to change this enmity to be bloodsheds.

The Christian Arabs of Lebanon were the victims. They suffered many massacres in the late decades of the nineteenth century. This resulted in a big immigration to South and North America, and to the birth of the Arab Nationalism, which was upheld firstly by the Christian Arabs of Lebanon to defy the Islamic league of the Ottoman Sultan Abdel Hameed, the second, by replacing the Arab nation against the Turkish nation, and excluding the religion [of Islam] from the field of struggle. Sate’e Al Hosary, the Lebanon thinker was the pioneer of advocating this Arab Nationalism along with his colleges between Egypt and Syria.

By the beginning of the twentieth century, the Arab soil was ready to give birth of the third Saudi state [1902-1932] and the ideology of the Arab Nationalism in Syria and Iraq. The two creeds helped in destroying the vulnerable liberal political life of Egypt which lasted between 1860 -1952.

By eliminating the Egyptian young democracy and the European occupation, the Arab world had only two choices in the second half of the twentieth century: the National state [Nasser of Egypt, Kaddafy of Libya, Asad of Syria, and And Saddam of Iraq] or the religious fanatic state. [Saudi kingdom and Muslim Brothers]. This needs some details.

  Arabs [1914-1952]

Before world war one, the Ottoman Empire allied with Germany against British and France. To eliminate the danger of the Ottoman Islamic League, the British authorities promised the Egyptians to give them the independence if they helped the allies in war. They also allied with Al Shareef [the honorable] Husain; the ruler of Al Hijaz to revolt against the Ottoman Empire accusing them to be the enemy of Islam, and the British promised him to be the king of the Arabs after their victory. In that time, the prince Abdel Aziz, son of Saud used his army in occupying more provinces in Najd, Al Ahsa’a, and other territories in the Arabian Peninsula.

By the end of the world war one, the Saudi state was the strongest state in the Arabian Peninsula, while Al Shareef Husain of Al Hijaz was deceived by his British friends, and his military efforts and his Arabic revolution was in Vain. Finally, he lost Al Hijaz after Abdel Aziz son of Saud defeated him in 1926. Abdel Aziz son of Saud became the [Sultan of Najd and it’s append ants and the prince of Al Hejaz] while Al Shareef Husain became homeless!!

Al Shareef Husain was not the only loser, because the victorious allies plotted against their other Arab and Muslim followers. The British Empire refuse to give Egypt its independence, arrested the Egyptian leaders and exiled them. Before liberating Syria and Iraq from the Ottoman occupation, British and France had their own secret pact. Accordingly; British got Iraq and France got Syria and Lebanon, while Palestine was given to the Zionists to be a Jewish state, instead of its Arab owners.

This was more than disappointment. It rooted the enmity inside the Arabs more and more towards the West, specially, during the Arab liberal movements against the Western colonialism between [1919- 1955.] which raised the slogan of the Arab Nationalism in Syria and Iraq, and the Egyptian freedom in Egypt.

The religious Ottoman Empire was abrogated and replaced by fascists Turkish leaders in 1924.This made the Islamic world without its Muslim body of leadership [Al Khelafah], after thirteen centuries. This gave the Saudi prince Abdel Aziz more credit to be the promising leader of the Islamic world instead of the former Ottoman Islamic leadership, specially, when he added Al Hijaz to his possession or custody by 1926.

To face the new situation, and to confine the new promising Wahaby leader inside his desert, the British had to revive the house of their disappointed former ally; Al Shareef Husain through his two sons; Abdollah and Faisal.    The British created the kingdom of Jordon to help the promising state of Israel, and to stand as a barrier between the Saudi state and its hope to advance north to Syria. They also gave Iraq to Faisal to stop the advance of Ibn Saud towards Iraq; the historical vital space of the tribes of Najd, and the first Saudi state.

By the advice of his Egyptian counselor Hafiz Wahbah, the tough nomadic Wahaby Saudi leader Abdel Aziz had a clever political agenda to make the third Saudi state survive more time than the second and the first states. The third Saudi state was surrounded by enemies: north, in Syria, and Iraq, where the two sons of his enemy Al Shareef Husain, and in East by the Sheeah in Gulf and in Iran, and in south, by the Sheeah of Yemen. Inside his new state he had another enemies, the Sheeah and Al Ashraf or” honorable ones” in Al Hijaz, and the other tribes and clans whom were terrified and defeated by the tough Saudi state and its wild fanatic soldiers; Al Ikhwan, or “the brothers.”

Those Al Ikhwan; the brothers, were savage Arab clans who were taught the Wahaby teachings as an Islamic commandments. They found inside the Wahaby doctrine the religious justification to rout, rob and kill the other people as a Jihad. By their swords Abdel Aziz built his Saudi state step by step, but when he wanted to modernize his backward state by the help of Egypt and the West, Al Ikhwan - who were taught by Abdel Aziz and his scholars that Non Wahaby people should be fought or killed - revolted against him. That was an additional problem inside the Wahaby doctrine and the Saudi state as well.   The state and its Middle aged doctrine were in bad need to be adjusted to accord the modern world of the twentieth century.

Egypt and the Muslims of India were the solution for the Saudi state. By Egypt and Muslims of India, Abdel Aziz could find allies who might help him in facing Iran in east and Syria an Iraq in north. Moreover, in the two civilized peoples of Egypt and India he could find Muslim scholars who might reform or adjust the Wahaby doctrine.

The Wahaby faith in that time had millions of followers among Muslims of India, where they found in it their satisfaction in the religious bigotry against the Non -Muslim Indians. The Wahaby doctrine was the real inspiration of creating Pakistan and dividing India as one of the greatest mistakes of the twentieth century. For this mistake, there were hundreds thousands of victims in India and Pakistan in the twentieth century, and there will be another victims in our present century.

Egypt was more important to Abdel Aziz, than India and its Non - Arab far away Muslims and their problems. His Egyptian counselor Hafiz Wahbah, was keen to orient the Saudi prince towards Egypt; the civilized leader of the Arab Muslim world, the oldest state of the world, the nearest and the biggest Arab Muslim population, the state that destroyed the first Saudi state in the nineteenth century, and might help the third Saudi state to survive if the Wahaby doctrine had its trend inside Egypt.

In that time [1900-1926] Egypt had only one problem; its practical religious faith was the suphy peaceful Muslim faith which confirmed the nature of its peaceful people. So, the only solution was to change the Suphy Egyptian faith to be Wahaby under the favorite Muslim slogan of Sunna; or the teachings attributed to the prophet Mohammed.

It was easy to a scholar like Hafiz Wahbah to think that way, not only because he disliked the western colonialism in Egypt and the Arab Muslim world, but also he believed that the Suphy faith was no longer suitable in the time of struggle for freedom. As he was one of the students of the Egyptian religious reformist Imam Mohammed Abdu, who criticized the Suphy faith and the Wahabi as well, Hafiz Wahba had a hope to reform the Wahaby from inside, by the help of its leader, Abdel Aziz, who had the same hope.

By the efforts of the Saudi prince and his Egyptian counselor and by the help of the Egyptian intellectuals- many of them were friends and colleges of Hafiz Wahbah, the Wahaby doctrine had- suddenly- many foundations inside Egypt in few years. Between 1926- 1928, the largest body of the suphy faith named ‘Al Jam’eiah Al Share’iah”, means the Jurisdiction Association, was changed to be ardent enemy of the Suphy faith. “Al Shobban Al Muslemeen,”means the Muslim youth, was established to recruit the Egyptian youth, trained and indoctrinate them the Wahaby faith, they initiated “Ansar Al Sunna” or The Partisans of Sunna, to advocate the Wahaby faith among the Egyptian masses. Finally, an ambitious young man from the Muslim youth established Al “Ikhwan Al Muslemeen”, or Muslim Brothers in 1928, he was Hasan Al Banna [1902-1948]

In only twenty years [1928-1948] Hasan Al Banna could establish fifty thousand branches of Muslim Brothers all over Egypt, from Alexandria to Aswan. More over he established the international organization of the Muslim Brothers, which helped Abdel Aziz against the ruler of Yemen, by creating a revolution inside Yemen, killing the ruler, frightening his son, and making him responded to Abdel Aziz and his claims of the borders between them. Muslim Brothers and its public and secret organizations inside and outside Egypt urged the Egyptian regime to assassinate Hasan Al Banna and persecute his followers between 1948- 1952.

This distinguish achievement of Hasan Al Banna was not only because of his cleverness, and/or the Saudi help, but basically because the Egyptian soil was paved for one century 1840- 1940 to accept the Wahaby faith.

After they dismantled the Egyptian military power in 1840, Egypt still had some of its real human power, through its intellectual inside Al Azhar, the new modern schools and the experts and the scholars who were sent to Europe.  

This human intellectual power was the birth of the new educated middle class which changed the Egyptian history in the twentieth century. Poor Egyptians came from villages to Cairo and Al Azhar seeking to improve their social status by the religious education which was free and available in that time. It was the only way for any helpless young farmer to be distinguished among the society which was ruled by foreign minority used to despise the Egyptian farmers in particular. Some of those poor students of Al Azhar were sent to Europe, some of them had official ranks inside the Egyptian administration in time of modernization and development, others were still scholars inside Al Azhar and the religious body of Egypt which controlled many aspects of life in that time. Some of them had a high rank in the Egyptian society which was –officially- consisted of different ranks, the lowest of them was the farmers and the masses, and the highest were the minority foreign class and its leadership; the dynasty of Mohammed Aly.

Although the Egyptian merchants and businessmen were the core of the middle class, but they were –generally- servants of the high class which controlled the Egyptian cultivated lands and the political field as well. The new educated class knew the suffering of the poor Egyptians and had the hope for reform. 

Beside Al Azhar Mohammed Aly- reluctantly-had to recruit the Egyptian farmers in his new army, but under the leadership of the foreign officers, lest they might revolt against him. During some decades, some of the educated Egyptians became officers, and revolted against the corrupted regime and its wrongs in the Orabi Movements which belonged to the Egyptian Officer Ahmed Oraby. The British Empire used this revolution to occupy Egypt in 1882.    Here we can say the educated middle class in Egypt produced its first revolution in 1882 after about forty years of dismantling the Egyptian power in 1840

In that time [1840- 1882] there were some aspects of democracy, in the early Egyptian parliament, newspapers, and some parties. These aspects beside the enlightened class paved the way to the great Egyptian revolution against the British occupation in 1919 after about forty years from the British colonialism in 1882. This great Egyptian revolution of 1919 paved the way to the famous Egyptian revolution in 1952, after about thirty years, the revolution which changed the history of the Arab world and the colonialism as well.

During 1923 to 1952 democracy in Egypt had more positive aspects, through the new constitution, the strong parliament, free media, and free parties. But the whole picture was not promising. The Egyptian power and wealth were controlled by the royal dynasty and the minority, and they together were controlled by the British influence, while the new educated generations of the low class and the middle class were deprived and frustrated. Because the freedom needs Justice, and justice was confiscated in Egypt in that time, the new educated generations of young men denied that democracy which – in their opinion – gave justification to the continuous rule of the British colonialism and the foreign royal dynasty and the corrupted parties and leaders.

 These new generations were aware of their rights and had their own expertise in struggle against the British occupation in 1919 and had another expertise in demonstrations and other social and political activities. They also were influenced by the new political and religious ideologies came from the West [Communism and Fascism] and from the Islamic world, [Wahaby]. Accordingly; Ahmed Husain established his new party “Egypt; the Girl” as a copy of the Italian style, and there were many secret communist organizations, but the biggest organization was the Muslim Brothers, in its secret organization and secret militia, and in its propaganda, and in its influence inside the masses.

These protesting movements were the soil that produced the “free officers” who made the Egyptian military revolution in 1952, by the leadership of Gamal Abdel Nasser, and by the help of the Muslim Brothers.

  Arabs between 1952- 2001:

Abdel Aziz son of Saud, gave the mission of advocating the Wahaby doctrine to his followers in Egypt and India, and concentrated in modernizing his new state by the help of the west and allying with the new power; the U.S. A. He gave his new state his family name [Saudi] in 1932, and waited patiently the Wahaby seeds to give its fruits for the benefits of his kingdom and family. The discovery of oil in his kingdom and the reaction of the Egyptian revolution hastened his dreams to come true after his death.

In few years Nasser ‘s regime in Egypt had its features; the Arab nationalism instead of the Wahaby doctrine of his enemies “Muslim Brothers”, allying with the Soviet Union against the west imperialism, and finally, sacrificing democracy for social justice and the struggle against Israel and imperialism and its satellites, means Saudi kingdom, Jordon, and others .

In 1950’s and 1960’s, Nasser inspired the Arab, Muslim, and the third world as freedom fighters against the imperialism, and helped many nations to free themselves and to get their independence. By his charisma and the status of Egypt; the leader state, Nasser had the hope to unite the Arab nation in one state under his leadership. Being overloaded of all this struggle and hopes, Nasser as one person was unable to achieve his dreams. Being a dictator, who had an endorsement and support of the majority of the people, Nasser did not realize the urgent need of democracy to activate all the people with him, and to protect his regime. By the hard defeat in 1967, and the Israeli occupation in Egyptian and Arabic lands, Nasser’s dreams was gone, and his practical aim was to free the occupied lands, as another excuse to confiscate democracy.

Actually, his real death was in the defeat of 1967, and his official death in 1970, was the end of the Arab nationalism and its dreams, but its nightmares continued by others who tried to play the role of Egypt and Nasser.

The defeat of Nasser, Egypt and the Arab nationalism, gave a great victory to the Saudi state and its Wahaby doctrine. In 1954 the Muslim Brothers who helped Nasser in his revolution, tried to assassinate him, but they were convicted and tortured, and many of them escaped to the Saudi state, which had rapid positive changes in its wealth by oil, and in its development by the West and the Egyptian scholars of the Muslim Brothers. However, the greatest victory came to the Saudi state in the time of Sadat [1970-1981]

In the time of Nasser, Sadat was a friend of the Saudi regime, and the representative of Nasser in the Islamic organizations, which were influenced by the Saudi’s and their Wahaby faith. After Nasser Sadat had the chance to change all the policy of Egypt, Allied to the West and the Saudi state, fought Israel and had a peaceful pact with it, changed the social justice of Nasser, giving instead of it free market which made the poor masses starving, but he gave some aspects of democracy under his control, and according to his wishes. When the hungry masses revolted against him in January 18-19, 1977, his few democratic aspects gone step by step, finally, he lost his life by the religious fanatic trend which was revived by him.

From 1987 until now, Egypt was given free to the Saudi state and its Wahaby traditions and scholars who controlled most of the Egyptian administrations. For example; the Sheeah in Egypt are persecuted in Egypt to satisfy the fanatic Wahaby, and the Quranic intellectual trend who believe in Islam as the religion of peace, freedom and Justice, is also persecuted because its belief contradicts the Wahaby dogmas. By their money, the Saudi elders corrupt the Egyptian officials inside the regimes, its high class, and even the low class through the false marriages and the cheap employments.

Saudi kingdom became richer by the increasing price of oil, because of the Egyptian half victory of October 1973. Instead of having a fare portion in this millions came easily to the Saudi and other states, Egypt was punished by these states when Sadat chose the peaceful way in the Arab Israeli conflict, to solve the economical problem of Egypt after its half victory of 1973. These states allied with Sadam of Iraq against Egypt, and made him their leader to continue the war against Israel. Sadam continued his policy in threatened the oil states, blackmailing them. Finally, he took their money to fight Iran instead of Israel. After having nothing of this war, Sadam invaded Kuwait n 1990 ending the dream of the Arab Nationalism, changing it to a horrible nightmare.

In the one geographic region of Syria and Iraq, the creed of Arab Nationalism was confirmed by many historical, political and social reasons, but in the new states created in the region by the British and French after the world war one, it was impossible to unite the region in one state. The powerful party of “Al Ba’ath”; means resurrection, came to the power in Syria and in Iraq, during the life of its leader Michael Aflak. But his students who ruled the two Nationalist regimes in Syria and Iraq were ardent enemies. More over, the nationalists in Syria conspired against the United Arab Republic, the new state which united Egypt and Syria in the time of Nasser [1958-1962].

Why it was impossible to unite them according to their Arab Nationalism?   The strong reason was the Wahabi faith and its reactions in this region of Syria and Iraq.

These nationalists in the Arab world - including Nasser himself- had their own reasons to use the Arab Nationalism. This slogan was used firstly in Syria to face the Wahaby faith and it’s “Mojahedeen”.  In early as the middle of the nineteenth century, the followers of the Wahaby used to kill the Arab; Christians and Sheeah. The two peoples were persecuted also by the Ottoman Empire in some degrees. In spite of the enmity between the Ottomans and the Wahaby, each of them had a Muslim religious motto which should be faced by another motto; the Arab Nationalism. The Arab Christians were the pioneers of advocating the Arab Nationalism and Michael Aflak; the Christian, was the thinker and the founder of the biggest nationalist party in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, the minority of Sheea understood the lesson, and after some coups the minority of Al Sheeah Al Nasereyah, Al Alaweyah, has taken over Syria under the slogan of Arab Nationalism, and by the leadership of Hafiz Al Asad.           It was their opportunity to revenge against the majority of Al Sunna, who are Wahaby by the faith, and Muslim Brothers by the political trend.

In Iraq, The danger of the Wahaby was intense in 1920’s. The Arab Nationalism was the available solution to face the Wahaby faith, but it produced different military bloody coups, from Abdel Kareem Kasim to the two brothers Abdel Salam and Abdel Rahman Aarif, to Ahmed Hasan Al Bakr.  Finally, the assassin of the different coups becomes himself the leader. It’s Sadam Husain, the problem of the world for two decades.

There is another funny example of the Arab nationalism. It’s the colonel Mo’ammar Al Kaddafy of Libya. He was a Zealot of Nasser and wanted to be a copy of him. But he is from Libya, not from Egypt. Libya is not the country that may enable him to be the leader of the Arab after Nasser, and after the disappearance of the Egyptian leadership in the Arab world. He tried to buy off Sadat, but Sadat who belonged to the same category of Kaddafy; the Military group who take over their countries, was not interested in the ambitious young Libyan leader. Besides, Sadat had already chosen his way with the U.S.A. and the Saudi kingdom. The misunderstanding between the two men became a war between Egypt and Libya, after many plots against Egypt by Al Kaddafi.  Al Kaddafi appointed himself ‘The Faithful of the Arab Nationalism’ and continued in making noise here and there, but no one pays him attention. Finally, he declared his disbelief in the Arab nationalism, and has Africa instead of it, to try another play, spending the rest of the oil wealth of his country.

In 1980’s , 1990’s the Saudi Wahaby influence reached the top, not only because of the disappearance of the Egypt and its leadership, and sun sit of the Arab Nationalism, but also because of the influence of the U.S.A, which recruited the Wahaby faith in its war against the communists in Muslim world. The American doors were widely opened to welcome the Saudi Wahaby preachers who had one aim; converting America to Islam in twenty years, meaning - of course - converting them to their Wahaby faith. They used the American freedom of belief - which is banned inside the Saudi kingdom- to establish their Islamic centers and schools and other secret and public organizations as they usually do in Egypt, Pakistan and other African and Asian countries. It is the same policy which was planned by their father Abdel Aziz, but was applied cleverly by his two sons; Faisal and Fahd in a proper time.  Afghanistan was the last night of this honey moon of the American Saudi relationships.

In Afghanistan’s field, the different Arab regimes were united in one mission, to encourage their religious oppositions to move to there, where they involved in hard wars against the communist regime. After some years from the collapse of that regime, the hardest line of the religious trends took over the country. It was the Taleban who were the students of the Wahaby schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the same copy of Al Ikhwan or the Brothers in the time of Abdel Aziz.  Those students inside and outside the U.S are the promising Wahaby generation according to the Saudi plan. This current generation in Algeria and Egypt is trying to take over the regimes there through its continuous bloodsheds. But in Afghanistan, this generation took over the country under its real name; The Taleban. Those Taleban allied with their colleges from other countries under the Saudi leader Osama Ibn Laden and his secret terrorist network of Al Qa’eda.

Because they failed in converting America to their faith, the other choice was ready. It was the attack of September 11, 2001.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Chapter 2: The Holy Quran as the Book of war of ideas

 

 

This title needs a fat book to explain this subject, but this chapter gives a brief account to focus on the Holy Quran as a Book of war of ideas in the time of the Prophet Mohamed only without analyzing the Quranic verses. The Quran has recorded this war of ideas in debating the idol worshippers of Quraysh, and in reforming believers around the Prophet Mohamed as well.

The Quran contradicts the Qurayshi and the Wahhabi Saudi Sunna and the fanatic Shiites.

The Quran was a successful Book of war of ideas against Quraysh in the time of the Prophet Mohamed and it is now a successful Book of war of ideas against Wahhabism and fanatic Shiites. To make its discourse fit all humans any time, the Quran mentioned the name of Quraysh only one time, but in discoursing them and other Arab tribes using descriptions like: disbelievers, idol worshippers, hypocrites, and transgressors, criminals and believers, righteous and Muslims. So, the Holy Quran is still the successful Book of war of ideas in reform and in dismantling the fanatic discourse.

 

 

(A) The Holy Quran refuting the Qurayshi war of ideas

 

Quraysh motives in rejecting the Quran

 

1-Islam in its faith threatened the homogony of the tribe of Quraysh. In that time they controlled the Holy Mosque and pilgrimage and used to keep under their custody samples of the sacred statues of the famous idols of Arab tribes. Quraysh kept them as hostages to ensure the safety of its trade caravans between Yemen and Syria. Those Arab tribes used to fight each other for any reason or without any reason just as a bloody exercise of their daily life, but they keep the safety of the Qurayshi Eastern trade because Quraysh honored their idols by keeping them inside the Holy sacred Mosque in Mecca. For this reason Quraysh violated (Mellat Ebrahim) or the religion of Islam, by idolizing and worshipping tombs and sacred statues for the vanity of this life. The Quran was revealed to Mohamed to reform the faith of humans and the Qurayshi tribe in particular. To obey the Islamic faith, Quraysh ought to abandon those idols and to purify the Holy Sacred Mosque from their sacred tombs and statues. It means Quraysh had to give up its Eastern trade. It means to sacrifice its wealth and its influence and its homogony in the Arabian Peninsula.

2-Islam in its high values threatened the homogony of the tribe of Quraysh as this tribe used to claim itself as the chosen people from the linage of Abraham to preside other Arabic tribes contradicting the high values of Islam as the religion of freedom, justice and peace.

Quran reflects these aspects of Qurayshi mentality in debating them.

