BLOG 31 - Islam: What The West Needs To Know # 6

[Dr. Shabbir]

REBUTTAL - 6
April 20th, 2008 by Dr. Shabbir

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-871902797772997781

Studio Sound: Then the Quraizah Tribe surrendered and the apostle confined them in Madinah. Then the apostle went out to the market of Madinah and dug trenches in it. Then he sent for them and struck off their heads in those trenches as they were brought out to him in batches. They were 600 or 700 in all. Some figure 800 or 900.

Answer: Please see my humble response to Mr. Walid Shoebat about the Jewish Tribes. They were allowed to relocate along with all their belongings in all peace and security. There was no violence, no beheadings at all.

THE TRENCH: When many clans from Arabia planned to attack Madinah, the exalted prophet, in consultation with his noble companions, had only one trench dug around the City of Madinah. The objective was to defend the City against more than 10,000 aggressive coalition forces from freely invading it. This defense tactic gave Surah 33 Al-Ahzab its name, (the Battle of) The Clans or (the Battle of) The Trench. The Jewish Clans of Madinah and suburbs as well as the hostile Makkan idolaters, violating all peace treaties, had formed a coalition in order to eliminate the Muslims once and for all. They laid siege around Madinah in 627 CE where the exalted prophet had sought asylum since 622 CE. While the Muslims were greatly outnumbered, the strategy worked superbly. With only seven casualties on both sides, the Clans had to lift the siege in a few weeks and retreat when a violent wind blew off their encampments, food supplies and utensils.

Digging of a trench in the market of Madinah is news to me, dear Sir! It is someone’s flight of imagination. It neither stands up to reason, nor does the First History, Al-Qur’an make any mention of it. Did anyone deny the Qur’an’s account? The Jews that had chosen exile over peace could have written books on the atrocity. Did they say a word?

33:9 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Remember God’s blessing on you, when there came down on you armies (from different clans laying siege around Madinah). But We sent against them a violent wind, and forces that you did not see (courage, resolve, steadfastness and discipline). God is ever Seer of whatever you do.

Robert Spencer: Some Egyptian very recently wrote, “Why Muslims should protest on beheadings – Didn’t the prophet behead six hundred to nine hundred personally?”

Mujahideen in Iraq are obeying the example of the prophet. Personally he took part in many battles and raids. He behaved, in general, like a typical 7th century warlord. When this is transferred into the 21st century context of behavior, then what you get is terrorists.

Answer: Sir, what was the name of this Egyptian, what was his authority and where did he write it? The “Mujahideen” or any barbarians that behead people anywhere, cannot be Muslims since they violate all injunctions of the Qur’an and the merciful prophet’s instructions. We have shown that the exalted prophet had to fight the battles in self-defense.
The Qur’an states in no ambiguous terms that the real existence on earth is of the one who benefits humanity. [13]

This rule has no exceptions. Notice here the blanket statement of ‘humanity’ regardless of religion, Jew or Gentile, race, geography, creed or color. Then, would a warlord say and do such noble things as below?
The exalted prophet had said, “All creation is the family of God, so you shall be kind to them all.” And, “Even removing a thorn from the street is an act of charity.” [Sahah Sittah]

Raids? We have seen that all hostilities involving Muslims occurred around Madinah and that the exalted prophet, in his entire life, never pricked anyone even with a needle. The exalted prophet was extremely busy establishing the most benevolent, progressive State in Madinah, carving out peace treaties with every tribe and clan, receiving ambassadors from neighboring states, establishing brotherhood between the Mahajireen (Emigrants) from Makkah and the Ansar (Helpers) of Madinah, conveying the Qur’an to all, arranging the welfare of the widows, the orphans, the needy, creating the infrastructure from scratch and setting up an exemplary social order among those who had been the most unruly people in the world.

Even a single raid from him would have hurt his credibility, honor and authority and would have nullified all his noble endeavors of reform. He had stated very early in his career, “Islam has come to establish peace, security and human equity and equality.” Let us briefly mention the “Vow of Bounty” or “The Bounteous Pledge” that included highway safety and halting all raids. The exalted prophet had initiated this benevolent deal in his youth. Keeping all these facts in view, how could the exalted prophet order or commit raids?
[Kitab-e-Dalaail-en-Nabuwwah Syedna Muhammad (The Book on Proofs of the Prophethood of Our Honored Muhammad), by Abdul Jabbar Fatimi]

The Bounteous Pledge:
When he was about 25 years old, Muhammad, the exalted, helped formulate a very important document. He sat down with the influential leaders of Makkah. Keeping in mind the insecurity of that society, they reached the following conclusions addressing the entire Arabian Peninsula:

01. Travel must be made safe.
02. Tribal raids must be halted.
03. The poor must be helped.
04. The weak must be protected.

Almost all tribes had always felt insecure, had recognized the dire need, and so, they instantly agreed with the noble idea. Their leaders signed this historical document, Halaf-il-Fudhool (The Bounteous Pledge) and hung it prominently on the Ka’bah. Another reason why it was named Halaf-il-Fudhool is that three of those tribal leaders were named Fadhl).

BRITISH KNIGHTS FOLLOW SUIT IN THE 16TH CENTURY:
It is interesting to note that 1000 years later the United Kingdom adopted this historical document. In the 16th century Britain, any person becoming a knight had to pledge his allegiance to the above mentioned four rules. [“Islamic Review” – Lord Rowland George Headley]

(Contd by a life-long student)