Saturday, November 21, 2015

Safiyah, the Jewish Forced Bride of Prophet Muhammad


I am reproducing below an article by Ali Sina (http://www.faithfreedom.org/) as published on blog No Compulsion. It covers the following subjects:
  1. The rape of Safiya
  2. The torture of Safiya's husband, Kinana
  3. The treacherous attack against the Jews in Khaybar
  4. The exile of the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir
  5. The extermination of the Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayza

Muhammad the Prophet and Muslims ride and raid to slaughter Koffar Infidels
The following is the story of Safiyah Bint Huyayy Ibn Akhtab, the Jewish woman who was captured when Muhammad’s troops attacked Khaybar and brought her to the Prophet as part of his share of the booty. Muhammad ordered Kinana, the young husband of Safiyah to be tortured to death to make him reveal the whereabouts of the treasure of the town. On the very nigh of that murder, he took Safiyah to his bed and claimed her as his trophy. This story is reported by Tabari in detail. It can also be found in Sira of Ibn Ishaq. The following is reported in the Book of Tabaqat, compiled by Ibn Sa’d. Two years earlier, Muhammad had beheaded Huyayy, the father of Safiyah along with 900 men of Banu Qurayza.
Huyayy Ibn Akhtab, father of Safiyah was the leader of the Bani Nadir, one of the Jewish tribes of Medina. Muhammad had exiled the Banu Qainuqa’, another Jewish tribe of Medina and was coveting the wealth of the Bani Nadir. He was looking for an excuse.
Meanwhile one of his followers had treacherously killed two travelers and had stolen their belonging. Banditry had become the way of living for the Muslims. All trade and business in Medina had disappeared after Muhammad’s migration and the only way people could survive was through banditry

Muhammad the Prophet and Muslims raid and pillage caravans
When this person reported his crime to Muhammad and came to pay him his 20% share, Muhammad thought of a plan. He told the man that he had made a treaty with the Bani ‘Amer to not kill them and now he has to pay the blood wit. He then went to the Bani Nadir and said since they had a treaty with him they should pay the blood wit. Now this was an outrageous demand. The Medinan treaty was unilateral and was imposed on the Jews. Even then it said that the Jews will fight against the invaders. There was no clause saying they are liable for the crimes committed by Muslims. Muhammad thought that for sure the Bani nadir will object to this unjust demand and he will use it as excuse to get rid of them.
However, when he went to their quarter, accompanied by six of his close companions, the Jews were too frightened to argue and agreed to collect the money. Muhammad and his companions then sat beneath the shade of a wall while the Jews went to collect the money that he was extorting from them. This was not what Muhammad hoped for. He had come looking for an excuse and the Jews were not giving it. So he thought of another plan. He told his companions to sit there and that he will be back soon. His companions sat and he never came. The Jews came with the money but Muhammad had already gone.

Muhammad the Prophet and Muslims slaughter the Banu Qurayza Jewish Tribe
 
When they went to the mosque, the saw him there. He told them that the Jews were plotting to kill him by throwing a stone on him from the top of the wall. When his companions expressed their surprise because they did not notice anything strange, he told them Gabriel had informed him.
Anyway, using that excuse he demanded that the Bani Nadir leave, leaving all their wealth for him. He actually wanted to massacre them all, but give in to Abdullah ibn Ubay who told him he won’t let him kill his allies. The Bani Nadir were exiled and Muhammad took possession of all their wealth alone, 100% of it. He argued since Muslims did not have to fight, and the Jews surrendered all their spoils belonged to him personally.
A year alter he fell on the Bani Qurayza, the last Jewish tribe of Medina. Huyayy ibn Akhtab, the leader of the Bani Nadir was in the fortress of Bani Qurayza. Muhammad that all the men of this tribe should be beheaded and it was here that Huyayy was killed along seven to nine hundred men and boys of Bani Qurayz

Muhammad the Prophet and Muslims mass slaughter the Banu Qurayza Jewish Tribe
 
If the Bani Nadir wanted to kill him they did not need to climb a wall to throw a stone on him. He was in their fortress. They could easily kill him. But they were afraid of him. Their story should serve as a lesson to us. Cowardice never pays.
The Bani Nadir took refuge in Khaybar, a Jewish fortress 160 km to the North of Medina. That is how Safiyah ended up in Khaybar and married her young cousin Kinana who became a leader and the treasurer of that town.
Khaybar Fortress
Khaybar Jewish Fortress captured by Muhammad, Ali and Muslims
Khaybar Fortress is at least 1400 years old. Some of the earliest accounts of it came from the narrative of the Battle of Khaybar, when the Prophet Mohammed and Muslims invaded and conquered Khaybar. It was his nephew and son-in-law, Ali ibn al Abi Talib (4th Caliph of Rashedin and the 1st Shiite Imam) who was able to unlock the gate of the fortress to allow the Muslim armies to finally conquer the fortress. After the victory Muslims committed many atrocities, slaughtered and enslaved the Jews.
 
