What Koran says about religious freedom

[OnlyAmbrose]

Historically the Muslims left them alone (the Christians and Jews). I think that’s a kind of religious freedom. Perhaps not up to the standards of the 20th century, but better than non-Christians and heretical Christians got in Europe before the Enlightenment and the rise of secularism as an official ideology.

I agree - compared to medieval Christian Europe, Muslims historically treated their minorities quite well. But this thread is about what the Qur’an says about religious freedom, and as such I don’t think comparisons regarding a broad historical scope are relevant - the history that we should be looking at here is the history of the earliest Muslims and the actions of Muhammad. Keep in mind that the Qur’an was revealed over quite a long period of time. The history behind each sura is quite important, and the history of how Muhammad’s IMMEDIATE successors used each sura is also of importance, given the authority which Islam grants to those who personally knew the prophet.

Additionally, I would like to add that my above post was in response to the use of a Qur’anic verse regarding there being “no compulsion in religion.” But you do make a valid point which should not be overlooked (and which I wish would be mentioned more often in shameless Muslim-bashing threads in the “in the news” forum ), but I just don’t see it as pertinent to the particular issue at hand.

EDIT - and speaking for myself, I in no way endorse the “argument” (if you can even call it that) of the poster above me. Really?

 

[tomarin]

I agree - compared to medieval Christian Europe, Muslims historically treated their minorities quite well. But this thread is about what the Qur’an says about religious freedom, and as such I don’t think comparisons regarding a broad historical scope are relevant - the history that we should be looking at here is the history of the earliest Muslims and the actions of Muhammad. Keep in mind that the Qur’an was revealed over quite a long period of time. The history behind each sura is quite important, and the history of how Muhammad’s IMMEDIATE successors used each sura is also of importance, given the authority which Islam grants to those who personally knew the prophet.

I’m pretty sure that the Muslim state that Mohammad founded didn’t encounter significant numbers of Christians and Jews until after Mohammad died. I believe there was a tribe of Jews in Medina with whom he made an alliance after the Emigration that later fell apart; that’s probably the source of the Quranic verses that are troubling you.

Added: Sorry, I just reread your post and saw the part about Mohammad’s successors. I guess what you’re saying is more complicated than what I originally thought. Please disregard what I wrote above.

Additionally, I would like to add that my above post was in response to the use of a Qur’anic verse regarding there being “no compulsion in religion.” But you do make a valid point which should not be overlooked (and which I wish would be mentioned more often in shameless Muslim-bashing threads in the “in the news” forum ), but I just don’t see it as pertinent to the particular issue at hand.

I’ll have to re-read the entire thread then to make sure I understand the context in which you were discussing this. But one question: if Muslims want to believe that “there is no compulsion in religion” is a valid Quranic teaching why on earth would we want to discourage them? Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if there was no compulsion in religion?

EDIT - and speaking for myself, I in no way endorse the “argument” (if you can even call it that) of the poster above me. Really?

Good!

 

[OnlyAmbrose]

I’m pretty sure that the Muslim state that Mohammad founded didn’t encounter significant numbers of Christians and Jews until after Mohammad died. I believe there was a tribe of Jews in Medina with whom he made an alliance after the Emigration that later fell apart; that’s probably the source of the Quranic verses that are troubling you.

Added: Sorry, I just reread your post and saw the part about Mohammad’s successors. I guess what you’re saying is more complicated than what I originally thought. Please disregard what I wrote above.

…Alright, well I would disregard it, but I’m afraid you have your facts wrong! Muhammad encountered quite significant amounts of Jews, and it’s arguable that his experiences with them shaped the nature of the Qur’an itself.

Upon Muhammad’s arrival in Medina after the hijra, there were in fact three tribes of Jews in Medina - Banu Nadir, Banu Qurayza, and Banu Qaynuqa - and two pagan tribes - Banu Aws and Banu Khazraj.

