Countering Islamic Propaganda: 47:4

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What can we learn about
Islam from this woman?

"Discover the Truth's" Game

47:4
"When You Meet Those
Who Disbelieve, Smite
Them at Their Necks"

From Discover the Truth:

Reading the above verses it becomes evident that 47:4 does not encourage violence against the innocent. Quran 47:4 was revealed to fight in God’s cause in order to free people from oppression and tyranny, 1400 years ago.
(October 27, 2014)

What the Quran Says

47:3. That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus does Allah set forth their parables for mankind.

47:4. So, when you meet those who disbelieve, smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly. Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity or ransom, until the war lays down its burden. If it had been Allah's Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost,

What the Apologists Want You to Believe

A plain reading of the verse tells Muslims to behead people who disbelieve. That's harsh.

DTT says that this verse was narrated at a time when Muslims were being persecuted and killed, thus implying that they are fighting in self-defense against those who are coming for them. For good measure, the killing is supposed to be the battlefield, and the cause is to free mankind from "tyranny and oppression."

How They Do It: 'Adding' to the Quran

Instead of advocating the beheading of "disbelievers," Allah meant to say "Fight against tyranny and oppression by meeting those who are trying to kill you on the battlefield."

DTT knows this because of fragments from verses in other suras which can be cobbled together (but don't call it cherry-picking).

How They Do It: Sleight of Hand

When DTT purports to quote verse 47:4, they add the words "in battle." Those words do not appear in the Arabic, however, which simply says "when you meet those who disbelieve."

In fairness, the verse does use the Arabic harb further down. This word has come to mean "war," although not always in the physical sense.

Why They are Wrong

DTT's contention that "the verse was specifically revealed straight after some of the Muslims immigrated to Madinah, fleeing persecution" is not supported. The reference to ransoming captives means it was actually narrated in the aftermath of the Battle of Badr.

The timing is important because it refutes DTT's main point that Muslims were being "killed" by the Quraish. In fact, Muslims had just provoked a battle the Quraish did not want to have and had actually killed a bunch of them... in other words the exact opposite of what DTT is pretending.

Neither is there any mention of "oppressed men, women and children" in this Quran passage nor the underlying historical account. How did a successful campaign to raid a caravan, steal the contents and kill the rightful owners better anyone's life - other than those splitting the loot? DTT doesn't say.

The unnecessary battle even provoked a Quraish retaliation that left many dead Muslims. If anything, 'tyranny' would have exacerbated, unfortunately. It's easy to imagine those Muslims left behind in Mecca being mistreated out of resentment by grieving Quraish families - while Muhammad was safe in Medina, enjoying his fifth of the take.

This context is important in understanding what verse 47:4 is and is not saying. It does not say anything about oppression and tyranny. It does use the word "war," but this does not necessarily mean fighting in self-defense, particularly since that was not the historical context of the verse.

Who are believers told to behead? "Disbelievers" - those who are outside the circle of Islam. DTT contends that this does not mean to kill the "innocent". In a way this is true, since the Quran never counts unbelievers among the innocent. The rest of the world may see it a differently, however.

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47:4 "When You Meet Those Who Disbelieve, Smite Them at Their Necks"