How did Allah Command the Prophet ﷺ (and his followers) to deal with the People of the Book

Since the introduction of Islam as the final Divine religion, disbelievers, non Muslims and even the people following the earlier Divine scriptures have not accepted Islam as a Divine religion. When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ invited the pagans of Makkah towards Islam, he was hotly contested to the extent of abuses and physical torture to give the "idea  of new religion" hatched by his very person. So much was the pain of sufferings that even a group of Muslims were to told to migrate to Habash, despite the fact that in those days was under the domination of the Christians. 

Yet, despite all the hardship suffered by the earlier Muslims, which sadly still continues in many a non Muslim country, the Prophet ﷺ was asked to exercise restraint and approach them in the fairest of manners, for hostility breeds hostility. This is the subject of of our today's post wherein we share the 46th verse of Surah 29, Al Ankabut (The Spider) given herein under:

وَلَا تُجَادِلُوۡٓا اَهۡلَ الۡكِتٰبِ اِلَّا بِالَّتِىۡ هِىَ اَحۡسَنُ ۖ اِلَّا الَّذِيۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا مِنۡهُمۡ​ وَقُوۡلُوۡٓا اٰمَنَّا بِالَّذِىۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَيۡنَا وَاُنۡزِلَ اِلَيۡكُمۡ وَاِلٰهُـنَا وَاِلٰهُكُمۡ وَاحِدٌ وَّنَحۡنُ لَهٗ مُسۡلِمُوۡنَ‏  

(29:46) Argue not with the People of the Book except in the fairest manner, unless it be those of them that are utterly unjust. Say to them: “We believe in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to you. One is our God and your God; and we are those who submit83 ourselves to Him.”

Explanation of the Verse

• Engage in Dialogue with Respect and Wisdom: The verse emphasizes that when discussing religious matters with the People of the Book, Muslims should do so in a way that is characterized by wisdom, respect, and the best manners. This approach promotes understanding and reduces hostility, paving the way for constructive dialogue rather than confrontational disputes.
• Avoiding Hostile Disputes: Arguing in a hostile or aggressive manner often leads to animosity and deepens misunderstandings. The Qur'an advises against such disputes because they are counterproductive and can lead to negative feelings rather than bridging gaps between different faith communities. Sometimes, the people of Da'wah missions lose their cool when confronted with the hostile audience as in the case of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. When he went to the city of Taif, he was stoned by the people to an extent that his who body was covered up in blood.  Yet when Angel Gabriel (Jibraeel) came and permission to uproot the mountain and crush the disbelievers, the revered Prophet did not allow for he knew one day the people of Taif will enter the fold of Islam. And they did.
• Focusing on Common Beliefs: The verse also encourages Muslims to emphasize common beliefs when speaking with the People of the Book: the shared belief in one God, the respect for revealed scriptures, and the concept of submission to God’s will. This approach can help to foster mutual respect and understanding.
• Except Against Injustice: The exception mentioned in the verse refers to those who commit injustice or act with blatant hostility against Muslims. In such cases, Muslims are allowed to defend themselves and their beliefs but are still encouraged to maintain a level of dignity and avoid stooping to unjust behavior.

Supporting Hadith and Islamic Teachings

• Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) Example: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) often engaged with Jews and Christians in a respectful manner, setting an example of how to interact with people of different faiths. He would listen to their perspectives, share the message of Islam, and avoid unnecessary conflict.
• Hadith on Gentleness: The Prophet emphasized the importance of gentleness and avoiding disputes:

“Gentleness / kindness is not found in anything except that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything except that it disfigures it.” (Sahih Muslim, 2594a)

This teaching aligns with the Qur’anic guidance to avoid hostile arguments and instead choose a kind and gentle approach in discussions.

Broader Implications in Light of the Qur’an and Hadith

• Promoting Peaceful Coexistence: This guidance supports peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between Muslims and people of other faiths. It underscores the importance of building bridges rather than creating divisions.
• Focus on the Message Rather than Winning Arguments: The goal of engaging with the People of the Book is not to "win" arguments but to convey the message of Islam in a way that is sincere and respectful. The emphasis is on inviting people to truth with wisdom and good advice, as outlined in other Qur’anic verses, such as Surah An-Nahl (16:125).