 

Quraysh claimed itself the chosen people

1- They thought themselves the best people because they made facilities for the pilgrims. Quran refuted them saying:

( 009.019:What! do you make (one who undertakes) the giving of drink to the pilgrims and the guarding of the Sacred Mosque like him who believes in Allah and the latter day and strives hard in Allah's way? They are not equal with Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust people. 009.020Those who believed and fled (their homes), and strove hard in Allah's way with their property and their souls, are much higher in rank with Allah; and those are they who are the achievers (of their objects. 009.021 Their Lord gives them good news of mercy from Himself and (His) good pleasure and gardens, wherein lasting blessings shall be theirs; 009.022 Abiding therein for ever; surely Allah has a Mighty reward with Him. )

2-T hey thought themselves the best people because they made a façade prayers without real righteousness. Quran refuted them saying:

( 002.177It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West,( in prayers ), but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts-- these are they who are true (to themselves) and these are they who guard (against evil).).

3- As they believed themselves the chosen people they invented specific rituals in pilgrimage to make themselves distinguished from other people. Quran refuted them saying:

( 002.189  They ask you concerning the new moon. Say: They are times appointed for (the benefit of) men, and (for) the pilgrimage; and it is not righteousness that you should enter the houses at their backs, but righteousness is this that one should guard (against evil); and go into the houses by their doors and be careful (of your duty) to Allah, that you may be successful. 002.199 Then hasten on from the Place from which the people hasten on and ask the forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. )

 4- They used their façade prayers to justify their transgression and their disbelief in Quran. Quran refuted them saying:

( 008.031  And when Our verses are recited to them, they say: We have heard ; if we pleased we could say the like of it; this is nothing but the stories of the ancients. 008.032 And when they said: O Allah! if this is the truth from Thee, then rain upon us stones from heaven or inflict on us a painful punishment. 008.033 But Allah was not going to chastise them while you were among them, nor is Allah going to chastise them while yet they ask for forgiveness. 008.034 And what (excuse) have they that Allah should not chastise them while they hinder (men) from the Sacred Mosque and they are not (fit to be) guardians of it; its guardians are only those who guard (against evil), but most of them do not know. 008.035 And their prayer before the House is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands ;(nonsense) taste then the chastisement, for you disbelieved. 008.036  Surely those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (people) from the way of Allah; so they shall spend it, then it shall be to them an intense regret, then they shall be overcome; and those who disbelieve shall be driven together to hell. )

5- After the Prophet Mohamed and his followers had immigrated to al Madfina, Quraysh hindered them from pilgrimage. Quraysh thought it had the right to do it as the chosen people. Quran has refuted them confirming that this sacred Holy house of Allah is for all the humans equally:

( 022.025  Surely (as for) those who disbelieve, and hinder (men) from Allah's way and from the Sacred Mosque which We have made equally for all men, (for) the dweller therein and (for) the visitor, and whoever shall incline therein to wrong unjustly, We will make him taste of a painful chastisement. 022.026 And when We assigned to Ibrahim the place of the House, saying: Do not associate with Me aught, and purify My House for those who make the circuit and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves. 022.027 And proclaim among men the Pilgrimage: they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path.).

Quraysh rejected Quran to keep its international trade and its hegemony. Quran refuted them saying:

( 028.057   And they say: If we follow the guidance with you, we shall be carried off from our country. What ! have We not settled them in a safe, sacred territory to which fruits of every kind shall be drawn?-- a sustenance from Us; but most of them do not know. )So, they knew the Quran is guidance from Allah, but they rejected it to keep their way of life.

 As they rejected the Quran for their economical motives, Allah reminded them when they face the death, the final destination of this life when no one can escape it, and no one can be saved:

( 056.081Do you then hold this Message in contempt? 056.082 And have ye made it your livelihood that ye should declare it false? 056.083 Why is it not then that when it (soul) comes up to the throat, 056.084 And you at that time look on--056.085 And We are nearer to it than you, but you do not see-- 056.086 Then why is it not-- if you are not held under authority-- 056.087
That you send it (not) back-- if you are truthful? )

Aspects of their war of ideas in rejecting the Quran

1-Conferences to reject the Quran

There are verses in the Quran refer to conference were held by the leaders of Quraysh in waging war of ideas. Some of them had ordered people not to listen to the Quran, Allah responds to them saying :( 006.026 : And they prohibit (others) from it and go far away from it, and they only bring destruction upon their own souls while they do not perceive. ).

Some ordered the audience to make noise while reciting the Quran: (041.026 :And those who disbelieve say: Do not listen to this Quran and make noise therein, perhaps you may overcome. )Allah threatened them saying: 041.027: Therefore We will most certainly make those who disbelieve taste a severe punishment, and We will most certainly reward them for the evil deeds they used to do.) .

In some verses we can find many details describing their conferences in nights and the retribution that awaits them in the hill fire : ( 023.066  My verses were indeed recited to you, but you used to turn back on your heels, 023.067 In arrogance; talking nonsense about the Quran, and left him like one telling fables by night. 23.068 Is it then that they do not ponder over what is said, or is it that there has come to them that which did not come to their fathers of old? )

The Prophet Mohammed used to attend some of these conferences. He was ordered twice not to do it: ( 043.083 )( 070.042  ) So leave them plunging into false discourses and sporting until they meet their day which they are threatened with. ). Mohamed disobeyed this order, so he was blamed in this verse : ( 006.068 And when you see those who enter into false discourses about Our verses, withdraw from them until they enter into some other discourse, and if the Shaitan causes you to forget, then do not sit after recollection with the unjust people. )

Also some conferences were held in plotting violence against the Prophet Mohamed and his people: (008.030:And when those who disbelieved devised plans against you that they might confine you or slay you or drive you away; and they devised plans and Allah too had arranged a plan; and Allah is the best of planners.) . Prophet Mohamed and his followers had to immigrate to Al Madina to escape this persecution.

In the Islamic state established by the Prophet Mohamed in Al Madina, there was unlimited freedom of belief and speech. The hypocrites (The religious oppositions) enjoyed it in waging   war of ideas against Islam and Muslims by holding conferences to reject the Quran as the leaders of Quraysh did in Mecca. In Al Madina, the companions of the Prophet Mohamed used to attend these conferences. Allah blamed them and threatened them saying : ( 004.140 And indeed He has revealed to you in the Book that when you hear Allah's verses disbelieved in and mocked at do not sit with them until they enter into some other discourse; surely then you would be like them; surely Allah will gather together the hypocrites and the unbelievers all in hell. )

Also, the hypocrites were threatened by hill fire in the Hereafter: (009.065: And if you should question them, they would certainly say: We were only idly discoursing and sporting. Say: Was it at Allah and His communications and His Messenger that you mocked? )

Moreover, they built a mosque using it as headquarter to plot against Islam and Mohamed himself used to attend it. Allah exposed this conspiracy ordering the Prophet Mohamed not to attend this mosque : ( 009.107 And those who built a mosque to cause harm and for unbelief and to cause disunion among the believers and an ambush to him who made war against Allah and His Messenger before; and they will certainly swear: We did not desire aught but good; and Allah bears witness that they are most surely liars. 009.108  Never stand in it; certainly a mosque founded on piety from the very first day is more deserving that you should stand in it; in it are men who love that they should be purified; and Allah loves those who purify themselves.)

2-Disputing the Quran to tarnish it: (Jidal):

However, Quraysh used a way of debate described in the Quran as ( Jidal ) which means debate to defeat by all means without any reason. Allah describes it as a human habit, not only in Quraysh but you may find it anywhere any time: ( 022.003   And among men there is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge and follows every rebellious Shaitan; ) (022.008   And among men there is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge and without guidance and without an illuminating book, 022.009   Turning away haughtily that he may lead (others) astray from the way of Allah; for him is disgrace in this world, and on the day of resurrection We will make him taste the punishment of burning:022.010   This is due to what your two hands have sent before, and because Allah is not in the least unjust to the servants.)

(Jidal ) is bad in the controversial issues, but it is the worst in religious truth concerning Allah, the creator of this world and other worlds. One who makes this kind of ( Jidal ) is described as ignorant and will be in hell fire: ( 031.020 :  Do you not see that Allah has made what is in the heavens and what is in the earth subservient to you, and made complete to you His favors outwardly and inwardly? And among men is he who disputes in respect of Allah though having no knowledge nor guidance, nor a book giving light. ).

Some of them were the leaders of the Qurayshi trade travelling here and there, having the fame and the prestige.( 040.004 :  None dispute concerning the verses of Allah but those who disbelieve, therefore let not their going to and fro in the cities deceive you. ).

To preach them with serious warning , Allah mentions the details of retribution in the hell fire if they insist to make this ( Jidal ), or dispute : ( 040.069   Have you not seen those who dispute with respect to the verses of Allah: how are they turned away? 040.070  Those who reject the Book and that with which We have sent Our Messenger; but they shall soon come to know. 040.071   When the fetters and the chains shall be on their necks; they shall be dragged 040.072   Into boiling water, then in the fire shall they be burned; 040.073   Then shall it be said to them: Where is that which you used to set up 040.074   Besides Allah? They shall say: They are gone away from us, nay, we used not to call upon anything before. Thus does Allah confound the unbelievers. 040.075   That is because you exulted in the land unjustly and because you behaved insolently. 040.076   Enter the gates of hell to abide therein, evil then is the abode of the proud. 040.077   So be patient, surely the promise of Allah is true. So should We make you see part of what We threaten them with, or should We cause you to die, to Us shall they be returned. )

 

3-When listening to the Quran:

They asked for another Quran

Listening to the Quran, they asked the Prophet Mohamed to bring another Quran that pleases and appeases them, or to abrogate this Quran.  Allah answered them :( 010.015 And when Our clear verses are recited to them, those who hope not for Our meeting say: Bring a Quran other than this or change it. Say: It does not beseem me that I should change it of myself; I follow naught but what is revealed to me; surely I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of a mighty day.010.016 Say: If Allah had desired (otherwise) I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have taught it to you; indeed I have lived a lifetime among you before it; do you not then understand? 010.017 Who is then more unjust than who forges a lie against Allah or (who) gives the lie to His verses? Surely the guilty shall not be successful.)

They were very angry:

1-The Quran describes their feeling when they listened to the Quran  and threatened them :( 022.072And when Our clear verses are recited to them you will find denial on the faces of those who disbelieve; they almost spring upon those who recite to them Our verses. Say: Shall I inform you of what is worse than this? The fire; Allah has promised it to those who disbelieve; and how evil the resort! ). Then Allah refute the faith of all idol worshippers saying: (022.073:  O people! a parable is set forth, therefore listen to it: surely those whom you call upon besides Allah cannot create fly, though they should all gather for it, and should the fly snatch away anything from them, they could not take it back from it. So weak are the invoker and the invoked. )

2-Sometimes, they looked to the Prophet with faces full of hatred, accusing him to be mad ( 068.051And those who disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the reminder, and they say: Most surely he is mad. )

3-To face the war of ideas inside the Quran when it was recited, they had their own accusations. The Quran refuted them :( 034.043 And when Our clear verses are recited to them, they say: This is naught but a man who desires to turn you away from that which your fathers worshipped. And they say: This is naught but a lie that is forged. And those who disbelieve say of the truth when it comes to them: This is only clear enchantment. 034.044   And We have not given them any books which they read, nor did We send to them before you a warner. 034.045  And those before them rejected (the truth), and these have not yet attained a tenth of what We gave them, but they gave the lie to My messengers, then how was the manifestation of My disapproval? 034.046   Say: I exhort you only to one thing, that rise up for Allah's sake in twos and singly, then ponder: there is no madness in your fellow-citizen; he is only a warner to you before a severe chastisement. 034.047   Say: Whatever reward I have asked of you, that is only for yourselves; my reward is only with Allah, and He is a witness of all things. 034.048   Say: Surely my Lord utters the truth, the great Knower of the unseen. 034.049   Say: The truth has come, and the falsehood shall vanish and shall not come back. 034.050 Say: "If I am astray, I only stray to the loss of my own soul: but if I receive guidance, it is because of the inspiration of my Lord to me: it is He Who hears all things, and is (ever) near.")
 

4-In debating Quraysh, Allah defied them by the miracle of the Quran, as the Quran is a miracle for all humans, defying humans

Before the Quran, the messages from Allah were limited in a specific people and in specific time and specific place. So the messengers of Allah before Mohammed were given and supported by physical tangible miracles like the miracles of Moses. Mohamed was revealed the Quran, the final Holy message for all the mankind from his time to the end of this world. So, Mohammed was not supported by any material miracle. His miracle is his message itself, the Quran.

In rejecting the Quran, Quraysh accused Mohamed that he forged it. Allah defied them to bring a Book like the Quran: (052.033   Or do they say: He has forged it. Nay! They do not believe. 052.034   Then let them bring a recital like it if they are truthful. ). They failed but insisted accusing the Quran was fabricated by Mohamed.

Then Allah defied them to bring ten chapters like its chapters if they could, ( Quran has 114 chapters), but they failed :( 011.013   Or, do they say: He has forged it. Say: Then bring ten forged chapters like it and call upon whom you can besides Allah, if you are truthful. 011.014 But if they do not answer you, then know that it is revealed by Allah's knowledge and that there is no god but He; will you (disbelievers) then submit?).

 Then they were defied to bring only one chapter, but they also failed: (010.038   Or do they say: He has forged it? Say: Then bring a chapter like this and invite whom you can besides Allah, if you are truthful. 010.039   Nay, they reject that of which they have no comprehensive knowledge, and the final sequel of it has not yet come to them; even thus did those before them reject (the truth); see then what the end of the unjust was. ). This fact was repeated with confirmation that they could not bring one chapter like it: (002.023  : And if you are in doubt as to that which We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a chapter like it and call on your witnesses besides Allah if you are truthful. 002.024  : But if you cannot- and of a surety you cannot- then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones,- which is prepared for the unbelievers. ). Moreover, it was stated that it is impossible for humans and Jinn to bring a book like it: (017.088 Say: If men and jinn should combine together to bring the like of this Quran, they could not bring the like of it, though some of them were aiders of others.)

However, Quraysh had its ways of war of ideas in rejecting the Quran by:

 Asking material miracles instead of the Quran:

 They insisted asking Mohamed to bring a material miracle if he wanted them to believe in his message. Allah refuted it saying: (013.007: And those who disbelieve say: Why has not a miracle been sent down upon him from his Lord? You are only a warner and (there is) a guide for every people. )( 013.027  And those who disbelieve say: Why is not a a miracle sent down upon him by his Lord? Say: Surely who chooses to go astray Allah makes him astray, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him). (006.037 And they say: Why has not a miracle been sent down to him from his Lord? Say: Surely Allah is able to send down a a miracle, but most of them do not know.)

Sometimes they named some specific miracles: ( (017.090  And they say: We will by no means believe in you until you cause a fountain to gush forth from the earth for us. 017.091  Or you should have a garden of palms and grapes in the midst of which you should cause rivers to flow forth, gushing out. 017.092  Or you should cause the heaven to come down upon us in pieces as you think, or bring Allah and the angels face to face (with us). 017.093  Or you should have a house of gold, or you should ascend into heaven, and we will not believe in your ascending until you bring down to us a book which we may read.). The answer was: (Say: Glory be to my Lord; am I aught but a mortal messenger).

According to the Quran, it is impossible to see Allah in this world or in the Hereafter. It is impossible also to see angles as long we are alive. We will see them in the moment of death and also in the Hereafter. Quraysh asked the Prophet Mohamed to see Allah and the angles as a miracle that makes them believe. The answer was no. (025.021   And those who do not hope for Our meeting, say: Why have not angels been sent down upon us, or (why) do we not see our Lord? Now certainly they are too proud of themselves and have revolted in great revolt.025.022   On the day when they shall see the angels, there shall be no joy on that day for the guilty) ( 015.006   And they say: O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed! you are most surely insane: 015.007  Why do you not bring to us the angels if you are of the truthful ones? 015.008   We do not send the angels but with truth, and then they would not be respited.)

Some answers gave two reasons::First reason :Quran is enough as a miracle for the one who is looking for the truth:  (029.050  And they say: Why are not a miracle sent down upon him from his Lord? Say: The miracles are only with Allah, and I am only a plain warner. 029.051 Is it not enough for them that We have revealed to you the Book which is recited to them? Most surely there is mercy in this and a reminder for a people who believe. 029.052  Say: Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you; He knows what is in the heavens and the earth. And (as for) those who believe in the falsehood and disbelieve in Allah, these it is that are the losers. )

Second:  The material miracle would not make them believe: (006.007   And if We had sent to you a writing on a paper, then they had touched it with their hands, certainly those who disbelieve would have said: This is nothing but clear enchantment.)  (015.014 And even if We open to them a gateway of heaven, so that they ascend into it all the while, 015.015  : They would certainly say: Only our eyes have been covered over, rather we are an enchanted people. ) (006.109 And they swear by Allah with the strongest of their oaths, that if a a miracle came to them they would most certainly believe in it. Say:  Miracles are only with Allah; and what should make you know that when it comes they will not believe? ) ( 006.111  And even if We had sent down to them the angels and the dead had spoken to them and We had brought together all things before them, they would not believe ( by their sincere heart) unless Allah pleases, but most of them are ignorant. ).

Material miracle did not make ancient people believe in the messengers before Mohamed and would not make Arabs believe in the time of Mohamed: (017.059   And nothing could have hindered Us that We should send miracle except that the ancients rejected them)

Actually, Quraysh in their innermost hearts they believed that Mohammed had the guidance in the Quran, but this guidance endangered their homogony and wealth and prestige. So, they asked the materials miracle just to reject the Quran. Mohamed was sad, hoping that he had a material miracle to satisfy them and to please and appease them and make them believe. Allah blamed him and taught him saying:  (006.033   We know indeed that what they say certainly grieves you, but surely they do not disbelief you ; but the unjust deny the verses of Allah. 006.034   And certainly messengers before you were rejected, but they were patient on being rejected and persecuted until Our help came to them; and there is none to change the words of Allah, and certainly there has come to you some information about the messengers. 006.035  And if their turning away is hard on you, then if you can seek an opening (to go down) into the earth or a ladder (to ascend up) to heaven so that you should bring them a miracle and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have gathered them all on guidance, therefore be not of the ignorant. 006.036  Only those accept who listen; (in truth),  and (as to) the dead, Allah will raise them, then to Him they shall be returned.)

5-Fabricating hadeeth

Hadeeth means sayings and stories. Quran is described as Hadeeth also. So, in the field of religions there are two Hadeethes: The Holy Hadeeth, or the messages from Allah, and the false Hadeethes, fabricated by idol worshipper, revealed by Satan or Shaitans. Allah says ( : 006.112
And thus did We make for every prophet an enemy, the Shaitans from among men and jinn, some of them suggesting to others varnished falsehood to deceive (them), and had your Lord pleased they would not have done it, therefore leave them and that which they forge.006.113
And that the hearts of those who do not believe in the hereafter may incline to it and that they may be well pleased with it and that they may earn what they are going to earn (of evil). 006.114
Shall I then seek a judge other than Allah? And He it is Who has revealed to you the Book (which is) made plain; and those whom We have given the Book know that it is revealed by your Lord with truth, therefore you should not be of the disputers. 006.115 And the word of your Lord has been accomplished truly and justly; there is none who can change His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing. 006.116 And if you obey most of those in the earth, they will lead you astray from Allah's way; they follow but conjecture and they only lie. )

In the time of Mohammed, Quraysh had assigned some people to tell stories (Hadeeth) to make people ignore the Quran. After the death of Mohamed, Quraysh took over and did the same under the very title ( Hadeeth) and attributing this Hadeeth to the Prophet Mohamed as (Sunna ).  Allah in the Quran has predicted it making it a bad human habit, saying: (031.006 But there are, among men, those who purchase idle tales( Bad Hadeeth ), without knowledge (or meaning), to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah and throw ridicule (on the Path): for such there will be a Humiliating Penalty.  031.007 And when Our verses are recited to him, he turns back proudly, as if he had not heard them, as though in his ears were a heaviness, therefore announce to him a painful chastisement. ) ( 045.006 :These are the verses of Allah which We recite to you with truth; then in what Hadeeth  would they believe after Allah and His verses? 045.007 Woe to every sinful liar, 045.008 Who hears the verses of Allah recited to him, then persists proudly as though he had not heard them; so announce to him a painful punishment.)

6- Mocking the Quran:

Instead of respecting the Quran, they ridiculed it. ( 037.012Nay! you wonder while they mock, 037.013 And when they are reminded, they mind not, 037.014 And when they see a verse they incite one another to scoff, )

People who used to tell false Hadeeth to twist others from listening to the Quran, they also ridicule the Quran. Allah threatened them saying: ( 045.009And when he comes to know of any of Our verses, he takes it for a jest; For such there is a shameful doom. 045.010  Before them is hell, and there shall not avail them aught of what they earned, nor those whom they took for guardians besides Allah, and they shall have a grievous punishment. )

Allah described it as a bad human habit any time and place:(018.056And We do not send messengers but as givers of good news and warning, and those who disbelieve make a false contention that they may render null thereby the truth, and they take My verses and that with which they are warned for a mockery.)

7-Mocking the Prophet Mohammed

1-According to the Qurayshi stander, Mohamed was not a great person. Although they named him the faithful and the trustful one, but he was not rich. As the owner of wealth and power, they consider themselves better than him to be messenger of Allah instead of him. This is a common human habit as the elders of the ancient nations had the same attitude towards the prophets before Mohammed: (006.123   Thus have We placed leaders in every town, its wicked men, to plot (and burrow) therein: but they only plot against their own souls, and they perceive it not.
006.124  : And when a communication comes to them ( through prophets ) they say: We will not believe till we are given the like of what Allah's messengers are given. Allah best knows where He places His message. There shall befall those who are guilty humiliation from Allah and severe chastisement because of what they planned. )

 The elders of Quraysh said angrily: (038.008   "What! has the Message been sent to him - (Of all persons) among us?",but they are in doubt concerning My (Own) Message! Nay, they have not yet tasted My Punishment! ).  They forgot that Allah is the One who made them rich as a test, and they failed in this test :( 043.031  : And they say: If only this Qur'an had been revealed to some great man of the two towns? ) the answer was (043.032   Will they distribute the mercy of your Lord? We distribute among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We have exalted some of them above others in degrees, that some of them may take others in subjection; and the mercy of your Lord is better than what they amass.).

