Page 76 - Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Bigotry:
The Dark Danger

Examination of Verse 57 of Surat al-Anfal:

So if you come upon such people in war,
make a harsh example of them to deter

those coming after them so that hopeful-

ly they will pay heed. (Qur'an, 8:57)

We also need to assess this verse in the light of the perspective
and evidence we have been looking at in detail. It must not be for-

gotten that the Medinan period when some verses were sent down
was a time of intense fighting. This was purely the result of injustice
perpetrated against Muslims "who were expelled from their homes
without any right, merely for saying, 'Our Lord is God'…" (Qur'an,
22:40) as stated in one verse. Moreover, as the verse goes on to say,
"If they keep away from you and do not fight you and submit to

you, God has not given you any way against such people." Muslims
have a responsibility to stop the fighting and not to insult the other
side when it does come to an end.

Looking at a few verses before verse 57 of Surat al-Anfal, we see
that they reference communities with which Muslims had already
reached agreements. As almost every verse that gives permission for
legitimate self-defense states, these communities are ones which had

broken their truce with Muslims and then immediately attacked
them.

It is important to produce a deterrent force in the face of that
community which engages in one attack after another, refuses to lis-

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