(O Prophet), call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and reason with them in the best manner possible. Surely your Lord knows best who has strayed away from His path, and He also knows well those who are guided to the Right Way.

• Avoiding Useless Disputes: Arguments often become emotional and can stray from the core issues, leading to wasted time and effort. By focusing on shared values and respectful dialogue, Muslims can avoid fruitless disputes and instead foster a meaningful exchange of ideas.

The Qur’anic guidance to avoid arguing with the People of the Book, except in the best manner, teaches Muslims the importance of respectful engagement, focusing on shared beliefs, and avoiding unnecessary hostility. This approach not only upholds the dignity of the dialogue but also reflects the true spirit of Islam, which emphasizes respect, wisdom, and compassion in all interactions.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our Selected verses from Sūrahs of Qur'an to highlight important topics with detailed explanation and Reference Page on Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

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If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Why Does Not Allah Show Himself in Islam? - Qur'an Explains

When Allah chose selected human beings as His messengers, the obvious query that came to their mind was who is Allah and how does He look like? Even today, many non Muslims ask this question from Muslim scholars: Why Does Not Allah Show Himself in Islam?

Let us answer this question in the light of Qur'an. Surah 7. Al A'raf  that mentions the meeting Allah with Prophet Musa (Moses, may peace be upon him) atop the Mt. Sanai and the revered Prophet asked Allah to show Him to him. The Divine reply is mentioned in verse 143 as mentioned herein under:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ 

"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"

وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوۡسٰى لِمِيۡقَاتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهٗ رَبُّهٗ ۙ قَالَ رَبِّ اَرِنِىۡۤ اَنۡظُرۡ اِلَيۡكَ​ ؕ قَالَ لَنۡ تَرٰٮنِىۡ وَلٰـكِنِ انْظُرۡ اِلَى الۡجَـبَلِ فَاِنِ اسۡتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهٗ فَسَوۡفَ تَرٰٮنِىۡ​ ۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلّٰى رَبُّهٗ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَهٗ دَكًّا وَّخَرَّ مُوۡسٰى صَعِقًا​ ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبۡحٰنَكَ تُبۡتُ اِلَيۡكَ وَاَنَا اَوَّلُ الۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ‏ 

(7:143) And when Moses came at Our appointment, and his Lord spoke to him, he said: 'O my Lord! Reveal Yourself to me, that I may look upon You!' He replied: 'Never can you see Me. However, behold this mount; if it remains firm in its place, only then you will be able to see Me.' And as soon as his Lord unveiled His glory to the mount, He crushed it into fine dust, and Moses fell down in a swoon. And when he recovered, he said: 'Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance, and I am the foremost among those who believe.'

When Prophet Musa (Moses) asked to see Allah, a profound and awe-inspiring event took place that highlighted the transcendence and incomparability of Allah. This incident is mentioned in the Quran in Surah Al-A'raf (7:143), where it is narrated that Musa requested to see Allah directly. Here’s a detailed account of what happened according to the Quran:

Explanation of the Event:

• Musa's Request to See Allah: Prophet Musa, who had been granted the honor of speaking directly to Allah (hence known as "Kalimullah," or the one who spoke to Allah), was filled with a desire to see Allah with his own eyes. In his deep longing and devotion, he made a humble request: "My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You."
• Allah’s Response: Allah responded to Musa by saying, "You will not see Me," indicating that it is impossible for any human being to see Allah in this worldly life due to their limited capacity and the overwhelming nature of Allah's essence. Allah's being is beyond physical form and cannot be perceived by the human eye.
• The Test with the Mountain: To illustrate the impossibility of seeing Him, Allah set a condition: He directed Musa to look at a nearby mountain. Allah said, "Look at the mountain; if it remains in place, then you will see Me." This statement implied that the mountain, a massive and solid structure, would serve as a test to demonstrate the immense and overpowering nature of even a glimpse of Allah’s presence.
• The Manifestation and the Collapse: When Allah manifested a tiny fraction of His glory to the mountain, the mountain could not withstand it and instantly crumbled to dust. The sheer magnitude of Allah’s presence caused a tremendous upheaval, demonstrating that even the most solid and steadfast parts of creation cannot bear His manifestation.
• Musa’s Reaction: 
• Upon witnessing this, Musa was overwhelmed by the majesty and power of the event. He fell unconscious from the awe and shock of the sight. When he regained consciousness, Musa immediately recognized the limits of human capacity and the majesty of Allah. 
• He exclaimed, "Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers." This was an acknowledgment of Allah’s greatness, his own limitations, and a reaffirmation of his faith and submission to Allah’s will.

