Sura 9:5 And Islamic Polemics.
peaceforever
I had visited the forum of a muslim friend, Rizzwan, whom I met in the internet. He started a topic Sura 9 - verse 29 [does the Qu'ran promote killing?]
and asked the following
| This topic is to discuss the English translation of the verses 29 in Sura 9 (Qu'ran)
Qu'ran Sura 9, - verse 29 (Yusafi Ali translation) "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. " |
One muslim, aishah_al_amatullah, responded with a apologetic refutation that the “quran doesn’t promote violence”. I visited his forum took note of it and promised a refutation of what friend aishah_al_amatullah had written. But due to many issues which occupied me I wasn’t able to come up with a refutation any sooner. But I knew that I have read her explanation somewhere. And a word search revealed that it wasn’t our muslim friends own explanation but as usual a copy/paste of someone else’s work without due respect to the original author. Going a step further putting it up as if it is his/her own, work! What else did he/she mean by “I am going to use a seperate example of similar writing.”?
What makes it even worse is the fact that their in no truth in the work that had been copy/pasted, it is has deliberate lies spewed allover it, logical fallacies. The real author has gone all-out to deliberately misinform his readers with an aim. So who is the real author? He is a hero of many muslims at FFI, And I am sorry that I am going to rip of the tag from the charlatan! He is none other than Dr. Zakir Naik. The page from which this polemic has been taken up, should have been updated and it contains a small portion not put up by aishah_al_amatullah, it may be also due to the fact that quoting that part was not really necessary. Dr. Zakir Naik accuses the critics of Islam of misquoting the Quran, taking verses out of context … But as usual it will be evident it was he is the person who had misquoted and taken the Quran out of context. I think I have bored the readers enough with my introduction, let us get started with the refutation of Zakir.
Dr. Zakir Naik wrote:
Question: Doesn’t Islam promote violence, bloodshed and brutality since the Qur’an says that Muslims should kill the kuffar where ever they find them? Answer: A few selected verses from the Qur’an are often misquoted to perpetuate the myth that Islam promotes violence, and exhorts its followers to kill those outside the pale of Islam. |
RESPONSE:
As I had mentioned above Zakir accuses the critics for misquotations taken out of the context in which it was revealed and we will see it is not true. Zakir also tries to alleviate the accusation on the Quran by saying that only a few selected verses of the quran can be used to show Islam promotes violence which is completely untrue. Actually the contrary is true, there are only a few verses (in fact, three verse) in the entire Quran that doesn’t promote terrorism rather talks about peace, that too completely ignoring the context in which the verses where revealed. (Time permitting I plan to expose the islamists on these verses from the Quran) Some how these muslims seem to forget their own criterion when it suits them the most, I mean the context!
Dr. Zakir Naik wrote:
1. Verse from Surah Taubah The following verse from Surah Taubah is very often quoted by critics of Islam, to show that Islam promotes violence, bloodshed and brutality: "Kill the mushriqeen (pagans, polytheists, kuffar) where ever you find them." [Al-Qur’an 9:5] |
RESPONSE:
Unfortunately for Zakir the contrary will be proven and he will be exposed for his deliberate lies!
Dr. Zakir Naik wrote:
2. Context of verse is during battlefield Critics of Islam actually quote this verse out of context. In order to understand the context, we need to read from verse 1 of this surah. It says that there was a peace treaty between the Muslims and the Mushriqs (pagans) of Makkah. This treaty was violated by the Mushriqs of Makkah. A period of four months was given to the Mushriqs of Makkah to make amends. Otherwise war would be declared against them. Verse 5 of Surah Taubah says: "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is oft-forgiving, Most merciful." [Al-Qur’an 9:5] This verse is quoted during a battle. |
RESPONSE:
Zakir here appeals to the context of the verse but fails us to show any reliable material to support the position. Hence all that has been presented is nothing but misinformation spewed at the unsuspecting readers. What he is basically saying is the verse 9:5 was during the war with the Meccans because they violated a peace treaty with their prophet. Though he provides no reference to verify who violated the peace treaty the major error is that he got the entire context completely wrong, or did he?
