In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.
The photograph in the home page is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html
You are invited to read – 13. Allah exists – A proof; and 14. Evidence that the Holy Quran supersedes the Holy Torah and the Holy Bible – in this blog. As of now, only one religion is approved by God Almighty – Islam.
Some claim that Verse 29 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran being revealed after Verse 256 of Chapter 2 abrogates the earlier Verse. Does cancel 2:256? The answer is no. Let us explain.
There are two collections of the translations of the Holy Quran of easy access: http://www.searchtruth.com/ for those with Internet access and ALIM CD for those without Internet access but have access to a device that reads the CD. Searchtruth has 4 translations respectively by Yusuf Ali, Shakir, Pickthal, and M.Khan. ALIM CD has the translations by Asad, Malik, Pickthal, and Yusuf Ali. ALIM CD can be purchased from ISL Software Corporation by sending an email to sales@islsoftware.com . The web site http://www.searchtruth.com/ offers free access. We quote Yusuf Ali, Shakir, Pickthal, and M.Khan from http://www.searchtruth.com/ and Asad and Malik from the ALIM CD. For immediate verification by the readers with Internet access, we give the URL also.
Let us consider 2:256 first. From http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=2&from_verse=256&to_verse=256&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1 we get the first four rows of the table below.
| Yusuf Ali 256: | Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. |
| Shakir 256: | There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. |
| Pickthal 256: | There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower. |
| M. Khan 256: | There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghoot and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. |
| Asad 256 (ALIM CD) | THERE SHALL BE no coercion in matters of faith. Distinct has now become the right way from [the way of] error: hence, he who rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way: for God is all-hearing, all-knowing. |
| Malik 256 (ALIM CD) | There is no compulsion in religion. True guidance has been made clearly distinct from error. Therefore, whoever renounce ‘Taghut’ (forces of Shaitan) and believes in Allah has grasped the firm hand-hold that will never break. Allah, Whose hand-hold you have grasped, hears all and knows all. |
The very first sentences of the entire above six translations mean “There is no compulsion in religion.”
Now we consider Verse 29 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran. From http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=9&from_verse=29&to_verse=29&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1 we get the first four rows of the following table.
| Yusuf Ali 29: | 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. |
| Shakir 29: | Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection. |
| Pickthal 29: | Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low. |
| M. Khan 29: | Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. |
| Asad 29 (ALIM CD) | [And] fight against those who – despite having been vouchsafed revelation [aforetime] – do not [truly] believe either in God or the Last Day, and do not consider forbidden that which God and His Apostle have forbidden, - and do not follow the religion of truth [which God has enjoined upon them], till they [agree to] pay the exemption tax with a willing hand, after having been humbled [in war]. |
| Malik 29 (ALIM CD) | Fight those people of the Book (Jews and Christians) who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, do not refrain from what has been prohibited by Allah and His Rasool and do not embrace the religion of truth (Al-Islam), until they pay Jizya (protection tax) with their own hands and feel themselves subdued. |
There is marginal difference with respect the target population in the above six translations. What about the objective of the fight? The entire translations are united in that objective: pay the Jizya. The objective is not for them to believe as the victors believe, but just to pay a tax. This tax is exempted from those who participate in Jihad.
What is the situation in USA? Are there not concessions for those serving in the Armed Forces of USA? There are concessions in USA, while Islam demands a special tax. The result is the same: those who fight for the country are treated favorably compared to those who do not.
What is important is that Verse 29 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran does not demand the target population to believe in Islam. Thus, there is no compulsion in religion. Both Verses 2:256 and coexist. Verse does not abrogate Verse 2:256.
Some Muslims and some non-Muslims believe that the Jizya is to be collected from all over the world – a misguided view of the target population. In view of the Traditions mentioned below:
1. From http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=peninsula Muslim&translator=2&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all we get:
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It has been narrated by 'Umar b. al-Khattib that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim. (Book #019, Hadith #4366) (Sahih Muslim) [This is found as Tradition numbered 814 Sahih Muslim in ALIM CD.]
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2. The following URL has http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=peninsula&translator=4&search=1&book=&start=0 :
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Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Two deens shall not co-exist in the Arabian peninsula." Malik said that Ibn Shihab said, ''Umar ibn al-Khattab searched for information about that until he was absolutely convinced that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had said, 'Two deens shall not co-exist in the Arabian peninsula,' and he therefore expelled the jews from Khaybar." (Book #45, Hadith #45.5.18) (Malik’s Muwatta) [ This is listed as Tradition numbered 18 in Volume 45 of Al-Muwatta Hadith in ALIM CD.]
In view of the above two Traditions we believe Verse 29 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran was an intermediate step before the expulsion of non-Muslims from the Arabian Peninsula. Please observe that the Conquest of Makkah was a bloodless affair and thus to our understanding the Pagans of the Arabian Peninsula did not pay any Jizya. Thus the target population of Verse 29 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran was the People of the Book living inside the Arabian Peninsula. When was the expulsion of the non-Muslims from the Arabian Peninsula indicated? The following Tradition throws light on the time.
This URL http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=peninsula comprises&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all has the Tradition below:
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Narrated Said bin Jubair: Ibn 'Abbas said, "Thursday! What (great thing) took place on Thursday!" Then he started weeping till his tears wetted the gravels of the ground . Then he said, "On Thursday the illness of Allah's Apostle was aggravated and he said, "Fetch me writing materials so that I may have something written to you after which you will never go astray." The people (present there) differed in this matter and people should not differ before a prophet. They said, "Allah's Apostle is seriously sick.' The Prophet said, "Let me alone, as the state in which I am now, is better than what you are calling me for." The Prophet on his death-bed, gave three orders saying, "Expel the pagans from the Arabian peninsula, respect and give gifts to the foreign delegates as you have seen me dealing with them." I forgot the third (order)" (Ya'qub bin Muhammad said, "I asked Al-Mughira bin 'Abdur-Rahman about the Arabian peninsula and he said, 'It comprises Mecca, Medina, Al-Yama-ma and Yemen." Ya'qub added, "And Al-Arj, the beginning of Tihama.") (Book #52, Hadith #288) (Sahih Bukhari) [In ALIM CD this Tradition is found as Tradition numbered 288 in Volume 4 of Sahih Al-Bukhari.]
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One reason we could think of for this order to be issued by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in his death bed was to ensure that the special powers of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, were not used for this purpose.
Another reason is to restrain the future Muslims so that they do not extend the Muslim-only territory beyond the Arabian Peninsula, because at the time of his death Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not rule the whole of the Arabian Peninsula. Thus, the Muslims cannot use the argument that once a region has become Dar-al-Islam it shall remain so forever. Dar-al-Islam was defined to be the Arabian Peninsula only by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. This definition could not be altered by any but another Prophet, peace be upon him, to appear in future. The Muslims believe Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, would descend from Heaven and extend the Muslim-only land outside the Arabian Peninsula. Until then no Muslim-only land outside the Arabian Peninsula.
The above restriction does not imply that populations outside the Arabian Peninsula cannot adopt the Islamic Shariah as their law; they can. However, a future population might opt for some other law.