What follows is a rather long story, but the end result is the extermination of all three tribes.Muhammad then proceeded to take over the rest of the Arabian peninsula, which had plenty of Jews and Christians. The jizya mentioned in Qur’an 9:29 was in fact first instituted by Muhammad upon the Jews Maqna and the Christians Najran.

There are numerous scholarly works on the interactions between Muhammad and the Jews, but my personal favorite is The Jews of Arab Lands, by Norman Stillman. I highly recommend reading some of them - you’ll find that Muhammad did indeed encounter numerous Christians and Jews both before and after his rise to prophethood.

I’ll have to re-read the entire thread then to make sure I understand the context in which you were discussing this. But one question: if Muslims want to believe that “there is no compulsion in religion” is a valid Quranic teaching why on earth would we want to discourage them? Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if there was no compulsion in religion?

This is a discussion about the Qur’an, not what modern Muslims and Muslim states think about “compulsion and religion.” It would be wonderful if there was no compulsion in religion, but I’m addressing what kind of “compulsion” the Qur’an means here. In effect, I’m calling it like I see it

 

[tomarin]

…Alright, well I would disregard it, but I’m afraid you have your facts wrong! Muhammad encountered quite significant amounts of Jews, and it’s arguable that his experiences with them shaped the nature of the Qur’an itself.

I was under the impression from books I’ve read such as Michael Cook’s Muhammad that there were very few Christians and Jews living in the Arabian peninsula at the time of Mohammad. Most, if not all of the inhabitants of the peninsula were Arabs, and the vast majority of Arabs were polytheists until Mohammad came along. (Scholars speculate that the “Jewish tribes” he encountered were also Arabs who had converted to Judaism at some point in the recent past.)

If Stillman disagrees with this, I’m interested in hearing what he has to say. I’ll check out his book; thanks for the recommendation.

 

[OnlyAmbrose]

I was under the impression from books I’ve read such as Michael Cook’s Muhammad that there were very few Christians and Jews living in the Arabian peninsula at the time of Mohammad. Most, if not all of the inhabitants of the peninsula were Arabs, and the vast majority of Arabs were polytheists until Mohammad came along. (Scholars speculate that the “Jewish tribes” he encountered were also Arabs who had converted to Judaism at some point in the recent past.)

If Stillman disagrees with this, I’m interested in hearing what he has to say. I’ll check out his book; thanks for the recommendation.

It’s not just Stillman, the facts reported are (so far as I know) universally acknowledged. Stillman just gives a good telling of it.

I would say that the Jews and Christians of the Arabian peninsula were relatively few compared to the polytheists. There were, however, thousands of them. The Jewish community there had quite ancient roots, and the Christians tended to be merchants from the Byzantine Empire.

 

[Sam_777]

Koran commanded the prophet Muhammad to respect people’s right to chose for themselves what to believe or what not to believe and it did so repeatedly:

Koran gives complete freedom

(Quran 3:19):

إن الدين عند الله الإسلام
​

“The religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will): nor did the people of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.”

(Quran 3:85):

ومن يبتغ غير الإسلام دينا فلن يقبل منه وهو في الآخرة من الخاسرين
​

“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).”

 

[koranist]

(Quran 3:19):

إن الدين عند الله الإسلام
​

“The religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will): nor did the people of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.”

(Quran 3:85):

ومن يبتغ غير الإسلام دينا فلن يقبل منه وهو في الآخرة من الخاسرين
​

“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).”

When the Koran says Islam, its talking about this:

5.43.** But why do they come to thee for decision, when they have (their own) law before them?- therein is the (plain) command of Allah**. yet even after that, they would turn away. For they are not (really) People of Faith.

1. It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah.s will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah.s book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.
2. We ordained therein for them: “Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.” But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (No better than) wrong-doers.
3. And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.
4. Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.
5. To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah. it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;

The Torah Is Islam, the Gospel is Islam and the Koran is Islam. The Koran says:

“Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians – whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor shall they grieve” (2:62, 5:69, and many other verses).

Anyone who believes in God and the last day is a believer, a Muslim, a Jews or a Christian provided they follow the scriptures.