Amein,
A reasonable explanation from the writer, I'm sure in his own mind! But I'm not sure on further examination, when we read the verses in context, that his explanation holds up to any scrutiny. Let's read:
[al-Baqarah 2:188] And eat not up your property among yourselves in vanity, nor seek by it to gain the hearing of the judges that ye may knowingly devour a portion of the property of others wrongfully.
[al-Baqarah 2:189] They ask thee, (O Muhammad), of new moons, say: They are fixed seasons for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not righteousness that ye go to houses by the backs thereof (as do the idolaters at certain seasons), but the righteous man is he who wardeth off (evil). So go to houses by the gates thereof, and observe your duty to Allah, that ye may be successful.
[al-Baqarah 2:190] Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.
[al-Baqarah 2:191] And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.
[al-Baqarah 2:192] But if they desist, then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
[al-Baqarah 2:193] And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrong-doers.
[al-Baqarah 2:194] The forbidden month for the forbidden month, and forbidden things in retaliation. And one who attacketh you, attack him in like manner as he attacked you. Observe your duty to Allah, and know that Allah is with those who ward off (evil).
[al-Baqarah 2:195] Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah, and be not cast by your own hands to ruin; and do good. Lo! Allah loveth the beneficent.
[al-Baqarah 2:196] Perform the pilgrimage and the visit (to Makka) for Allah. And if ye are prevented, then send such gifts as can be obtained with ease, and shave not your heads until the gifts have reached their destination. And whoever among you is sick or hath an ailment of the head must pay a ransom of fasting or almsgiving or offering. And if ye are in safety, then whosoever contenteth himself with the visit for the pilgrimage (shall give) such gifts as can be had with ease. And whosoever cannot find (such gifts), then a fast of three days while on the pilgrimage, and of seven when ye have returned; that is, ten in all. That is for him whoso folk are not present at the Inviolable Place of Worship. Observe your duty to Allah, and know that Allah is severe in punishment.
[al-Baqarah 2:197] The pilgrimage is (in) the well-known months, and whoever is minded to perform the pilgrimage therein (let him remember that) there is (to be) no lewdness nor abuse nor angry conversation on the pilgrimage. And whatsoever good ye do Allah knoweth it. So make provision for yourselves (Hereafter); for the best provision is to ward off evil. Therefore keep your duty unto Me, O men of understanding.
Firstly, the pilgrimage to Makka is not mentioned until Sura 2:196. In 2:196 it talks specifically about "And if ye are prevented, then send such gifts as can be obtained with ease, and shave not your heads until the gifts have reached their destination." So it talks about what to do if prevented to make the pilgrimage, send gifts. It does not say slay them, which gift giving seems more of a reasonable thing to do, especially if a religion is loving one.
Secondly, why would we consider something spoken about starting in 2:196 that says to give gifts if they are prevented to do something, and then go backwards to something spoken about earlier in 2:190 and say the earlier verses overrides the later verses, especially if they contradict each other?
It is a contradiction to give gifts, but also fight. Besides, if we read the pilgrimage verses closely, it talks about peaceful and nice things like giving gifts, self-sacrifice, no lewdness, no abuse, or angry conversation. Seems like the things surrounding the pilgrimage were peaceful and nice, religious type acts! Why go backwards and take something talking about fighting and slaying from earlier on that contradict the gift giving idea of the pilgrimage) and corrupt it with violence?
For the writer you note to start flip flopping verses, to say a pilgramage noted in 2:196-197 that talks about gift giving if the pilgrammage is prevented, and then use earlier verses in 2:190 that contradict what is said in 2:196 lacks logical sense.
Please let me know if you feel I am wrong on this. But reading this in context really makes me feel like the writer you noted lacks credibility, IMHO.
And Amein, please realize this. I am not trying to make something negative thats not. And I hope you realize that. I'm just telling you what this says as I see it, logically. And the writer you noted doesn't seem to make logical sense. See my point?
God Bless,
IGIT |