Muslims go around claiming that Zakir is a man of great knowledge regarding Islam. He will expose Ali Sina and probably that’s the reason Ali Sina is not accepting a public debate. Well we all know why Ali Sina refuses a public debate which could put his entire life in jeopardy. In fact Zakir has been the one who has refused to engage in a written debate with Ali Sina even after repeated requests and has brought some irrelevant conditions to stall the process! Anyways Ali has exposed the charlatan once and for all.
Back to the issue at hand Zakir says that the verse 9:5 is related to Muhammad’s war with Meccans. Let me ask the Muslims and non-muslims alike, can a man touted to be so knowledgeable about Islam be unaware of the real context of this verse? If this isn’t the real context then what else is? Let us see.
The chronology of this verse is mentioned in Yusuf Ali’s Quran, The more popular among English Qurans. Ali states page 435, that verses 1-29 were revealed during the month of Shawwal, A.H. 9, and read by Ali out loud to the various pilgrims in Mecca two months later to give Muhammad’s NEW POLICY a wide hearing.
So what is amiss here? Can you get it?
Muhammad had conquered Mecca in A.H. 8, a full year prior!
Syed Abu-Ala' Maududi's in his Chapter Introductions to the Qur'an states regarding Surah AT-TAUBAH.
Conquest of Arabia
…..He made a sudden invasion on Makkah in the month of Ramadan in A. H. 8 and conquered it….. (online source)
Previously he mentions about the chronology of the verses, as follows:
Discourses and Periods of Revelation
This Surah comprises three discourses:-
The first discourse (vv. 1-37), was revealed in Zil-Qa'adah A. H. 9 or thereabout. As the importance of the subject of the discourse required its declaration on the occasion of Haj the Holy Prophet despatched Hadrat Ali to follow Hadrat Abu Bakr, who had already left for Makkah as leader of the Pilgrims to the Ka'abah. He instructed Hadrat Ali to deliver the discourse before the representatives of the different clans of Arabia so as to inform them of the new policy towards the mushriks.
So here we have the true color of Zakir Naik an outright liar! Hiding himself in the name of a scholar in comparative religion and spewing deliberate misinformation on unsuspecting readers, muslims and non-muslims alike! Since when did A. H. 8 become A. H. 9? (online source)
And Tafsir Ibn Kathir says:
The first part of this honorable Surah was revealed to the Messenger of Allah when he returned from the battle of Tabuk, during the Hajj season, which the Prophet thought about attending. But he remembered that the idolators would still attend that Hajj, as was usual in past years, and that they perform Tawaf around the House while naked. He disliked to associate with them and sent Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, to lead Hajj that year and show the people their rituals, commanding him to inform the idolators that they would not be allowed to participate in Hajj after that season. He commanded him to proclaim,
﴿بَرَآءَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ﴾
(Freedom from (all) obligations (is declared) from Allah and His Messenger ()...), to the people. When Abu Bakr had left, the Messenger sent `Ali bin Abu Talib to be the one to deliver this news to the idolators on behalf of the Messenger , for he was the Messenger's cousin. We will mention this story later.
Muhammad grew in strength after the Fall of Mecca became even stronger than he was prior to it and his hatred on the unbelievers grew, as Ibn Kathir says “He disliked to associate with them (idolators)”
And here is one of the many Al-Bukhari testifies to this fact:
Bukhari :: Book 6 :: Volume 60 :: Hadith 179
Narrated Humaid bin Abdur Rahman:
Abu Huraira said, "Abu Bakr sent me in that Hajj in which he was the chief of the pilgrims along with the announcers whom he sent on the Day of Nahr to announce at Mina: "No pagan shall perform Hajj after this year, and none shall perform the Tawaf around the Ka'ba in a naked state." Humaid added: That the Prophet sent 'Ali bin Abi Talib (after Abu Bakr) and ordered him to recite aloud in public Surat-Baraa. Abu Huraira added, "So 'Ali, along with us, recited Bara'a (loudly) before the people at Mina on the Day of Nahr and announced "No pagan shall perform Hajj after this year and none shall perform the Tawaf around the Ka'ba in a naked state."..except those pagans with whom you (Muslims) have a treaty." (9.4) (online source)
And In the light of the following, as concluding remark I have to correct the egregious lie perpetuated by Zakir stating “Context of verse is during battlefield”, since when did the pilgrimage to Mecca become the battle field? And state that the “Context of the verse was during time of peace and not during the battle field”
I will have to say more on this latter.