2- This mentality is expected to mock Mohamed as a Prophet, taking advantage of him as a simple man:  (021.036 And when those who disbelieve see you, they do not take you but for one to be scoffed at: Is this he who speaks of your gods? And they are deniers at the mention of the Beneficent Allah.).  (025.041 And when they see you, they do not take you for aught but a mockery: Is this he whom Allah has raised to be a messenger? 025.042 He had well-nigh led us astray from our gods had we not adhered to them patiently!) Allah debated them: (And they will know, when they see the punishment, who is straying farther off from the path. 025.043 Have you seen him who takes his low desires for his god? Will you then be a protector over him? 025.044 Or do you think that most of them do hear or understand? They are nothing but as cattle; nay, they are straying farther off from the path. )

Allah described it as a bad human habit, before and in the time of Mohamed :(006.010And certainly messengers before you were mocked at, but that which they mocked at encompassed the scoffers among them. ) ( 021.041 And certainly messengers before you were scoffed at, then there befell those of them who scoffed that at which they had scoffed. )

8-Accusing the Prophet Mohammed

It was easy for them to accuse the Prophet Mohammed. Allah says :( 010.002 what! is it a wonder to the people that We revealed to a man from among themselves, saying: Warn the people and give good news to those who believe that theirs is a footing of firmness with their Lord. The unbelievers say: This is most surely a manifest enchanter.)

In their discussion about him they accused him to be an enchanter and liar: ( ( 038.004 And they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say: This IS an enchanter, a liar.038.005  "Has he made the gods (all) into one Allah? Truly this is a wonderful thing!"  038.006 And the chief persons of them break forth, saying: Go and steadily adhere to your gods; this is most surely a thing sought after. 038.007 We never heard of this in the former faith; this is nothing but a forgery)

They also accused him to be a poet and mad :( 015.006 And they say: O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed! you are most surely insane: )(037.036 And to say: What! shall we indeed give up our gods for the sake of a mad poet? 037.037 Nay: he has come with the truth and verified the messengers.)

Allah had strengthened His messenger against these accusations and educating him and defending him, saying :( 052.029 Therefore continue to remind, for by the grace of your Lord, you are not a soothsayer, or a madman. 052.030 Or do they say: A poet, we wait for him the evil accidents of time. 52.031 Say: Wait, for surely I too with you am of those who wait.052.032 Nay! do their understandings bid them this? Or are they an inordinate people? 052.033 Or do they say: He has forged it. Nay! they do not believe. 052.034 Then let them bring a recital like it if they are truthful. 052.035 Or were they created without there being anything, or are they the creators? 052.036 Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay! they have no certainty. 052.037 Or have they the treasures of your Lord with them? Or have they been set in absolute authority? 052.038 Or have they a ladder, by which they can (climb up to heaven and) listen (to its secrets)? Then let (such a) listener of theirs produce a manifest proof. 017.047 We know best what they listen to when they listen to you, and when they take counsel secretly, when the unjust say: You follow only a man bewitched.)

 
Sometimes, they mixed accusations and mocking and asking material miracles together. Allah defended His messenger in debating them : ( 025.007  And they say: What is the matter with this Messenger that he eats food and goes about in the markets; why has not an angel been sent down to him, so that he should have been a warner with him? 025.008 "Or (Why) has not a treasure been bestowed on him, or why has he (not) a garden   Or (why is not) a treasure sent down to him, or he is made to have a garden from which he should eat? And the unjust say: You do not follow any but a man bewitched. 025.009 See what likenesses do they apply to you, so they have gone astray, therefore they shall not be able to find a way. 025.010 Blessed is He Who, if He please, will give you what is better than this, gardens beneath which rivers flow, and He will give you palaces. 025.011 But they reject the hour, and We have prepared a burning fire for him who rejects the hour. )

Allah stated that it is a human bad habit before and in time of Mohammed:( 051.052 Thus there did not come to those before them a messenger but they said: A magician or a mad man. 051.053 Have they charged each other with this? Nay! they are an inordinate people.)

 9-   Quraysh justified its human made religion

1-They had two justifications: It is their tradition and attributing it to Allah falsely. Allah debating them saying :( 007.028And when they commit an indecency they say: We found our fathers doing this, and Allah has enjoined it on us. Say: Surely Allah does not enjoin indecency; do you say against Allah what you do not know? 007.029 Say: My Lord has enjoined justice, and set upright your faces at every time of prayer and call on Him, being sincere to Him in obedience; as He brought you forth in the beginning, so shall you also return. ).

2-The justification of attributing their human made religion to Allah means that it is the will of Allah that they became idol worshippers. Allah says debating them stating that it is human bad habit :( 006.148 Those who are polytheists will say: If Allah had pleased we would not have associated (aught with Him) nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden (to ourselves) anything; even so did those before them reject until they tasted Our punishment. Say: Have you any knowledge with you so you should bring it forth to us? You only follow a conjecture and you only tell lies.) ( 016.035 The worshippers of false gods say: "If Allah had so willed, we should not have worshipped aught but Him - neither we nor our fathers,- nor should we have prescribed prohibitions other than His." So did those who went before them. But what is the mission of messengers but to preach the Clear Message?)
In more debate in this issue Allah says:( 043.020And they say: If the Almighty Allah had pleased, we should never have worshipped them. They have no knowledge of this; they only lie. 043.021 Or have We given them a book before it so that they hold fast to it? 043.022 Nay! they say: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we do guide ourselves by their footsteps." 043.023 And thus, We did not send before you any warner in a town, but those who led easy lives in it said: Surely we found our fathers on a course, and surely we are followers of their footsteps. ).

Accordingly, they prohibited giving charities, as they thought Allah wants the poor to be poor ( 036.047   And when it is said to them: Spend out of what Allah has given you, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: Shall we feed him whom, if Allah please, He could feed? You are in naught but clear error. ).

Quraysh have repeated this faith after they took over Muslim Arab Empire under the title of Sunna and Jabreyya, which makes Allah not human is the one who is responsible for the human sins. They attribute to Allah all the wills and the deeds of the humans, so man is not responsible for his deeds as man has not any choice or any will.

3- This debate itself is clear evidence confirms the unlimited human freedom in religion and thinking and in doing any things. Allah, the creator is debating some of His creations to convince them to believe in Him alone and not to believe in superstitions. God does not like idol worshipping but He gives the human the unlimited freedom of belief and speech to be responsible for their choice in the Day of Judgment. Allah says: (039.007   If you disbelieve in Allah, then surely Allah is Self-sufficient above all need of you; and He does not like disbelief in His servants; and if you are grateful, He likes it in you; and no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another; then to your Lord is your return, then will He inform you of what you did; surely He is Cognizant of what is in the breasts.). Allah states the unlimited freedom of human deeds and the human responsibility in the Day of Judgment: (041.040   Those who distort Our revelations are not hidden from Us. Which is better?- he that is cast into the Fire, or he that comes safe through, on the Day of Judgment? Do what ye will. Lo! He is Seer of what ye do. )

According to the Quran, any one chooses guidance Allah guide him and increase his guidance, any one chooses misguidance Allah increases it: (019.075   Say: "If any men go astray, (Allah) Most Gracious extends (the rope) to them, until, when they see the warning of Allah (being fulfilled) - either in punishment or in (the approach of) the Hour, then they shall know who is in more evil plight and weaker in forces.019.076  : And Allah increases in guidance those who go aright; and ever-abiding good works are with your Lord best in recompense and best in yielding fruit. ) (  047.017 And (as for) those who follow the Guidance, He increases the (light of) Guidance, and bestows on them their Piety and Restraint (from evil))

 There are more than one thousand Quranic verses confirm the freedom of belief and freedom of speech and talking about hell fire and paradise as result of this human choice: (018.029   Say, "The truth is from your Lord": Let him believe who wills to believe, and let him disbelieve who wills to disbelieve, for the wrong-doers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames), like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces, how dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on! 018.030  : Surely (as for) those who believe and do good, We do not waste the reward of him who does a good work. 018.031  : These it is for whom are gardens of perpetuity beneath which rivers flow, ornaments shall be given to them therein of bracelets of gold, and they shall wear green robes of fine silk and thick silk brocade interwoven with gold, reclining therein on raised couches; excellent the recompense and goodly the resting place.).

  4- Allah debated then in following their tradition, saying: (002.170 And when it is said to them, Follow what Allah has revealed, they say: Nay! we follow what we found our fathers upon. What! and though their fathers had no sense at all, nor did they follow the right way.) ( 005.104 And when it is said to them, Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger, they say: That on which we found our fathers is sufficient for us. What! even though their fathers knew nothing and did not follow the right way.) (  031.021  And when it is said to them: Follow what Allah has revealed, they say: Nay, we follow that on which we found our fathers. What! though the Shaitan calls them to the chastisement of the burning fire! ).

It is also stated as a human bad habit: (043.022   Nay! they say: We found our fathers on a course, and surely we are guided by their footsteps. 043.023  : And thus, We did not send before you any warner in a town, but those who led easy lives in it said: Surely we found our fathers on a course, and surely we are followers of their footsteps. 043.024  : (The warner) said: What! even if I bring to you a better guide than that on which you found your fathers? They said: Surely we are unbelievers in that with which you are sent. )

 (B) The Holy Quran waging war of ideas debating their faith to worship Allah alone

1-Quraysh made mosques for worshipping Allah and idols

Mellat Ebrahim (The religion of Abraham) or the real Islam is to believe in One God, Allah alone, without any idols, son, or wife. This was violated by worshipping saints and sacred statues and sacred tombs. According to Mellat Ebrahim, mosques should be devoted to worshipping Allah alone, without calling upon any one with Allah. Quraysh violated it by using mosques in worshipping idols. Allah says: ( 072.018   And that the mosques are Allah's, therefore call not upon any one with Allah: ). The next verses give us a brief account about the Prophet Mohamed when he said it publicly to purify mosques to worshipping Allah alone: (072.019   And that when the servant of Allah stood up calling upon Him, they well nigh crowded him (to death). 072.020    Say: I only call upon my Lord, and I do not associate any one with Him. 072.021
 Say: I do not control for you evil or good.)

 Muslims now – by the Qurayshi influence – use mosques in worshipping saints and Imams.

2- Worshiping Allah and idols

Quraysh did not deny Allah as the super God. Moreover, they worshipped Him as the one who creates all the worlds. As they believed in Allah, Allah ordered Mohamed: ((006.019 Say: What thing is the weightiest in testimony? Say: Allah is witness between you and me; and this Quran has been revealed to me that with it I may warn you and whomsoever it reaches. Do you really bear witness that there are other gods with Allah? Say: I do not bear witness. Say: He is only one Allah, and surely I am clear of that which you set up (with Him). )

 

But they believed in other gods beside Allah that they may bring them nearer to Allah. It is the same faith that most of Muslims now still have. So, Allah is addressing generally humans to worship Him alone, saying:(039.002  Surely We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, therefore serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience.039.003  Now, surely, sincere religion is due to Allah (alone) and (as for) those who take guardians besides Him, (saying), We worship them only that they may bring us near unto Allah, surely Allah will judge between them in that in which they differ; surely Allah does not guide him aright who is a liar, ungrateful. 039.004  If Allah desire to take a son to Himself, He will surely choose those He pleases from what He has created. Glory be to Him: He is Allah, the One, theIrresistible.) 

Aspects of the Quranic argument

Allah is the only One who creates the humans and the universe

This is the basic fact in the Quranic argument. Allah says to all humans : (035.001  Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels, messengers with wings,- two, or three, or four (pairs): He adds to Creation as He pleases: for Allah has power over all things. )(035.003: O men! call to mind the favor of Allah on you; is there any creator besides Allah who gives you sustenance from the heaven and the earth? There is no god but He; whence are you then turned away?)

Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth controls them, while the idols have nothing

This is clear in these two verses :(035.013  : He merges Night into Day, and he merges Day into Night, and he has subjected the sun and the moon (to his Law): each one runs its course for a term appointed. Such is Allah your Lord: to Him belongs all Dominion; and those whom you call upon besides Him do not control a straw. 035.014   If you invoke them, they will not listen to your call, and if they were to listen, they cannot answer your (prayer). On the Day of Judgment they will reject your "Partnership", and none, (O man!) can tell thee (the Truth) like the One Who is acquainted with all things. )
Quran has many different kind of this argument to confirm that there is no god but Him:

For example:

( 006.012   Say: To whom belongs what is in the heavens and the earth? Say: To Allah; He has ordained mercy on Himself; most certainly He will gather you on the resurrection day-- there is no doubt about it. (As for) those who have lost their souls, they will not believe. 006.013  And to Him belongs whatever dwells in the night and the day; and He is the Hearing, the Knowing. 006.014   Say: Shall I take a guardian besides Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, and He feeds (others) and is not (Himself) fed. Say: I am commanded to be the first who submits himself, and you should not be of the polytheists. )

( 027.059   Say: Praise be to Allah and peace on His servants whom He has chosen: is Allah better, or what they associate (with Him)? 027.060   Nay, He Who created the heavens and the earth, and sent down for you water from the cloud; then We cause to grow thereby beautiful gardens; it is not possible for you that you should make the trees thereof to grow. Is there a god with Allah? Nay! they are people who deviate. 027.061   Or, Who made the earth a resting place, and made in it rivers, and raised on it mountains and placed between the two seas a barrier. Is there a god with Allah? Nay! most of them do not know! 027.062   Or, Who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes the evil, and He will make you successors in the earth. Is there a god with Allah? Little is it that you mind! 027.063  Or, Who guides you in utter darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as good news before His mercy. Is there a god with Allah? Exalted by Allah above what they associate (with Him).027.064   Or, Who originates the creation, then reproduces it and Who gives you sustenance from the heaven and the earth. Is there a god With Allah? Say: Bring your proof if you are truthful. 027.065   Say: No one in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen but Allah; and they do not know when they shall be raised. )

(010.031  : Say: Who gives you sustenance from the heaven and the earth? Or Who controls the hearing and the sight? And Who brings forth the living from the dead, and brings forth the dead from the living? And Who regulates the affairs? Then they will say: Allah. Say then: Will you not then guard (against evil)? 010.032  This then is Allah, your true Lord; and what is there after the truth but error; how are you then turned back? 010.033 Thus does the word of your Lord prove true against those who transgress that they do not believe? 010.034   Say: Is there any one among your associates who can bring into existence the creation in the first instance, then reproduce it? Say: Allah brings the creation into existence, then He reproduces it; how are you then turned away? 010.035 Say: Is there any of your associates who guides to the truth? Say: Allah guides to the truth. Is He then Who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed, or he who himself does not go aright unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you; how do you judge?

 Asking them who is the creator, Allah or idols

As they believed in Allah, the creator of the universe, the Quranic argument used it against them, asking them who is the creator? The only answer they had is Allah. ( 029.061   And if you ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth and made the sun and the moon subservient, they will certainly say, Allah. Whence are they then turned away? ) ( 031.025   And if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will certainly say: Allah. Say: (All) praise is due to Allah; nay! most of them do not know. )

 (023.084   Say: Whose is the earth, and whoever is therein, if you know? (023.085   They will say: Allah's. Say: Will you not then mind? 023.086   Say: Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the mighty dominion? 023.087 They will say: (This is) Allah's. Say: Will you not then guard (against evil)? 023.088   Say: Who is it in Whose hand is the kingdom of all things and Who gives succor, but against Him Succor is not given, if you do but know? 023.089   They will say: (This is) Allah's. Say: From whence are you then deceived? 023.090   Nay! We have brought to them the truth, and most surely they are liars. )

The very question: why do you worship those idols which cannot harm or benefit themselves or other: (039.038   And should you ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth? They would most certainly say: Allah. Say: Have you then considered that what you call upon besides Allah, would they, if Allah desire to afflict me with harm, be the removers of His harm, or (would they), if Allah desire to show me mercy, be the withholders of His mercy? Say: Allah is sufficient for me; on Him do the reliant rely. )

The idols are not the creators; they are created

The idols used to be (and still) sacred saints and their sacred tombs and statues, besides fabricating stories about their miracles and superstitions. All of them are created. Allah says: (007.191   what! they associate (with Him) that which does not create anything, while they are themselves created!) (016.020 And those whom they call on besides Allah have not created anything while they are themselves created; 016.021   Dead (are they), not living, and they know not when they shall be raised.016.022:Your Allah is one Allah: as to those who believe not in the Hereafter, their hearts refuse to know, and they are arrogant.  016.023Truly Allah knows what they hide and what they manifest; surely He does not love the arrogant.)

To defy the superstitions around the idols:

As they insisted to worship these idols, Allah defied them saying: (031.011 .This is Allah's creation, but show Me what those besides Him have created. Nay, the unjust are in manifest error)

They believe in these idols that could harm or benefit them. They tried to scare Mohamed himself, terrorizing him by the anger of their idols. Allah said to His messenger: (039. Is not Allah sufficient for His servant? And they seek to frighten you with those besides Him)

 To assure that they are unable to harm or to benefit any one:

This came as statement :( 007.192  And they have no power to give them help, nor can they help themselves.)

It came also as a practical challenge, saying about those dead saints inside tombs :( 007.194  Surely those whom you call on besides Allah are servants like yourselves; therefore call on them, then let them answer you if you are truthful. 007.195   Have they feet with which they walk, or have they hands with which they hit , or have they eyes with which they see, or have they ears with which they hear? Say: Call your associates, then make a struggle (to prevail) against me and give me no respite. 007.196   Surely my guardian is Allah, Who revealed the Book, and He defends the righteous. 007.197 And those whom you call upon besides Him are not able to help you, nor can they help themselves)

Logic argument

 Quran uses simple but compelling logic argument in refuting the idol worshippers of Quraysh. For example:

(017.042   Say: If there were with Him gods as they say, then certainly they would have been able to seek a way to the Lord of power.017.043   Glory be to Him and exalted be He in high exaltation above what they say.)

(023.091   Never did Allah take to Himself a son, and never was there with him any (other) god-- in that case would each god have certainly taken away what he created, and some of them would certainly have overpowered others; glory be to Allah above what they describe! )

( 021.021   Or have they taken gods from the earth who raise (the dead).021.022  If there had been in them any gods except Allah, they would both have certainly been in a state of disorder; therefore glory be to Allah, the Lord of the dominion, above what they attribute (to Him).

(016.017   Is He then Who creates like him who does not create? Do you not then mind? )

(052.035  : Were they created of nothing, or were they themselves the creators? (052.036   Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay! they have no certainty.)

(013.016   Say: Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?-- Say: Allah. Say: Do you take then besides Him guardians who do not control any profit or harm for themselves? Say: Are the blind and the seeing alike? Or can the darkness and the light be equal? Or have they set up with Allah associates who have created creation like His, so that what is created became confused to them? Say: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Supreme. )

They worship Allah alone in the difficulties

The pure nature inside human is to believe in Allah alone without any partners. Allah has created man that way, and reminded us to keep that pure nature, or ( Al Fitrah) inside us. It is the real Islam, or the  (Mellat Ebraheem): (030.030   Then set your face upright for religion in the right state-- the nature made by Allah in which He has made men.).

Humans usually forget this pure nature (Al Fitrah) in their struggle for the vanities of this life, but they remember it in the time of difficulties, when their lives in real danger. Allah reminds all humans saying :(039.008  : And when distress afflicts a man he calls upon his Lord turning to Him frequently; then when He makes him possess a favor from Him, he forgets that for which he called upon Him before, and sets up rivals to Allah that he may cause (men) to stray off from His path. Say: Enjoy yourself in your ungratefulness a little, surely you are of the inmates of the fire. )(039.049
  So when harm afflicts a man he calls upon Us; then, when We give him a favor from Us, he says: I have been given it only by means of knowledge. Nay, it is a trial, but most of them do not know.)

Drowning in the sea is a big disaster and big test in which people in ship repent crying for Allah for help, going back to their pure nature inside them. After saving them they forget. (031.032   And when a wave like mountains covers them they call upon Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience, but when He brings them safe to the land, some of them follow the middle course; and none denies Our signs but every perfidious, ungrateful one.) .

This includes Pharaoh of Moses himself when he was drowning (010.090 And We made the children of Israel to pass through the sea, then Pharaoh and his hosts followed them for oppression and tyranny; until when drowning overtook him, he said: I believe that there is no god but He in Whom the children of Israel believe and I am of those who submit.)

This big test is well explained in these verses:010.022:  He it is Who makes you travel by land and sea; until when you are in the ships, and they sail on with them in a pleasant breeze, and they rejoice, a violent wind overtakes them and the billows surge in on them from all sides, and they become certain that they are encompassed about, they pray to Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience: If Thou dost deliver us from this, we will most certainly be of the grateful ones. 010.023   But when He delivers them, lo! they are unjustly rebellious in the earth. O men! your rebellion is against your own souls-- provision (only) of this world's life-- then to Us shall be your return, so We will inform you of what you did. )

Allah asks humans, not only Quraysh many questions in this regard:

( 017.066   Your Lord is He Who speeds the ships for you in the sea that you may seek of His grace; surely He is ever Merciful to you. 017.067   And when distress afflicts you in the sea, away go those whom you call on except He; but when He brings you safe to the land, you turn aside; and man is ever ungrateful. 017.068   What! Do you then feel secure that He will not cause a tract of land to engulf you or send on you a tornado? Then you shall not find a protector for yourselves. 017.069   Or, do you feel secure that He will (not) take you back into it another time, then send on you a fierce gale and thus drown you on account of your ungratefulness? Then you shall not find any aider against Us in the matter. )

He asks them also many similar questions to assure that there is no God but him :

(006.040   Say: Tell me if the chastisement of Allah should overtake you or the hour should come upon you, will you call (on others) besides Allah, if you are truthful? 006.041   Nay, Him you call upon, so He clears away that for which you pray if He pleases and you forget what you set up (with Him).

 (006.046  Say: Have you considered that if Allah takes away your hearing and your sight and sets a seal on your hearts, who is the god besides Allah that can bring it to you? See how We repeat the communications, yet they turn away. 006.047  Say: Have you considered if the chastisement of Allah should overtake you suddenly or openly, will any be destroyed but the unjust people?

(006.063   Say: Who is it that delivers you from the dangers of the land and the sea (when) you call upon Him (openly) humiliating yourselves, and in secret: If He delivers us from this, we should certainly be of the grateful ones. 006.064   Say: Allah delivers you from them and from every distress, but again you set up others (with Him). 006.065   Say: He has the power that He should send on you a chastisement from above you or from beneath your feet, or that He should throw you into confusion, (making you) of different parties; and make some of you taste the fighting of others. See how We repeat the communications that they may understand. 006.066
  And your people call it a lie and it is the very truth. Say: I am not placed in charge of you. 006.067   For every prophecy is a term, and you will come to know (it). )

Debating Quraysh in offering sacrifice for idols

Quraysh invented a Shareeah , or law for offering sacrifice for idols. This included animal sacrifice and human sacrifice. They also invented laws that forbade the food that it was made lawful by Allah.