Safiyah was seventeen and very beautiful. When Muhammad raided Khaybar. He killed the unarmed men. People were not ready for war. They were taken by surprise. Muhammad was not a warrior. He was a terrorist. His wars are called gazwah (raid, ambush, sudden attack).
Muhammad then captured Kinana and tortured him. He wanted to know where he had hidden the funds of the city. He pressed red hot iron into his eyes and started a fire on his chest until Kinana died.
At this moment someone seeing Dihya taking possession of Safiyah, the 17 year old Kinana’s beautiful bride, feels jealous and informs Muhammad that Kinana’s wife is very beautiful and he should take her for himself. Muhammad orders Bilal to find her and bring her.
Bilal finds Safiyah was with her cousin, another young woman, sister of Kinana, and brings the two women to Muhammad. Dihya also comes.
Kinana ibn al Rabi tortured and murdered by Muhammad the Prophet and Muslims
Here, Muhammad and Muslims are torturing Kinana the husband of Safiyah to reveal the location of the Bani Nadir Jewish tribal funds.
 
When Kinana’s sister saw her brother’s mutilated corps, and the mutilated body of another man who was her husband she became hysterical and started shouting. Muhammad became enrages, slapped her and shouted, take this devil away from me. Moments later, he told Bilal, “don’t you have any humanity to parade women in front of the corpses of their loved ones?” Bilal responded, I did it on purpose. I wished to see their grief and anger stirred up.
Muhammad then took Safiyah to his tent and wanted to have sex with her on that very night. She was after all his “right hand possession and as the Quran 4:24 says, she it is permissible for Muslims to rape women captured in war.
The following is from Tabaqat:
“Safiyah was born in Medinah. She belonged to the Jewish tribe of Banu ‘I-Nadir. When this tribe was expelled from Medinah in the year 4 A.H, Huyayy was one of those who settled in the fertile colony of Khaybar together with Kinana ibn al-Rabi’ to whom Safiyah was married a little before the Muslims attacked Khaybar. She was then seventeen. She had formerly been the wife of Sallam ibn Mishkam, who divorced her. One mile from Khaybar. Here the Prophet married Safiyah. She was groomed and made-up for the Prophet by Umm Sulaim, the mother of Anas ibn Malik. They spent the night there. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari guarded the tent of the Prophet the whole night. When, in the early dawn, the Prophet saw Abu Ayyub strolling up and down, he asked him what he meant by this sentry-go; he replied: “I was afraid for you with this young lady. You had killed her father, her husband and many of her relatives, and till recently she was an unbeliever. I was really afraid for you on her account”. The Prophet prayed for Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Ibn Hisham, p. 766) Safiyah had requested the Prophet to wait till he had gone a stage away from Khaybar. “Why?” asked the Prophet. “I was afraid for you on account of the Jews who still happened to be near at Khaybar!”