Key Lessons from the Incident:

• Allah’s Transcendence and Majesty: 
• The event emphasizes Allah’s absolute transcendence, indicating that His essence is beyond any form that creation can endure or perceive. Even the slightest glimpse of Allah's glory was enough to demolish a mountain, showing the limits of human and worldly capacity.
• Islam teaches about Emphasis on Allah’s Immanence and Transcendence and that Allah is both close to His creation and entirely beyond it. His presence is known through His signs, guidance, and the effects of His will rather than through physical appearance.
• Surah Qaf (50:16): "And We have already created man, and We know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein." That is Allah’s closeness is not a physical proximity but a spiritual and metaphysical nearness that transcends physical form.
• Humility and Recognition of Limitations: Musa’s reaction underscores the importance of humility and recognition of one’s own limitations when approaching the divine. Despite being a prophet with a special status, Musa understood that certain aspects of Allah’s nature are beyond human comprehension. 
• Allah is Beyond Human Perception: Allah’s nature is beyond anything that human beings can comprehend or visualize. He is not like His creation and does not conform to the physical attributes that characterize created beings.
• Surah Ash-Shura (42:11): "There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing."
• This verse emphasizes the uniqueness and incomparability of Allah. Since He is unlike anything in existence, He cannot be perceived in any form that human senses could comprehend.
• Faith in the Unseen: 
• The incident reinforces the Islamic principle of faith in the unseen. Allah’s existence and attributes are known through His signs, revelations, and prophets, rather than through physical sight. Believers are encouraged to have faith in Allah’s presence without needing to see Him physically. 
• Faith in the unseen is a foundational aspect of a Muslim’s relationship with Allah. Believing in Allah without seeing Him tests and strengthens the believer's sincerity, trust, and devotion.
• Surah Al-Baqarah (2:3): "[This is] the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah, who believe in the unseen..."
• Avoiding Idolatry and Misrepresentation
• One reason why Allah does not manifest Himself physically is to prevent any possibility of idolatry or the worship of forms. Islam strictly prohibits any depiction or representation of Allah to maintain the purity of monotheism (Tawhid).
• Surah Al-Ikhlas (112:1-4): "Say, 'He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.'"
• By not showing Himself, Allah ensures that He remains beyond all forms and likenesses, preserving the concept of absolute monotheism.
• Allah’s Compassion in Teaching: Allah’s response to Musa was not a punishment but a compassionate teaching moment. It allowed Musa and, by extension, all believers to understand the profound reality of Allah’s nature in a way that respects human limitations while still affirming His unparalleled power.
• Reward of the Hereafter
• The ultimate reward for believers is the vision of Allah in the Hereafter, an experience that is promised to those who attain Paradise.
• Hadith: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “You will see your Lord on the Day of Resurrection as you see the full moon; you will have no difficulty in seeing Him.” (Sahih Bukhari)
• This Hadith suggests that the vision of Allah is reserved for the Hereafter as a reward for the righteous, providing a powerful motivation for faith and obedience in this life.
• However, this grace will be only for those who are rewarded the highest level of Jannah, that is Jannah tul Firdous.

In the light of the above verse and its explanation, we can safely conclude that Allah does not show Himself in Islam because His nature is beyond human perception, and His invisibility serves as a test of faith. The belief in the unseen strengthens the believer’s trust in Allah and reinforces the core principles of monotheism. Allah’s presence is known through His signs, guidance, and attributes, and the ultimate reward of seeing Him is reserved for the Hereafter. This approach preserves the purity of worship and ensures that Allah remains unique, transcendent, and free from any form of misrepresentation or idolatry.