Generally, they offered these sacrifices to idols which were created by superstitions, had nothing in reality. They offered sacrifices to idols that they did not know: ( 016.056   And they set apart for what they do not know a portion of what We have given them. By Allah, you shall most certainly be questioned about that which you forged.)

They attributed to Allah fabricated laws, giving new terms for these sacrifices and refused to follow the guidance of Allah:( 005.103  : It was not Allah who instituted (superstitions like those of) a slit-ear she-camel, or a she-camel let loose for free pasture, or idol sacrifices for twin-births in animals, or stallion-camels freed from work: It is blasphemers who invent a lie against Allah; but most of them lack wisdom. 005.104   And when it is said to them, Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger, they say: That on which we found our fathers is sufficient for us. What! even though their fathers knew nothing and did not follow the right way. )

Some sacrifices were under the name of Allah, other were for idols, but all of them were given to idols, in reality were given to the elders of Quraysh who had these sacred tombs under their custody and control: ( 006.136   And they set apart a portion for Allah out of what He has created of tilth and cattle, and say: This is for Allah-- so they assert-- and this for our associates; then what is for their associates, it reaches not to Allah, and whatever is (set apart) for Allah, it reaches to their associates; evil is that which they judge.)

Moreover, they sacrificed their sons for their idols. Allah says:( 006.137   And thus their associates have made fair seeming to most of the polytheists the killing of their children that they may cause them to perish and obscure for them their religion; and if Allah had pleased, they would not have done it, therefore leave them and that which they forge.)

Allah has debated them saying :( 006.138   And they say: These are cattle and tilth prohibited, none shall eat them except such as We please-- so they assert-- and cattle whose backs are forbidden, and cattle on which they would not mention Allah's name-- forging a lie against Him; He shall requite them for what they forged. 006.139   And they say: What is in the wombs of these cattle is especially for our males, and forbidden to our wives, and if it be stillborn, then they are all partners in it; He will reward them for their attributing (falsehood to Allah); surely He is Wise, Knowing.( 006.140   They are lost indeed who kill their children foolishly without knowledge, and forbid what Allah has given to them forging a lie against Allah; they have indeed gone astray, and they are not the followers of the right course. 006.141 And He it is Who produces gardens (of vine), trellised and untrellised, and palms and seed-produce of which the fruits are of various sorts, and olives and pomegranates, like and unlike; eat of its fruit when it bears fruit, and pay the due of it on the day of its reaping, and do not act extravagantly; surely He does not love the extravagant. 006.142   And of cattle (He created) beasts of burden and those which are fit for slaughter only; eat of what Allah has given you and do not follow the footsteps of the Shaitan; surely he is your open enemy. 006.143  Eight in pairs-- two of sheep and two of goats. Say: Has He forbidden the two males or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful. 006.144  And two of camels and two of cows. Say: Has He forbidden the two males or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Or were you witnesses when Allah enjoined you this? Who, then, is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah that he should lead astray men without knowledge? Surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.) Finally, Allah gave the Islamic rule in the prohibited food :( 006.145  : Say: I do not find in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden for an eater to eat of except that it be what has died of itself, or blood poured forth, or flesh of swine-- for that surely is unclean-- or that which is a transgression, other than (the name of) Allah having been invoked on it; but whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring nor exceeding the limit, then surely your Lord is Forgiving, Merciful. )

  Travel through the earth and see

According to Quran, many ancient people were destroyed because they rejected the Messengers of Allah, from the time of Noah until Moses and Pharaoh. 017.017 (: And how many of the generations did We destroy after Noah and your Lord is sufficient as Knowing and Seeing with regard to His servants' faults.)

Old Testament mentioned some of them but Quran add the ancient Arab mighty tribes and their Prophets like Hood and Saleh and Sho,aib. In its trade, Quraysh used to travel through the remains of those annihilated nations and the remains of their old civilizations: ( 020.128   Does it not then direct them aright how many of the generations In whose dwelling-places they go about We destroyed before them? Most surely there are signs in this for those endowed with understanding.)

The stories of those annihilated nations were repeated in the Quran. Allah called Quiraysh to travel through the earth to look at the ancient remains to consider the lesson from the past. This was repeated also in the Quran :( 006.011   Say: "Travel through the earth and see what the end of those who rejected Truth was”)

(003.137  Indeed there have been examples before you; therefore travel in the earth and see what was the end of the rejecters. )

(006.011  Say: "Travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who rejected Truth.")

 ( 016.036   And certainly We raised in every nation a messenger saying: Serve Allah and shun the Shaitan. So there were some of them whom Allah guided and there were others against whom error was due; therefore travel in the land, then see what was the end of the rejecters. ) (012.109  And We have not sent before you but men from (among) the people of the towns, to whom We sent revelations. Have they not then travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? And certainly the abode of the hereafter is best for those who guard (against evil); do you not then understand?)

 (027.069    Say: Travel in the earth, then see how was the end of the guilty. )(030.042   Say: Travel in the land, then see how was the end of those before; most of them were polytheists.) (035.044   Have they not travelled in the land and seen how was the end of those before them while they were stronger than these in power? And Allah is not such that any thing in the heavens or in the earth should escape Him; surely He is Knowing, Powerful.)

 (040.021   Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those who were before them? Mightier than these were they in strength-- and in fortifications in the land, but Allah destroyed them for their sins; and there was not for them any defender against Allah. ) (040.082  Have they not then journeyed in the land and seen how was the end of those before them? They were more (in numbers) than these and greater in strength and in fortifications in the land, but what they earned did not avail them.) (047.010 Have they not then journeyed in the land and seen how was the end of those before them: Allah brought down destruction upon them, and the unbelievers shall have the like of it.).

C-Reforming Muslims

 

1-According to his behavior, ( Kafer ) or/and ( Moshrik ) ( Infidel , Idol worshipper ) in the Quranic terminology means transgressor and terrorist that kills innocent and peaceful people. According to his faith, ( Kafer ) or/and ( Moshrik ) ( Infidel , Idol worshipper ) in the Quranic terminology means the one who worship idols beside Allah, and tries to impose his religion on other people. Quraysh in the past and the Saudi Kingdom and the Iranian religious regime are the classic example for this case.

Islam in terms of faith is the submission to God alone. A Muslim by faith is one who submits his heart and face and senses to God. This is the meaning of Islam from a “faith” point of view on which the judgment is to God alone as He alone knows what lays in peoples’ hearts and no other creature could.

Islam in terms of behavior is peaceful dealing on earth. So, Muslim is any peaceful human, regardless of his or her faith and belief. A Muslim is everyone who does not wrong anybody nor shed innocent blood. These are the only boundaries within which we can judge people: every individual that is peaceful in his conduct and behavior is a Muslim regardless of his faith, sect, orientation, culture or religion.

2-The elders of Quraysh were the leaders of idolaters in the Arabian Peninsula. They used their power to subjugate and victimize the weak and poor people in Mecca who used to be passive, helpless and peaceful. So, most of them embraced Islam as a way for salvation in this life. Although they were peaceful, but most of them were in need for religious reform and to be educated high values.

War of ideas in the Quran has two ways: Dismantle peacefully the religious culture of the idolaters and reform Muslims.

Quran - as the final Holly message, that confirms them and explains them – restored the Ten Commandments and added more in order to reform Muslims and purify them.

3- Purifying humans – and Muslim and Arabs in particular – is one of the Islamic missions. The  Prophet Abraham when raising the basic foundations of the Holy Mosque in Mecca with the help of his son Ishmael, prayed asking Allah to send a messenger from among his son Ishmael line age to purify this coming nation. This messenger is Mohamed: 002.127   And when Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House: Our Lord! accept from us; surely you are the Hearing, the Knowing: 002.128   Our Lord! And make us both submissive ( Muslims ) to Thee and (raise) from our offspring a nation submitting to Thee, and show us our ways of devotion and turn to us (mercifully), surely Thou art the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful.002.129  Our Lord! and raise up in them a Messenger from among them who shall recite to them  your verses and teach them the Book and the wisdom, and purify them; surely you are the Mighty, the Wise.). The mission of the final Prophet (Mohamed) had been announced many centuries before the appearance of Quraysh. This mission was repeated in the Quran for reminding  Arab Muslims in particular: ( 003.164 : Certainly Allah conferred a benefit upon the believers when He raised among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them, and teaching them the Book and the wisdom, although before that they were surely in manifest error. ) ( 062.002 He it is Who raised among the Gentiles an Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His verses and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom, although they were before certainly in clear error, )

Quran has many rules in this regard:

The Ten Commandments:

 

Before Mohamed, the Ten Commandments were revealed into Prophet from the lineage of Isaac and Jacob. Quran has brought them for the Arabs and all the humans, saying :(006.151Say: Come I will recite what your Lord has forbidden to you-- (remember) that you do not associate anything with Him and show kindness to your parents, and do not slay your children for (fear of) poverty-- We provide for you and for them-- and do not draw nigh to indecencies, those of them which are apparent and those which are concealed, and do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice; this He has enjoined you with that you may understand.006.152And do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner until he attains his maturity, and give full measure and weight with justice-- We do not impose on any soul a duty except to the extent of its ability; and when you speak, then be just though it be (against) a relative, and fulfill Allah's covenant; this He has enjoined you with that you may be mindful; 006.153And (know) that this  ( Quran ) is  My path, the right one therefore follow it, and follow not (other) ways, for they will lead you away from His way; this He has enjoined you with that you may guard (against evil). ).

Then Allah indicated to the Book of Moses :(006.154Again, We gave the Book to Musa to complete (Our blessings) on him who would do good (to others), and making plain all things and a guidance and a mercy, so that they should believe in the meeting of their Lord.), then saying about the Quran : (006.155And this is a Book We have revealed, blessed; therefore follow it and guard (against evil) that mercy may be shown to you.).

Accordingly, the Ten Commandments are: Worshipping Allah alone, be kind to your parents, do not kill your children, and come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret, do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice, do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner until he attains his maturity, and give full measure and weight with justice, and when you speak, then be just though it be (against) a relative, and fulfill Allah's covenant, and follow the Quran only.

There are three only from these Ten Commandments that related to the faith: Worshipping Allah alone, fulfill Allah's covenant, and follow the Quran only). Other Commandments are laws in dealing with humans : (be kind to your parents, do not kill your children, and come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret, do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice, do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner until he attains his maturity, and give full measure and weight with justice, and when you speak, then be just though it be (against) a relative.).

 

More Commandments

 

1-Those Ten Commandments are repeated and expanded in chapter 17, Sura Al Isra’a: (017.022 Do not associate with Allah any other god, lest you sit down despised, neglected. 017.023And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word.017.024And make yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion, and say: O my Lord! have compassion on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little. 017.025Your Lord knows best what is in your minds; if you are good, then He is surely Forgiving to those who turn (to Him) frequently. 017.026 And give to the near of kin his due and (to) the needy and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully. 017.027 Surely the squanderers are brothers of the devils, and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord. 017.028And if you turn away from them to seek mercy from your Lord, which you hope for, speak to them a gentle word.017.029And do not make your hand to be shackled to your neck nor stretch it forth to the utmost (limit) of its stretching forth, lest you should (afterwards) sit down blamed, stripped off. 017.030Surely your Lord makes plentiful the means of subsistence for whom He pleases and He straitens (them); surely He is ever Aware of, Seeing, His servants. 017.031And do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We give them sustenance and yourselves (too); surely to kill them is a great wrong. 017.032And go not nigh to fornication; surely it is an indecency and an evil way. 017.033 And do not kill any one whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause, and whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided. /017.034And draw not near to the property of the orphan except in a goodly way till he attains his maturity and fulfill the promise; surely (every) promise shall be questioned about. 017.035And give full measure when you measure out, and weigh with a true balance; this is fair and better in the end. 017.036 And follow not that of which you have not the knowledge; surely the hearing and the sight and the heart, all of these, shall be questioned about that. 017.037And do not go about in the land exultingly, for you cannot cut through the earth nor reach the mountains in height. 017.038All this-- the evil of it-- is hateful in the sight of your Lord. 017.039This is of what your Lord has revealed to you of wisdom, and do not associate any other god with Allah lest you should be thrown into hell, blamed, cast away. )

Here, the Islamic faith in believing in Allah alone was confirmed twice in the beginning and at the end: (017.022 Do not associate with Allah any other god,) (and do not associate any other god with Allah lest you should be thrown into hell, blamed, cast away ).

Other nine commandments were repeated here with more details: (. 017.023 And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word.017.024 And make yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion, and say: O my Lord! have compassion on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little. 017.025 Your Lord knows best what is in your minds; if you are good, then He is surely forgiving to those who turn (to Him) frequently) (. 017.028 And if you turn away from them to seek mercy from your Lord, which you hope for, speak to them a gentle word. )( 017.031 And do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We give them sustenance and yourselves (too); surely to kill them is a great wrong. 017.032 And go not nigh to fornication; surely it is an indecency and an evil way. 017.033  And do not kill any one whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause, and whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided. /017.034And draw not near to the property of the orphan except in a goodly way till he attains his maturity and fulfill the promise; surely (every) promise shall be questioned about. 017.035 And give full measure when you measure out, and weigh with a true balance; this is fair and better in the end.)(039 This is of what your Lord has revealed to you of wisdom.).

There are more commandments: (017.026 And give to the near of kin his due and (to) the needy and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully. 017.027 Surely the squanderers are brothers of the devils, and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord. 017.028 And if you turn away from them to seek mercy from your Lord, which you hope for, speak to them a gentle word.017.029 And do not make your hand to be shackled to your neck nor stretch it forth to the utmost (limit) of its stretching forth, lest you should (afterwards) sit down blamed, stripped off  )( 017.036 And follow not that of which you have not the knowledge; surely the hearing and the sight and the heart, all of these, shall be questioned about that. 017.037 And do not go about in the land exultingly, for you cannot cut through the earth nor reach the mountains in height. )

Some of these commandments were repeated and confirmed here: (004.036 And serve Allah and do not associate anything with Him and be good to the parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the neighbor of (your) kin and the alien neighbor, and the companion in a journey and the wayfarer and those whom your right hands possess; surely Allah does not love him who is proud, boastful;)

 

2-There are two kinds of believers, bad believers and good believers who will be the winners in the Day of Judgment. Those winners are described in Sura (Al Mo’omenoun ) or the Believers. Its first verses say: (023.001  Successful indeed are the believers, 023.002 Who are humble in their prayers, 023.003 Who avoid vain talk; 023.004who are purifying themselves,023.005 And who guard their private parts, 023.006   Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or or those whom their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy, 023.007 But whoever seeks to go beyond that, these are they that exceed the limits; 023.008 And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant, 023.009 And those who keep a guard on their prayers; 023.010  These will be the heirs, 023.011  Who will inherit Paradise: they will dwell therein (for ever). ).

3-In Sura Al Forkan, Chapter 25, we have more details:

(025.063 And the servants of the Almighty Allah are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace. 025.064  And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing (in prayers).025.065 And they who say: O our Lord! turn away from us the punishment of hell, surely the punishment thereof is a lasting 025.066 Surely it is an evil abode and (evil) place to stay. 025.067 And they who when they spend, are neither extravagant nor parsimonious, and (keep) between these the just mean. 025.068  And they who do not call upon another god with Allah and do not slay the soul, which Allah has forbidden except in the requirements of justice, and (who) do not commit fornication and he who does this shall find a requital of sin; 025.069 The punishment shall be doubled to him on the day of resurrection, and he shall abide therein in abasement; 025.070 Except him who repents and believes and does a good deed; so these are they of whom Allah changes the evil deeds to good ones; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. 025.071 And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah with an (acceptable) conversion;- 025.072 And they who do not bear witness to what is false, and when they pass by what is vain, they pass by nobly. 025.073
And they who, when reminded of the communications of their Lord, do not fall down thereat deaf and blind.025.074 And they who say: O our Lord! grant us in our wives and our offspring the joy of our eyes, and make us guides to those who guard (against evil). 025.075 These shall be rewarded with high places because they were patient, and shall be met therein with greetings and salutations. 025.076 Abiding therein; goodly the abode and the resting-place. ).

4- More details : 013.019   Is he then who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like him who is blind? Only those possessed of understanding will mind, 013.020   Those who fulfill the promise of Allah and do not break the covenant, 013.021   And those who join that which Allah has bidden to be joined and have awe of their Lord and fear the evil reckoning. 013.022   And those who are constant, seeking the pleasure of their Lord, and keep up prayer and spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them secretly and openly and repel evil with good; as for those, they shall have the (happy) issue of the abode.013.023   The gardens of perpetual abode which they will enter along with those who do good from among their parents and their spouses and their offspring; and the angels will enter in upon them from every gate: 013.024  Peace be on you because you were constant, how excellent, is then, the issue of the abode. 013.025  And those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying it, and sever that which Allah hath commanded should be joined, and make mischief in the earth: theirs is the curse and theirs the ill abode.

 
 5- In some details, the Quranic teachings include even how to walk and how to talk and the good manner in dealing with each other in homes and in parties, in eating and dressing:

(025.063  And the servants of the Almighty Allah are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace.)

(004.148  : Allah does not love the public utterance of hurtful speech unless (it be) by one to whom injustice has been done; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. 004.149   If you do good openly or do it in secret or pardon an evil then surely Allah is Pardoning, Powerful. )

 (017.037 And do not go about in the land exultingly, for you cannot cut through the earth nor reach the mountains in height)

(031.018  And do not turn your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exulting overmuch; surely Allah does not love any self-conceited boaster; 031.019   And pursue the right course in your going about and lower your voice; surely the most hateful of voices is braying of the asses. )

(024.027   O you who believe! Do not enter houses other than your own houses until you have asked permission and saluted their inmates; this is better for you, that you may be mindful. 024.028   But if you do not find any one therein, then do not enter them until permission is given to you; and if it is said to you: Go back, then go back; this is purer for you; and Allah is Cognizant of what you do.024.029   It is no sin in you that you enter uninhabited houses wherein you have your necessaries; and Allah knows what you do openly and what you hide. 024.030 Say to the believing men that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts; that is purer for them; surely Allah is Aware of what they do. 024.031   And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; and turn to Allah all of you, O believers! so that you may be successful.  )

(024.058   O you who believe! let those whom your right hands possess and those of you who have not attained to puberty ask permission of you three times; before the morning prayer, and when you put off your clothes at midday in summer, and after the prayer of the nightfall; these are three times of privacy for you; neither is it a sin for you nor for them besides these, some of you must go round about (waiting) upon others; thus does Allah make clear to you the communications, and Allah is Knowing, Wise. 024.059   And when the children among you have attained to puberty, let them seek permission as those before them sought permission; thus does Allah make clear to you His communications, and Allah is knowing, Wise. 024.060   And (as for) women advanced in years who do not hope for a marriage, it is no sin for them if they put off their clothes without displaying their ornaments; and if they restrain themselves it is better for them; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. 024.061  There is no blame on the blind man, nor is there blame on the lame, nor is there blame on the sick, nor on yourselves that you eat from your houses, or your fathers' houses or your mothers' houses, or your brothers' houses, or your sisters' houses, or your paternal uncles' houses, or your paternal aunts' houses, or your maternal uncles' houses, or your maternal aunts' houses, or what you possess the keys of, or your friends' (houses). It is no sin in you that you eat together or separately. So when you enter houses, greet your people with a salutation from Allah, blessed (and) goodly; thus does Allah make clear to you the communications that you may understand.)

(049.011   O you who believe! let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nicknames; evil is a bad name after faith, and whoever does not turn, these it is that are the unjust. 049.012  : O you who believe! avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful. 049.013  O you men! surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty); surely Allah is Knowing, Aware. )

6- There are more details in applying justice and fulfilling the promise and not to use the name of Allah for the vanities of this life :

 ( 016.090   Surely Allah enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion; He admonishes you that you may be mindful. 016.091 And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have made a covenant, and do not break the oaths after making them fast, and you have indeed made Allah a surety for you; surely Allah   knows what you do.016.092 And be not like her who unravels her yarn, disintegrating it into pieces after she has spun it strongly. You make your oaths to be means of deceit between you because (one) nation is more numerous than (another) nation. Allah only tries you by this; and He will most certainly make clear to you on the resurrection day that about which you differed. 016.093  And if Allah willed He would certainly make you a one nation, but He misguides whom chooses misguidance and guides whom chooses guidance, and most certainly you will be questioned as to what you did. 016.094  And do not make your oaths a means of deceit between you, lest a foot should slip after its stability and you should taste evil because you turned away from Allah's way and grievous punishment be your (lot). 016.095
 Nor sell the covenant of Allah for a miserable price: for with Allah is (a prize) far better for you, if ye only knew.  016.096 What is with you must vanish: what is with Allah will endure. And We will certainly bestow, on those who patiently persevere, their reward according to the best of their actions. 016.097  Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.)

 (004.135   O you who believe! be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness of Allah's sake, though it may be against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives; if he be rich or poor, Allah is nearer to them both in compassion; therefore do not follow (your) low desires, lest you deviate; and if you swerve or turn aside, then surely Allah is aware of what you do.)

(005.001   O you who believe! fulfill the obligations. ) (005.008   O you who believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice, and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably, that is nearer to piety, and he careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is Aware of what you do. )

(  042.040   And the recompense of evil is punishment like it, but whoever forgives and amends, he shall have his reward from Allah; surely He does not love the unjust. 042.041  And whoever defends himself after his being oppressed, these it is against whom there is no way (to blame). 042.042  : The way (to blame) is only against those who oppress men and revolt in the earth unjustly; these shall have a painful punishment.  )

 002.027  : Those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying it, and sever that which Allah ordered to be joined, and (who) make mischief in the earth: Those are they who are the losers.
 003.077   (As for) those who take a small price for the covenant of Allah and their own oaths-- surely they shall have no portion in the hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them, nor will He look upon them on the day of resurrection nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful chastisement.).

These are just Quranic  samples, but the big test is in Jihad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter three

Concept of Jihad, the core of war of ideas

Before Jihad:

The starting point goes back to the Quranic term ‘those who believed’ and its original meaning being ‘Those who choose safety and security in their dealing with other even if they were persecuted and harassed by them. They are believers even if their faith does not respond to the Islamic monotheism.’ We understand better the intended meaning of ‘those who believed’ from the verse that says (“Oh you who believed! Believe in God and His messenger, and the scripture which He sent before. Any who denies God, His Angles, His Books, his messengers, and the Day of Judgment, has strayed far away’. (4:136). Thus God calls upon the believers, i.e., the peaceful ones to have a belief and faith in God, his prophets and his holy books. In other words, he calls upon those who chose peace to add to it the inner belief in God, His prophets, and His books.

