Question
Can the Verse 25:52 (do Jihad with Quran)which was revealed in Mecca interpritared to bring about a political revolution/not to obey constitution(obey not the disbelievers)in a country where Muslims are not in power?If this is not the correct interpritation then what is the correct interpritation as the word used is Jihad? Thank you.
Was Salaam.
Answer
The verse reads:
and therefore do not obey Kafireen and strive against them with this (i.e. the Qur’an), a great strive.
The verses preceding explain that although the truth has been clearly brought forward to people, yet they do not accept it. The verse is addressing the Prophet (pbuh) in his capacity as a Messenger who is sent by God for the manifestation of the truth for the addressees). The verse directs the Prophet (pbuh) to strive with those who have not accepted the truth even after the truth has become manifest to them (Kafireen) and not to obey them. Obedience here means to follow the desires of Kafireen who wanted the Prophet (pbuh) to compromise his divine mission. Striving with the Qur’an (given that the verse is revealed in Mecca) means to attack their poor arguments with the firm arguments of the Qur’an. (This is just before the next phase of the mission of the Prophet, where he leaves Kuffar because of their rejection of truth and then starts fighting with them as manifestation of God’s punishment for those who reject a messenger of God).
As you can see the verse is not even remotely close to the idea of ‘bringing political revolution in a country where Muslims are not in power’.
Abdullah Rahim
June 23, 2006