You may now like to listen to Dr Zakir A Naik explaining Why Does Not Allah Show Himself in Islam?:

As explained by Dr Zakir Naik, only those lucky ones will be able to see Allah who enter the highest level of Jannah, called Jannah tul Firdous. This means the those residing in lower levels of Jannah will be devoid of this honour. This thus gives the reason why Allah doesn't show himself is that he wants us to work hard in the unseen and believe in Allah and His commandments and live a life as perfectly as so commanded and try to endure every test that comes our way with steadfastness and Sabr / patience. Allah wants us to work hard into making our faith stronger in Allah, Islam or anything else in our lives. And if we pass all our tests be remaining steadfast, let us pray to be awarded an abode in Jannah tul Firdous and be a contender of seeing Allah, In sha Allah.

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Reading the Holy Quran should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Holy Qur'an from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that:

• The plain translation has been taken from the Holy Quran officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [3]
• And the exegesis of the chapters of the Holy Quran are basically based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. [1]
• In addition the references of  other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. 

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook
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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Who is a Muslim to Allah

Ask someone in the Western world: Who is a Muslim? And one will get a widely varied response. The perception of Muslims in the West is rather complex, influenced by historical, social, and political factors. It can range from positive to negative, depending on various contexts and individual perspectives. For many, the word Muslim brings to mind the image of a terrorist, an Afghan Taliban and someone living in desert chasing camels. This perception mainly arises from the perception of Muslims aired on the social media. One would never get to see someone defining Muslim as a well educated and literate person, for a large number of Muslims are employees of some of the major conglomerates and business empires.

Today, let us define for you who actually is a Muslim. Or should we say who a Muslim is to Allah, for there is bond between a true believing Muslim and his Creator. This bondage thus defines who a Muslim is.

A Muslim is defined in the Quran as someone who submits to the will of Allah, believes in His oneness, accepts all His prophets, believes in the unseen, performs righteous deeds, accepts Allah's decree, and supports the community of believers. This comprehensive definition encompasses faith, practice, and ethical conduct, reflecting the holistic approach of Islam to human life and spirituality.

Let us now elaborate the above quoted definition of Muslim as condensed form a number of verses from Qur'an, meaning by this the man whom Allah considers to be a Muslim. Herein under is the further elaborate the characteristics of the person called Muslim:

Submission to Allah:

A Muslim is one who submits his will to Allah. This is the fundamental meaning of the term "Muslim" (from the Arabic root S-L-M, meaning "to submit" or "to surrender").

Surah Al-Baqarah (2:112): "Yes, whoever submits his face to Allah and he is a doer of good, then his reward is with his Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve."

Belief in Allah and the Prophets:

Muslims are those who believe in Allah and accept all His prophets, including the final prophet, Muhammad ﷺ. Here it may be said that Muslims believe in the entire chain of prophets and messengers right from Adam, followed by Noah, Moses, Abraham, Ishmael, and Ishaq. The list also includes Eesa (called Jesus by Christians) as a prophet of Allah too, and not as an associate or even a god at par with the One and the Only God of the universe.

"The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.'"

Faith in the Unseen: This is the hallmark of a person called Muslim. Often atheists ask Muslims whether they have seen Allah they believe in? And even ask scientific explanations for they know nothing beyond 2+2=4.  But they fail to see the signs, not only the earth and countless living creations as small as a being which can only be seen with the help of a microscope, but also the fathomless and never ending ends of the universe. Even the Hubble Telescope, the marvel of the present day science has not been able to reach anything close to the ends, which to my mind do not exist. Yet Muslims believed in Allah unseen when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked the illiterate, rigid, hard core Bedouins of Arabia.

Muslims believe in the unseen, including the existence of Allah, angels, the afterlife, and other metaphysical aspects.

Surah Al-Baqarah (2:3): "Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them."

Righteous Deeds: Being a Muslim involves performing righteous deeds, which include prayer, charity, fasting, and other acts of worship and kindness.

"Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is in one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:177):

 

Acceptance of Allah's Decree: Muslims accept Allah's decree and trust in His wisdom and judgment.

"And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good." (Surah Al-Ankabut 29:69) 

Community and Brotherhood: Muslims are part of a global brotherhood, the Ummah, and are encouraged to support and care for each other.

"The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy." (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:10)

Muslims are asked by Allah to call others to the Straight Path: Allah expects a person who calls himself a Muslim to invite others to Islam as has been directed in the verse mentioned below:

For every people We have prescribed a way of worship which they follow. So, (O Muhammad), let them not dispute with you concerning this, and call them to Your Lord. You are certainly on the Straight Way. (qur'an 22:67) 

The act of worship differs between the people of the Book, that is Jews, Christians and the Muslims. In the verse above, While Muslims have been asked to interfere with their form or act of worship, they have been asked to call them to Your Lord. You are certainly on the Straight Way.

