RELATIONS WITH NON-MUSLIMS IN ISLAM

It is vital to know the basis of relations with non-Muslims instructed in the Qur’an and
Sunnah due to actions of anti-Islamists.

Here are the verses and hadiths that explain how Muslims should behave upon the aggression
against Islam:

Verses draw the three critical lines:

1. Battling against Muslims due to their religion

2. Driving Muslims out of their homes
3. Supporting the ones driving Muslims out

We cannot make friends with or exhibit sympathy to the ones that cross these lines.

“Allah forbids you not, showing kindness and love to those who have not fought against
you on account of your religion, and who have not driven you forth from your homes.
Allah loves those who are equitable. Allah only forbids that you make friends of the ones
who have fought against you on account of your religion, who have driven you out of
your homes, and have helped others in driving you out, and whosoever makes friends of
them — it is these that are the transgressors.“ (Al-Mumtahanah/The Examined One 60/8–
9)

Muslims battled against and overcame the Meccans who had attacked them at Badr, Uhud and
Khandaq. In the sixth year of Hijrat -Migration to Madinah-, Muslims and Meccans had made
a treaty of ten years at Hudaibiya. However, Meccans have abrogated the treaty. Mecca was
conquered in the eighth year of Hijrat by the army of our Prophet (s.a.w.) but the war criminal
Meccans who abrogated the treaty, were not  disturbed for fifteen months.[1] Those Meccans
were warned strictly by the following verses revealed in the ninth year of Hijrat:

“This is a declaration of last admonition from Allah and His Messenger to the
polytheists (mushrikun) with whom you had made a treaty:

So travel freely, throughout the land [during] four months but know that you cannot
cause failure to Allah and that Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.

And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the
Great Pilgrimage that Allah is disassociated from the disbelievers, and so is His
Messenger. So if you repent, that is best for you; but if you turn away – then know that
you will not cause failure to Allah . And give tidings to those who disbelieve of a painful
punishment.

Excepted are those with whom you made a treaty among the polytheists and then they
have not been deficient toward you in anything nor supported anyone against you; so
complete for them their treaty until their term [has ended]. Indeed, Allah loves the ones
who protect themselves.

And when the forbidden months have passed [2], then kill those polytheists wherever you
find them and capture them and besiege them and sit and wait for them at every place of
ambush. But should they repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, then let them [go] on
their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (At-Tawba/Repentance 9/1-5)

The judgement in these verses relates merely to the war criminal polytheists (mushrikun),
who had not only crossed the three critical lines but also had caused war by abrogating the
treaty. It does not include other non-Muslims. Although there may be other arguments
emerged due to political pressure, they are not acceptable when investigated in the light of
Qur’an and Sunnah.

CONVERTING FROM ISLAM / APOSTASY – Irtidad, Murtad-

The Glorified Allah commands as follows for the apostates -ones who abandon Islam and
become infidels (kafir)-:

“O you who believe! Whoso among you turns back from his religion, then let it be
known that in his stead Allah will soon bring a peopile whom He will love and who will
love Him, and who will be kind and humble towards believers, hard and firm against
disbelievers. They will strive in the cause of Allah and will not fear the reproach of a
faultfinder. That is Allah’s grace; He bestows it upon whosoever deserves it; and Allah
is Bountiful, All- Knowing.” (Al-Maeda/ The Feast 5/54)

Narrated by Muqatil B. Sulaiman (d:150/767) that twelve people had converted from Islam to
become infidels (kafir) and had set out on their way from Medinah to Mecca with their minds
complicated and arrived in Mecca. One of them, Harith B. Suwayd, later regretted what he did
and changed his mind by sending a letter to his brother Julas: “I have repented and converted
back to Islam. Ask the Messenger of Allah if I have the right to repent, or I will go to
Damascus.” Julas informed our Prophet of the situation, but could not get an answer. The
following verses have been revealed afterwards:[3]

“How shall Allah guide a people who have disbelieved after believing and who had
borne witness that the Messenger was true when clear proofs had come to them? [4] And
Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.

Those – their recompense will be that upon them is the curse of Allah and the angels and
the people, all together. Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened
for them, nor shall they be reprieved. Except those who repent thereafter and amend.
And surely, Allah is Most Forgiving and Merciful.” (Al-e-Imran/ The House of Imran
3/86-89)

There is no punishment people will impose on apostates. Their punishment is the curse of
Allah, angels and the people. Should any of them repent,  it deprives those people of curse.
Although this is the clear judgement about apostates, madhabs have consensus on the idea that
they should be killed. The cause of this result, should be political pressure.
AGGRESSION AGAINST ISLAM

The core of religion is belief where basis of belief is confirmation of heart. Confirmation of
heart is known by the person himself/herself  and by Allah only. Inside the heart is where
freedom is endless. Therefore, nobody can be forced either to accept or to refuse any belief.
The Glorified Allah commands:

“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Surely right stands out clear from wrong.
Whosoever refuses to be led by those transgressors and believes in Allah, has surely
grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-
Knowing.” (Al-Baqara/ The Cow 2/256)

People may consent or refuse to believe in a religion. Whoever chooses the wrong one, bears
the consequences. To reveal the truth, discussions or even arguments must be made. Such
arguments are not in the scope of criminal law. Their consequences should be faced. The
Glorified Allah commands:

“You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely
hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate
others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and guard yourselves – indeed, that
is of the matters of determination.” (Al-e Imran/The House of Imran 3/186)

Since abuse and insult are not marked by the three lines mentioned in the eighth and ninth
verses of Surah Al-Mumtahanah , Muslims should be patient, cautious and determined in
these cases.

