Question Recently I heard a cassette by Mr. Ghamidi1 about Jihad O Qitaal. Mr. Ghamidi says that jihad was started against the kuffar2 after Itmaam e Hujjah3 of dawah.4 This is true for people living around Makkah, where the prophet preached prior to hijrah.5 But how did he complete Itmaam e Hujjah of other Arabian […]
Why Did Ali (ra) Burn Some Apostates?
Question A Christian missionary has cited the following Hadith from Bukhari and is demanding an explanation: Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57: Narrated `Ikrima: Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to `Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn `Abbas who said, “If I had been in his place, I would not […]
Regarding Jihad
Question Islamic precepts suggest under what circumstances a jihad can take place. Equally important but less well understood is a related question: Under what circumstances should jihad be suspended if its intended purposes are not being met? The situation in Kashmir provides specific context to this important question. There is no evidence to date that […]
The Meaning of Al-Baqarah 2:143 and Al-Hajj 22:78 & Their Implication for the Law of Jihad…
Question I refer to your recently posted response regarding the law of Jihad1. You seem to be of the opinion that the two ayahs of the Qur’an (Al-Baqarah 2: 143, Al-Hajj 22: 78) are explicitly restricted to the companions of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and they cannot be generalized for rest of the Ummah after […]
A Comment on ‘The Initial Spread of Islam & the Law of Jihad’
Question Recently we had a lecture series on Islam. The speaker for these talks was brother Riaz Ansary from Middle East (originally from US). During our discussion on “Fitna” verse, I explained that this particular verse is only restricted to the Kuffaars of that time Arab. I also referred him some of your answers on […]
Fighting the Ahl e Kitaab – Al-Tawbah 9:29
Question There is a Qura’nic ayah that states that we should fight the ahl-e-kitaab ((A Qur’anic term literally meaning ‘People of the Book’, generally used for those, who believe in the Torah, i.e. the Jews and the Christians.)) until they pay the jizya tax. Does this mean that keep fighting them always or only in the […]
The Implication of ‘Holy War’ in the Word ‘Jihad’
Question I have read in Catholic apologetic books that jihad literally means self-defense instead of holy war that the pope coined at the time of the crusades, is this true? Answer The Crusades took place between 1095 AD and 1291 AD. The Qur’an, on the other hand, used the word ‘Jihad‘ in the early parts […]
Regarding Jizyah on Non-Muslim Citizens
Question History books, especially those written by non-Muslims are full of accusations about how Jaziya tax was unduly imposed by Muslim rulers throughout the world to discriminate against their non-Muslims subjects. It looks to me that these historians are largely biased in their assessment of the Islamic Shari`ah. To the best of my understanding, the […]
The Initial Spread of Islam & the Law of Jihaad
Question Congratulation for the wonderful site you have provided online. I have questions regarding the nature of expansion of the early Islamic Khilafah. Muslim scholars these days agree that an Islamic State should not attack any other nation/state unless one of the two conditions are satisfied: In self defense, when other nations have attacked the […]
Regarding Suicide Bombers – What Exactly is ‘Jihad’???
Question I recently converted to Islam, which I had hoped would be whole hearted. I suppose I was counting on my partner to provide the stability to enter smoothly, if this is ever possible. Of course what I have learned is that I must take time. In doing so and in doing a little reading […]