Rethinking 'Hostile' Verses from the Quran (Part 1)

An important idea that contributes to shaping attitudes towards non-Muslims is the view that all non-Muslims are the same in their attitude towards Islam and Muslims. They will never be pleased unless all Muslims abandon their religion and follow the non-Muslim way of life. All non-Muslims share common hate towards Islam and will never cease conspiring against it. This view could be found in Imam Samudra’s book “Aku Melawan Teroris” and various speeches made by Usamah bin Laden.

To support such a view, its proponent would cite the following verses:

وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَن دِينِكُمْ إِنِ ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟

“..(Your enemies) will not cease to fight against you till they have turned you away from your faith, if they can..”

And the verse:

وَلَن تَرْضَىٰ عَنكَ ٱلْيَهُودُ وَلَا ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ 

“For never will the Jews be pleased with thee, nor yet the Christians, unless thou follow their own creeds..”

Sayyid Qutb also shares a similar inclination by emphasising that the nature of the relationship between Muslim and non-Muslim communities is a conflict due to the fundamental differences between both communities; the former is based on full submission ('ubudiyah) to Allah only and the other is based on submission ('ubudiyah) to fellow humans or false gods from the Islamic perspective.

It is, therefore, certain that man-made beliefs and ideologies will see Islam as the main threat. Thus, they will always strive to undermine Islam and Muslims. To support the above two verses, he highlighted the conspiracy between the Arab pagans and the Jews, against the Prophet, even though in Islam, the Jews were accorded a special status as People of the Book. The respect shown to them does not prevent them from committing treason that goes against the Madinah Charter they have agreed upon previously.

Sayyid Qutb also viewed contemporary cases of cooperation between communists, polytheists and Christians against Muslims in Russia, China, Yugoslavia, Albania, India and Kashmir in the same light.

The fundamental problem with such a view is that it generalises all non-Muslims as one monolithic group. Reading the two verses in isolation from other verses has contributed to this over-generalisation. As a result, the conclusion drawn from the above verses becomes inconsistent with the position taken by the Quran towards non-Muslims.

In reality, the Quran acknowledges that non-Muslims are not one monolithic group. It is in this light that the Quran advises Muslims on the proper mode of interaction with various types of non-Muslims.

The two verses previously cited, if read in conjunction with other verses of a similar theme, would provide a more accurate picture of Islam’s attitude towards non-Muslims. For example, the Quran says:

وَلَن تَرْضَىٰ عَنكَ ٱلْيَهُودُ وَلَا ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ هُوَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۗ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم بَعْدَ ٱلَّذِى جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ۙ مَا لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّۢ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ. إِنَّمَا يَنْهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ قَـٰتَلُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِكُمْ وَظَـٰهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَن تَوَلَّوْهُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

“As for such [of the unbelievers] as do not fight against you on account of [your] faith, and neither drive you forth from your homelands, God does not forbid you to show them kindness and to behave towards them with full equity: For, verily, God loves those who act equitably. God only forbids you to turn in friendship towards such as those who fight against you because of [your] faith, and drive you forth from your homelands, or aid [others] in driving you forth: And as for those [from among you] who turn towards them in friendship, it is they, they who are the wrongdoers!”

(Surah Al-Mumtahanah, 60:8-9)

The Quran also recognizes that among non-Muslims, some are followers of revealed scriptures. In view of this, God referred to them as “Ahl Al-Kitab” (People of the Book) and made provision for special laws which govern the interaction between Muslims and them. When God declares that the meat (of animals) slaughtered by them as Halal (permissible) and that it is also Halal (permissible) to marry their women, one cannot but conclude that God intended the Muslims and “Ahl Al-Kitab” to co-exist side by side peacefully:

ٱلْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ ۖ وَطَعَامُ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ حِلٌّۭ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّۭ لَّهُمْ ۖ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَـٰفِحِينَ وَلَا مُتَّخِذِىٓ أَخْدَانٍۢ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُۥ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ

“Today, all the good things of life have been made lawful to you. And the food of those who have been vouchsafed revelation aforetime (ahl al-kitab) is lawful to you, and your food is lawful to them. And [lawful to you are], in wedlock, women from among those who believe [in divine writ], and in wedlock, women from among those who have been vouchsafed revelation before your time – provided that you give them their dowers, taking them in honest wedlock, not in fornication, nor as secret love-companions…”

(Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:5)

The differences among the Ahl Al-Kitab are highlighted further in the following verse:

 وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰٓ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱكْتُبْنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ. لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ ٱلنَّاسِ عَدَٰوَةًۭ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱلْيَهُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ ۖ وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُم مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا نَصَـٰرَىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ 

“You will surely find the most bitter towards the believers to be the Jews and polytheists and the most gracious to be those who call themselves Christian. That is because there are priests and monks among them and because they are not arrogant.

When they listen to what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears for recognizing the truth. They say, “Our Lord! We believe, so count us among the witnesses.”

(Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:82-83)

The above verses not only provide the distinction between the Christians and the Jews in relation to Muslims but also contain positive remarks about the Christians, and there are many other similar verses that can be found in the Quran:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلصَّـٰبِـُٔونَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ 

“Indeed, the believers, Jews, Sabians and Christians—whoever (truly) believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good, there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.”

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ وَٱلصَّـٰبِـِٔينَ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ 

“Indeed, the believers, Jews, Christians, and Sabians—whoever ˹truly˺ believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good will have their reward with their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:62)

In the above verses, Allah mentions the Jews and the Christians as separate entities from the believers (Muslims) in a positive tone. There are two possible interpretations for the verses. Firstly, those who are praised among the Jews, the Christians and Sabians are those who have already embraced Islam, the final revelation to Prophet Muhammad, and not those who still remain with their faith.

