๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง โ ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ง?
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
Often times the Arabic word โfitnaโ (ููุชูููุฉู) inย Surah 2:190-194ย andย Surah 8:39ย gets associated by critics to mean โshirkโ (disbelief). They claim when the Quran ordered the early companions of Muhammed to fight against โfitnaโ, they assert here that they were ordered to fight non-Muslims merely because them not believing in Islam. This claim has no foundation whatsoever when one looks at the earliest sources of Islam.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ (๐ฉ) ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฒ โ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ง๐โ (ููุชูููุฉู):
โNarrated Sa`id bin Jubair:`Abdullah bin `Umar came to us and we hoped that he would narrate to us a good Hadith. But before we asked him, a man got up and said to him, โO Abu `Abdur-Rahman! Narrate to us about the battles during the time of the afflictions, as Allah says:โ โAnd fight them until there is no more afflictions (i.e. no more worshipping of others besides Allah).’โ
(2.193) Ibn `Umar said (to the man), โDo you know what is meant by afflictions? Let your mother bereave you! Muhammad used to fight against the pagans, FOR A MUSLIM WAS PUT TO TRIAL IN HIS RELIGION (THE PAGANS WILL EITHER KILL HIM OR CHAIN HIM AS A CAPTIVE). His fighting was not like your fighting which is carried on for the sake of ruling.
Arabic:
ุญูุฏููุซูููุง ุฅูุณูุญูุงูู ุงููููุงุณูุทููููุ ุญูุฏููุซูููุง ุฎูุงููุฏูุ ุนููู ุจูููุงููุ ุนููู ููุจูุฑูุฉู ุจููู ุนูุจูุฏู ุงูุฑููุญูู ูููุ ุนููู ุณูุนููุฏู ุจููู ุฌูุจูููุฑูุ ููุงูู ุฎูุฑูุฌู ุนูููููููุง ุนูุจูุฏู ุงูููููู ุจููู ุนูู ูุฑู ููุฑูุฌูููููุง ุฃููู ููุญูุฏููุซูููุงุ ุญูุฏููุซูุง ุญูุณูููุง ู ููุงูู ู ููุจูุงุฏูุฑูููุง ุฅููููููู ุฑูุฌููู ููููุงูู ููุง ุฃูุจูุง ุนูุจูุฏู ุงูุฑููุญูู ููู ุญูุฏููุซูููุง ุนููู ุงููููุชูุงูู ููู ุงููููุชูููุฉู ููุงูููููู ููููููู โ{โููููุงุชููููููู ู ุญูุชููู ูุงู ุชูููููู ููุชูููุฉูโ}โ ููููุงูู ูููู ุชูุฏูุฑูู ู ูุง ุงููููุชูููุฉู ุซูููููุชููู ุฃูู ููููุ ุฅููููู ูุง ููุงูู ู ูุญูู ููุฏู ุตูู ุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู ููููุงุชููู ุงููู ูุดูุฑููููููุ ููููุงูู ุงูุฏููุฎูููู ููู ุฏููููููู ู ููุชูููุฉูุ ููููููุณู ููููุชูุงููููู ู ุนูููู ุงููู ูููููโ.โ โ (Sahih al-Bukhari volume 9, Book 88, Hadith 215 https://sunnah.com/bukhari/92/46)
That above hadith says fighting canโt be โfor leadershipโ/supremacy. The fitna fighting was in relation to persecution and oppression. Here is a longer version:
โNarrated Nafi: During the affliction of Ibn Az-Zubair, two men came to Ibn `Umar and said, โThe people are lost, and you are the son of `Umar, and the companion of the Prophet, so what forbids you from coming out?โ He said, โWhat forbids me is that Allah has prohibited the shedding of my brotherโs blood.โ They both said, โDidnโt Allah say, โAnd fight then until there is no more affliction?โ
He said โWe fought until there was no more affliction and the worship is for Allah (Alone while you want to fight until there is affliction and until the worship become for other than Allah.โ โฆ Wonโt you listen to why Allah has mentioned in His Book:
โIf two groups of believers fight each other, then make peace between them, but if one of then transgresses beyond bounds against the other, then you all fight against the one that transgresses. (49.9) and:โ