Dr. Zakir Naik wrote:
3. Example of war between America and Vietnam We know that America was once at war with Vietnam. Suppose the President of America or the General of the American Army told the American soldiers during the war: "Wherever you find the Vietnamese, kill them". Today if I say that the American President said, "Wherever you find Vietnamese, kill them" without giving the context, I will make him sound like a butcher. But if I quote him in context, that he said it during a war, it will sound very logical, as he was trying to boost the morale of the American soldiers during the war. |
RESPONSE:
I am sorry Zakir, you can’t build on with the bubble you tried you create in the previous point! I burst that bubble right on your face!
Anyways, this argument of Zakir is a blatant Tu-Quoque, it’s rather sad that you muslims can’t defend your cult without pointing your fingers on others. Going by the lines of your wild imagination, how does the Action of an American president acquit your prophet? How do two wrongs make a thing right?
As it is Zakir’s Ad-hoc explanation is a mere hypothetical situation. Can he bring me such a quote from an American president? Does Zakir Naik wants all of us to believe that Americans are the ultimate benchmark of moral actions in war and any actions attributed to them must be accepted?
First of all, Zakir Naik has to understand that no American president ever said such a thing to my knowledge and if any would be guilty of saying such a thing he/she would have been tried as a war criminal. And at no time during the Vietnam War did the Americans want the all Vietnamese to be killed; the war was not against the innocent people of Vietnam blood but against the communists who tried to take over the Government. Killing innocent people wasn’t the aim of the war. Though many atrocities took place, the intention was not to kill Vietnamese wherever they find them unlike the sick intentions of Muhammad.
And what is the point over here? This was not war but Muhammad is warning the nonbelievers to convert to Islam or face a painful doom!
Dr. Zakir Naik wrote:
4. Verse 9:5 quoted to boost morale of Muslims during battle Similarly in Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 5 the Qur’an says, "Kill the Mushriqs where ever you find them", during a battle to boost the morale of the Muslim soldiers. What the Qur’an is telling Muslim soldiers is, don’t be afraid during battle; wherever you find the enemies kill them. |
RESPONSE:
Parroting a lie doesn’t make it true, all Zakir has managed to show is how willingly he misleads his readers and repeats a lie over and over; of course this verse is to boost the morale of the Muslims to go kill the non muslims! But not during a battle as Zakir claims. I hadalready documented the context; here is a addition to this.
Ibn Kathir writes on verse 9:5, page 375:
"But if they repent and perform the Salah, and give the Zakah, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful"
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq used this and other honorable Ayat as proof for fighting those who refrained from paying the Zakah. These Ayat allowed fighting people unless, and until, they embrace Islam and implement its ruling and obligations.
On verse 9:5, page 376:
So when the sacred months have passed… meaning, "Upon the end of the four months during which We prohibited you from fighting the idolators, and which is the grace period We gave them, then fight and kill the idolators wherever you may find them…
On verse 9:5, page 377:
This honorable Ayah was called the Ayah of the Sword, about which Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said, "It abrogated every agreement of peace between the Prophet and any idolater, every treaty, and every term." Al-Awfi said that Ibn Abbas commented: "No idolater had any more treaty or promise of safety ever since Surah Bara’ah was revealed.
Clearly 9:5 was verse which had broader consequences and aims asking muslims to be in a state of war with Non-Muslims.
Muhammad had made his intentions clearly as the following hadith testifies:
Narrated Anas ibn Malik:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: I am commanded to fight with men till they testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Apostle, face our qiblah (direction of prayer), eat what we slaughter, and pray like us. When they do that, their life and property are unlawful for us except what is due to them. They will have the same rights as the Muslims have, and have the same responsibilities as the Muslims have. (Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 14, Number 2635,online source)
Then he goeson to accuse the critcs of Islam.