Submission of Banu Nadir Jewish Tribe to Muhammad and Muslims
The reason Safiyah rejected the sexual advances of Muhammad should be obvious to any thinking person. I believe most women would rather mourn than jump into bed with the killer of their father, husband and many relatives on the same day of their death. But the fact that the Prophet of Allah, this “Mercy of God to all the creation” could not contain his sexual urges for one day to let this young girl grieve, says a lot of his moral character. He was utterly bereft of conscience and empathy.
As for the rest of the story we are not sure whether it is true or was fabricated by Muslim historians to wipe the impression of rape. But this is all we have and to find the truth we have to rely on these lopsided documents narrated and written by Muslims.
The story goes on to say that Abu Ayyub, was concerned for the safety of the prophet because he (Muhammad) had killed Safiyah’s father, husband and many of her relatives. This is logical. It is foolish to sleep with a woman after killing her loved ones. But Safiyah’s excuse for rejecting Muhammad’s advances towards her seems unreasonable. When Muhammad took this young girl into his tent, he had already killed many Jews and had chained others. If there were any Jews left, they were more worried for their own lives than Safiyah being raped. This excuse sounds foolish and obviously forged to claim that Safiyah wanted to have sex with Muhammad, if she didn’t it was because she was concerned for his safety. The depravity of the Muslim mind is bottomless. They are a bunch of stupid people that believe in any asininity without thinking, but I am those with commonsense can see the excuses are a lie.
“The next day a Walima (wedding-feast) was arranged on behalf of the Prophet…”
Note that the historian is saying that the wedding took place one day after Muhammad got private with Safiyah and made his moves to have sex with her. This presented no problem for the prophet as he had his Allah reveal a verse saying it is okay to sleep with women captured in war without marrying them even if they are married.
“And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess…”(Q. 4:24 )
The above verse shows that Muhammad did not believe that slaves have any right. Should Muslims come to power, this would be the fate of all non-Muslim women. Muslims can’t change anything that Muhammad has said or done.
This is confirmed in another place.
(Q. 23: 1-7)
1-The believers must (eventually) win through,-
2- Those who humble themselves in their prayers;
3-Who avoid vain talk;
4- Who are active in deeds of charity;
5- Who abstain from sex,
6- Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame,
7- But those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors;-
Let us continue with the story of Safiyah.
“The other wives of the Prophet showed their jealousy by making slights upon her Jewish origin. But the Prophet always defended her. Once Safiyah was vexed to the extreme by the taunts of all the Arab wives of the Prophet. She took the complaint to the Prophet, who felt great compassion for her. He consoled her. He encouraged her. He equipped her with logic. He said: “Safiyah, take courage and be bold. They are in no way superior to you. Tell them: I am a daughter of the Prophet Harun, a niece of the Prophet Musa, and a wife of the Prophet Muhammad”.
“When she was brought along with other prisoners, the Prophet said to her, “Safiyah, your father always maintained enmity with me until Allah made the final decision.” She said, “But Allah does not catch one for the sins of another.”
This contradicts Muhammad’s own behavior that annihilated the entire Bani Qainuqa with the pretext that few of them had killed a Muslim in retaliation of him killing a Jew. He banished an entire tribe, making them pay for the killing of a Muslim. That Muslim had already killed a Jew. But this did not matter to Muhammad. He needed an excuse to lay his hand on their wealth.
That is despite the verse that says “Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another” (Q. 53:38) Also it was not Allah who made the final decision.
See how this despicable man washed his hand from his crime. Safiyah’s father was killed by Muhammad’s not by Allah. If God wanted to kill all those people He could have done it on his own. God needs no mercenaries to do his will.
“The Prophet then gave her the choice of joining her people after freedom or accepting Islam and coming into a matrimonial relationship with him”
Gave her a choice? What choice? Muhammad had killed her husband and all her relatives. Where could she go? Joining her people? Which people? The men were killed and the women were enslaved.
“She was very intelligent and gentle and said, “O Allah’s Messenger, I had hoped for Islam, and I confirmed you before your invitation. Now when I have the honor to be in your presence, I am given a choice between kufr and Islam I swear by Allah, that Allah and His Messenger is dearer to me than my own freedom and my joining with my people.”
Was this confession, if true, sincere? Was she safe to speak her mind? She was enslaved by a man who had exterminated her family. See the reference made to her “freedom”. This shows clearly that she was not free. In fact she must have been very intelligent to fabricate those lies to save her own life. But the truth is that this story is most likely a lie.
“When Safiyah was married, she was very young, and according to one report she was hardly seventeen years old and was extremely beautiful. Once Aisha said a few sentences about her short stature, at which the Prophet said, “You have said a thing that if it were left in the sea, it would mix with it (and make its water dirty). ” (Abu Dawud). She not only deeply loved the Prophet but also greatly respected him as Allah’s Messenger, for she heard the conversations of her father and uncle after they went to Medinah. When the Prophet migrated to Medinah, they came to see him and find out whether he was the true Messenger of Allah spoken of in the Scriptures. When they got back and talked together that night, Safiyah was in her bed listening to them. One of them said, “What do you think about him?” He replied, “He is the same Prophet foretold by our Scriptures.” Then the other said, “What is to be done?” The reply came that they must oppose him with all their might.”
Is this story, narrated by Abu Dawud, credible? How can two Jews recognize Muhammad as the prophet foretold by their scriptures and decide to oppose him with all their might? It defies all logic. It takes a “deficient in intelligence” or a Muslim to believe in this nonsense