 

Generally, in many Quranic verses the expression ‘Oh you who believed’ does not implies any particular religious group. It’s addressing those who choose peace as a way of life calling them to accept religion because He said ‘Oh you who believed!’ in other words, to complement the belief in security and peace by the true sincere belief in one God, His books and His prophets, and to finally be able to reach the blessing of paradise in the hereafter, namely peace and security. By the context we recognize the verses that indicate to the believers who were around the Prophet Mohammed.

 

In this regard we read in the Quranic war of ideas that tried to reform the believers around the Prophet Mohammed:

(066.006  : O you who believe! save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones; over it are angels stern and strong, they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, and do as they are commanded. )

(033.069  : O ye who believe! Be not as those who slandered Moses, but Allah proved his innocence of that which they alleged, and he was well esteemed in Allah's sight. 033.070   O you who believe! be careful of(your duty to) Allah and speak the right word, 033.071  : He will put your deeds into a right state for you, and forgive you your faults; and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, he indeed achieves a mighty success. )

After defeating Quraysh in the battle of Badr, some Muslims were in need for reform and education. This is from these Quranic verses:

( 008.020 O you who believe! obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn back from Him while you hear.008.021 And be not like those who said, We hear, and they did not obey. 08.022
 Surely the vilest of animals, in Allah's sight, are the deaf, the dumb, who do not understand. 008.023 And if Allah had known any good in them He would have made them hear, and if He makes them hear they would turn back while they withdraw.008.024 O you who believe! answer (the call of) Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life; and know that Allah intervenes between man and his heart, and that to Him you shall be gathered. 008.025
 And fear an affliction which may not smite those of you in particular who are unjust; and know that Allah is severe in requiting (evil).008.026 And remember when you were few, deemed weak in the land, fearing lest people might carry you off by force, but He sheltered you and strengthened you with His aid and gave you of the good things that you may give thanks. 008.027 O you who believe! be not unfaithful to Allah and the Messenger, nor be unfaithful to your trusts while you know. 008.028And know that your property and your children are a temptation, and that Allah is He with Whom there is a mighty reward. 008.029 O you who believe! If you are careful of (your duty to) Allah, He will grant you a distinction and do away with your evils and forgive you; and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace.)

They were believers according to their manner, or according the Arabic root of the word ( Iman ) which is (Amn ) or security. So the believer in behavior is the one whom you trust as a peaceful human regardless of his faith. The Muslims and the believers around the Prophet Mohamed were peaceful and trust worthy but needed to be reformed in their faith. Before the death of the Prophet Mohamed Allah warned them from idolizing saints and sacred tombs saying directly to them: (005.090:O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (worshipping) tombs, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that you may be successful. 005.091   And obey Allah and obey the messenger and be cautious; but if you turn back, then know that only a clear deliverance of the message is (incumbent) on Our messenger. )

 Quranic war of ideas against allying the tribe, who were transgressors

Beside its war of ideas, Quraysh persecuted early Muslims and the Prophet Mohammed as well. It Early Muslims had to escape it twice immigrating to Al Habasha (Ethiopia), then to Al Madina. After escaping persecution in Mecca, Quraysh continued attacking Muslims in their new home at Al Madina, while it was prohibited for Muslims in that time to defend themselves. Permission was given to Muslims to fight only for defense not to attack unjustly.

For Early Muslims it was a big test, as most of them were passive and helpless and accepted persecution according to the Middle age culture that gave the elders of society the right to subjugate the poor people and the low class hard working people. This problem was more complex in the Arabian Peninsula where the tribal culture makes the person belong to his or her tribe, allying himself or herself to them as the tribe was the only some sort of state they had. Early passive peaceful helpless Muslims were victimized by this culture and were ready to tolerate persecution from the elders of their mighty Quraysh tribe. So the Quranic war of ideas had to deal with this issue of belonging to the religion of Islam or allying their tribe, supporting freedom of belief or supporting tribe supporting justice or supporting their tribe.

It was not easy for early Muslims as they had to sacrifice their belonging to their tribe for new order: Belonging to the new religion revealed to the Prophet Mohamed. It was not easy because they had to be enemy to their families and tribe; and to immigrate and even to fight their loved ones for the sake of Islam.

This opened a new page in war of ideas in which the Quran urged the early Muslims to be active and to stand for their rights facing their own people and families and all tribal tradition.

This leads us to discuss the issue of the identity of Muslim or belonging, is he/she belongs to his people, or his religion of Islam which means the unlimited freedom of religion for all and justice for all and peace in dealing with all, and Jihad to support all these high values ?

This is the basic of understanding the test of allying these Islamic values or allying the tribe and the people when they are against these values.

The essence of belonging:

A -It is that strong feeling that prompts a person to choose a way, a path and strives in its cause. Religion or Faith, linguistically in Arabic, means Way, Path, Road. Every human being chooses for himself a religion or a way in his life to interact accordingly with his Creator and people around him. Belonging is the center piece of this interaction

B- According to the Quran, and with respect to divinity, people are of two types. There is the one that believes in Almighty Allah alone as deity, no partner, no counterpart, did not bear an offspring, nor was He borne, and nothing is comparable to Him, believes in the Day of Resurrection, conducts himself in this life according to what Almighty Allah demands from him, obeys Him hoping to be one of the successful on that Day.

Then there is the vast majority of mankind that worships (DESIRE), any thing that the self desires in this life. All DESIRES have but one way, which is the longing for this earthly life, to gain wealth, power, prestige, glory, influence, pleasure and selfish cravings. Under the title of DESIRES, they differ. Some of them are atheists with their gods they belong to, some of them are followers of man-made religions that allows and permits all means to achieve status, power, wealth by any method, and there are some who consider their god they belong to, mere slogans to deceive people by, like pan nationalism, nationalism and workers’ rights, their goals is to reach power and wealth, as manifested by politico- religious careerists.

Then there is the silent crushed majority, the prey that the mightiest of the gladiators compete to rule and exploit, with their religious, national, pan national and social slogans. The dominant desire controlling that silent majority is to secure the basic needs of shelter, guaranteed steady income, health benefits, and security for his children and to live in peace. Towards that end, he sacrifices his strength and his life, and this is his practical religion which never exceeds the requirements of this life. Even when he prays to Almighty Allah, or besieges the saints, holy men, sacred graves and tombs to intercede on his behalf, his aspirations are limited to livelihood, kids’ success and marrying off the girls and to make it safely out of the hands of the oppressive ruler….and the rest of those trivial things. But the afterlife, he does not even think about, because he was oversaturated with ideas from his man-made religion that he will enter heaven, regardless of what he had done, for paradise is guaranteed for him with the prophet’s and other saint’ intercession. Or for the mere uttering of the two phrases of ” I bear witness” (1)-That there is no god except Allah and,(2)-That Mohammad is His messenger, but what is not guaranteed for him in this life is his sustenance, which is exactly opposite what have been mentioned in the Quran. For Almighty Allah has guaranteed sustenance to all creation and mankind regardless of their belief or disbelief. (2.126) (17. 18 - ) (11. 6) (29. 60) (6.151) (17.030 -) As for Paradise, (Entrance) is not guaranteed except for those who work for it diligently.

 

C-The issue of Identity in Islam has nothing to do with the one who follows his desires and chooses this earthly life over the eternal one. This type, his identity has been determined by his desires in this life; his identity is for this life. The worst of this type is the so called godly that uses religion to achieve power, or to provide means of living ,because he is deceiving people in the name of Almighty Allah, taking up lying as a vocation and spreading untruths upon which his earthly man-made religion is established to cheat and deceive.

D-The issue of identity and belonging in Islam is restricted to those who believe in Almighty Allah and Day of Resurrection, work for the pleasure of Almighty Allah, to attain his favor and his paradise, and always strive to do good deeds, to maintain justice and secure people’s rights without any religious ambitions or without asking for anything in return. It is the task of prophets and those who walk in their footsteps.

E-This believer; who strives in pursuit of Almighty Allah’s pleasure, to whom does he belong? What is his identity?

  The true believer and nationalism (tribe, people)

 

Does the true believer belong to his people?

The Glorious Quran recognizes nationalism when it mentions every prophet’s dealings with his own people. Does that mean that the prophets and their followers belong to and have allegiance with their people? Here we have to point out few things:

 

One-Every prophet used to summon his people to Faith by calling them (My people).This form of speech was repeated in the Quran. Some prophets even addressed their people after their demise, addressed them feeling sorry how they ended up. (7.79, 93) It means they were his people even after death.

 

Two- Determining nationality in Islam is by ancestry and living within a society, that is coexisting, or by both. For an incoming stranger, acquires a certain people’s nationality by living, sharing and interacting with them. Prophet LUT migrated with his uncle ABRAHAM from Iraq to Jordan and lived with different people than his uncle, and by living with them he became their brother and their description became people of LUT or LUT’s brothers. (50. 13) (11. 78)

A prophet or a person might belong to and be identified with his people by bloodline, though he was brought up far from them, but is considered one of them through bloodline and heritage. Moses grew up and was raised inside the Pharaoh’s castle , while his people were undergoing all sorts of torture from the pharaoh, as soon as he was in contact with the general public, he committed a murder, he fled the scene, leaving his people and his (homeland) and went to Syria. He returned to Egypt, few years later as a prophet, addressing children of Israel as his people, although he never lived among them. (7.128 -)

Here, nationality is determined by bloodline and ethnicity and not by living the society or the environment.

 

Three- Determination of nationality (being part of a certain people) is not affected by a prophet’s people denial of his message and his mission. They are still considered his people no matter how antagonistic they are to him and his message. He might even use this connection of common background to endear them to his message, and to show them how concerned he is for their safety. Every prophets used to say to his people (my people) and Almighty Allah refers to them as (his people),) despite their going astray, their deviation from the truth and their refusal of him, he is wooing them and they are abusing him. They are still his people even though they caused him all kinds of hardship. (7. 59 - ) (7. 65) (7. 66) (7. 67) (7. 68) (61. 5)

The same thing happened with the seal of all prophets Mohamed and his people of Quraysh, who denied him. Almighty Allah informs the prophet and about (his people), saying about the Quran: (43. 44): (And most surely it is a reminder for you and your people, and you shall soon be questioned ). So prophet Mohammad and his people were asked to believe in this Glorious Quran and to follow it, for they will be asked about it, like he will be, on Day of Resurrection. But Prophet Mohammad’s people, renounced and disbelieved in this Quranic truth all together, consequently, Almighty Allah ordered his prophet to declare that he is not responsible for them, for they are still his people, although they denied him and his mission. (6. 66).

 

Four-The duty of a prophet towards his people is to summon them to the worship of Almighty Allah, having no deity except HIM, to advise and preach to them, even when they go astray. He was ordered to persevere with their abuse, and if they insisted upon their conviction, he was not allowed to force them to adhere to the religion, rather to tell them to remain on what they believe in, and that he will remain on what he believes in. If this abuse escalated to torture and attempts on life, then time to declare absolution of belonging to the people, to migrate from his abode which he considered home, and not to partake in his people’s actions. Likewise did Abraham and the believers when they declared their innocence of their people’s actions and migrated from their homeland, Iraq. (60. 4 - ) .Here, Almighty Allah used them as an example for the migrating companions to learn not to maintain their allegiance to their people the Qureishite, who expelled the prophet Mohamed and the companions from their towns and their homes. (60. 1- ) 

To migrate away from one’s own people and to absolve one’s self from their deeds does negate the presence of nationalism. We saw the people of Mohammad are the same people until all will come back on Resurrection Day, when the prophet will be their adversary and a witness against them that they have deserted the Quran ( 25 :30 ) (And the Messenger cried out: O my Lord! surely my people have treated this Quran as a forsaken thing ). The existence of nationalism, its permanence and to recognize it does not mean that a believer belongs to it. The believer here includes the prophet and anyone who genuinely believes in and follows the true divinely inspired religion.

 We said that the prophet employs national ties as a means to summon and call for Truth. He addresses his people derived from his love and concern for them, calls upon them to seek righteousness, goodness and success in this life and the hereafter. He does not coerce them into believing; he returns their abuse with tenderness and kindness and endures it. If peaceful methods fail with them, he has to absolve himself from them, leave them and migrate abandoning them and his home. For here, affiliation and belonging of the prophet and the true believer is to Truth and not to people, he does not ask for compensation or glory, he just calls upon them to follow the Truth and what is good. If they refuse, he respects their refusal, and leaves them to their choice, if they went to extremes in abusing and persecuting him, it becomes imperative upon him to desert them and to declare his innocence of their actions, though they are still his people.

Quranic examples for: Not to ally your enemy the transgressors who are persecuting you or fighting you:

In early years after Immigrating to Al Madina, and before the real fight between Muslims and the transgressors of Quraysh, early Muslim immigrants suffered home sick which increased inside them the belonging to their Qurayshi tribe and their town of Mecca. This made some of them in a mood of allying the enemy (Quraysh) against their fellow Muslims.

Chapter 60 dealt with this case directly saying:

(060.001   O you who believe! do not take My enemy and your enemy for allies: would you offer them love while they deny what has come to you of the truth, driving out the Messenger and yourselves because you believe in Allah, your Lord? If you go forth struggling hard in My path and seeking My pleasure, would you manifest love to them? And I know what you conceal and what you manifest; and whoever of you does this, he indeed has gone astray from the straight path)

This is about their past, what about future?: The answer in the next verse :

(.060.002    If they find you, they will be your enemies, and will stretch forth towards you their hands and their tongues with evil, and they ardently desire that you may disbelieve.).

This is about the future in this life, what about the future in the Day of Judgment? The answer in next verse:

 ( 060.003  : Your relationship would not profit you, nor your children on the day of resurrection; He will decide between you; and Allah sees what you do. )

The next three verses gave them good example from their old Grandfather Abraham asking them to follow it:

(060.004  : Indeed, there is for you a good example in Ibrahim and those with him when they said to their people: Surely we are clear of you and of what you serve besides Allah; we declare ourselves to be clear of you, and enmity and hatred have appeared between us and you forever until you believe in Allah alone-- but not in what Ibrahim said to his father: I would certainly ask forgiveness for you, and I do not control for you aught from Allah-- Our Lord! on Thee do we rely, and to Thee do we turn, and to Thee is the eventual coming: 060.005   Our Lord! Make us not a prey for those who disbelieve, and forgive us, our Lord! Lo! Thou, only Thou, are the Mighty, the Wise. 060.006  : There was indeed in them an excellent example for you to follow,- for those whose hope is in Allah and in the Last Day. But if any turn away, truly Allah is Free of all Wants, Worthy of all Praise. )
Then the sixth verse gave them a hope that they may become friend after this enmity : (060.007  : It may be that Allah will bring about friendship between you and those whom you hold to be your enemies among them; and Allah is Powerful; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.).

The two verses 7 and 8 established the rules of fighting and allying in a clear term: (060.008  : Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice. (060.009   Allah only forbids you respecting those who made war upon you on account of (your) religion, and drove you forth from your homes and backed up (others) in your expulsion, that you ally them, and whoever makes friends with them, these are the unjust. )

However, Some of Muslims disobeyed it for many years. So, Quran said to them in the last chapter revealed in the Quran:

( 009.023  O you who believe ! take not for alliance your fathers and your brothers if they love infidelity above Faith: and whoever of you takes them for a guardian, these it is that are the unjust. 009.024   Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates and your kinsfolk and property which you have acquired, and the slackness of trade which you fear and dwellings which you like, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait till Allah brings about His command: and Allah does not guide the transgressing people.)

Migration

1-Migration is the corner stone in the belonging of the believer to his faith and not to his people or his country or homeland. Migration becomes compulsory when persecution reaches unbearable levels, when the believer’s faith is threatened; his practice of his faith is restricted, prohibited, severely harmed, suffer of unjustified pursuit, torture, imprisonment and murder. Migration then is not a choice, but a duty, leaving his home, and his people, despite the fact that they are his people. Migration in this situation is very crucial, for based on his decision; his eternal fate will be decided; if he was capable of migrating and chose not to, holding unto his people and his home, acquiescing to oppression and injustice, his abode will be hellfire. But if he was incapable of migrating though he would have liked to, then he is forgiven :

( 004.097  : When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say: "In what (plight) Were ye?" They reply: "Weak and oppressed Were we in the earth." They say: "Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away (From evil)?" Such men will find their abode in Hell,- What an evil refuge! - 004.098  : Except those who are (really) weak and oppressed - men, women, and children - who have no means in their power, nor (a guide-post) to their way. 004.099 : So these, it may be, Allah will pardon them, and Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving. )

Almighty Allah promises those who migrated, endured hardship and relied on Allah, with ample reward in this life and the hereafter : (016.041 :   To those who leave their homes in the cause of Allah, after suffering oppression,- We will assuredly give a goodly home in this world; but truly the reward of the Hereafter will be greater. If they only realized (this)! 016.042   (They are) those who persevere in patience, and put their trust on their Lord. )

(016.110   Yet surely your Lord, with respect to those who fly after they are persecuted, then they struggle hard and are patient, most surely your Lord after that is Forgiving, Merciful.)

(022.058  : Those who leave their homes in the cause of Allah, and are then slain or die,- On them will Allah bestow verily a goodly Provision: Truly Allah is He Who bestows the best provision.  022.059  : Verily He will admit them to a place with which they shall be well pleased: for Allah is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing. )

2-Migration also is a fundamental element in choosing the afterlife. For this life is but a bridge to cross to get to the eternal life, its joys and pleasures are mere ornaments and trials, all will be rendered ruins, that is why a believer keeps the afterlife between his eyes by doing good deeds, for those are the lasting things for the Day of Resurrection. (18. 7 – 8 . 48 ) ( 57 . 20 )

 

3-- Migration is tied to the purpose of creating mankind and to creating the universe to test mankind. For, Almighty Allah, created all this, created life and death, to test Man on this earth.(11. 7) (67. 2 - ). And appointed to each human being a time when he comes to this earth to live as a person, to live on it a specified period of time, then the person will die and this (self) will return to that abode it came from. And when all humanity is done with this trial period, this universe as we know it will be destroyed, thereby ending this earthly life and this Present Day making way for the Later Day, Day of Judgment, and either hellfire or paradise.(14. 48 ).

A believer understands that, and ever-present in his mind the notion that Almighty Allah did not create this universe in vain, (3.190-) (21. 16) (46. 3) (75. 36- ) (23.115) 

No, He created man for a trial no one can escape and no alternative for. So his belonging is to the everlasting permanent Afterlife and not to this someday, vanishing disappearing life. A believer is certain with this knowledge, how important it is, this short time he is permitted to be in this life, and how important it is to invest it, in doing what is good, to benefit him later on, and to have a genuine faith in Almighty Allah and in the Day After. It would be foolish for a believer to waste his limited stay in this life and the trial period, in being subjugated to religious persecution, that is why it is important for him, due to his awareness of the Afterlife, to leave his homeland of a country that seizes his right for free worship, and to absolve himself of those arrogant among his people who abuse him, trying to force him to go back off the right track. Belonging to the Afterlife fulfils an expectation for the believer to enjoy his freedom in exercising his faith and religion, for the duration of what is left for him on this planet, till the day he meets Almighty Allah on Resurrection Day and succeed in this trial on the Day of Reckoning.

 

4- Almighty Allah says: “O My servants who believe! Surely My earth is vast, therefore Me alone should you serve. Every soul must taste of death, then to Us you shall be brought back” (29. 56 - ).

This earth that Almighty Allah has created is very spacious, and because it is spherical, it extends to no end. A man on this earth is like an ant on a watermelon, an ant would keep moving along the surface of a watermelon without reaching the end, in that context, and earth is spacious with no end. But life is limited for Man, and every human being will someday taste death. Accordingly, if you were predetermined to live 60 years, your age which is limited with the arrival of death to end it, diminishes with every day that goes by, and it is incumbent on you, if you were a believer, who defined his belonging by believing in Allah and the Day After, that you do not waste a single minute of your life, for the minute that expires will never return, for you are riding the train of Time. It is not a train that never stops nor does it go back for any reason but keeps moving forward, and when the station for you disembark arrives-through death-then you must leave the train of life and time, and you become a prisoner to your deeds, good or bad. It is utter foolishness for a believer to waste his life and the time assigned for him on earth in a state of surrender to the one who despises him for his religion, and to the one who prevents him from practicing his faith and his rituals freely. He must migrate to Almighty Allah striving to utilize what is left of his life in attaining belonging to Allah and His religion.

 

5-Notice the word (My Earth), in His saying Glory to Him, “O My servants who believe! Surely My earth is vast”, (29. 56),here, the term, earth is attributed to Almighty Allah and is owned by Him, It is the only time that the term (My Earth) was mentioned in the Glorious Quran, although the word, Earth and its derivatives were mentioned 461 times in the Glorious Quran. What is intended here with the term (Earth), is that which people fight over, yet it belongs to Almighty Allah. A day will come when Allah Almighty will destroy this earth, and people will be summoned to account for their deeds, after a short predetermined life span, wasted by most people fighting and chasing an earthly mirage, forgetting that death, the big Zero, is in wait for them all. The ones, who will survive and escape the consequences of this Zero, are those who worked for the Hereafter, paid its dues while believing (17. 19).

 

6--The reference here to the spacious earth, came to emphasize upon the believer specifically in the matter of migration, if they restricted your freedom in this land, then Almighty Allah’s earth is spacious, this emphasis was repeated in rebuking those who were capable of migrating, yet lagged behind. Upon his death and upon losing his chance, the Angels of death would blame them. Allah says : “When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say: "In what (plight) Were ye?" They reply: "Weak and oppressed Were we in the earth." They say: "Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away (From evil)?" Such men will find their abode in Hell,- What an evil refuge! “. (4. 97  )

Almighty Allah says about the spacious earth for those who migrate in it,” He who forsakes his home in the cause of Allah, finds in the earth Many hardships, and abundance in the earth, Should he die as a refugee from home for Allah and His Messenger, His reward becomes due and sure with Allah: And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (4.100). By  hardships, you earn Almighty Allah’s pleasure when confronting difficulties and exercising patience in dealing with them, afterwards comes Almighty Allah’s abundant grace in His spacious earth.

This hardship in immigration for the cause of Allah needs patience. Almighty Allah also says "O ye my servants who believe! Fear your Lord, good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is Allah's earth! Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!" (39. 10). It is obligatory on the believer to be God-conscious in belief and in action. In return for his good deed, he will reap good reward. Almighty Allah’s earth is spacious before the believer in his short time on it. Nothing is asked of him except exercise patience, and the reward for patient persevering people is unlimited. The problem in Islamic Jihad was more.

 

  Legislation of jihad in the Islam

 

Let’s begin with the real Islamic Jihad as it is written in the Quran then the Quranic war of ideas which was needed to convince the early Muslims to accept this Jihad while they were victimized by their Arabian tribal culture.