Dr. Zakir Naik wrote:
5. Shourie jumps from verse 5 to verse 7 Arun Shourie is one of the staunchest critics of Islam in India. He quotes the same verse, Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 5 in his book ‘The World of Fatwahs’, on page 572. After quoting verse 5 he jumps to verse 7 of Surah Taubah. Any sensible person will realise that he has skipped verse 6. |
RESPONSE:
What can I say? The irony is clear. Some one who deliberately misleads his readers (including many ignorant muslims), is pointing out the antics of others. I am not saying that Zakir shouldn't be pointing out the smoke screens of others but shouldn't he be cleaning his own house before pointing his fingers on his counterpart?
And Zakir owes an explanation to any sensible Muslim or Non-Muslim on why he deliberately lied regarding the context of the verses?
And Zakir some how thinks that Sura 9:6 helps his case which is unfortunately not so, he proceeds to build his case with verse 9:6 and not without his usual antics and lies deliberately spewed on his readers.
Dr. Zakir Naik wrote:
6. Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 6 gives the answer Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 6 gives the answer to the allegation that Islam promotes violence, brutality and bloodshed. It says: "If one amongst the pagans ask thee for asylum,grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure that is because they are men without knowledge." [Al-Qur’an 9:6] The Qur’an not only says that a Mushriq seeking asylum during the battle should be granted refuge, but also that he should be escorted to a secure place. In the present international scenario, even a kind, peace-loving army General, during a battle, may let the enemy soldiers go free, if they want peace. But which army General will ever tell his soldiers, that if the enemy soldiers want peace during a battle, don’t just let them go free, but also escort them to a place of security? This is exactly what Allah (swt) says in the Glorious Qur’an to promote peace in the world. |
RESPONSE:
It is certain to me that Zakir Naik can’t do without lies, are they inseparable Mister?
Let’s analyze the verses:
We have already established that this was not revealed during any battle but during the time of peace.
Muhammad in verse 9:1 says that he is divinely ordained to break any treaty with idolaters as he wills. All he it needs from his part is mere suspicion (that arises to suit his position)
8:58. If thou fearest treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms: for Allah loveth not the treacherous. ( Yusuf Ali's Quran Translation )
Muhammad can break any treaty fearing mere treachery! And now he goes a step further and puts away this hurdle too and gives himself a free hand!
In 9:2 Muhammad gives all the non-believers a span of four months to submit before him this in tandem with 9:4 allows those non-muslims who had been good terms with muslims by not earning their warth on any account, then the treaty will be observed till the specified time, all other treaties where not valid. Any treaty of others that had a validation period of more than four months was reduced four months and for non-muslims who had no treaty a period of fifty days was given to submit to Muhammad. He would keep those treaties that were for a specified time with tribes that were on friendly terms. However, once those times were complete, a state of war would be in place. Lest I should be accused of misinterpreting the verses like Zakir, here are some views of Islamic scholars:
And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas who said regarding Allah's saying: (Freedom from obligation): '(Freedom from obligation) this is freedom from obligation (from Allah and His messenger towards those of the idolaters with whom ye made a treaty) but then they broke that treaty; freedom from obligation is the breaking of treaties. Allah says: whosoever has a treaty with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) let him know that it is broken. Some of them had a treaty lasting four months, and some of more nine months, while others had treaties for longer or shorter periods. Others had no treaty with Allah's Messenger at all. All these treaties were broken except for the treaty with the Banu Kinanah which was for nine months. Whoever had a treaty for more or less than four months, their treaties were ratified to last four month beginning from the day of immolation; and whoever had a treaty of four months, that treaty was ratified to last four months beginning from the day of immolation. Those who had a treaty of nine months, their treaties were left as they were, while those who did not sign any treaty, were granted one of 50 days beginning from the day of immolation until the departure of the person who was in a state of ritual consecration: (Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs; online source)
And Ibn Kathir says:
Allah said,
﴿بَرَآءَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ﴾