 Muhammad the Prophet spreads Islam by the sword and murder
 
She was deeply in love with Muhammad, the murderer of her father and husband? How stupid can Muslim be to believe in this narration? How can a seventeen years old beautiful girl fall in love with an aging crippled man with a broken tooth and fetid smell? Read my book Understanding Muhammad to learn how Muhammad was deformed and smelled foul.
It’s doubtful these were the words of Safiyah. If she said such thing, she was lying, to make herself safe, but I doubt she said such thing. All we need is a working brain to find where Muslims lie.
Why would someone decide to oppose with all his might the one who he knows is the promised one of his own scriptures? Where in the Bible Muhammad is foretold? Is Muhammad mentioned in the Bible? Read this article to see the pathetic lies of Muslims. Muhammad is not mentioned in the Bible or in any sacred book.
“So Safiyah was convinced of the truth of the Prophet. She spared no pain to look after him, care for him and provide every comfort that she could think of. This is evident since she came into his presence after the fall of Khaybar.”
See how the writer contradicts himself in one page? Just a few lines above we read that she was captured and was taken to Muhammad as a prisoner. She didn’t come on her own. She was taken to Muhammad because she was young and the beautiful.
“The Prophet had a slight grievance against her for she had refused when the Prophet wanted to have privacy with her at the previous stage (of the journey). At the next halt, the Prophet had privacy with her and spent all night with her. When she was asked by Umm Sulaim, “What did you see in Allah’s Messenger?” She said he was very pleased with her and did not sleep at all but was talking to her all night. He had asked her, ‘Why did you refuse at the first stage when I desired privacy with you?’ She had said, ‘I was afraid for you because of the nearness of the Jews. “‘This thing further increased my merit in his eyes.”(Tabaqat).
Bukhari also has recorded some Hadithes telling the invasion of Khaybar and how Muhammad met Safiyah.
Narrated ‘Abdul ‘Aziz:
Anas said, ‘When Allah’s Apostle invaded Khaybar, we offered the Fajr prayer there yearly in the morning) when it was still dark. The Prophet rode and Abu Talha rode too and I was riding behind Abu Talha. The Prophet passed through the lane of Khaybar quickly and my knee was touching the thigh of the Prophet. He uncovered his thigh and I saw the whiteness of the thigh of the Prophet. When he entered the town, he said, ‘Allah-o Akbar! Khaybar is ruined. Whenever we approach near a (hostile) nation (to fight) then evil will be the morning of those who have been warned.’ He repeated this thrice. The people came out for their jobs and some of them said, ‘Muhammad (has come).’ (Some of our companions added, “With his army.”) We conquered Khaybar, took the captives, and the booty was collected. Dihya came and said, ‘O Allah’s Prophet! Give me a slave girl from the captives.’ The Prophet said, ‘Go and take any slave girl.’ He took Safiyah bint Huyayy. A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Allah’s Apostles! You gave Safiyah bint Huyayy to Dihya and she is the chief mistress of the tribes of Qurayza and An-Nadir and she befits none but you.’ So the Prophet said, ‘Bring him along with her.’ So Dihya came with her and when the Prophet saw her, he said to Dihya, ‘Take any slave girl other than her from the captives.’ Anas added: The Prophet then manumitted her and married her.”
Thabit asked Anas, “O Abu Hamza! What did the Prophet pay her (as Mahr)?” He said, “Her self was her Mahr for he manumitted her and then married her.” Anas added, “While on the way, Um Sulaim dressed her for marriage (ceremony) and at night she sent her as a bride to the Prophet. (Sahih Bukhari 1.367)
Mahr is the dowry that a bride gets from her husband when he marries her. Muhammad did not pay Safiyah her Mahr because he had to pay it to himself for manumitting her. This story is significant because it gives us an insight into the moral and ethical values of Muhammad and his benighted followers. Muhammad was a psychopath. But Muslims have no shame. They worship a psychopath and want us to respect them. Does stupidity deserve respect? By virtue of following an insane man, every one of them acts insane.
Any decent, or even normal person cringer with stories like this, yet Muhammad taught that he is going to receive two rewards by marrying Safiyah. One for manumitting someone whom no one but himself had enslaved, and the other for marrying her.
Abu Musa reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said about one who emancipated a slave woman, and then married her, that for him there are two rewards. (Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 33
After the slaughters and murders, Muhammad comes up victorious!
Muhammad the Prophet victoriously enters Medinah.
 