These attributes are of  person whom Allah calls a Muslim and will reward them if they follow His prescribed path with complete faith in Allah and invite others to the staright path that leads to One Omnipotent Allah.

You may also like to read our earlier post: Who is a Muslim

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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The best Jihad is Jihad al Nafs - the war against one's desires (Understanding Islam)

Whenever the word Jihad is mentioned, ripples are created in the minds of the non-Muslims for they always understand Jihad as a Muslim holy war to suppress and kill the non Muslims. They are so obsessed with this word that in their writings or even in films, this word is invariably used to downplay Islam and the Muslims. Such feelings and misunderstanding occur when one has not studied Islam and thus have preconceived ideas about Islam or ideas intentionally fed to them to create misunderstanding and hatred about Islam.

In order to clarify the word Jihad, its various levels and why Jihad is necessary for the Muslims, we are making an endeavour to clear the dust from this notoriously used word by the non Muslims, yet a scared and well meaning word for the Muslims.

Jihad (Arabic: جِهَاد, romanized: jihād [dʒiˈhaːd]) is an Arabic word which literally means "striving" or "struggling", especially with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it can refer to almost any exertion of effort to make personal and social life conform with guidance of Allah, such as internal struggle against one's evil inclinations, proselytizing, or efforts toward the betterment of the Muslim community (Ummah), though in non-Muslim societies the term is most often associated with armed conflict. [1]

Having understood the literal meaning of the word Jihad, let us now understand how the Jihad in Islam is categorized from greater to lesser Jihad. Ibn Hazm, an 11th century Muslim scholar, lists four kinds of jihad fi sabilillah ("الجهاد في سبيل الله" - struggle in the cause of Allah):

• Jihad of the heart (jihad bil qalb/ nafs) is concerned with combatting the devil and in the attempt to escape his persuasion to evil. This type of Jihad was regarded[citation needed] as the greater jihad (al-jihad al-akbar).
• Jihad by the tongue (jihad bil lisan) (also Jihad by the word, jihad al-qalam) is concerned with speaking the truth and spreading the word of Islam with one's tongue.
• Jihad by the hand (jihad bil yad) refers to choosing to do what is right and to combat injustice and what is wrong with action.
• Jihad by the sword (jihad bis saif) refers to qital fi sabilillah (armed fighting in the way of God, or holy war), the most common usage by Salafi Muslims and offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood.

And those who think that Jihad bis saif (the Jihad by the word) is the dominating thought with which Muslims are always obsessed with, ranks the last among the four types of Jihad agreed upon by most of the Muslim scholars.

Since Jihad al Nafs (Jihad of the heart) ranks first in the categorization of Jihad, let us devote ourselves through this post to know why. Let us first understand what is Nafs and why it dominates our actions all along our lives, good or bad:

Nafs (نَفْس) is an Arabic word occurring in the Quran, literally meaning "self", and has been translated as "psyche", "ego" or "soul". The term is cognate with the Hebrew word nephesh, נֶפֶשׁ. In the Quran, the word nafs is used in both the individualistic (verse 2:48) and collective sense (verse 4:1), indicating that although humanity is united in possessing the positive qualities of a nafs, they are individually responsible for exercising the agencies of the "free will" that it provides them. Nafs in its unrefined state is "the ego", and is considered to be the lowest dimension of a person's inward existence—his animal and satanic nature. [2]

Herein under, let us share references from Qur'an and Hadith to know the importance of Jihad al Nafs:

The Quran teaches that "the one who feared to stand before his Lord and restrained his nafs from the passions; indeed, paradise will be his refuge." (79:40–41)

The  Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) is attributed to have said:  "The struggler is the one who strives against his soul/self in obedience to God, the Mighty and Majestic." [Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah] 

Thus, Jihad al-nafs is the struggle against evil ideas, desires and of lust, anger, and insatiable imagination, placing all of them under the dictates of reason and faith in obedience to God's commands, and finally, purging all satanic ideas and influences from one’s soul. [4]

This struggle is considered as the major struggle (al-jihad al-akbar) as it is much more difficult than fighting in the battlefield, for in the struggle against the self, one has to constantly battle enemies that are hosted inside his own existence.