  Understanding laws of Jihad in Islam

According to Quranic terminology, jihad is the striving of the soul, money, and energy to please God by all means. It includes giving money to the poor regardless of their religion and faith, and to fight only to defend not to attack. (29:8, 8:72, 25:52).  The Quran sets the legislation for jihad, its commandments, its principles and its final aims.

Generally, Quranic legislation is based on commandments or orders which serve principles or rules, and those principles or rules in turn serve the basic Islamic aims and values.

Regarding jihad, the order: “fight” is based on rules of self-defense in response to violent attack, or in the Quranic term, “fighting in the cause of God.” This principle serves the final aim/value of fighting which is to assure religious freedom and prevent religious persecution.

The greater value of jihad in Islam is to allow every person to follow the religion of his or her choice without any persecution. The Muslim state has to fight to prevent persecution and to defend itself and its freedom of belief and speech for the value of jihad.  In this way, every one has the freedom of choice in the realm of religion and he or she will be responsible before God only on the Last Day based to his/her freedom of choice. In this life, one is responsible only before society if he or she violates the rights of other people. 

For example, God said, “And fight in the cause of God those who are fighting you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, God loves not transgressors.” (2:190). Here the commandment is to fight and the principle is “in the cause of God those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, God loves not transgressors.” To fight for the cause of God means to fight according to His legislation which forbids transgression. God repeated and confirmed the same meaning, “...Then whoever attacks you, you may attack them to inflict an equivalent retribution.” (2:193).

The ultimate goal of this legislation in His saying is, “and fights them until there is no more oppression.”(2: 193). Therefore, the prevention of oppression is the essential aim for the legislation of fighting. Oppression in the Arabic and Quranic language means ‘fitnah,’ which is used in the Quranic terminology to refer to religious persecution committed by the criminal unbelievers in Mecca against the early Muslims. That persecution included the continuous fight against the peaceful early Muslims even after their escape from Mecca to Al Madina. God says, “And oppression is worse than slaughter. And they will not cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can” (2: 217).

By allowing religious freedom and preventing oppression in religion, every one deals with God alone, obeying or disobeying him, and every one will be responsible for his or her deeds only before God on the Day of Judgment.  None has the right to take upon oneself God’s sovereignty or judge other people’s faith or to persecute those who hold different religious opinions. This makes the realm of religion belong to God alone without any kind of human religious authority. This is precisely what the Quranic verse calls for when it says, “And fight them until there is no more oppression and all the religion will belong to God alone.” (8:39). God may forgive them if they refrain and stop transgression and persecution, and the Muslims have no right to attack them; otherwise they become transgressors themselves as God says, “And fight in the cause of God those who fight you, and transgress not the limits. Truly, God loves not the transgressors... But if they cease, then God is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them until there is no more oppression and the religion will belong to God. But if they cease, let be no more transgression except against the transgressors only.” (2:190-193). This is confirmed in other verses (8:38-40). This legislation concerning fighting agrees with what is understood from the term ‘Islam’ which means submission and peace, and protects peace from any animosity or transgression.

 

  Jihad and freedom of religion

 

Jihad assures religious freedom. It’s enough here to remember that the Quranic principle states, “There shall be no compulsion in religion.” (2:256). Moreover, God said to Prophet Mohammed, blaming him, “And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together. So, will you then compel people until they become believers? ” (10:99). This confirms the Quranic fact that religion belongs to God alone without any human religious authority, and that  Prophet Mohammed does not have religious authority over people , as it’s the will of God alone that let people exercise their freedom of choice and be responsible for their beliefs before Him alone on the Last Day.

Freedom in religion is the key of democracy, as is the freedom of thought and speech.

 

  Rules of alliance in time of war

 

For the first time in the Arab Peninsula, some Arabs established a real state according to our modern definition of state.  It was the first –and may be the last- Islamic state in the time of Prophet Mohammed. The new Islamic state had its border, army, people, and government. It also had allies and enemies.

Any believer from the Arab desert who wanted to be a member of this state had to immigrate to it and live inside its borders.  All the believers inside this state were allies to each other against their enemies who attacked the peaceful state. The Quran stated to them that the believers outside the state should immigrate to be a part of the state. If believers outside the Islamic state asked for protection, the state was obligated to defend them unless a treaty between the Islamic state and those who attacked these outsider believers existed.  So, all believers were to be allies to each other inside their state to stand firm against the transgressor unbelievers who were united against the Islamic state. (8:72 -73) .

Inside that Islamic state, there were different groups of oppositions who were against the state and its religion. The Quran called them the hypocrites.  They enjoyed freedom of speech and belief, and also the freedom of conspiracy against the state. The Holy Quran used to expose theirs plots and their inner thoughts, but at the same time, order the believers to avoid them, turn aside from them as long they did not fight the state.  Details can be found in the following :( 2:8-14, 204-206 ), (3:118-119, 155-158, 167-168), (3:60-69, 81-83, 105-115, 138-146), (5:52), (8:49), (9:42-68, 73-87, 93-98, 101, 107-110, 124-127), (24:11-26, 46-54), (33:1, 12-20, 24, 48, 57-61, 73), (37:16, 20-30), (48:6, 11-16), (58:7-22), (59:11-16), (63:1-8), and (66:9).

Although, the hypocrites inside Al Madina were under control, there was another kind of hypocrites who lived in the desert and used to come to the Islamic state claiming belief in Islam, with an inner goal of deceiving Muslims and to spy on them. Some of them offered to become allies to the state while in reality; they were enemies to the Islamic state. These hypocrites were a real danger to the Islamic state, so the Quran ordered Muslims not to ally with them until they immigrated to the state.  If they refused to immigrate, then they were to be treated as enemies in the battle field.  However, if they did not immigrate but did not attack the state, the Muslims were not allowed to fight them (4:88-91). God described most of those Arab Bedouins as the “worst in disbelief and hypocrisy and more likely to be in ignorance of the God’s Legislation.” (9: 97).

Most of them had a good relationship with the Arab Christians and Jewish tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. Some Arab Christians and Jewish tribes united together against the new Islamic state. Some people inside the Islamic state – including the hypocrites – had a good relationship with those allies in spite of their enmity. So, God ordered the Muslims not to take the hypocrites as allies as long as they fought the Islamic state.  If they did not fight the Muslims, the hypocrites were to be allies and a part of the Muslim state (5: 51-58).

The Islamic state had to defend itself against the attacks of Christian Arabs allied with Jewish tribes.  God ordered the Islamic state to fight them as they violated God’s commandment until they paid expiation as a punishment for their aggression (8:29).  It means not to occupy their land, nor to force them to convert to Islam, but only to pay back for their aggression as our modern international legislation deals with any country attacking other country and is finally defeated.  These rules of alliance protected the new peaceful Islamic state against all of its enemies who surrounded it.

Generally, God makes clear rules in dealing with the non- Muslims who are outside the Islamic state:

 

[1] Islamic state should deal kindly and justly with those who do not fight them, nor drive them out of their homes.

[2] Muslims are not allowed to be allies to those who attack and fight them because of their religion, those who expelled them from their home, or helped the transgressor unbelievers in driving the Muslims out of their homes.

God says:”Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice. Allah only forbids you regarding those who made war upon you on account of (your) religion, and drove you forth from your homes and backed up (others) in your expulsion, that you make friends with them, and whoever makes friends with them, these are the unjust.”.(60:8, 9).

(3) If Muslims are persecuted inside a country that attacks Islamic state and this transgressor country is terrorizing the helpless Muslims, then those Muslims have the right to use (Al TAqyyyah) to save their lives, means to appease those transgressors. God says: “Let not the believers take the transgress unbelievers allies against believers; and whoever does this, he shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, unless you fear them.”( 3: 28 )

 

  Rules in battle field:

 

Not only does the Quran establish a clear relationship between the terms ‘Islam’ and ‘peace’ and the legislation of war , but the Quran also presents other legislations in order to confirm the main value of peace and to leave no ground for ambiguity or intended misuse.

 

1- A clear-cut example is presented in chapter 4 which talks about the prohibition of killing a peaceful, safe and secure believer.  The verse states, “It’s not for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake.” (4:92), this means that it is impossible or unjustifiable, that a true believer would intentionally kill another. The verse goes further in talking about the compensation due such a case and the rules related to it. Then, verse 4:93 talks about the Divine punishment awaiting the killer of a peaceful person or a believer, for, that matter doesn’t make a difference. The verse says, “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein forever, and the wrath and the curse of God are upon him and a dreadful punishment is prepared for him.” (4:93). Thus, whoever kills a peaceful believer faces eternity in Hell, wrath, curse, and great suffering. These are stated in the Quran as separate punishments each. Yet, it seems that the person who commits such a dreadful crime deserves all of these punishments added together.

Chapter 4 continues as verse 94 declares the right of life to any peaceful person regardless of his or her inner belief, it says, “Oh you who believed! When you go to fight in the cause of God, investigate carefully and say not to anyone who say peace to you ‘You are not a believer’.” Thus in times of war, the believers must carefully investigate to make sure that they aren’t committing the crime of killing a peaceful man, who by misfortune happens to be in the battle field. God gives everyone on the other side (the enemy) a constant right to be saved simply by pronouncing the words, “peace”, or the Islamic greeting: “Peace be upon you”. If the enemy says so, it then becomes unlawful to kill him or her. He/she even becomes a peaceful believer regardless of his/her inner belief and his /her strange presence in the battle field. If he/she is killed, the killer will deserve the punishments mentioned in the verse 93. Therefore, any peaceful person is a Muslim and a believer even during war time and in the battlefield. If he/she is killed, then the killer deserves the abode in Hell, the great suffering, and God’s curse and wrath.

 

2- It was a common practice of that time to kill the captives, enslave them, or free them for money or ransom. God blamed Prophet Mohammed when he set free all the captives of Badr Battle for money, as the main mission of the Prophet was not to seek the vanity of this life, but to be a good example to people. God ordered Prophet Mohammed to tell them that He would forgive them if they had any good in their heart, “O Prophet say to the captives that are in your hands, ‘If God knows any good in your hearts, He will give you something better than what has been taken from you and He will forgive you, and God is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” (8:70). God ordered Prophet Mohammed and the Muslims only two choices in dealing with the captives: to either set them free or exchange them as prisoners of war. (37:4). Under all circumstances, the prisoner of war after release becomes Ibn Al Sabeel, or  a guest as long he is in the Muslim State, and should be given charity and alms and shelter until a safe return home. (76:8), (2:177, 215), (4:36), (8:41), (9:60), (17:26), (24:22), (30:38), (59:7).

These Quranic laws about the captives were ignored by Muslims during their history, and captives were killed as it was a bad habit in the Middle Ages. This used to happen during the battles between the Muslim Empire, the Roman Empire, and other nations, along with domestic wars during Muslims civil wars.  Moreover, killing the captives or enslaving them was accompanied by enslaving women and children. It was the culture of the dark Middle Ages which made Muslim traditions and history full of these aspects that manifested defiance to the real Islamic values.

 

3- In the case of a warrior fighting against the Muslims who decided to cease attack, he/she only has to seek an asylum. When he/she does so, his/her life is safe and secured. He/she should be allowed to listen to the Quran, to have no excuses before God on Judgment Day. The Muslims are ordered to escort him/her to a safe place, or a home, in security and peace. That is precisely what the Quranic verse says, “If one amongst the transgressor unbelievers seeks protection from you, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of God, and then escort him to where he can be secured, that is because they are without knowledge.” (9:6). So, it is to make him know the peaceful message of the Quran, not to force him to be Muslim , then to escort him safely to his home, leaving him responsible for his choice before God in the Day of Judgment after knowing the Quran.

 

The first order of fighting

 

 The early Muslims in Mecca who were around the Prophet Mohamed suffered continuous persecution. It was so intense that God allows the believer to appease the transgressors even by uttering disbelief in God, :( 16 / 106).

When persecution became so intense the believers were encouraged by the Quranic war of ideas to immigrate to enjoy religious freedom. (16 / 41-42) (4 / 97 - ) (29 / 56 – 57).

After they migrated to Al Medina, they were continuously attacked by Quraysh who wanted to force them to go back to their previous idolatrous religion.  It is an unknown historic fact in Muslim tradition, but it is mentioned in the Quran only and ignored by old Muslim historians and scholars.  No Muslim scholar in our time knows that the mighty tribe of Quraysh used to attack Al Madina and fight the peaceful Muslims living inside who did not defend themselves because they did not have permission from God.

If it were not for the Quranic verses sent down which allowed them to practice self-defense, the early Muslims would have being destroyed and eradicated. Yet, the old Muslim scholars and historians during the Middle Ages did not consider these verses rationally, because rationalizing these verses would bring out a meaning that they preferred to be kept silent about.

The verse says, “Permission to fight is given to those were fought against because they have been wronged and verily God is most powerful in their aid.” (22:39), this verse gives permission for self-defense in case of persecution and injustice regardless of what the religion is. God encourages self-defense and brings victory to the victims who do so. The old Muslim scholars were oblivious to the generalization of this verse because it gave anyone the right to fight for his/her freedom of religion. Since this meaning is not exactly what the Middle Ages were about, it was better to disregard it.

The same scholars and historians also neglected a major factor of the verse. Since the followers of Prophet Mohammed were facing a dangerous enemy, if they had not been allowed to defend themselves, they would have easily been completely massacred.

The Quran demonstrates here a historical reality disregarded by the historians of the Abbasid Empire. The fact is that transgressors of Quraysh disbelievers repeatedly raided Al Madina, often killing the habitants, but the peaceful Muslims would not take action because they were not yet allowed to do so. It was not until they received the permission to fight that they began to defend themselves.

 The following verse is another case where the old Muslim scholars chose not to rationalize.  The next verse talks about those peaceful early Muslims: “Those who have been expelled from their homes unjustly only because they said ‘God is only Our Lord’. For had it not been that God checks one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, in which the name of God is commemorated in a abundant measure would surely have been pulled down.” (22:40).

We understand from this verse that not only did the victims face a threat of genocide, but the reason for their expulsion from their homes was the commemoration of God’s name as their only God and Lord.

 

 In Islam: Fight to defend the churches, monasteries, synagogues and mosques

 

Due to the religious fanaticism during the Abbasid Empire, the religious scholars chose to overlook the main point of this verse (22:40), namely that all followers of the Divine messages pray to the same God, and thus, all the houses of prayers are all equal in God’s eye. If the believers had not defended themselves altogether, their houses of prayers would not have remained standing. The verse clearly mentions, without differentiation, the places of worship of the Christians , Jews, Muslims and others, all united by the act of ‘constantly commemorating God’s name’. What is of extreme importance here is that the Quran assures the need to protect and respect all these houses of prayers regardless of the disputes among all of their followers, because in spite of disputes, these houses of prayers are shelters of peace and security, or it should be so.

It is very important also to note that the mosques – of the Muslims - are mentioned last.  Had the Quran been biased for Islam only, the verse would have said ‘In which God’s name alone is constantly recited,’ but since there are non- Muslims who have attached other saints and names beside God, they are also taken into account even though they clash with the Islamic monotheist faith of ‘there are no Lord but God’ La illah illa ALLAH.  Therefore the aim of this verse is to put all houses of prayer belonging to all faiths under protection from any violation, making it religiously accepted for any of these groups to defend themselves and their places of worship even if blood has to be shed.

It is clear here that the only reason for fighting is to protect the freedom of belief which God grants to all mankind, no matter what the religion is, as long it is a peaceful one void of any violence or transgression. Every person who builds a house of prayer has his/her own view and perspectives about God and worships Him accordingly. By all means, these houses and the people praying in them must enjoy safety and peace regardless of the differences among them. God is the only one who will judge them on the Day of Judgment.

God said to his final Prophet ( Mohamed) in dealing with the people of scripture ( Christian and Jews ): “  And We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, verifying what is before it of the Book and a guardian over it, therefore judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires (to turn away) from the truth that has come to you; for every one of you did We appoint a law and a way, and if Allah had pleased He would have made you (all) a single people, but that He might try you in what He gave you, therefore compete with one another to hasten to virtuous deeds; to Allah is your return, of all (of you), so He will let you know that in which you differed;” It is an order to compete in doing the good deeds, leaving their religious disputes to the One God on the Day of Judgment to judge among them telling the truth. But in this life, the houses of worship must be protected, all of them.

 

  Be ready to defend yourself to achieve peace.

 

When the permission to fight was granted for the early Muslims, it was expected that they would rejoice with the idea of retaliation, but the opposite occurred. They had grown accustomed to passiveness and toleration of pain, so they hated the new legislation concerning Jihad- note that Jihad here implies holy war in terms of self defense- they were oblivious to the fact they needed to fight to defend themselves and to achieve peace, their own hope in this life. They didn’t realize that their enemy would seize to attack them once they show some resistance.

It is the only way to protect yourself and your enemy is to be ready to defend yourself to prevent him from attacking you. It is the Quranic policy of “deterrent”. God said to them and to every peaceful state: “And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to terrify the enemy of God and your enemy…” “And if they incline to peace you must incline to it. And put your trust in God, Verily, He is the All – Hearer, the All-Knower.” “And if they intend to deceive you, then, Verily, God is All- Sufficient for you :{ 8: 60 to 62}, by this way, you can stop any potential attack against you and save not only your people, but also your enemy’s. It means the Quranic policy of ‘deterrent’ is to serve peace, not to encourage the violence, especially when we read it in the context of all the rules of war in the Quran, which make the war only to defend not to attack.

 

Beside this basic rule of self defense, God revealed in the Holy Quran the other rules of self defense and condemned transgression against the peaceful people even they are your ardent enemy.

Quranic war of ideas to support the Islamic Jihad

Quranic war of ideas urged peaceful Muslims to defend themselves.

1- The early Muslims hated to defend themselves.

 

In spite of all these rules and their critical situation, the early Muslims in the time of the prophet Mohammed hated the permission of fighting, so God mentioned this in his Quran addressing them saying: “Fighting is prescribed upon you, and you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But God knows while you know not”)  (2:216).

Here God is telling them that even though they hated fighting, but it was good for them because they needed to defend themselves, at the same time they liked to be silent and passive towards the raging war, yet it was dangerous for them.

The problem was that they had gotten accustomed to patience and peace, but it had reached a degree that was not only threatening there religion. But even their existence. This Quranic clarification was not enough for them to change their attitude and to push them to prepare themselves for defense. A group among them rejected the legislation for fighting and even raised their voices asking God to postpone his command.

 So God answered (“Have you not seen those who were told to hold back their hands from fight but established regular prayers and spend in regular charity? When at length the order for fighting was ordained to them, be hold! A section of them feared men as-or even more than-they should have feared God; they said ‘our lord! Why have you ordained for us to fight? Would that you had granted us respite for a short period?) (4:77).

This verse came in context of the Quranic war of ideas that Urging believers to fight in the cause of Allah saying:

 (004.074   Therefore let those fight in the way of Allah, who sell this world's life for the hereafter; and whoever fights in the way of Allah, then be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward. 004.075 And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak,  : And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper. 004.076   Those who believe fight in the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the Shaitan. Fight therefore against the friends of the Shaitan; surely the strategy of the Shaitan is weak. 004.077   Have you not seen those to whom it was said: Withhold your hands, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; but when fighting is prescribed for them, lo! a party of them fear men as they ought to have feared Allah, or (even) with a greater fear, and say: Our Lord! why hast Thou ordained fighting for us? Wherefore didst Thou not grant us a delay to a near end? Say: The provision of this world is short, and the hereafter is better for him who guards (against evil); and you shall not be wronged the husk of a date stone. 004.078   Wherever you are, death will overtake you, though you are in lofty towers )(004.084  Fight then in Allah's way; this is not imposed on you except In relation to yourself, and rouse the believers to ardor maybe Allah will restrain the fighting of those who disbelieve and Allah is strongest in prowess and strongest to give an exemplary punishment. )

In Mecca they were ordered to refrain from self-defense and to consecrate their time and effort in praying and spending in charity. The fact that a group rejected the order to fight and asked for it to be postponed shows to what extent they were devoted to peace and hateful to bloodshed.

 

Early peaceful Muslims in battles, against the transgressors of Quraysh

 

The battles during the period of the prophet Mohammed were the biggest proof for their tendency towards peace and their hatred for the self-defense war, when it was forced upon them. We shall demonstrate from the Quran their peaceful attitude during three main battles, Badr, Ohod. Alahzab, and Al osra.

The battle of Bade:

 

It was the first and the most famous.In order to understand the real causes of this battle we must first understand what the terms [Eelaaf] or convenient of Quraysh which is mentioned in the sura of Quraysh (106:1-4). In its four verses God told that because of His sacred Mosque in Mecca, the Quryash tribe had its [Eelaaf] or trade convenient, accordingly, they used to send peacefully their trade caravans between Syria and Yemen during winter and summer, and lived without hunger or fear, while the other tribes suffered hunger and continuous wars. The same meaning was repeated in other verses :( 29:67) (28:57)

  Quraysh traded with Syria and Yemen exchanging goods once in the summer and once in the winter. They had obtained covenant of security outside Mecca, safeguarding the caravan during their journeys between Mecca and Yemen, and between Mecca and Syria. Inside Mecca there was another type of covenant among the inhabitants; the Quraysh people had to participate in financing the two caravans, the winter and the summer one. The budget, needed was divided into shares that the Quraysh people invested in. And at the end of the year they calculated the prophets of the shares and each one took his earnings.

 

When the Muslims were forces to leave Mecca and go to Madina they lost their investments and the ‘unbelievers’ confiscated all their homes and belongings.  They would not dare ask for their money from the enemy who was chasing and attacking them.

 

When the Muslims received the right to fight it was natural that they would claim their money back. For that reason they raided the caravans which traded with their money. They hoped to get their money or the caravan without fight. However, on their way to meet the caravan, Muslims were promised that they would either take over the caravan or that they would win over their enemy. They went for the caravans, But soon enough an army from Quraysh came to save the caravan and kill the Muslims who happened to be few in number.

It was clear that since there were no caravans, then they would surely win the battle, as God promised them, nevertheless some of the Muslims were frightened to face the enemy in the battle. The Quran describes this situation as follows) (“As Your Lord caused you to go out from your home with the truth, and verily a party among the believers disliked it. Disputing with you concerning the truth, after it was made manifest, as if they were being driven to death while they were looking) ‘Actually at it”) (8:5-6).

It’s clear that they hated fighting; that they were honest about their position even though God promised to support them, and when they were ordered to engage in war it was as if they could actually see death coming to seize them.