Isn’t that disgusting? Drop this stupid political correctness and call a spade a spade. Muslims are a bunch of morons. How stupid these people can get?
Narrated Anas:
The Prophet offered the Fajr Prayer near Khaybar when it was still dark and then said, “Allah-o-Akbar! Khaybar is destroyed, for whenever we approach a (hostile) nation (to fight), then evil will be the morning for those who have been warned.” Then the inhabitants of Khaybar came out running on the roads. The Prophet had their warriors killed, their offspring and woman taken as captives. Safiyah was amongst the captives, She first came in the share of Dahya Alkali but later on she belonged to the Prophet. The Prophet made her manumission as her ‘Mahr’. (Sahih Bukhari V.5 B.59 N.512)
 -- text from No Compulsion.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Woman who accepts Islam and whose husband is a kafir must divorce him


You will find Muslim women and Islamic apologists saying that Muslim woman is full of rights, including the right to choose her husband. Of course, this is not true, and below is another proof of that. For one thing, a Muslim woman can only marry a Muslim man. But what if she is already married to a normal husband (a non-Muslim) when resolving to become Muslim, can she stay married? The answer is NO. For her to be married, the husband must become Muslim too, otherwise the marriage has no value under the Sharia.
You think I'm making this up? Or is this a joke? No, the thing is very serious. Below is the interpretation derived from the site Islam Question and Answer. Read and draw your conclusions.

117: Woman who accepts Islam and whose husband is a kaafir

Question

If a lady reverts to Islam and is married to a non-Muslim man, must she divorce this man? If he refuses to become a Muslim, can she continue to live with him?

Answer

All praise be to Allah the Almighty.

If a woman becomes a Muslima and her husband is a kaafir, then it becomes mandatory for her to separate from him and it is not permissible for her to remain with him in his state of shirk (disbelief), as per Allah's injunction (interpretation of the meaning):

"… do not send them back to the disbelievers—they are not lawful (wives) for the disbelievers nor are the disbelievers lawful (husbands) for them…" (Al-Mumtahinah 60:10).

It is her duty to invite him to Islam and to attempt to convince him via various approaches in the hope that Allah may accept her efforts and give her the great reward for his guidance through her. The prophet (peace be upon him) once told Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) when he sent him to a people who were idol-worshippers:

"Invite them to Islam and inform them what is required of them, for (I swear) by Allah, that Allah guides a man through you is better than if you had humr un-na'am (a particular kind of camel which is the most sought-after wealth among the Arabs)" (Al-Bukhari, Fath il-Baari 3009).

As for the course of the marriage, and what she should do if her husband accepts Islam or doesn't, Ibn ul-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: What is indicated by evidence of his (i.e., the prophet's) ruling is that the marriage is mawqoof, or in abeyance (i.e. suspension); if her husband accepts Islam before the elapsing of her 'iddah (waiting period), then she remains his wife. If her 'iddah elapses then she has the right to marry whom she pleases or if she likes she may wait (in the hope he may still accept Islam). If he then accepts Islam, she becomes his wife without need of renewing the marriage. (Zaad ul-Ma'aad, Vol 5 p.138).

wallahu a'lam. (And Allah the Most Knowledgeable knows what is the most true and correct)

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid




Monday, June 1, 2015

Obligation to destroy idols: Islamic Jihad against Human History and Human Art


 This comes from Islam Question and Answer Fatwa 20894
In a nutshell: It is an obligation for Muslims to destroy "idols" even if they are part of the legacy of human civilization!

Question:
Is it obligatory to destroy statues in Islam, even if they are part of the legacy of human civilization? Why is it that when the Sahaabah conquered other lands and saw statues there they did not destroy them?.

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.  

The evidence of sharee’ah indicates that it is obligatory to destroy idols, for example:

1 – Muslim (969) narrated that Abu’l-Hayaaj al-Asadi said: ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib said to me: “Shall I not send you with the same instructions as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent me? ‘Do not leave any image without defacing it or any built-up grave without leveling it.’”

2 – Muslim (832) narrated from ‘Urwah ibn ‘Abasah that he said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “With what were you sent?” He said, “I was sent to uphold the ties of kinship, to break the idols, and so that Allaah would be worshipped alone with no partner or associate.”

