Page 74 - Islam Denounces Terrorism

Islam Denounces Terrorism
Islam Denounces Terrorism

breached the peace and friendship agree-
ments. The verses sent down therefore con-
cern the state of affairs at that time and describe
that specific climate.

In order to better understand this fact, let
us look at the definition of "polytheist" at
the time and the agreements reached
with them:

Polytheists with Whom

Agreements Were Made

Although, according to some commen-
taries of the time, the word polytheist simply
means "those ascribing equals to God," the term
really refers to pagans who worship idols, who
explicitly ascribe equals to God and who
believe in countless deities and who are not
Muslim, Jewish, Sabaean, Christian or Magian.

While the Qur'an refers to the various religions
that existed in Arabia during the time of the coming of Islam, the poly-
theists are always mentioned as a separate group. Looking at the time
of our Prophet (pbuh), although it was made lawful to marry women
from and eat food prepared by the People of the Book, Jews and Chris-
tians; it was forbidden to marry women from or eat food cooked by the

Magians and Sabaeans, and also the polytheists.
After our Prophet (pbuh) migrated to Medina, he signed numer-
ous agreements with polytheistic communities and people living in the
region, and always invited them to be united in order to build peace,

despite the extreme attitudes of the polytheists. This proved that peo-
ple could live in peace with peoples of different beliefs, faiths and lan-
guages. One of the greatest proofs that he was a messenger of peace