Page 82 - Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Bigotry:
The Dark Danger

Examination of Verse 89 of Surat an-Nisa':

They would like you to disbelieve as they
disbelieve so that you will all be the same.

Do not take any of them as friends until

they have made pilgrimage in the Way of
God. But if they run away then seize them

and kill them wherever you find them. Do
not take any of them as either a friend or

helper. (Qur'an, 4:89)

The people referred to in this verse are hypocrites. Hypocrites
hid themselves among the faithful and carried out acts against Mus-
lims. As the verse explains, they tried to drag the faithful into disbe-
lief like themselves, and tried to persuade them to betray Muslims.
God commands Muslims not to trust in these hypocrites' words until

they abandon this attitude and side with Muslims.

However, if despite everything, hypocrites continue their attack
and hostility, it becomes obligatory for Muslims to declare war
against them. As it is made clear in the verse, the hypocrites attack
first. In other words, once again, Muslims are allowed to engage in
war only for defensive reasons. Indeed in the following verse God
describes the hostile nature of the hypocrites and makes a clear dis-

tinction about the hypocrites that do not wish to fight:

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