The obligation to destroy them is even stronger if they are worshipped instead of Allaah.

3 – al-Bukhaari (3020) and Muslim (2476) narrated that Jareer ibn ‘Abd-Allaah al-Bajali said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to me: “O Jareer, will you not relieve me of Dhu’l-Khalsah?”  That was a house (in Yemen) belonging to the (tribe of) Khath’am, which was called Ka’bat al-Yamaaniyyah. I set out with one hundred and fifty horsemen. I used not to sit firm on horses and I mentioned that to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He struck me on my chest with his hand and said, 'O Allaah! Make him firm and make him one who guides others and is guided on the right path.' " So Jareer went and burned it with fire, then Jareer sent a man called Abu Artaat to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He said, “I did not come to you until we had left it like a scabby camel.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) blessed the horses of (the tribe of) Ahmas and their men five times.

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said:

This hadeeth indicates that it is prescribed to remove things that may tempt or confuse the people, whether they are buildings, people, animals or inanimate objects.

4 – The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent Khaalid ibn al-Waleed (may Allaah be pleased with him) on a campaign to destroy al-‘Uzza.

5 – and he sent Sa’d ibn Zayd al-Ashhali (may Allaah be pleased with him) on a campaign to destroy Manaat.

6 – And he sent ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allaah be pleased with him) on a campaign to destroy Suwaa’. All of that happened after the Conquest of Makkah.

Al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah, 4/712. 776. 5/83; al-Seerah al-Nabawiyyah by Dr. ‘Ali al-Salaabi, 2/1186.

Al-Nawawi said in Sharh Muslim when discussing the issue of image-making:
They were unanimously agreed that whatever casts a shadow is not allowed and must be changed.
Images that cast a shadow are three-dimensional images like these statues.

With regard to what is said about the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) not destroying idols in the conquered lands, this is merely conjecture. The companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would not have left idols and statues alone, especially since they were worshipped at that time.

If it is asked, how come the Sahaabah left alone the ancient idols of the Pharaohs and Phoenicians? The answer is that these idols fall into one of three categories:

1 – These idols may have been in remote places that the Sahaabah did not reach; when the Sahaabah conquered Egypt, for example, that does not mean that they reached every part of the land.

2 – These idols may not have been visible, rather they may have been inside Pharaonic buildings etc. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us to hasten when passing through the abodes of the wrongdoers and those who had been punished, and he forbade entering such places. In al-Saheehayn it is says: “Do not enter upon those who have been punished unless you are weeping, lest there befall you something like that which befall them.” He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that when he passed by ashaab al-hijr [the dwellers of the rocky tract – see al-Hijr 15:80], in the land of Thamood, the people of Saalih (peace be upon him).

According to another report narrated in  al-Saheehayn, “If you are not weeping, then do not enter upon them, lest there befall you something like that which befall them.” 

What we think is that if the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw a temple or building belonging of these people, they did not enter it or even look at what was inside it. 

This will dispel any confusion about why the Sahaabah did not see the Pyramids or what is inside them. There is also the possibility that their doors and entrances were covered with sand at that time.

3 – Many of these idols that are visible nowadays were covered and hidden, and have only been discovered recently, or they have been brought from remote places that the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not reach.

Al-Zarkali was asked about the Pyramids and the Sphinx etc: Did the Sahaabah who entered Egypt see them?

He said: They were mostly covered with sand, especially the Sphinx.

Shibh Jazeerat al-‘Arab, 4/1188

Then even if we assume that there was a statue that was visible and not hidden, then we still have to prove that the Sahaabah saw it and were able to destroy it.

The fact of the matter is that the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) would not have been able to destroy some of these statues. It took twenty days to destroy some of these statues even with tools, equipment, and explosives etc that were not available to the Sahaabah at all.

This is indicated by what Ibn Khuldoon said in al-Muqaddimah (p. 383), that the caliph al-Rasheed was unable to destroy the estrade of Chosroes. He started to do that, and he gathered men and tools, and burned it with fire, and poured vinegar on it, but he was unable to do it. And the caliph al-Ma’moon wanted to destroy the Pyramids in Egypt and he gathered workers but he could not do it.

With regard to the excuse that these statues are part of the legacy of mankind, no attention should be paid to such words. Al-Laat, al-‘Uzaa, Hubal, Manaat and other idols were also a legacy for those who worshipped them among Quraysh and the Arabs.