On a occasion when the soldiers of Islam returned from the battle, Prophet (P.B.U.H) said to his companions, “We have come back from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad.” They said, “Is there any greater jihad than jihad against the kuffar?” he said, “Yes, jihad al-nafs (jihad against the self).”

The explanation above leads us to the catch point between the difference between the Jihad bis saif (the Jihad by the word) and the Jihad al Nafs (Jihad of the heart): The normally understood Jihad bis Saif lasts only a campaign, few days to few weeks or even longer but it comes to an end one day and soldiers come home, though many perish in the path of Allah, never to return. But Jihad al Nafs (Jihad of the heart) is a struggle or a battle that continues to be fought from the day one regains the ability to differentiate between good and evil till he dies - that is it is a lifelong struggle that never ends.

Right from an early stage of man's life, he is pitched between two camps: The camp and soldiers of evil or Satan, and the camp of goodness and morality. Both camps continue to exert pressure on the heart and mind of a man and whoever dominates the evil camp wins the battle. But the battles do not end and continue throughout one's life, for the evil is never at rest. The Satan, as he promised Allah when he was being kicked out of the Paradise for enticing Adam and Eve and misleading them to violate the Divine commandment of not going near the forbidden tree, that he would do his best to mislead the man on earth and take him away from path of Allah. Herein under is the conversation between the Satan and Allah as mentioned in Surah 15. Al-Hijr:

39. [Iblis (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! Because you misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all.

40. "Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them."

41. (Allah) said: "This is the Way which will lead straight to Me."

42. "Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghawin (Mushrikun and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evil-doers, etc.).

43. "And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all.

* For detailed explanation and commentary over the the above said dialogue, please refer to  the Exegesis of Surah Al Hijr

That is why they say: one must certainly do battle with the ego and break it, as is referred to in the hadith: "Your worst enemy is your nafs which lies between your flanks."

To wage a war against one one's nafs is not easy for the social media is infested with evil material and no matter how hard one tries to stay away from such enticements, one is liable to fall or tumble. And when it happens, one must immediately stand on his feet, repent earnestly and seek forgiveness of Allah, for if one fails to stand, then he will continue to fall into the depts. of evil and his nafs will become so hardened that it will no longer listen to the calls of his conscious.

To wage the war against ones' nafs, one must guard one's eyes for feasting on the impermissible, his eyes from listening to vain speech, his limbs for sitting in the company one must have never sat in the first place, and also guard against one's own heart / nafs for every time you allowed what was impure to enter it.

We would like you to watch the video below by eminent Muslim preacher Shariffa Carlo Al Andalusia  to clarify any doubt you may still have about Jihad al Nafs:

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Understanding Islam: Do not fall for ill fed / concocted information

Islam is a very simple and straight forward religion. Qur'an spells out Divine commandments, direction and wisdom in very clear words. There are no fairytales or information which makes Qur'an a book of fiction or pastime. Yet some interpreters and pseudo scholars present the Divine information or Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in such a way that it sounds like a story or an anecdote rather than a Divine word or something said by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. 

Social media is replete with such ill fed, concocted and misleading information wrapped in juicy details which though attract the reader are far from reality or actual facts or background. 

To prove our point, we share a Hadit attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is graded as "Hasan" by Darussalam ( Hassan hadith is the one which ranks in between an Authentic Hadith "Sahi" and Weak Hadith "Daif"  mentioned  in Sunan An-Nasa’i 924:

Ibn Abi Awfa said: “A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: I cannot learn anything of the Quran; teach me something that I can say instead of reciting the Quran.’ He said: ‘Say: 

" الْعَظِيْم‎‎ سُبْحَان اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّهِ وَلا إِلهَ إِلّااللّهُ وَاللّهُ أكْبَرُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ " SubhanAllah, wal-hamdulilah, wa la illaha ill-Allah, wa Allahu Akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa Billahil-aliy al-azim (Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is none worthy of worship except Allah, Allah is Most Great, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah the Exalted and Magnificent ).'”