โAND FIGHT THEM TILL THERE IS NO MORE AFFLICTION (FITNA ููุชูููุฉู).โ Ibn `Umar said, โWE DID IT, DURING THE LIFETIME OF ALLAHโS MESSENGER WHEN ISLAM HAD ONLY A FEW FOLLOWERS. A MAN WOULD BE PUT TO TRIAL BECAUSE OF HIS RELIGION; HE WOULD EITHER BE KILLED OR TORTURED. BUT WHEN THE MUSLIMS INCREASED, THERE WAS NO MORE AFFLICTIONS OR OPPRESSIONS (FITNA). โฆ
Arabic
ุญูุฏููุซูููุง ู ูุญูู ููุฏู ุจููู ุจูุดููุงุฑูุ ุญูุฏููุซูููุง ุนูุจูุฏู ุงูููููููุงุจูุ ุญูุฏููุซูููุง ุนูุจูููุฏู ุงููููููุ ุนููู ููุงููุนูุ ุนููู ุงุจููู ุนูู ูุฑู ู ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนููู ุง ู ุฃูุชูุงูู ุฑูุฌููุงููู ููู ููุชูููุฉู ุงุจููู ุงูุฒููุจูููุฑู ููููุงูุงู ุฅูููู ุงููููุงุณู ููุฏู ุถููููุนููุงุ ููุฃูููุชู ุงุจููู ุนูู ูุฑู ููุตูุงุญูุจู ุงููููุจูููู ุตูู ุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู ููู ูุง ููู ูููุนููู ุฃููู ุชูุฎูุฑูุฌู ููููุงูู ููู ูููุนูููู ุฃูููู ุงูููููู ุญูุฑููู ู ุฏูู ู ุฃูุฎููโ.โ ููููุงูุงู ุฃูููู ู ูููููู ุงูููููู โ{โููููุงุชููููููู ู ุญูุชููู ูุงู ุชูููููู ููุชูููุฉู โ}โ ููููุงูู ููุงุชูููููุง ุญูุชููู ููู ู ุชููููู ููุชูููุฉูุ ููููุงูู ุงูุฏููููู ูููููููุููุฃูููุชูู ู ุชูุฑููุฏูููู ุฃููู ุชูููุงุชููููุง ุญูุชููู ุชูููููู ููุชูููุฉูุ ููููููููู ุงูุฏููููู ููุบูููุฑู ุงููููููโ.โ ููุฒูุงุฏู ุนูุซูู ูุงูู ุจููู ุตูุงููุญู ุนููู ุงุจููู ููููุจูุ ููุงูู ุฃูุฎูุจูุฑูููู ูููุงูููุ ููุญูููููุฉู ุจููู ุดูุฑูููุญูุ ุนููู ุจูููุฑู ุจููู ุนูู ูุฑูู ุงููู ูุนูุงููุฑููููุ ุฃูููู ุจูููููุฑู ุจููู ุนูุจูุฏู ุงููููููุ ุญูุฏููุซููู ุนููู ููุงููุนูุ ุฃูููู ุฑูุฌููุงูุ ุฃูุชูู ุงุจููู ุนูู ูุฑู ููููุงูู ููุง ุฃูุจูุง ุนูุจูุฏู ุงูุฑููุญูู ููู ู ูุง ุญูู ููููู ุนูููู ุฃููู ุชูุญูุฌูู ุนูุงู ูุง ููุชูุนูุชูู ูุฑู ุนูุงู ูุงุ ููุชูุชูุฑููู ุงููุฌูููุงุฏู ููู ุณูุจูููู ุงูููููู ุนูุฒูู ููุฌููููุ ููููุฏู ุนูููู ูุชู ู ูุง ุฑูุบููุจู ุงูููููู ููููู ููุงูู ููุง ุงุจููู ุฃูุฎูู ุจููููู ุงูุฅูุณููุงูู ู ุนูููู ุฎูู ูุณู ุฅููู ูุงูู ุจูุงูููููู ููุฑูุณููููููุ ููุงูุตูููุงูุฉู ุงููุฎูู ูุณูุ ููุตูููุงู ู ุฑูู ูุถูุงููุ ููุฃูุฏูุงุกู ุงูุฒููููุงุฉูุ ููุญูุฌูู ุงููุจูููุชูโ.โ
ููุงูู ููุง ุฃูุจูุง ุนูุจูุฏู ุงูุฑููุญูู ูููุ ุฃููุงู ุชูุณูู ูุนู ู ูุง ุฐูููุฑู ุงูููููู ููู ููุชูุงุจููู โ{โููุฅููู ุทูุงุฆูููุชูุงูู ู ููู ุงููู ูุคูู ูููููู ุงููุชูุชููููุง ููุฃูุตูููุญููุง ุจูููููููู ูุงโ}โ โ{โุฅูููู ุฃูู ูุฑู ุงููููููโ}โ โ{โููุงุชููููููู ู ุญูุชููู ูุงู ุชูููููู ููุชูููุฉูโ}โ ููุงูู ููุนูููููุง ุนูููู ุนูููุฏู ุฑูุณูููู ุงูููููู ุตูู ุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู ููููุงูู ุงูุฅูุณููุงูู ู ููููููุงูุ ููููุงูู ุงูุฑููุฌููู ููููุชููู ููู ุฏูููููู ุฅูู ููุง ููุชููููููุ ููุฅูู ููุง ููุนูุฐููุจููููุ ุญูุชููู ููุซูุฑู ุงูุฅูุณููุงูู ู ููููู ู ุชููููู ููุชูููุฉูโ.โ ููุงูู ููู ูุง ูููููููู ููู ุนูููููู ููุนูุซูู ูุงูู ููุงูู ุฃูู ููุง ุนูุซูู ูุงูู ููููุฃูููู ุงูููููู ุนูููุง ุนูููููุ ููุฃูู ููุง ุฃูููุชูู ู ููููุฑูููุชูู ู ุฃููู ุชูุนููููุง ุนูููููุ ููุฃูู ููุง ุนูููููู ููุงุจููู ุนูู ูู ุฑูุณูููู ุงูููููู ุตูู ุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู ููุฎูุชูููููโ.โ ููุฃูุดูุงุฑู ุจูููุฏููู ููููุงูู ููุฐูุง ุจูููุชููู ุญูููุซู ุชูุฑูููููโ.โ
โ (Sahih al-Bukhari volume 6, Book 60, Hadith 40 https://sunnah.com/urn/41950)
And:
Narrated Ibn `Umar: โฆ Ibn `Umar said, โO son of my brother! I would rather be blamed for not fighting because of this Verse than to be blamed because of another Verse where Allah says: โAnd whoever kills a believer intentionallyโฆโ