This is a legacy, but it is a haraam legacy which should be uprooted. When the command comes from Allaah and His Messenger, then the believer must hasten to obey, and the command of Allaah and His Messenger cannot be rejected on the grounds of this flimsy excuse. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allaah (His Words, the Qur’aan) and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: “We hear and we obey.” And such are the successful (who will live forever in Paradise)”

[al-Noor 24:51]

We ask Allaah to help the Muslims to do that which He loves and which pleased Him.

And Allaah knows best.









Saturday, April 25, 2015

The Armenian Genocide


April 24, 1915 marks the beginning of the Armenian Genocide. It took place only 100 years ago, and until today Turkey refuses to even admit it ever happened.

A lot has been written and said about the event. Here I list with a few references that can be accessed via the Internet, composed of a list or articles and videos.

Reading

Armenian Genocide. United Human Rights Council. Retrieved April 24, 2015.

The Forgotten Genocide: why it matters today. Raymond Ibrahim. April 24, 2015.

The Islamic Genocide of Christians: Past and Present. Raymond Ibrahim, PJ Media. April 24, 2015.

The 1915 Armenian Genocide - Why is it still denied by Turkey (and the US)?. Mike Opelka, The Blaze, April 25, 2015.

1915-1923 Armenian Genocide (http://www.genocide1915.info/)

Videos

(1) PBS documentary "The Armenian Genocide." A very good overview following the historical development, with causes and consequences.

https://vimeo.com/19586714


(2) A 2013 "60 Minutes" segment. "the remains of the Armenians are so prevalent in the area that all you need to do is scratch the sand along the river banks and you will find pieces of human bones that have been there for 98 years."




(3) Documentary "1915 AGHET"




(4) "Ravished Armenia" ("Auction of Souls") is a silent movie shot in 1919 in Hollywood about the Armenian Genocide, based on a book written by a Genocide survivor. A large portion of the movie was lost but this 20 minute-long clip was recovered.




(5) Rescuing Armenian women in the der Zor Desert


 

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Killing a person (i.e., a Muslim) is as killing all mankind (Quran 5:32)



Consider the following portion of a quranic verse:

“if anyone killed a person it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.”
It is heavily used by "Uneducated Muslims" as well as apologists (*) and Islamic supremacists use all the time in an attempt to portray Islam as a peaceful and co-existing religion.

In reality this is just a portion of Quran 5:32. Unfortunately, the whole verse says something very different. And, if looked into the context of its neighboring verses, it sounds really bad.

As we will see, the real meaning is:
“if anyone killed a Muslim it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a Muslim life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.”
Let us see what a tafsir, exegesis, has to say about it. I am quoting ibn Kathir, whose exegesis is very influential. Ibn Kathir (born c. 1300, died 1373) was a highly influential Sunni scholar of the Shafi'i school during the Mamluk rule of Syria, an expert on tafsir (Quranic exegesis) and faqīh (jurisprudence) as well as a historian. I am quoting an online version and subsequent pages.

First, a bit of context. Chapter (Sura) 5 was "revealed" in Medina, when Muhammed was already a War Lord, in the process of eradicating the Jewish tribes (5 in total) which refused to accept him as a prophet. Verses 27-34 retell the story of Cain and Abel, and they come within the context of a warning to the Jews, and is not presented as a universal principle. Thus this passage is explaining what must be done with Jews in particular (and all non-Muslims in general) who reject Muhammad, not dictating lofty moral principles.

To start ibn Kathir presents verses 5:32-5:34 together
32. Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.
33. Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment,
34. Except for those who return [repenting] before you apprehend them. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
What ibn Kathir has to say:
"(We ordained for the Children of Israel...) meaning, We legislated for them and informed them,"
This confirms this is directed to the Jews.
"(that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land - it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.) The Ayah states, whoever kills a soul without justification -- such as in retaliation for murder or for causing mischief on earth -- will be as if he has killed all mankind, because there is no difference between one life and another."
Note the two conditions for permissible killing "retaliation for murder or for causing mischief on earth." What are those?
"(it would be as if he killed all mankind.) means, "Whoever kills one soul that Allah has forbidden killing, is just like he who kills all mankind.'' Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "He who allows himself to shed the blood of a Muslim, is like he who allows shedding the blood of all people. He who forbids shedding the blood of one Muslim, is like he who forbids shedding the blood of all people.'' In addition, Ibn Jurayj said that Al-A`raj said that Mujahid commented on the Ayah,"
Oh, so Allah forbids shedding the blood of a Muslim
"(it would be as if he killed all mankind,) "He who kills a believing soul intentionally, Allah makes the Fire of Hell his abode, He will become angry with him, and curse him, and has prepared a tremendous punishment for him, equal to if he had killed all people, his punishment will still be the same.'' Ibn Jurayj said that Mujahid said that the Ayah,"
He is referring just to a "believing soul" (i.e., a Muslim).

