Countering Islamic Propaganda: 9:73

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What can we learn about
Islam from this woman?

"Discover the Truth's" Game

9:73
"Strive Hard Against
The Unbelievers and
the Hypocrites and
Be Unyielding to Them"
(9:88, 9:111)

From Discover the Truth:

When the above verse says, “strive hard against the unbelievers”, this refers to the expedition of Tabuk
(October 14, 2014)

What the Quran Says

9:73. Strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination

9:88. the Messenger, and those who believe with him, strive and fight with their wealth and their persons...

9:111. Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain...

(This article was written in response to DTT's explanation of 9:73, but the arguments they use are almost identical to that for 9:88 and 9:111)

What the Apologists Want You to Believe

Certainly there is nothing less convenient to the Muslim apologist than an open-ended command to attack unbelievers. Here is how DTT explains it:

When the above verse says, “strive hard against the unbelievers”, this refers to the expedition of Tabuk, which Prophet Muhammed and his Companions took part in. The Byzantine (Roman) Empire at the time prepared to attack the Muslim community in Arabia. Prophet Muhammed when he heard of this, he got the Muslims ready to engage the enemy.

How They Do It: 'Adding' to the Quran

As noted in the analysis of 9:38-42, the words 'Byzantine', 'Tabuk' and 'Roman' do not appear in the verse. Instead Allah says "unbelievers" and "hypocrites." DTT steps in to let you know what Allah really meant to say.

How They Do It: Citing Contemporary Apologists and Weak Hadith

In addition to the usual array of contemporary apologists, Discover the Truth purports to present "three early authentic Hadith" informing us that "the Byzantines started this aggression." However, of these, only one is a sahih hadith verse. The other two are from lesser-known Sira collections.

The most sensational claim is from Ibn Sa'd's Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, which is actually a compilation based on al-Waqidi, a known fabricator. We can consider this worthless.

A second is from Kitab Futuh al-Buldan. What DTT doesn't mention is that the quote they use is directly referenced to al-Waqidi (the above fabricator) in the footnote. This is pure sleight of hand: first misrepresenting these two quotes as 'authentic hadith' and then casting them as independent sources when they are really one and the same.

As for the genuine sahih hadith verse from Sahih Muslim: it simply relates a discussion between two Muslims based on a rumor that proved not to be true. In fact, it downplays the threat that the "Ghassanids" were coming by first saying that they weren't, and secondly claiming that Muhammad divorcing his wives is more serious (another false rumor).

How They Do It: Ignoring Reliable Sources

There are many references to the campaign or "battle" of Tabuk in the sahih Hadith. None speak of an actual battle. Reliable sources - and even those that DTT uses - indicate that there was no army there, nor is there any independent confirmation that one even existed.

How They Do It: Sleight of Hand

In addtion to what is mentioned above, DTT quotes verse 9:73 in full but only responds to the part about "unbelievers" - and not "hypocrites," which it is completely ignored.

Why They are Wrong

No one denies that verse 9:73 is ordering violent action against someone. While DTT pretends that is is someone not named specifically, in fact, the targets are explicitly defined in the verse as "unbelievers" and "hypocrites." It really isn't that complicated.

Discover the Truth leaves out the part about "hypocrites" because, even in their wildest imagination of Tabuk, they cannot say that "hypocrites" were there. These are said to be Muslims who do not act as they should. By tying them in with "unbelievers," verse 9:73 is clearly speaking in broad terms, not of a simple battle (particularly one that never happened).

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9:73 "Strive Hard Against The Unbelievers and the Hypocrites and Be Unyielding to Them" (9:88, 9:111)