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- Welcome to "Let the Quran Speak."

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We're looking at misunderstood Quranic verses,

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and with me today is Dr. Shabir.

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Dr. Shabir, welcome to "Let the Quran Speak."

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- Pleasure to be on.

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- Dr. Shabir, the first we're looking at

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is from chapter nine.

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We moved on to chapter nine, and it's the first verse.

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It says, Freedom from obligation is proclaimed from Allah

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and His Messenger towards those of the idolaters

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with whom you made a treaty.

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So this verse seems to be saying,

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you're free from whatever obligation

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or treaty that you made, right?

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- Yes.

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So the background of this is that the Prophet,

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peace be upon him,

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had entered into a treaty with the non-Muslims.

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And we should be more specific, like the pagans of Arabia,

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polytheists, mushrikun as the Quran calls them.

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And a treaty by definition would mean

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that we don't attack you, you don't attack us.

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Somebody may ally with us, somebody may ally with you.

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Our allies would not attack your allies and so on.

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Those are simple terms of treaty.

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Today, we live in a situation,

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in which we largely go about our daily lives,

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and we don't worry about another country

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invading or attacking us.

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This is a result of treaties

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that have been signed a long time ago by,

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the four founding fathers of our nations.

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And the treaties are not in our minds.

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Like we don't go about our daily lives saying,

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"Oh, we're living under a treaty now."

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We just take it for granted.

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But that was not so in the time of the Prophet,

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peace be upon him,

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it was either you had a treaty or didn't have a treaty.

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And if you had a treaty, you are safe from being attacked

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by the people who are in the treaty with you.

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But if you didn't have a treaty, you are open game.

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Somebody may attack you

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because you don't have a treaty with them.

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So when a treaty is signed, that means both sides can relax.

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We are safe from each other.

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But once one party breaks the treaty,

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then the other side could be open game.

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So what's happening here is that in Surah 9:1,

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the non-Muslims had broken their treaty.

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And so the Muslims now are proclaiming

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through a revelation from God,

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that the Muslims also are acknowledging

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and warning them that we know that you have done something

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that's against the stipulation of the treaty.

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So you have broken the treaty and we are also declaring

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that we are free from any obligation towards that treaty,

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unless, of course, you want to come back in and renegotiate

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and reestablish the treaty again,

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make amends for what you have done wrong,

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and let's patch it up and move on.

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So this verse is saying, (speaks Arabic),

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God and his Messenger are hereby declaring themselves

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immune from or free of responsibility towards those

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with whom previously we had made the treaty,

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specifically the polytheists, mushrikun.

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To explain this verse,

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like I've spoken about the background,

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so one might say what, "You're making this all up."

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But it's there in the passages.

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Some commentators have cited and linked to a Surah 8:58.

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That's the surah that just came before this one.

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And the two Surahs are so closely connected

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in terms of meaning and themes,

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that some companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him,

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apparently thought that there were all one surah.

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And this might explain why the Basmala,

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the phrase (speaks Arabic) is not written

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at the beginning of the ninth chapter of the Quran.

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So looking at Surah 8:58, we read there

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that if you fear khiana, or treachery from any of them,

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(speaks Arabic), then throw back their treaty,

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so you're all on equal terms now,

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or throw back to them their treaties in fairness,

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that if you fear that they're treacherous.

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So the commentators say, or some commentators say that

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that is the situation here.

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They have acted treacherous,

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and now the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,

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is throwing back the treaty at them.

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But we don't even have to go to a another surah.

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Within this surah itself, just a few verses later

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in verse number four,

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we are dealing with verse number one here,

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so three verses later, verse number four says,

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(Dr. Shabir speaks Arabic)

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Except those with whom,

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those polytheists with whom you have made a treaty

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and they have not violated their treaty,

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(speaks Arabic) they they have not reduced anything

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of the stipulations that they were to abide by.

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(speaks Arabic), so you should then complete the covenant

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up to the specified term.

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So that means this is a declaration that

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with those who have broken their treaty,

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we are also free of obligation,

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but those who have not broken their treaty,

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we are still in a covenantal relationship with them.

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And it continues, other verses as well,

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Like verse number seven, (speaks Arabic)

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as long as they are remaining firm

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in their agreement with you,

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you also remain firm in your agreement with them, and so on.

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- So, what's the misunderstanding, doctor?

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- So the misunderstanding actually is that so many

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of the classical commentators say that by this verse,

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God is declaring that we are now not going to enter

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into any treaty with the polytheists of Becca

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and whatever treaties they have

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will be now limited to four months.

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And we're not, you know, if any is longer than that,

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some if commentators said, will continue

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to the end of the stipulated term, but some said no.

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Well, even those are now gonna be reduced to four months.

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And they have made the verse appear to be something

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that is calling towards violence.

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Whereas of course the the verse is saying,

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the treaty is already broken,

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it's not here calling for the Prophet

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or Muslims to break any treaties,

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but it's rather just announcing

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that the other side has acted treacherously,

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they have broken their stipulations,

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and therefore we are also free of obligation.

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But if they want, they can come back to terms.

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If they repent, well, then we can go back to terms

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and enter into a new covenant.

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- Interesting verse, Dr. Shabir.

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Interesting set of verses because there are a number of them

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that come after this verse

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that relate to the same subject matter.

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- Exactly. - All right.

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And we'll be exploring those soon.

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- Sure.

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Understanding Quranic Verses: Misinterpreted Treaty Proclamation

In this analysis of a misunderstood Quranic verse from chapter nine, Dr. Shabir sheds light on the concept of treaties in Islam. The verse in question declares freedom from obligation towards those who broke a treaty with Muslims, clarifying that the broken treaty releases both parties from their commitments. Dr. Shabir emphasizes the historical context of treaties in the time of the Prophet Muhammad, where treaties ensured mutual safety from attacks. The verse serves as a proclamation of immunity from obligations towards those who breached the treaty, while leaving room for reconciliation if the other party repents and seeks to renew the covenant.

The Context of Treaties in Islamic History

The video delves into the significance of treaties in early Islamic history, highlighting the importance of honoring such agreements for peaceful coexistence. Dr. Shabir explains the implications of breaking a treaty, which would render both parties vulnerable to potential hostilities. By exploring related verses from Surah 8 and 9, the continuity and interconnectedness of these Quranic teachings become apparent. The verse's true message is revealed as a call for justice and mutual respect in contractual relationships.

Dispelling Misconceptions

Through an insightful discussion, Dr. Shabir clarifies the misconception surrounding the verse, where some misinterpret it as inciting violence against non-Muslims. He emphasizes that the verse simply acknowledges the breach of trust by the other party and affirms the freedom from obligations resulting from the broken treaty. The focus is on the importance of upholding agreements and offering the opportunity for reconciliation and renewal of covenants based on mutual understanding and respect.

Building Understanding and Unity

The dialogue underscores the broader theme of maintaining peace and honoring commitments in interfaith interactions. By examining the historical and textual context of the Quranic verse, Dr. Shabir encourages a nuanced understanding of Islamic principles related to treaties and alliances. The video concludes with a call for exploring further verses related to treaties, highlighting the interconnected nature of Quranic teachings on this subject.

In conclusion, the exploration of this Quranic verse serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and justice in relationships, offering insights into the nuanced interpretation of religious texts. By dispelling misconceptions and promoting understanding, the discourse contributes to fostering harmony and mutual respect among diverse faith communities.