Abdulfattah Ogirima Yusuf
Admin Critics typically employ verse 9:5 to bolster their bigoted belief that the Quran commands believers to kill unbelievers wherever they find them if they do not convert. Regrettably, they disregard the following verse:
“There is no compulsion in religion…” ( Al Quran# 2: 256)
They also ignore the verse below, which complements the verse above
“Had your Lord so willed ˹O Prophet˺, all ˹people˺ on earth would have certainly believed, every single one of them! Would you then force people to become believers?” ( Al Quran# 10:99)
In the verse below God commands not to fight with the peaceful people:
‘Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.’ (Al Qur’an # 60:8)
And the verse:
“Allah only forbids you, concerning those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong.” (Al Quran # 60:9)
Even the unbelievers had waged war against the believers, Allah reminds the believers to follow the rules as stated below:
“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 Quran # 9:6)
Typically, the scholars have interpreted and translated the verse 9:5 as below:
“Then, when the sacred months have passed, SLAY the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” ( Verse 9:5, Translation Pickthall)
There are issues with this translation. Critical thinking reveals inconsistencies in the translation. Where is the opportunity to obey the other commandments of the verse if, as translated above, one kills the unbeliever in the first instance, i.e., take them (captive), and besiege them; if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor due, then leave their way free? And how would they obey the previously mentioned commandments in Verse 9:6?
The critics refer to this verse as “Sword Verse” because the Arabic word Faqtalu (فَاقْتُلُواْ) is incorrectly translated as “slay them.” They also assert that the Quran demands forcible conversion, even if it means beheading.
Sadly, the critics never refer to Verse 9:6; they never try to correlate Verse 9:5 with Verses 9:6, 2:256, 10:99, and 60: 8 mentioned above.
So, considering the context, the logical translation of the word ‘Faqtalu’ is, to fight, fight back or stand against, because God commands the believers only to fight back - no aggression. Here is the Verse:
“PERMISSION [to fight back] is given to those against whom war is being wrongfully waged and, verily, God has indeed the power to succor them” ( Al Quran # 22:39)
As such, T.J Irving, and many other translators, i.e., Abdul Hye, Farooq Malik, Bijan Moeinein, and Mohammad Ahmad-Samira translated the word Faqtalu to fight in Verse 9:5; Abdullah Yusuf Ali translates - fight and kill and Rashad translates - you may kill, etc. Here is the translation of the complete Verse by T.J Irving, below:
“When the hallowed months have slipped away, then FIGHT (fight back) associators wherever you may find them; take them and besiege them, and waylay them at every outpost. If they should repent, keep up prayer, and pay the welfare tax, then let them go their way. God is Forgiving and merciful. ( Verse 9:5-T.J Irving)
“When the forbidden months are over, then FIGHT the pagans wherever you encounter them, seize them, besiege them, and lie in ambush for them in every stratagem of war, but if they repent, establish Salah and pay Zakah, then let them go their way: surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (Al Quran # 9:5, Trans- Farooq Malik)
But the second part of this verse - If they should repent, keep up prayer, and pay the welfare tax, then let them go their way, needs to be understood and the context.