VERBAL RESPONSE TO VERBAL ATTACK

The Messenger of Allah and Muslims used to be abused verbally very often. Especially
attacks of poets were rather effective. Our Prophet used to respond to them with the poems of
Muslim poets, such as Hassan b. Sabit, Kab b. Malik, Abdullah b. Revaha. The Messenger of
Allah had prayed for Hassan b. Sabit, who was in service of Islam with his poems, to Allah:
“Oh my Glorified Allah, support him with the Holy Spirit!”

Apparently, the only response to verbal attacks should be verbal.

RELATIONS WITH HYPOCRITES

The Messenger of Allah has suffered much from the hypocrites who converted to Islam and
then returned; but he did not punish them in any ways. The Surah Al-Munafiqun is important
from this aspect. The Glorified Allah commands:

“When those hypocrites came to you, they said ‘We bear witness that you are indeed the
Messenger of Allah.’ And Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, but Allah
bears witness that those hypocrites are surely liars. They have made their oaths a shield
and withdrawn from the Path of Allah. Truly evil are their deeds! That is because they
first believed, then covered up their belief. Then a new structure formed in their heart,
so that they no longer understand. When you look at them, the forms of their bodies
please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words. They are as pieces of timber
propped up. They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies; so beware
of them. May Allah destroy them! How are they mislead to lie!

And when it is said to them, ‘Come, that the Messenger of Allah may ask forgiveness for
you,’ they turn their heads aside, and you see them keeping back while they are full of
pride. It is equal, whether you ask forgiveness for them or not. Allah will never forgive
them. Surely Allah guides not the mischief makers.

They it is who said, ‘Spend not on those who are with the Messenger of Allah that they
may disperse and leave him;’ while to Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the
earth; but those hypocrites understand not. They also said, ‘When we return to
Medinah, the one most powerful will surely drive out therefrom the one weakest;’ while
true power belongs to Allah and to His Messenger and the believers; but the hypocrites
know not.” (Al-Munafiqun/ The Hypocrites 63/1-8)
Zeyd b. Erkam told the following about these verses: “We were on a battle with the
Messenger of Allah. The army was suffering. Abdullah b. Ubeyy said to his friends: ‘Spend
not on those who are with the Messenger of Allah that they may disperse and leave him.
When we return to Medinah, the one most powerful will surely drive out therefrom the one
weakest.’. I reported this to the Messenger of Allah immediately. He called and questioned
Abdullah b. Ubeyy, who swore that he had not said it.  They ascribed lie to me which was so
heavy. Then, Allah revealed the Surah Al-Munafiqun.” [5]

Elmalili Muhammed Hamdi Yazir gives information on this subject that can be summarized
as:

“Abdulah was respected in his tribe; he was from the old ones. Useyd b. Hudayr came and
said: ‘Oh the Messenger of Allah, do not mind him, be kind to him. I swear that his tribe was
beading for his coronation when Allah sent you. He sees as if You have deprived him of his
kingship.’ ”

Abdullah, the son of Abdullah b. Ubeyy was a pure believer. When he learned what his father
had done, he came near the Messenger of Allah and said: “Oh the Messenger of Allah, I heard
that You would like to have my father dead due to his words that reached you. If You will,
just order me and I will bring it to you. I swear, the whole Hazrec people know that there is no
other more respectful to his father than I am. I am afraid that you order somebody else and he
murders my father, then I cannot bear to see him wandering in public and kill him. Then I will
have killed a believer for a hypocrite and stay in hell forever.”

The Messenger of Allah replied:

“No, we will treat him kindly as long as he is amongst us.” [6]

Although Abdullah’s behaviour is utterly evil, our Prophet had behaved him gently since his
behaviour did not cross the three critical lines mentioned in the verses. Such people are
disturbed by the facts. Behaving them kindly inspite of the consensus that they are in the
wrong way, causes them to lead to loneliness. Even their supporters leave them. Thus the
gentle behaviour of our Prophet had caused the people around Abdullah to choose Islam.
THE PUNISHMENT OF ABUSING THE PROPHET

Allah will punish the ones who abuse or attack the Prophet. The Glorified Allah commands:

“And certainly were messengers denied before you, but they were patient over [the
effects of] denial and persecution until, until Our aid did reach them. And none can alter
the words of Allah . And there has certainly come to you some information about those
messengers.” (Al-An’am/ Livestock 6/34)

“Indeed, those who abuse Allah and His Messenger – Allah has cursed them in this
world and the Hereafter and prepared for them a humiliating punishment.” (Al-Ahzab/
The Allies 33/57)

Prof. Dr. Abdulaziz BAYINDIR

Istanbul University Faculty of Divinity Proffessor
Süleymaniye Foundation – Religion and Creation’s Dispositions Centre President
[1]
.      Muhammed Hamidulah, Islam Peygamberi, Ankara 2003, vol. II, p. 271, paragraph
451.
[2]
.      The warning above was made at Dhul Hijjah, the last of the forbidden months. The
forbidden months here, are not known forbidden (haram) months (Al-Ash-hur-ul-Hurum) but
four months specified in the second verse. They are called forbidden (haram) since related
parties are untouchable during that period.
[3]
.      Tefsiru Mukatil b. Sulaiman, Tahkik: Ahmed Ferid, Beirut 1424/2002, vol. I, p. 180-
181.
[4]
.       ‫ و جائهم البينات‬is supposed to be a declarative sentence
[5]
.      Bukhari, Tefsir, Surah Al-Munafiqun 4.
[6]
.     Muhammed Hamdi YAZIR, Hak Dini Kur’an Dili, vol, VI, p. 5005–5008.

Translator: Ayse Zeynep DONMEZ

Original Site: www.islamandquran.org