(Freedom from obligations from Allah and His Messenger ()), is a declaration of freedom from all obligations from Allah and His Messenger ,
﴿إِلَى الَّذِينَ عَاهَدْتُمْ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَفَسِيحُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ﴾
(to those of the Mushrikin, with whom you made a treaty. So travel freely (Mushrikin) for four months (as you will) throughout the land) ﴿9:1-2﴾. This Ayah refers to idolators who had indefinite treaties and those, whose treaties with Muslims ended in less than four months. The terms of these treaties were restricted to four months only. As for those whose term of peace ended at a specific date later (than the four months), then their treaties would end when their terms ended, no matter how long afterwards, for Allah said,
﴿فَأَتِمُّواْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَى مُدَّتِهِمْ﴾
(So fulfill their treaty for them until the end of their term)﴿9:4﴾. So whoever had a coventant with Allah's Messenger then it would last until its period expired
And coming to the verse that Zakir Naik thinks serves his purpose. In the light of the above the verse says to give safe passage to Non-Muslims who have till they hear Allah’s message. If they refuse to accept Islam later on, they will also be killed! Here is what Ibn Kathir says:
Allah said to His Prophet, peace be upon him,
﴿وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ﴾
(And if anyone of the Mushrikin), whom you were commanded to fight and We allowed you their blood and property,'
﴿اسْتَجَارَكَ﴾
(seeks your protection), asked you for safe passage, then accept his request until he hears the Words of Allah, the Qur'an. Recite the Qur'an to him and mention a good part of the religion with which you establish Allah's proof against him,
﴿ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُ﴾
(and then escort him to where he can be secure) and safe, until he goes back to his land, his home, and area of safety,
﴿ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
(that is because they are men who know not.) The Ayah says, `We legislated giving such people safe passage so that they may learn about the religion of Allah, so that Allah's call will spread among His servants. Ibn Abi Najih narrated that Mujahid said that this Ayah, "Refers to someone who comes to you to hear what you say and what was revealed to you (O Muhammad). Therefore, he is safe until he comes to you, hears Allah's Words and then proceeds to the safe area where he came from.'' The Messenger of Allah used to thereafter grant safe passage to those who came to him for guidance or to deliver a message. On the day of Hudaybiyyah, several emissaries from Quraysh came to him, such as `Urwah bin Mas`ud, Mikraz bin Hafs, Suhayl bin `Amr and several others. They came mediating between him and the Quraysh pagans. They witnessed the great respect the Muslims had for the Prophet , which astonished them, for they never before saw such respect for anyone, kings nor czars. They went back to their people and conveyed this news to them; this, among other reasons, was one reason that most of them accepted the guidance. When Musaylimah the Liar sent an emissary to the Messenger of Allah, he asked him, "Do you testify that Musaylimah is a messenger from Allah'' He said, "Yes.'' The Messenger of Allah said,
«لَوْلَا أَنَّ الرُّسُلَ لَا تُقْتَلُ لَضَرَبْتُ عُنُقَك»
(I would have cut off your head, if it was not that emissaries are not killed.) That man, Ibn An-Nawwahah, was later beheaded when `Abdullah bin Mas`ud was the governor of Al-Kufah. When it became known that he still testified that Musaylimah was a messenger from Allah, Ibn Mas`ud summoned him and said to him, "You are not delivering a message now!'' He commanded that Ibn An-Nawwahah be decapitated, may Allah curse him and deprive him of His mercy. In summary, those who come from a land at war with Muslims to the area of Islam, delivering a message, for business transactions, to negotiate a peace treaty, to pay the Jizyah, to offer an end to hostilities, and so forth, and request safe passage from Muslim leaders or their deputies, should be granted safe passage, as long as they remain in Muslim areas, until they go back to their land and sanctuary.
The verse 9:6 refers to people who want to hear of Islam, for the purpose of converting him to Islam and spread its message. But those of who still question Muhammad’s claim to prophethood will be put to sword! As in the above example Ibn An-Nawwahah, the emissary of Musaylimah who was given such a safe passage, but still continued his disbelief in Muhammad and paid off with his head!
Look at the sequence of events, Muhammad becomes more powerful with fall of Mecca and as result decides breaks all treaties he had and decides to keep the ones with the he feels have been friendly with him, we will see who these people are below, and calls for them to submit within four months time.