With this Hadith in the backdrop, I came across the interpretation of this Hadith, though the Hadith never needed any explanation or interpretation. However, in Indian sub continent, this Hadith has been turned into a Kalima (the 3rd Kalima to be specific) and all Muslims are made to learn and remember this. Here we go for its interpretation, but it is given nowhere the source of how someone came to know of these details as these are neither given in the Qur'an, nor ever elaborated by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Here we go:

It all started before Allah Ta'alah created Adam A.S. The Angels were trying to move the Arsh (Throne) of Allah Ta'alah but it was too heavy and wouldn't budge. So they asked Almighty Allah for help. Allah told them to recite "Subhanallah سُبْحَان اللهِ." The Angels did as they were told and found that it gave them power and strength and they were able to move the Arsh. They liked this so much that they began constantly hymning, "Subhanallah."- (Glory be to Allah)

Then Allah created Adam A.S. When Allah blew life into Adam, the first thing he did was sneeze and say "Alhamdulillah الْحَمْدُلِلّهِ" (All parise be to Allah). The angels liked this act so much that they added this to their parise and glorification of Allah. Thus the kalimah became: "Subhanallah(i) Walhamdulillah سُبْحَان اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّهِ"

Hundreds of years passed and the Prophet Nooh A.S. was now on earth. For nine hundred years he proclaimed the oneness of Allah with the words "La ilaha illallah لا إِلهَ إِلّااللّهُ." (There is none worthy of worship). The Angels loved this act so much that they added this to the kalimah. Thus, the kalimah now became: "Subhanallah(i) Walhamdulillah(i) Wa La ilaha illallah سُبْحَان اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّهِ وَلا إِلهَ إِلّااللّهُ "

The Angels kept repeating this kalimah day and night. Many centuries passed and the Prophet Ebrahim A.S. (Abraham) was asked by Almighty Allah to sacrifice his beloved son Ismaeel A.S. He was about to slaughter his son and He needed something to give him the courage he needed to do this difficult deed. So he recited: "Allahu Akbar اللّهُ أكْبَرُ." (Allah is Great). The Angels loved this act so much that they added "Allahu Akbar" to the kalimah. Thus the kalimah became: "Subhanallah(i) Walhamdulillah(i) Wa La ilaha ilallah(u) Wallahu Akbar سُبْحَان اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّهِ وَلا إِلهَ إِلّااللّهُ وَاللّهُ أكْبَرُ."

More centuries passed. It was the night of Meraj, when our Beloved Prophet Muhammed S.A.W. ascended to the Heavens with Gibraeel A.S. There Gibraeel A.S. told Nabee S.A.W. the story and Nabee S.A.W. added the final part of the Kalmiah: "Wala Hawla Wa La Quwwata illah Billah Hil Aleyeel Azeem الْعَظِيْم‎‎ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ." 

Thus the kalimah now became "Subhanallah(i) Walhamdulillah(i) Wa La ilaha illallah(u) Wallahu Akbar Wala Hawla Wa La Quwwata illah Billah Hil Aleyeel Azeem":

الْعَظِيْم‎‎ سُبْحَان اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّهِ وَلا إِلهَ إِلّااللّهُ وَاللّهُ أكْبَرُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ 

(There is no Power and Might except from Allah, The Most High, The Great) And up to this day, this kalimah (or declaration of faith) buzzes around the Arsh of Almighy Allah.

So my brothers and sisters in Islam, those who can ponder over the truth and wisdom, can see from the interpretation of the Hadith quoted above that how we can make up explanations which have no authentic source. We could have still acted upon this Hadith, though Hassan, and continued to recite it even without this interpretation which does not appeal to logic. Let us ponder over every piece of information we come across and authenticate it form more than one sources so that no ambiguity remains what we learn and practice.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: If some worthy reader has an authentic linkage to the interpretation stated above, please share for we in our scanty knowledge may be wrong and could put ourselves right.

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

| Photo | Reference: Third Kalima Tamjeed | Third Kalima |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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The Rebuttal: Countering disinformation being spread about Islam (Reference Page)

The use of social media to spread disinformation has confused millions about what is the truth and what is otherwise. While the use of social media to spread disinformation and misinformation is mainly in the corporate world to paint rosy pictures about business of the counterparts, the media is also being used for point scoring by the priests, monks and imams to mislead followers of one religion and projecting their religion being the supreme. In doing so, logic is more often than not is set aside and emotions of followers of the opposing religions are played tacitly, many a times concealing, twisting and fabricating the truth.