Secondly, the Jews, the Christians and the Sabians are praised because of their potential to become true believers and followers of the last and final revelation to Muhammad, in view of the commonalities that they have with Islam.

Both interpretations are highly plausible. As for the Sabians that were mentioned in both verses, the scholars differed on their exact beliefs. They were reported to have lived in Iraq, at a time during which Islam had not spread into their homeland. Some scholars were of the opinion that the Sabians were those whom the Prophet’s message had not reached. Therefore, the praises mentioned in the verses are not restricted to those who have embraced Islam brought by prophet Muhammad.

Similar perspective can also be found in the following verse:

ٱلَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِم بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّآ أَن يَقُولُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍۢ لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَٰمِعُ وَبِيَعٌۭ وَصَلَوَٰتٌۭ وَمَسَـٰجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًۭا ۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ 

“For, if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, [all] monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques – [all of] which God’s name is abundantly extolled – would surely have been destroyed [ere now]. And God will most certainly succour him who succours His cause: For, verily, God is most powerful, almighty.”

In this verse, despite the fundamental differences between Islam, Christianity and Judaism, God mentions monasteries, churches and synagogues positively as places “in which God’s name is abundantly extolled”. This surely does not refer to Muslims performing their prayer in those houses of worship because their place of worship is in the mosque.

Although one can cite examples of the persecution of the Muslims by the Meccan people, the betrayal of the Jews of Madinah and the collaboration between the Jews and the Meccans against the Prophet to demonstrate the deep hatred the non-Muslims had, it is also noteworthy to highlight examples of good relationships between the Prophet and non-Muslims. In fact, there were historical instances that showed non-Muslims assistance and support towards the Prophet and Muslims. The following are some of the examples: 

1. The Prophet was constantly protected by his uncle Abu Talib who was not Muslim, by popular historical account, until his death.

2. Under intense persecution by the Meccan people, the Prophet commanded his followers to seek refuge in Abyssinia, which was under the rule of a Christian king. He commended the King as a fair ruler who would not wrong any of his subjects.

3. Once the Prophet went to city of Taif to seek support for his message but was rejected. He could not reenter Makkah safely until Al-Mut`im bin 'Adiy, a notable figure in Mecca who was not a Muslim, put him under his protection. Abu Bakr r.a, a companion of the Prophet, also received protection from a non-Muslim leader in Makkah.

4. After migration to Madinah, the Prophet entered into peaceful agreement with various non-Muslim Arab tribes. The Prophet maintained his commitment to the agreement until his death.

5. The Prophet launched a big punitive military operation against the Meccan, which led to the fall of Makkah into the hands of the Muslims for attacking his ally, an Arab non-Muslim tribe. It was a blatant violation of the agreement of Hudaibiyah that was concluded voluntarily and contain clauses, which favour the Meccan pagans. Amongst the content of the agreement was that both parties would cease attacking each other and this included their respective allies as well for a period of ten years.

One who studies the Quran carefully will realise that generalisation is not the way to view this world. The Quran also views Muslims in different shades. The Quran says: 

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَوا۟ وَّنَصَرُوٓا۟ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَمْ يُهَاجِرُوا۟ مَا لَكُم مِّن وَلَـٰيَتِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰ يُهَاجِرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِنِ ٱسْتَنصَرُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَـٰقٌۭ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ 

“Behold, as for those who have attained to faith, and who have forsaken the domain of evil and are striving hard, with their possessions and their lives, in God’s cause, as well as those who shelter and succour [them] – these are [truly] the friends and protectors of one another. But as for those who have come to believe without having migrated [to your country] – you are in no wise responsible for their protection until such a time as they migrate [to you]. Yet, if they ask you for succour against religious persecution, it is your duty to give [them] this succour – except against a people between whom and yourselves there is a covenant: For God sees all that you do.”

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ مَعَكُمْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍۢ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۢ 

“And those who henceforth come to believe, and who forsake the domain of evil and strive hard [in God’s cause] together with you – these [too] shall belong to you; and they who are [thus] closely related have the highest claim on one another in [accordance with] God’s decree. Verily, God has full knowledge of everything.”

ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۖ فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌۭ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌۭ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌۢ بِٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْكَبِيرُ 

“[And] so, We have bestowed this divine writ as a heritage unto such of Our servants as We chose: And among them are some who sin against themselves; and some who keep half-way [between right and wrong]; and some who, by God’s leave, are foremost in deeds of goodness: [and] this, indeed, is a merit most high!”

لَّا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْقَـٰعِدُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُو۟لِى ٱلضَّرَرِ وَٱلْمُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُجَـٰهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى ٱلْقَـٰعِدِينَ دَرَجَةًۭ ۚ وَكُلًّۭا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَفَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُجَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقَـٰعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا 

“Such of the believers as remain passive – other than the disabled – cannot be deemed equal to those who strive hard in god’s cause with their possessions and their lives. God has exalted those who strive hard with their possession and their lives far above those who remain passive. Although God has promised the ultimate good unto all [believers], yet has God exalted those who strive hard above those who remain passive by [promising them] a mighty reward.”

These verses show that God classifies the believers into different groups according to the good work they have done. To each He accords the proper status and ruling as He deemed fit. Failure to think along this line in preference to homogeneity would have resulted to an oversimplification which put an individual in a position where he sees things in black or white only and in doing so ignores the various shades of grey that God in His wisdom acknowledges. 

The original article entitled “They Are Not All Alike” (The Quran 3:113) can be downloaded here.