 

We need mention here that what the Quran says concerning the battle of Badr contradicts the stories written about the prophet during the Muslim Empire. In these stories the old historians confirmed that all of the Muslims of Badr were anxious to fight and no one of them was doubtful about it. If it was not for the Quran we would not have known the reality of the situation.

The real situation confirms that the early Muslims were not a bunch of blood thirsty fanatics welling to die for the though, called “Holy War”. They were peaceful people wanted to worship God and glorify Him in peace. But the stories have been twisted around in order to use these early Muslims ‘incorrectly’, to justify using violence under the name of God. The contemporary Islamic culture has until now ignored these verses for the same cause, so most of the Islamic reality is messing and continues to be so.

Quranic war of ideas accompanied the battle of Badr

Muslims were in bad need for encouragement as it was a big test for them to fight the famous notorious Quraysh. Defeat in this battle meant destroying Islam and its small state. Quranic war of ideas was badly needed in this critical time:

(008.005 “As Your Lord caused you to go out from your home with the truth, and verily a party among the believers disliked it.008.006 : Disputing with you concerning the truth, after it was made manifest, as if they were being driven to death while they were looking. ‘Actually at it’ 008.007   And when Allah promised you one of the two parties that it shall be yours and you loved that the one not armed should be yours and Allah desired to manifest the truth of what was true by His words and to cut off the root of the unbelievers. 008.008   That He may manifest the truth of what was true and show the falsehood of what was false, though the guilty disliked. 008.009  : When you sought aid from your Lord, so He answered you: I will assist you with a thousand of the angels following one another. 008.010  : And Allah only gave it as a good news and that your hearts might be at ease thereby; and victory is only from Allah; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise. 008.011  : When He caused calm to fall on you as a security from Him and sent down upon you water from the cloud that He might thereby purify you, and take away from you the uncleanness of the Shaitan, and that He might fortify your hearts and steady (your) footsteps thereby. 008.012   When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them. 008.013  : This is because they acted adversely to Allah and His Messenger; and whoever acts adversely to Allah and His Messenger-- then surely Allah is severe in requiting (evil). 008.014   This-- taste it, and (know) that for the unbelievers is the chastisement of fire. 008.015   O you who believe! when you meet those who disbelieve marching for war, then turn not your backs to them. 008.016  : And whoever shall turn his back to them on that day-- unless he turn aside for the sake of fighting or withdraws to a company-- then he, indeed, becomes deserving of Allah's wrath, and his abode is hell; and an evil destination shall it be. 008.017   So you did not slay them, but it was Allah Who slew them, and you did not smite when you smote (the enemy), but it was Allah Who smote, and that He might confer upon the believers a good gift from Himself; surely Allah is Hearing, Knowing. 008.018   This, and that Allah is the weakener of the struggle of the unbelievers. 008.019  : (O Qureysh!)  If you demanded a judgment, the judgment has then indeed come to you; and if you desist, it will be better for you; and if you turn back (to fight), We (too) shall turn back, and your forces shall avail you nothing, though they may be many, and (know) that Allah is with the believers. )

 (008.065  O Prophet! urge the believers to war; if there are twenty patient ones of you they shall overcome two hundred, and if there are a hundred of you they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they are a people who do not understand. )

After the Battle of Ohod

Quraysh attacked Muslims for revenge aiming to destroy Al Madina. Muslims marched to face them near the mountain of Ohod to stop them reaching Al Madina. For many reasons Muslim army was defeated. It was a disaster that needed for the Quranic war of ideas as well. Quran says:  (003.138  : This is a clear statement for men, and a guidance and an admonition to those who guard(against evil). 003.139  : And be not infirm, and be not grieving, and you shall have the upper hand if you are( true ) believers. 003.140   If a wound has afflicted you (at Ohud), a wound like it has also afflicted the (unbelieving) people; and We bring these days to men by turns, and that Allah may know those who believe and take witnesses from among you; and Allah does not love the unjust. 003.141   And that He may purge those who believe and deprive the unbelievers of blessings. 003.142   Do you think that you will enter paradise while Allah has not yet known those who strive hard from among you, and (He has not) known the patient.003.143  And certainly you desired death before you met it, so indeed you have seen it and you look (at it) 003.144  And Muhammad is no more than a messenger; the messengers have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels!s, he will by no means do harm to Allah in the least and Allah will reward the grateful. 003.145   And a soul will not die but with the permission of Allah the term is fixed; and whoever desires the reward of this world, I shall give him of it, and whoever desires the reward of the hereafter I shall give him of it, and I will reward the grateful. 003.146   And how many a prophet has fought with whom were many worshippers of the Lord; so they did not become weak-hearted on account of what befell them in Allah's way, nor did they weaken, nor did they abase themselves; and Allah loves the patient. p  And their saying was no other than that they said: Our Lord! forgive us our faults and our extravagance in our affair and make firm our feet and help us against the transgressors.003.148  So Allah gave them the reward of this world and better reward of the hereafter and Allah loves those who do good (to others). (003.149   O you who believe! if you obey those who disbelieve they will turn you back upon your heels, so you will turn back losers. 003.150   Nay! Allah is your Patron and He is the best of the helpers. 003.151   We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they set up with Allah that for which He has sent down no authority, and their abode is the fire, and evil is the abode of the unjust. )

(003.152  : And certainly Allah made good to you His promise when you were about to annihilate them by His permission, until when you became weak-hearted and disputed about the affair and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you loved; of you were some who desired this world and of you were some who desired the hereafter; then He turned you away from them that He might try you; and He has certainly pardoned you, and Allah is Gracious to the believers. 003.153  : When you ran off precipitately and did not wait for any one, and the Messenger was calling you from your rear, so He gave you another sorrow instead of (your) sorrow, so that you might not grieve at what had escaped you, nor (at) what befell you; and Allah is aware of what you do. 003.154  : Then after sorrow He sent down security upon you, a calm coming upon a party of you, and (there was) another party whom their own souls had rendered anxious; they entertained about Allah thoughts of ignorance quite unjustly, saying: We have no hand in the affair. Say: Surely the affair is wholly (in the hands) of Allah. They conceal within their souls what they would not reveal to you. They say: Had we any hand in the affair, we would not have been slain here. Say: Had you remained in your houses, those for whom slaughter was ordained would certainly have gone forth to the places where they would be slain, and that Allah might test what was in your breasts and that He might purge what was in your hearts; and Allah knows what is in the breasts. )

(003.155   (As for) those of you who turned back on the day when the two armies met, only the Shaitan sought to cause them to make a slip on account of some deeds they had done, and certainly Allah has pardoned them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing. )

( 003.156  : O you who believe! be not like those who disbelieve and say of their brethren when they travel in the earth or engage in fighting: Had they been with us, they would not have died and they would not have been slain; so Allah makes this to be an intense regret in their hearts; and Allah gives life and causes death and Allah sees what you do. 003.157   And if you are slain in the way of Allah or you die, certainly forgiveness from Allah and mercy is better than what they amass. 003.158  :   And if indeed you die or you are slain, certainly to Allah shall you be gathered together. )

 (003.160  : If Allah assists you, then there is none that can overcome you, and if He forsakes you, who is there then that can assist you after Him? And on Allah should the believers rely. )

 (  003.165   What! when a misfortune befell you, and you had certainly afflicted (the unbelievers) with twice as much, you began to say: Whence is this? Say: It is from yourselves; surely Allah has power over all things. 003.166  : And what befell you on the day when the two armies met (at Ohud) was with Allah's knowledge, and that He might know the believers. 003.167  : And that He might know the hypocrites; and it was said to them: Come, fight in Allah's way, or defend yourselves. They said: If we knew fighting, we would certainly have followed you. They were on that day much nearer to unbelief than to belief. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts, and Allah best knows what they conceal. 003.168  : Those who said of their brethren whilst they (themselves) held back: Had they obeyed us, they would not have been killed. Say: Then avert death from yourselves if you speak the truth. )

(003.169  : And reckon not those who are killed in Allah's way as dead; nay, they are alive (and) are provided sustenance from their Lord; 003.170   Rejoicing in what Allah has given them out of His grace and they rejoice for the sake of those who, (being left) behind them, have not yet joined them, that they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. 003.171   They rejoice on account of favor from Allah and (His) grace, and that Allah will not waste the reward of the believers).

( 003.172 ) : (As for) those who responded (at Ohud) to the call of Allah and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them, those among them who do good (to others) and guard (against evil)shall have a great reward.003.173  : Those to whom the people said: Surely men have gathered against you, therefore fear them, but this increased their faith, and they said: Allah is sufficient for us and most excellent is the Protector. 003.174 : So they returned with favor from Allah and (His) grace, no evil touched them and they followed the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace. 003.175  : It is only the Shaitan that causes you to fear from his friends, but do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers. )

In the battle of Alahzab, [The Allies]

 

The Unbelievers [now we understand this Quranic term means those who attack the peaceful people] surrounded Al Madina to destroy it and to genocide all the Muslims who were strongly overtaken by fear and terror. It’s enough to see what the Quran has said about their state of mind; (“When they came from above you and from below you, and when your eyes grew deviating, and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harboring doubts about God,. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking.)(33:10-11). [We also understand from these verses that the term of ‘believers’ has nothing to do with the faith, because they harbor doubt about God in this critical time. The only meaning here is the peaceful people who hate the violence even if it is to defend their lives.]

The fear was so great that some of them run away and called others to give up and spreading the rumors. On the other hand some others maintained great courage. (33:12-23).

 

For more details, let’s give a quick glance to this Quranic Chapter Alahzab, [The Allies]:

 

1- Describing the battle :( 033.009):  O you who believe! call to mind the favor of Allah to you when there came down upon you hosts, so We sent against them a strong wind and hosts, that you saw not, and Allah is Seeing what you do.)

2- Describing the siege and Muslims who were in a great fear: (033.010): When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes turned dull, and the hearts rose up to the throats, and you began to think diverse thoughts of Allah. 033.011   There the believers were tried and they were shaken with severe shaking. )

3- Describing hypocrites and those in whose hearts were in a disease: 033.012   And behold! The Hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (even) say: "Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion!" 033.013  : And when a party of them said: O people of Yasrib! there IS no place to stand for you (here), therefore go back; and a party of them asked permission of the prophet, saying. Surely our houses are exposed; and they were not exposed; they only desired to fly away.( 033.014 ) : If the enemy had entered from all sides and they had been exhorted to treachery, they would have committed it, and would have hesitated thereupon but little.  033.015   And yet they had already covenanted with Allah not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah must (surely) be answered for.)

4- Debating hypocrites and exposing them: (033.016  : Say: Flight shall not do you any good if you fly from death or slaughter, and in that case you will not be allowed to enjoy yourselves but a little. 033.017  : Say: Who is it that can withhold you from Allah if He intends to do you evil, rather He intends to show you mercy? And they will not find for themselves besides Allah any guardian or a helper. 033.018  : Allah knows indeed those among you who hinder others and those who say to their brethren: Come to us; and they come not to the fight but a little, 033.019  : Being niggardly with respect to you; but when fear comes, you will see them looking to you, their eyes rolling like one swooning because of death; but when the fear is gone they smite you with sharp tongues, being niggardly of the good things. These have not believed, therefore Allah has made their doing naught; and this is easy to Allah. 033.020  : They think the allies are not gone, and if the allies should come (again) they would fain be in the deserts with the desert Arabs asking for news about you, and if they were among you they would not fight save a little.)

5- The Messenger of Allah and the true believers: (:033.021  : Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the latter day and remembers Allah much. 033.022  : And when the believers saw the allies, they said: This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us, and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth; and it only increased them in faith and submission. 033.023  : Of the believers are men who are true to that which they covenanted with Allah. Some of them have paid their vow by death (in battle), and some of them still are waiting; and they have not altered in the least.)

6 – Finally: (033.024  : That Allah may reward the truthful for their truth, and punish the hypocrites if He please or turn to them (mercifully); surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. 033.025  And Allah turned back the unbelievers in their rage; they did not obtain any advantage, and Allah sufficed the believers in fighting; and Allah is Strong, Mighty.)

 In the battle of Alosra:

 

It was a difficult in the summer when Muslims had to fight some desert tribes to stop them from attacking the Islamic capital ( Al Madina ).   Muslims were still not eager to defend themselves against the aggressor tribes in the north of Al Madina. Here the Quran became more reprimanding in these verses : (009.038  : O you who believe! What (excuse) have you that when it is said to you: Go forth in Allah's way, you should incline heavily to earth; are you contented with this world's life instead of the hereafter? But the provision of this world's life compared with the hereafter is but little. 009.039   If you do not go forth, He will chastise you with a painful chastisement and bring in your place a people other than you, and you will do Him no harm; and Allah has power over all things. 009.040    If you will not aid him, Allah certainly aided him when those who disbelieved expelled him, he being the second of the two, when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion: Grieve not, surely Allah is with us. So Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and strengthened him with hosts which you did not see, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved; and the word of Allah, that is the highest; and Allah is Mighty, Wise. 009.041  : Go forth light and heavy, and strive hard in Allah's way with your property and your persons; this is better for you, if you know. )

 

 . Therefore the lack of motivation, they felt in the beginning remained with them until the end of the prophet’s life. This helped Quraysh to take over the Muslim State after the death of the Prophet Mohammed. Quraysh had to accept Islam to keep its interests, then used it after the death of the Prophet Mohamed to establish its mighty empire under the name of Islamic Jihad.

 

 
Quraysh tribe converted to Islam to keep its interest:

 

We can realize this situation better if we understand the nature of the daily life of the Arabian tribes in that time. Violence is the only key word that illustrates that life. Around the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, Every Arabic tribe had its idol under the custody of Quraysh. Quraysh controlled Mecca and the sacred Mosque and the pilgrimage, and lived in peace and prosperity while the other tribes lived in continuous bloodshed for any reason and for no reason but in the same time those Arabic tribes used to keep the safety of the Qurayshi trade between Yemen and Syria. This made Quraysh the most powerful tribe. To keep its power, the elders of Quraysh persecuted the followers of the new religion who were peaceful helpless people. Being against idolizing statues and tombs, the new religion threatened its religious trade and its political and social situation. It was fearful for those helpless believers to face the mighty powerful tribe of Quraysh. So the only way to save them from the potential total genocide is to encourage them to defend themselves.

 

The Quranic war of ideas in its unique Arabic Language made the big triumph. It made a big awareness educating Arabs tribes that idolizing tombs and human ashes is just nonsense. By the time many people in many tribes converted to Islam, and helped others to realize the nonsense of worshipping the sacred tombs and sacred statues, and the nonsense of submission to Quraysh because of these false idols. Some of them wanted to get rid of Quraysh and its influence and to enjoy equality in dealing with them by helping the new Islamic state facing Quraysh and reducing its power and its hegemony. This threatened Qurayshi trade routes. The elders of Quraysh reconsidered their situation. To keep their political and economical interests they had to convert to Islam to use it for their continuous hegemony, especially the active leaders inside the Islamic state were from Quraysh including the prophet Mohammed himself.
So the elders of Quraysh surrendered and converted to Islam after long history in persecuting and fighting Muslims. They converted to Islam in a short time before the prophet’s death, then after his death they became the new leaders of all Muslims and led them to a new kind of wars and a new way of life, establishing the Muslim powerful Empires which ignored the real rules of Islam and its peaceful nature; the empires that lasted six centuries under the rule of the children of Qurayshi elders. This destroyed the real Islamic State of the Prophet Mohammed.

 

The Islamic State was under the siege

 

 

1-The Islamic State lived a very short time, only ten years during the last ten years in the life of the Prophet Mohammed, then has become collapsed step by step after his death. This short time Islamic State was surrounded by enemies. Around its borders in desert, there were tribes used to attack the city of Al Madina. (9: 123). Inside Al Madina, there were the Jewish tribes and the hypocrites who allied each other against the Prophet Mohammed. Around Mohammed there were those peaceful passive Muslims, while Quraysh was representing the hard core of the ardent enemies to the Islamic State. The Last long Quranic chapter ( Sura al Tawba : Number 9 ) reflected this situation of the Islamic State before the death of the Prophet Mohammed. This Islamic State and its high values of freedom and justice contradicted the culture of theocracy, autocracy, slavery and holy war that controlled the middle ages. For all these reasons, it was expected for this Islamic not to survive one day. It was the Quranic war of ideas that made it survive for ten years. This Quranic war of ideas used to update the events happened inside and outside Al Madina, commenting and debating and exposing the figures and different groups in the time of the Prophet Mohammed.

Let’s read some examples:

                                                           

Quranic example exposing conspiracy done by believers who deceived the Prophet Mohammed

(004.105  : Surely We have revealed the Book to you with the truth that you may judge between people by means of that which Allah has taught you; and be not an advocate on behalf of the treacherous. 004.106  : And ask forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. 004.107  : And do not plead on behalf of those who act unfaithfully to their souls; surely Allah does not love him who is treacherous, sinful; 004.108  : They hide themselves from men and do not hide themselves from Allah, and He is with them when they meditate by night words which please Him not, and Allah encompasses what they do.004.109  : Behold! you are they who (may) plead for them in this world's life, but who will plead for them with Allah on the resurrection day, or who shall be their protector? 004.110   And whoever does evil or acts unjustly to his soul, then asks forgiveness of Allah, he shall find Allah Forgiving, Merciful. 004.111  : And whoever commits a sin, he only commits it against his own soul; and Allah is Knowing, Wise. 004.112  : And whoever commits a fault or a sin, then accuses of it one innocent, he indeed takes upon himself the burden of a calumny and a manifest sin. 004.113  : And were it not for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy a party of them had certainly designed to bring you to perdition and they do not bring (aught) to perdition but their own souls, and they shall not harm you in any way, and Allah has revealed to you the Book and the wisdom, and He has taught you what you did not know, and Allah's grace on you is very great. )

Quranic example indicates to the undercover unknown hypocrites:

(009.101  : And from among those who are round about you of the dwellers of the desert there are hypocrites, and from among the people of Medina (also); they are stubborn in hypocrisy; you do not know them; We know them; We will chastise them twice then shall they be turned back to a grievous chastisement )

Quranic examples about the famous known hypocrites:

Sura AL-MUNAFIQOON (THE HYPOCRITES): chapter 63. Total Verses: 11,Revealed At: MADINA

1-( 063.001   When the hypocrites come to you, they say: We bear witness that you are most surely Allah's Messenger; and Allah knows that you are most surely His Messenger, and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are surely liars. 063.002   They make their oaths a shelter, and thus turn away from Allah's way; surely evil is that which they do. 063.003  : That is because they believe, then disbelieve, so a seal is set upon their hearts so that they do not understand. 063.004  : And when you see them, their persons will please you, and If they speak, you will listen to their speech; (they are) as if they were big pieces of wood clad with garments; they think every cry to be against them. They are the enemy, therefore beware of them; may Allah destroy them, whence are they turned back? 063.005  : And when it is said to them: Come, the Messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you, they turn back their heads and you may see them turning away while they are big with pride. 063.006  : It is alike to them whether you beg forgiveness for them or do not beg forgiveness for them; Allah will never forgive them; surely Allah does not guide the transgressing people. 063.007  : They it is who say: Do not spend upon those who are with the Messenger of Allah until they break up. And Allah's are the treasures of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand. 063.008  : They say: If we return to Medina, the mighty will surely drive out the meaner therefrom; and to Allah belongs the might and to His Messenger and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.)

(004.081   And they say: Obedience. But when they go out from your presence, a party of them decide by night upon doing otherwise than what you say; and Allah writes down what they decide by night, therefore turn aside from them and trust in Allah, and Allah is sufficient as a protector. )

 (009.107  : And those who built a mosque to cause harm and for unbelief and to cause disunion among the believers and an ambush to him who made war against Allah and His Messenger before; and they will certainly swear: We did not desire aught but good; and Allah bears witness that they are most surely liars. 009.108  : Never stand in it; certainly a mosque founded on piety from the very first day is more deserving that you should stand in it; in it are men who love that they should be purified; and Allah loves those who purify themselves. 009.109  : Is he, therefore, better who lays his foundation on fear of Allah and (His) good pleasure, or he who lays his foundation on the edge of a cracking hollowed bank, so it broke down with him into the fire of hell; and Allah does not guide the unjust people. 009.110  : The building which they have built will ever continue to be a source of disquiet in their hearts, except that their hearts get cut into pieces; and Allah is Knowing, Wise. )

( 033.060  : If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease and the agitators in the city do not desist, We shall most certainly set you over them, then they shall not be your neighbors in it but for a little while.)

Quraysh violating Islamic Jihad after the death of the Prophet Mohammed

 

 

1-By the death of the Prophet Mohammed and the completing of the Quran, there was no more Holy revelation from Allah exposing the hypocrites and others. It was their time to feel free to plot against the Islam and Muslims without any red line .The picture has changed for the favor of Quraysh and the hypocrites and other enemies of Islam.

But it was not easy for them as the bad news came from the desert threatened their plans.

The desert tribes were angry because they saw all the tribe of Quraysh restored their homogony under the name of Islam after the death of the Prophet Mohammed. Those angry tribes revolted against Quraysh and Islam. Their leaders claimed themselves prophets. The strongest one of them was Mosaylama, the liar in Najd, in the same place where Ibn Abdel Wahab , the founder of Al Wahhabism was born , eleven centuries later. This false prophet Mobbsaylama the liar said expressing the real reason for their war: (Quraysh gets only half of the earth, and the another half is for us.).

Quraysh – all of them, the early Qurayshi Muslims and others who accepted Islam later on, became united under the leadership of Abu Bakr against all these tough tribes and defeated them after very hard painful struggle. Defeating them in this (War of apostasy) was not the end of the problem. It was expected more wars because these tough tribes had to revenge beside the daily bloodshed was their way of life and means of living.  It had become essential to find a way to twist the energy of these tough tribes and use it against the outsiders instead of Quraysh. Invading other countries and other nations was the only and the best answer for Quraysh. Under the name of Jihad, these tough tribes would justify their way of life in looting the richest land of rivers in the old mighty two empires, in Iranian and Byzantine Empires.

In only ten years, early Muslims had not time to understand the Quranic Jurisprudence during their busy time in fighting for survival, beside it was the only way for them to solve the problem of the tough Arab tribes. The passive helpless early Muslims had no room in this new picture which was full of the tough warriors of Quraysh and other Arab tribes of desert. They had then a religious excuse to start war as they used to do but under the name of Islam and its Jihad.

2- As a reminder: Islam means peace in dealing with people and any peaceful one is Muslim according to his / her behavior. Also, starting war and fighting those who do not fighting you is prohibited in Islam. As Jihad in Islam is only to defend not to attack unjustly, it is against Islam what Quraysh had done in fighting the Persian and the Byzantine Empire, and establishing the Arabic mighty empire in the time of the (Righteous Caliphs ) was a manifest defiance against Allah and His Quran.