When it comes to Divine Religions, each religion takes a hard stand and all other religions are over shadowed with information to mislead others. Islam, based on the last of the four Divine Scriptures, is more often than not been the target of the followers of the previous Divine religions and every effort is being let loose to find "faults" within the Qur'an, the last of the four Divine Scriptures, Psalms, Torah and the Gospel being the earlier three. This has resulted into discrimination, prejudice and unfair treatment of Muslims around the world and under the garb of Islamophobia, Jihad and such like jargons, Muslims are being marginalized. 

Moreover, there are number of sites that portray Islam as a false religion and "false information" is being dug by twisting the meaning of verses of Qur'an and sayings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Many a times, non-Muslims comment on our posts and portraying Islam as a false and declining religion. Whereas just the opposite is true, for Islam is the fast-emerging religion and many non-Muslims fear that by Islam will be the dominant religion by year 2050. 

The purpose of this post, thus, is to highlight the disinformation about Islam and present the true picture to its readers, so that they can correlate both versions and make an independent and unbiased framework of thinking. In the following lines, we will pen down the disinformation, which will be followed by detailed rebuttal posts to clarify the disinformation:

Note: This is just the beginning of responding to many lies and misinformation about Islam being spread on the social media. We have already responded to some of the lies / misinformation listed below and we will continue to address the remaining in due course.

Allah:

• The god of Islam, Allah, is most definitely not the God of the Bible 
• Allah of Muslims is merciless and unloving
• Muslims' Allah is a Moon God; Read our post Misleading concept of Moon god Allah to counter this absurd allegation
• Responding to a misinterpreted verse of Qur’an - God excellent Planner or Deceiver

Islam:

• Communism and Islam, both religions of Satan, are major obstacle to the preaching of Gospel
• Islam a cultural religion
• The Muslims worship Ka'bah and the black stone
• Praying five times a day is symbol of the underlying cultural imperialism that lies at the heart of Islam
• The plight of women in Islamic countries is despicable
• Cruel and unusual punishment is practiced throughout the Islamic world
• There is no concept of sin in Islam and therefore no need for forgiveness
• Islam is so works oriented that it teaches that good deeds cancel bad ones
• Islam is intolerant and militant in nature
• Islam has been committed to what it calls jihad
• Islam says that women have half the intelligence compared to men
• Islam has the "worse than human" ideology
• Islam promotes pedophilia, necrophilia, forced conversions, sex-slavery and capturing others' properties
• In this age of information age, don't remain willfully ignorant and fall for the lies of Islam
• Islam says earth is flat
• Islam is Idolatrous 
• Muslims call Islam as Deen not merely a religion. Why?

Qur'an:

• The Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad (ﷺ) by the Satan
• Qur'an denies point blank that Jesus was the son of God
• Did Prophet Muhammad ﷺ "Dictate or write" the Qur'an?
• Quran claims there is no change in words of Allah, But Allah also says He changes old verses with new ones
• (Prophet) Mohammed (ﷺ) asked Muslims to turn to Christians to get the truth
• Did God, or Allah as he is called in Arabic, personally appeared to Muhammad ﷺ to proclaim his prophethood
• Qur'an is riddled with contradictions
• Qur'an is a book of Arabian fairy tales about genies with false historical errors
• The Qur'an contains many scientific errors

Life and sayings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

• If Muslims consider Jesus as Muslim, why don't they pray to Jesus instead of Muhammad (ﷺ)
• Prophet of Muslims did not know what will be done to him
• Did Muhammad turn against Jews and Christians for they rejected him
• Muhammad ﷺ allowed the worship the three daughters of Allah — named Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, and Ma-nat (as mentioned in the infamous book: Satanic Verses)

Islamic rituals / special occasions:

• If fasting is a pillar of Islam, why (Prophet) Muhammad (ﷺ) enforced it after 14 years of proclamation of Islam
• Why Muslims starve themselves by during month of Ramadan?

You may also read one of our earlier posts on Disinformation about Islam, which addresses many a objection as stated above.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Photo | Sources of Misinformation: | 1 | References to Rebuttal: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More