(4.93) Then that man said, โAllah says:โ โAnd fight them until there is no more afflictions (worshipping other besides Allah) and the religion (i.e. worship) will be all for Allah (Alone)โ (8.39) Ibn `Umar said,
โWe did this during the lifetime of Allahโs Messenger when the number of Muslims was small, and A MAN WAS PUT TO TRIAL BECAUSE OF HIS RELIGION, THE PAGANS WOULD EITHER KILL OR CHAIN HIM; BUT WHEN THE MUSLIMS INCREASED (AND ISLAM SPREAD), THERE WAS NO PERSECUTION (FITNA).โ
When that man saw that Ibn `Umar did not agree to his proposal, he said, โWhat is your opinion regarding `Ali and `Uthman?โ Ibn `Umar said, โWhat is my opinion regarding `Ali and `Uthman?
As for `Uthman, Allah forgave him and you disliked to forgive him, and `Ali is the cousin and son-in-law of Allahโs Messenger.โ Then he pointed out with his hand and said, โAnd that is his daughterโs (house) which you can see.โ (Sahih al-Bukhari volume 6, Book 60, Hadith 173 https://sunnah.com/urn/43280)
And this report from Fath al-Bari:
โโAnd fight them until there is no more FITNAHโฆโ
Ibn Umar said, โWe did that during the time of The Messenger of Allah when Islam was weak and the man would be tried in religion, EITHER TORMENTED TO DEATH OR BEING IMPRISONED. When Islam became stronger and widespread, there was no more Fitnah.โ โฆโ (Fath al-Bari volume 8, page 160) (Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) [Abridged by A Group of Scholars Under The Supervision Of Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri. Maktaba Dar-us-Salam โ Second Edition, 2003] volume 4 page 314)
Ibn Kathir explains that โfitnahโ in Surah 8:39-41 is understood classically to mean that a Muslim is persecuted so much that he may abandon his religion. In his footnote he provides Ibn Abi Hatim (854 โ 938 AD) who also has this opinion:
โโuntil there is no Fitnahโ the Fitnah mentioned here means, until no Muslims is PERSECUTED so that he abandons his religion.โ (Ibn Abi Hatim volume 5, page 1701) (Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) [Abridged by A Group of Scholars Under The Supervision Of Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri. Maktaba Dar-us-Salam โ Second Edition, 2003] volume 4 page 314)
When some commentaries or the above Hadith say fitna in connection with โno more worshipping of others besides Allahโ in brackets, one should note here this is in reference to some Muslims who were forcefully converted to polytheism (Shirk) and thus they had to worship idols or gods of the persecutors. Thus no more shirk in the sense of them (persecutors) not being able to persecute an individual where they may fall back into polytheism due to the oppression.
Conclusion:
These Hadith reports shown proves unequivocally that fitnah requires physical persecution and oppression against Muslims before any fight can occur. It also proves that it is a fight by the weak against the oppressor and never a fight by the one in power to impose Islam on others. Therefore, โfitnaโ was understood by Prophet Muhammedโs companions as persecution and oppression.
Related articles:
(1) โ โMost Misinterpreted Verses Of The Quran?โ
(2) โ โEarly Expeditions And Battles Of Islamโ
(3) โ โDid Quraysh Persecute Muslims When They Fled To Madinah?โ
(4) โ โDid Muhammad Order Or Support The Killing Of Innocents?โ
Quran 2:191- โAnd kill them wherever you find themโฆโ Explained
Shirk Or Persecution โ What does The Word Fitna Mean?
The reality of โJizyaโ
Jizya in Judaism and Christianity
Jizya across the Islamic History