To justify it, they used to send their army ready to attack, but before attacking any city or people, they gave them one of three choices: to become Muslims, to pay tribute or to fight. It meant just imposing Islam or tribute or fight. It is against this Quranic rule saying (002.256: There is no compulsion in religion.).

  Briefly,  After the Prophet Mohammed’s death, the other Muslims from the other tribes who converted to Islam to war Quraysh found themselves again under the hegemony of Quraysh, so they revolted under some individuals from inside them who claimed the prophecy. This was the war of apostasy which was the perfect chance for the elders of Quraysh to maintain the leadership of the Islamic state after the death of Mohammed. Quraysh tribe- the new Muslims and the old Muslims together- led the war against the other tribes who revolted against Islam and Quraysh. By defeating them, Quraysh became the real leader of all the Arabic tribes. To avoid other tribal revolts, Quraysh led all the Arabic tribes to fight the two super Empires; the Romans and the Persians. By defeating them both on the same time, Quraysh established the powerful mighty Muslim Empires which influenced the world history in the middle ages and ruled most of the world in that time according to the Middle age’s culture, not according to the real values of Islam. So, the Islamic values were ignored, including peace.
During the Muslim Empires the real Islamic rules of Jihad were changed to be attacking the other peoples for power and establishing empires. This has alienated the real religion of Islam as the Qurayshi dynasties have justified their unjust Jihad by (Hadeeth) or sayings attributed to the Prophet Mohammed two centuries and more after his death. Those fabricated hadeethes are the basic of their Sharee’ah. This Sharee’ah reflects its time of middle ages, but the Wahhabi Saudi Kingdom has restored and revived this Shareea’h and brought it to our time in the name of Islam. Our challenge is to revive the real Islam, having it with us, and using it against them in our war of ideas to reform Muslims from within Islam and to terminate peacefully the terrorist religious culture.

This needs more details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The Abandonment of True Islam

 

Authentic Islam — that is, the truth revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and delivered by him through the Holy Quran — has in large measure been abandoned in the Muslim world.  We can, however, discern the truth of Islam by reading the Quran in the original Arabic, and correctly interpreting its special terminology, uniquely linked to the language in which it was written.

 

By reading and correctly interpreting the special terminology of the Quran we can come to understand Islam as a religion of peace, tolerance, justice, and freedom of speech and belief. Due to a shared basis on the universal and unchangeable precepts of the natural moral law, we discover a strong similarity between “traditional American values” and the truths discerned in “forgotten” Islam.

 

Early Arab Muslims established a religion-based political hegemony over a wide area — a “religious empire” — in the generation following the death of Prophet Mohamed.  This was directly contrary to both the social and the purely religious teachings of Islam found in the Quran.  To justify this departure from the purity of the Prophet’s teachings, Sunni scholars during the Middle Ages distorted the purely religious teachings of Islam as well as the universal moral principles found in Quranic jurisprudence, that is, civil laws based on the natural moral law, and thus (unlike purely religious precepts) universal in application without prejudice to anyone’s religious beliefs or convictions.

 

Wahhabism has revived this Medieval Sunni tradition in the modern age.  Due to Saudi influence, Wahhabism has spread throughout the Muslim world as the official religious interpretation of Islam.  The Wahhabi tradition is known today as “Sharee’a.”  Sharee’a is enforced in many Muslim countries, resulting in tarnishing the name of Islam, and undermining or eliminating completely essential pillars of human society and individual human development such as democracy, justice, peace, religious freedom, and basic human rights.

 

Sharee’a law as promulgated by Medieval Sunni scholars distorted true Islamic religious and social teachings in four distinct ways.

 

1. Misinterpretation and Distortion of Quranic Terminology

 

The most damaging way in which the Medieval Sunni Scholars and their modern Wahhabi descendents distorted true Islamic religious and social teachings was by changing the meaning of critical Quranic terminology.

 

For example, the Arabic Quranic terms Kafir and Mushrik — signifying variously “disbeliever,” “unbeliever,” “atheist,” “pagan,” or “idol worshipper,” have two meanings in the Quran, depending on the context.  The first is related to the Faith, and refers to a person who does not believe in the One, True God.  According to the Quran, God is the only One who will sit in judgment over people on the Last Day.  No mere human being has the right in this life to interfere in this relationship between man and his/her Creator.

 

There is, however, another meaning of Kafir and Mushrik.  This other meaning relates to the criminal behavior of a person who uses the Name of God and His religion to justify committing crimes in the name of religion, as Sunni and Shiites terrorists are doing today.  This other meaning of Kafir and Mushrik was ignored or discarded by the Medieval Sunni scholars, and thus by their Wahhabi descendants.

 

Medieval Sunni scholars related their understanding of Kafir and Mushrik only to faith, that is, to offenses against their understanding of Islam.  This necessarily resulted in the fixed belief that anyone, even another Muslim, who does not adhere to the specific precepts of the Sunni faith tradition, is not a true Muslim; even if he is a Shiite or a Sufi Muslim.  Because the Sunnis regarded themselves as the only true interpreters of the Quran, they (in effect) usurped the authority of the One, True God, and assumed the power to judge others in purely religious matters.  Wahhabis believe that they, too, have this authority.

 

Interpretation of the Quran has been strongly influenced by these distortions forced on        Quranic terminology.  This has resulted in the growth of intolerance and fanaticism.  Both are contrary to the religious revelations given to the Prophet, and to the applications of universal principles of the natural moral law found in the Quran.  Understanding Kafir and Mushrik (disbeliever, unbeliever, atheist, pagan, idol worshipper) only in the most narrow and distorted sense of disagreeing with or not believing in the Sunni interpretation of the Quran causes further distortions.  This understanding is related only to Faith and, even then, a perverted version of the faith the Prophet received.  This understanding ignores completely the far more serious crime that abuses the name of God and His religion to advance personal or political ends and goals.

 

The distortions that have been forced on Quranic terminology can best be illustrated by some examples.  “Yusufali,” “Pickthal,” “Shakir,” refer to specific translations of the Quran.

 

Chapter 9, Verse 36

 

YUSUFALI

 

“And fight the Pagans all together as they fight you all together.”

 

PICKTHAL

 

“And wage war on all of the idolaters as they are waging war on all of you.”

 

SHAKIR

 

“And fight the polytheists all together as they fight you all together.”[1]

 

Saudi official Translation

 

“And fight against the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) collectively as they fight against you collectively.”[2]

 

Chapter 2, Verse 286

 

YUSUFALI

 

“Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith.”

 

PICKTHAL

 

“And have mercy on us, Thou, our Protector, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.”

 

SHAKIR

 

“And have mercy on us, Thou art our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people.”[3]

 

Saudi official translation

 

“Have mercy on us. You are our Maulâ (Patron, Supporter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people.”[4]

 

Chapter 9, Verse 123

 

YUSUFALI

 

“O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.”

 

PICKTHAL

 

“O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).”

 

SHAKIR

 

“O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).”[5]

 

Saudi official translation

 

“O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious).”[6]

 

Obviously, isolating these passages and distorting them by taking them out of context confirms an understanding of Islam as a religion of terrorism, transgression, and aggression.  These passages appear to order Muslims to fight other people who have different religions, solely on the grounds that they do not share the Sunni understanding of Islam.

 

Taking the Book as a whole, however, and putting what is said into context, the astute reader of the Quran will realize that interpreting these passages as advocating religious terrorism directly contradicts the hundreds of verses in the Quran that confirm peace, justice, and full freedom of religion in Islam.

 

The thoughtful reader therefore has to ask him- or herself if the following passages are true, or whether there may be something wrong in the translation from the original Arabic:

 

“And fight the Pagans all together as they fight you all together” — This implies that simply being a pagan means that someone is automatically at war against Muslims, so Muslims have the right to attack them.

 

“Have mercy on us.  Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against faith” — Here we ask God for mercy and protection against those who attack us, so how can we justify the hypocrisy of attacking others?  It is contradictory to attack other people, and then pray to God to help you overcome them.  The only logical meaning is to be peaceful and fight only in self-defense, not to start a war.

 

“O you who believe, fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)” — It is impossible to be both pious and an aggressor at the same time.

 

Clearly there is something wrong with these translations.  Using common sense and taking the passages in context, we realize that the Quranic terms Kafir and Mushrik in these verses have nothing to do with religious belief.  They only mean criminal transgressors in behavior, that is, offenses in the civil order, such as individual crimes or aggression in war, not religious differences or offenses.

 

As noted above, Kafir and Mushrik have two different meanings according to the Quranic context.  In matters of faith, they mean disbeliever, nonbeliever, pagan, infidel, idol worshipper, idolaters.  In matters of behavior in temporal society, however, they refer to someone who commits aggression.  The understanding is transgressor or outlaw, much as criminals are sometimes called barbarians, heathens, or some other pejorative, even though they speak the same language and practice the same religion as law-abiding citizens.

 

In those verses God talks about the transgressors who start war by attacking peaceful believers.  So, the correct translation should be, “and fight the transgressors all together as they fight you all together.”  “And have mercy on us, You are our Protector, and give us victory over the transgressors.”  “O you who believe, Fight those of the transgressors who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who are the pious.”

 

Understood in this way, the mere fact of differing in religious belief or practice does not make any individual or nation a transgressor.  It requires that the Kafir or Mushrik, so-called, actually attack a peaceful believer, not just be different or believe differently.

 

2. Misinterpretation and Distortion of Quranic Laws

 

The second most damaging way in which the Medieval Sunni scholars distorted authentic Islamic religious and social teachings was by reinterpreting Quranic laws.  This they did to conform the teachings to their opinions and beliefs, rather than form their beliefs based on the truths contained in the Holy Quran.  In the west, of course, the most obvious example is the Law of Jihad.

 

Jihad in fighting has its order, its rule, and its final objective.  The rules of Jihad control the order of Jihad, while the order and the rules are under the control of the final goal.  God says, “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors.”  (2: 190). The order here is “Fight.”  The rule is, “in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors.”  So, Jihad by fighting is only to defend, not to attack, thereby starting war.

 

Medieval Sunni scholars distorted this teaching by ignoring the “rules” of Jihad, and focusing on the “order.”  For them, and today’s Wahhabi, the command is to fight others — not according to God’s rule, but for your own human ego, based on your private interpretations of God’s command.

 

The final aim — the goal — of the Islamic Jihad is to prevent religious persecution, and to defend religious freedom.  God says: “And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah (To judge on the Judgment Day), but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors.” (2: 193), Also: “And fight them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah; (To judge on the Judgment Day), but if they desist, then surely Allah sees what they do.” (8: 39)

 

This is an example of how the Medieval Sunni scholars distorted the teaching on Jihad by reinterpreting the Quranic term “Fitna.”  Correctly understood, in the Quran “Fitna” means “persecution” (against peaceful people).  The Sunni scholars reinterpreted the term to signify not “persecution of people ,” but disbelief, that is, those who are not Muslims.

 

The official Saudi version has embodies this reinterpretation. It says: “And fight them until there is no more Fitnah, that is, “disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah,” and “all and every kind of” worship is for Allah alone.  But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zâlimûn (the polytheists, and wrong-doers).” (2: 193)[7]  In another passage the official Saudi version is as follows:

 

And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do. (8: 39)[8]

 

Other translations, however, bring out the real meaning of the two verses:

 

Chapter 2, Verse 193:

 

YUSUFALI

 

“And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression.”

 

PICKTHAL

 

“And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrong-doers.”

 

SHAKIR

 

“And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors.”

 

Chapter 8, Verse 39:

 

YUSUFALI

 

“And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.

 

PICKTHAL

 

“And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do.”

 

SHAKIR

 

“And fight with them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah; but if they desist, then surely Allah sees what they do.”

 

3. Actual Change of Quranic Laws

 

The Medieval Sunni Scholars changed the essence of many Quranic laws, twisting the Quranic term “Naskh” to mean “abrogation.”  The Arabic word Naskh actually has exactly the opposite meaning.  Properly understood, Naskh means to write, copy, or prove.  The Sunni Sharee’a has, however, ignored or changed many Islamic Quranic laws, claiming that this is permitted as Naskh.  We can see this in three translations that bring out the true meaning of Chapter 2, Verse 190:

 

YUSUFALI

 

“Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.”

 

PICKTHAL

 

“Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.”

 

SHAKIR

 

“And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits.”[9]

 

The Saudi official translation, however, changes the wording in translation, and adds footnotes to transform what is essentially an injunction for self-defense to call for violent Jihad that is against peaceful Islamic Jihad.  As the official Saudi version has it: “And fight in the Way of Allah[10] those who fight you, but transgress not the limits.  Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors.” [This Verse is the first one that was revealed in connection with Jihad, but it was supplemented by another (9:36)].

4. Interpolated Teachings Falsely Attributed to the Prophet

 

After distorting the Quranic terminology and the Quranic laws, Medieval Sunni scholars forged narration or sayings (Hadith) and ascribed them to the Prophet Mohamed, more than two centuries after his death.  With respect to the teaching on Jihad, they forged this false narration (Hadith): “I am commanded to fight (all) the people until they testify that there is no god but one God, and I am the messenger of God.”

 

Man-made Sunni religion thereby insists on distorting Quranic terminology and the Quranic Jurisprudence, and ascribing false teachings to the Prophet Mohamed, two centuries and more after his death under the name of Hadith and Sunna (customary practice or tradition). According to their Sharee’a, the Medieval Sunni scholars divided the world into two camps; their camp (the camp of Islam), and the other camp: the camp of warfare, of infidels.  According to their Sharee’a, Muslims are ordered to fight the infidel camp until the end of this world.  They also use Sharee’a to accuse other Muslim sects of being “idol worshippers” to justify fighting them as a group and killing them as apostates.

 

 The Abandonment of True Jihad

 

1. Misinterpretation of the Concept of Jihad

 

Jihad through warfare is only permitted when the intent is to defend the Faith and believers — not to attack peaceful people. It is essential to understand that every verse containing the order fight is necessarily subordinate to the rule: “In the cause of God, not to transgress the limits because God does not like the transgressors.”  Sometimes, God describes the transgressors in a different way, as in Chapter 9, Verse 29:

 

Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tribute in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.

 

Verse 2:190 clarifies and explains 9:29: “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors.”  We also gain greater understanding of 9:29 when we correlate it with two Quranic rules:

 

Allah does not forbid you, with respect to those who have not made war against you, on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice.

 

Allah only forbids you in respect to those who made war upon you on account of (your) religion, and drove you forth from your homes and backed up (others) in your expulsion, that you make friends with them, and whoever makes friends with them, those are the unjust. (60:8-9)

 

The official Saudi translation, however, has distorted the meaning of Verse 9:29 to justify the Saudi Wahhabi faith in dividing the world into two camps, and in waging the holy war against the Jews in particular.[11]  We see a graphic example of this in the following verses:

 

28. O you who believe (in Allah’s Oneness and in His Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)! Verily, the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, and in the Message of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are Najasun (impure).[12] So let them not come near Al-Masjidal-Harâm (at Makkah) after this year; and if you fear poverty, Allah will enrich you if He wills, out of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

29. Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islâm) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah[13] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

30. And the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying with their mouths, resembling the saying of those who disbelieved aforetime. Allah’s curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth![3]

31. They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] to worship none but One Ilâh (God - Allah) Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)[4]. Praise and glory be to Him (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him).”

 

As we can see, Sunni scholars ascribed to prophet Mohamed this false saying: “The Hour will not be established until you fight against the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say, ‘O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him’.”  “The Hour” here refers to the end of this world, and the coming of the Kingdom of Allah, the Lord.

 

2. Adoption of Sharee’a by the Saudi Family

 

Medieval Sharee’a has been revived, restored, and adopted by the Saudi family since 1158 AH (AD 1745).  Their goal is to lead the Muslim World against the Western camp and the Jews.  The Saudi Kingdom and the radical Sunni Muslims have the same strategy to brainwash the billion and a half Muslims in the world, and in using the Muslim communities in the US and the West as a fifth column.  The final aim is to unite all Islam under a Caliphate to conquer and to occupy the other camp, fulfilling that predict of their tradition about the sign of the end of this world.

 

In spite of having the same strategy, the Saudis and the Sunnis use different tactics.  The Saudi Kingdom works to use its influence inside the West and the US to spread Wahhabism under the name of Islam in Europe and in the U.S.  They have the hope that Islam will grow in influence until it is the second largest religion in the West, thereby allowing the Saudi royal family to overcome peacefully the entire West and the U.S.

 

Radical Sunni organizations such as Ben Laden’s do not have the patience of the Saudis.  They seek to hasten the day when they can exercise world domination.  Consequently they fight now, applying the violent Jihad according to their Sunni Sharee’a law.

 

3. Authentic Islam in U.S. Hijacked by Wahabbism

 

Muslims in the U.S. share the American values of tolerance and religious freedom.  Following their natural inclinations, they should discover the strong similarity between authentic Islam and traditional American values rooted in the natural moral law.  Realizing this, they should work to export these values and reform the entire Muslim world, undeceiving them as to the nature of Wahabbism, promoting and improving the American image in the Muslim world.

 

Instead, the Muslim community in America has been hijacked by Wahhabism.  The Saudi royal family is directly responsible for the rising of this fanatic Sunni Wahhabi trend all over the Muslim world.  They work to spread this fanaticism in Islamic Schools, Centers, and Mosques in the U.S and throughout the West.  Supported by Saudi funding and influence, this terrorist Wahhabi trend is hijacking the name of Islam and abusing the American freedom of speech and belief, threatening America and all of the free world.

 

The Saudi State has insisted on keeping this Wahhabi fanatic sect fixed in its Medieval culture without any reform from within Islam.  Moreover, Saudi influence results in persecuting free Muslim thinkers who struggle to reform Muslims from within Islam.  The Saudis refuse and oppose any reform coming from the West, and at the same time they persecute reformers who call for reform from within Islam.

 

4. Deliberate Saudi Mistranslation of the Holy Quran

 

For the past 25 years, I have struggled against Saudi influence in Egypt.  On coming to the U.S. as a political asylee, I found the same Saudi influence at work in Sunni Mosques, Centers, and schools — most of them controlled by the same fanatics who advocate the Wahhabi culture of terrorism.

 

To take a typical example, the official Saudi translation of the Holy Quran deliberately mistranslates Chapter One, [Al Fatehah] — the opening of the Quran.  It says: “Guide us to the straight path. The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your blessing, not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.”

 

The Saudi translation adds commentary on these verses, describing the Jews as those who earned the anger of God, and the Christians as those who went astray.  This Quranic Chapter One, Al Fatehah, is recited seventeen times in the daily Muslim prayers. So, by means of this mistranslation, every American Muslim is brainwashed each day seventeen times to be a terrorist.  Millions of copies of this translation have been distributed in the Islamic centers and schools and mosques in the U.S., asserting that all Christians and Jews are infidels, and — according to the Wahhabi faith — should be killed[14]:

 

1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

2. All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord[15] of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).[16]

3. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

 

4. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).

5. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).

6. Guide us to the Straight Way.[17]

7. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace,[18] not (the way) of those who earned Your anger[19] (i.e. those who knew the Truth, but did not follow it) nor of those who went astray (i.e. those who did not follow the Truth out of ignorance and error).[20],[21]

 

5. Continued Brainwashing of Muslims

 

If the Saudi influence in the U.S. continues for some decades, a great part of the silent Muslim majority in the Muslim world and Muslim communities in the West and the U.S. will be brainwashed to become terrorists.  We are talking about a billion and a half people, who are increasing daily in number, threatening the West in the near future.  It is enough for the Saudi tactics to brainwash few millions “only” in the West and the U.S. to achieve its aim peacefully without the necessity of armed conflict.  For the terrorist organizations, it is enough for them to use a war of ideas to recruit millions inside the West, the U.S., and in the Muslim world, using them in making dirty bombs to cause chaos among those they believe to be the “camp of evil.”

 

6. Armed Conflict v. War of Ideas

 

American policy is responsible for the damage that was caused by Wahhabism since the 1990s.  This is because the U.S. usually fights in the Muslim world using its military power, whereas the war should be a war of ideas.

 

The first difference between a military war and a “soft war of ideas” is to define your enemy.  It is very easy in a military war to know your enemy, but in war of ideas, you will achieve half the victory when you define your enemies perfectly and sort them in order, dealing with everyone in the proper way according to the rule of this intellectual soft war.

 

In this analysis, Ben Laden is not enemy number one of the U.S.  On the contrary, the chief enemy is the Saudi royal family.  U.S. policy has therefore been to ally itself with its chief enemy in the war of ideas in an effort to achieve a limited and equivocal military victory against a lesser objective.  Consequently, the U.S. has become bogged down in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, at the cost of billions of dollars and thousands of lives in endless military war, without any hope in achieving real victory.  The only result has been to tarnish the American image, and give more power to the Saudi influence inside the U.S. and overseas.

 

If current US policy continues, it will be disastrous in the coming decades.

 

7- The War of Ideas — the Real Battlefield

 

So, here we have some facts:

 

Real Islam, with social teachings based on the natural moral law, has essentially the same American values in fields of democracy, human rights, religious freedom, justice, and tolerance.

 

Most of Muslim countries are under theocratic and autocratic regimes that oppose and violate these American/Islamic values.

 

Because of dependence on oil and political reasons that date from the cold war with the Soviet Union, the Saudi royal family has had American support in spreading its Sunni Wahhabism inside America and overseas.

 

After September11, American policy has engaged in military war against one part of the enemy (Ben Laden), but has still allied itself to the core of Wahhabism (the Saudi Kingdom).

 

The American policy has tried to reform Arab dictatorship regimes, but it cannot pressure them because it needs their support in its awkward position in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

 

So, the call for democracy and reforming Arab educational systems was ended, giving the other side more power and more victory. This is a very negative indication for the future.

Now, the Arabic streets are revolting for democracy, human rights and natural justice. It is the golden time for the US to support them to establish democratic regimes in the Middle East and North Africa. Wahhabism and its different groups (Muslim Brothers, Salafism, Jama’ah Islameyya and Jihadists) could not survive in open societies. In freedom of belief and speech they will be unable to argue with the free Muslim thinkers who have expertise in Islam and Muslim traditions and Muslim Sharee’ah. It will be very easy to prove the contradiction between them and Islam.

In democracy their secret organizations will have the chance to speak up, but they are not qualified to debate as they were raised and educated to obey without any discussion. Giving support to the expert Muslim scholars will help in dismantling those fanatic and terrorist group in few years.

Finally

It is the time of war of ideas not military war. So, it is essential to understand its rule. The first rule of war of ideas is to understand its roots.

Let’s understand other rules.