If we look at who are considered fighting the Muslims, the verse 9:12-13 gives the answer:
But if they violate their oaths after their covenant, and attack your religion with disapproval and criticism, then fight (you) against the leaders of disbelief -- for surely, their oaths are nothing to them -- so that they may stop (evil actions). Will you not fight a people who have violated their oaths and intended to expel the Messenger while they did attack you first Do you fear them Allah has more right that you should fear Him if you are believers
It says to fight
(a) the people who disobey the covenant. For which there is very little substance from the Islamic sources. In fact, at most times, one will find Muhammad is the person who breaks the treaty citting god’s will and fear of treachery!
(b) Attack islam with disapproval and criticism (as Ibn kathir puts it), slander it (as al-Jalalayn), defame the Religion of Islam (as Ibn Abbas puts it). I can’t see how showing disapproval to islam qualifies as such a grave fault that should be punished with death.
(c) plotted to expel Mohammad; another claim which has not got lot of objective evidence though there are instances of these happening, does it justify an all-out war?
(d) Attacked the Muslims first. This does hold water if it has substance. Ibn Kathir comments:
(while they did attack you first), refers to the battle of Badr when the idolators marched to protect their caravan. When they knew that their caravan escaped safely, they still went ahead with their intent to fight Muslims out of arrogance,
here Ibn kathir himself accepts the idolaters where policing their caravan from the muslims. The Qureysh idolators had sent the army in a policing role to protect the caravan, and to deal with the highway-robber Muslims. The irony here is, caught in this act of stealing; the muslims claim that the police "attacked them first" out of "arrogance"!
How does it fit to the criterion of self defense? Obviously, this fails to fit the self-defense criteria.
Zakir, completely hides this context and puts his own story forward and tries to alleviate the cruelty of the verses by citing 9:6, as if Muhammad never attacked non-muslims for their religion but because they were belligerent towards him. In fact, 9:6 is the most peaceful offer that Muhammad had for the non-muslims. If instead of defending themselves from Muhammad if they were willing to hear to him and get to convince themselves of the so called truth of Islam they are spared or else they are put to sword! And of course at times allowed to live as second class citizens paying Jizyah, which at most times is an option for the people of the book.
Infact Muslims are commaded not to ask for peace when they have an upper hand:
So be not weak and ask not for peace (from the enemies of Islâm), while you are having the upper hand. God is with you, and will never decrease the reward of your good deeds. S. 47:35 Hilali-Khan
Muslims are commanded not to seek peace with the unbelievers, provided that they are the more dominant party! As the tafsir of Ibn Abbas states:
(So do not falter) do not weaken, O believer, upon fighting the disbelievers (and cry out for peace) and it is said this means: for Islam before fighting (when you (will be) the uppermost) when you are the victorious and the ultimate consequence will be in your favour, (and Allah is with you) He helps you to defeat your enemy, (and He will not grudge (the reward of) your actions) and He will not diminish the works in which you engage during Jihad. (Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs; online source)
The two renowned Sunni commentators al-Jalalayn agree:
So do not falter, [do not] be weak, and [do not] call for peace (read salm or silm), that is to say, a truce with the disbelievers should you encounter them, when you have the upper hand (al-a'lawna: the third letter of the triliteral root, waw, has been omitted), [when you are] the victors, the vanquishers, and God is with you, helping and assisting, and He will not stint you, diminish you, in [the reward for] your works, that is to say, of the reward for them. (Tafsir al-Jalalayn; online source)
Is this the peace of Quran the Zakir wants to tell to us? Zakir has tried to carefully build his arguments by citing war as pretext! But it is not the case as one can see but infact Muhammad goes on to announce his NEW POLICY of No peace with the infidels after the time allotted for them to change their views regarding Islam. Either accept Islam or get killed in war! Note how even the ones didn’t even fit with the asinine criterion (a,b,c,d) that Muhammad made up as a pretext to attack them, where also not spared after the expiry of the peace treaty! And the state of war will come in to place.
I think this enough to show how this great scholar of comparative religion (as per muslims), has deliberately hidden the truth and spewed lies time and again! It is an irony that such a dishonest person wants to debate the pope, a highly acclaimed theologian. One must ask, for what? Is it to spewing more lies?
The verse of sura 9 has clearly been proven to be a violent ultimatum to the Non-Muslim world!
Time permitting I will deal with rest of aishah_al_amatullah's post.