So, the meaning is very different to what Islamic supremacists, uneducated Muslims or apologists try to imply! There is more.
"(And indeed, there came to them Our Messengers with Al-Bayyinat,) meaning, clear evidences, signs and proofs, even then after that many of them continued to exceed the limits in the land!) This Ayah chastises and criticizes those who commit the prohibitions, after knowing that they are prohibited from indulging in them. The Jews of Al-Madinah, such as Banu Qurayzah, An-Nadir and Qaynuqa`, used to fight along with either Khazraj or Aws, when war would erupt between them during the time of Jahiliyyah. When these wars would end, the Jews would ransom those who were captured and pay the blood money for those who were killed. Allah criticized them for this practice in Surat Al-Baqarah,)"
Here we go, those pesky Jews again. Remember, the verse is directed to the People of Israel.

Meaning of Mischief
 (“Do not make mischief on the earth”), that is disbelief and acts of disobedience.” Abu Ja`far said that Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that Abu Al-`Aliyah said that Allah’s statement,
(And when it is said to them: “Do not make mischief on the earth,”), means, “Do not commit acts of disobedience on the earth. Their mischief is disobeying Allah, because whoever disobeys Allah on the earth, or commands that Allah be disobeyed, he has committed mischief on the earth. Peace on both the earth and in the heavens is ensured (and earned) through obedience (to Allah).” Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Qatadah said similarly.
This is important. Disobeying Sharia is doing mischief on the earth!

The Punishment of those Who Cause Mischief in the Land
"(The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land.) `Wage war’ mentioned here means, oppose and contradict, and it includes disbelief, blocking roads and spreading fear in the fairways. Mischief in the land refers to various types of evil."
"“Was revealed concerning the idolators, those among them who repent before being apprehended, they will still be liable for punishment for the crimes they committed.” The correct opinion is that this Ayah is general in meaning and includes the idolators and all others who commit the types of crimes the Ayah mentioned.
Ibn Kathir then quotes a Tradition of the Prophet, that shows Muhammed torturing people to death:
Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded that Abu Qilabah `Abdullah bin Zayd Al-Jarmi, said that Anas bin Malik said, “Eight people of the `Ukl tribe came to the Messenger of Allah and gave him their pledge to follow Islam. Al-Madinah’s climate did not suit them and they became sick and complained to Allah’s Messenger. So he said," "(Go with our shephard to be treated by the milk and urine of his camels.) So they went as directed, and after they drank from the camels’ milk and urine, they became healthy, and they killed the shepherd and drove away all the camels. The news reached the Prophet and he sent (men) in their pursuit and they were captured. He then ordered that their hands and feet be cut off (and it was done), and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron. Next, they were put in the sun until they died.”
The commentary continues with something very interesting, since it refers to “Muslim Land”:
(they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land.) `Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn `Abbas said about this Ayah, `He who takes up arms in Muslim land and spreads fear in the fairways and is captured, the Muslim Leader has the choice to either have him killed, crucified or cut off his hands and feet.”
Remember that the State of Israel is located in “Muslim Land” (land conquered militarily by Jihad).
(That is their disgrace in this world,) “Meaning, shame, humiliation, punishment, contempt and torment in this life, before the Hereafter,
(and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter.) in the Fire of Jahannam.”
Finally, “those who repent before they are apprehended” means “for the Muslims who commit this crime and repent before they are apprehended, the punishment of killing, crucifixion and cutting the limbs will be waved.” Those punishments  are clearly indicated by “this Ayah [verse] … that it applies to the idolators.”

(*) A reminder, both US presidents Bush and Obama used this passage outside of its context in an attempt to portray Islam as a "Religion of Peace."

Links for Tafsir ibn Kathir:

http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=787&Itemid=60
http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=786&Itemid=60
http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=785&Itemid=60
http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=784&Itemid=60
http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=783&Itemid=60