@flamer84 @Akheilos @Falcon29
When it comes to the context and interpretation, there are many things to take into account.
Firstly, literary context - read the words, verses and their context within the text itself. So, for example, the famous 'verse of the sword' in Surah At Tawbah says '
'kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush.'' [9:5]
But, when you look at the previous verse, [9:4], it says ''
Excepted are those with whom you made a treaty among the polytheists and then they have not been deficient toward you in anything or supported anyone against you''
The very next verse, [9:6], says ''
And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah . Then deliver him to his place of safety.''
If verse [9:5] is presented alone, it seems very brutal and aggressive indeed. But then the following and preceding verses give clear restrictions and guidelines.
Secondly, addressees - who is the verse being addressed to? Usually, the beginning of the chapter shows this. In the case of At-Tawbah, it says: ''
[This is a declaration of] disassociation, from Allah and His Messenger to those with whom you had made a treaty among the polytheists.(i.e the ones who broke the treaty and were deficient towards the Muslims -
the ones who kept their treaty are excepted)''
Notice how it says 'Allah and His Messenger'. Not ''all Muslims for eternity''. That shows that it is restricted to a particular group of Muslims.
Then, verse [9:7] clearly restricts it to the specific group of Polytheists in Makkah (''
...those with whom you made a treaty at al-Masjid al-Haram''). Not all the polytheists in the world for eternity.
Therefore, this chapter is addressed to the Polytheists of Makkah.
Thirdly, conditions and circumstances: - Generally, in most situations in life (not just religious), the response to one situation is generally different than the response to another situation. A similar principle applies here. Every command and every such verse has conditions attached to it. It never a blanket statement for all things for eternity. Now, in this chapter (At Tawbah), the circumstances are clearly defined:
''So long, as they are true to you, stand you true to them.'' [9:7]
And if they break their oaths after their treaty and defame your religion, then fight the leaders of disbelief, for indeed, there are no oaths [sacred] to them; [fight them that] they might cease. [9:12]
Would you not fight a people who broke their oaths and determined to expel the Messenger, and they had begun [the attack upon] you the first time? [9:13]
So, it is clear: these verses only apply when they broke their treaties and attacked first.
Fourthly, historical context: If it isn't obvious enough already, this verse is referring to the pagans of Makkah and their conspiracies. However, much of it was revealed during the Battle of Tabuk against the Byzantines, which are the verses that talk about a long journey and hypocrites from within who attempted to sabotage the expedition.
Read the chapter yourself if you want to : Surat At-Tawbah - The Noble Qur'an - القرآن الكريم
Fifth and final - Language and figurative expressions:
The Holy Quran's chapter 78 deals with some of God's creations. It says: ''Have We not made the earth a resting place?'' ''And the mountains as stakes?''
Obviously, it does not literally mean that the whole of Earth is a resting place and that the mountains are stakes. Such verses are what confuse some people, who are unfortunately less intellectually gifted (to say the least) than the average. Resulting in stupid things like ''the Earth is stationary'' etc being spread.
Surat An-Naba' - The Noble Qur'an - القرآن الكريم
Now, all this may seem like a lot and complicated, but in reality, it is not. This is how everything should be read.
You don't read the Constitution of the US and read the part that says ''
No Person shall be a Representative'' and start lobbing molotovs to burn down Congress because they are people and aren't supposed to be representatives.
You would immediately read the very next line that says ''
who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years... (and so on)''
Then why not do the same with religious scripture?
Sorry for the long post and the religious discussion, but it was relevant and required.
............... either answering is damning. Yet they are linked.
