Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War) (8)- 75 M
1 They ask thee concerning (things taken as) spoils of war. Say: "(Such) spoils are at the disposal of Allah and the apostle: so fear Allah and keep straight the relations between yourselves: obey Allah and His apostle if ye do believe."
*** Since Muhammad moved to Madina and became the leader of a band of pirates of the desert, he started associating his name with that of Allah in the mantra of
"Allah and his messenger".
Since Allah never addressed the Arabs nor did he partake in accepting any of the booty and spoils of piracy, the Khums, the fifth of all plunder ended up in the hands of Muhammad only. A very clever and infallible tactic***
8:2 For believers are those who when Allah is mentioned feel a tremor in their hearts and when they hear His signs rehearsed find their faith strengthened and put (all) their trust in their Lord.
*** Not once did Muhammad commit a miraculous act; hence the above verse is meaningless unless it implies that the followers of Muhammad considered winning an ambush or a raid for plunder as a 'sign' from Allah***
3 Who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance:
4 Such in truth are the believers: they have grades of dignity with their Lord and forgiveness and generous sustenance.
5 Just as thy Lord ordered thee out of thy house in truth even though a party among the believers disliked it.
6 Disputing with thee concerning the truth after it was made manifest as if they were being driven to death and they (actually) saw it.
8:7 Behold! Allah promised you one of the two (enemy) parties that it should be yours: ye wished that the one unarmed should be yours but Allah willed to justify the truth according to His words and to cut off the roots of the unbelievers.
*** Muhammad is admonishing his followers because they wanted to get the easy plunder and booty without a fight. All the verses of this Sura are to do with piracy, ambushing unsuspecting Arab tribes, attacking 'Jewish' civilians and plundering the caravans of the Quraysh, all in the name of the unsuspecing Allah.
All the 'divine' justifications are made so as to excuse Muhammad's predation of others' wealth and hard work and to possess their women and children. There is absolutely nothing divine in any of these verses nor in such a warped 'concept' as 'fighting in the path of Allah'***
8 That He might justify and prove falsehood false distasteful though it be to those in guilt.
9> Remember ye implored the assistance of your Lord and He answered you: "I will assist you with a thousand of the angels ranks on ranks."
*** According to numerous stories in the Ahadith, many of the most important alleged battles won by the followers of Muhammad were due to the 'fact' that Allah sent thousands of angels to help them in the plunder and massacres, otherwise they would not have been able to achieve any victories.
The same Allah, who according to Muhammad and his Quran, predstined all humanity - among others - sends angels of death to massacre his creatures although they were not guilty of any wrong-doing since they had no choice or free will in the matter ***
10 Allah made it but a message of hope and an assurance to your heart: (in any case) there is no help except from Allah: and Allah is exalted in power wise.
11> Remember He covered you with a sort of drowsiness to give you calm as from Himself and He caused rain to descend on you from heaven to clean you therewith to remove from you the stain of satan to strengthen your hearts and to plant your feet firmly therewith.
8:12> Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."
#1189 The vulnerable parts of an armed man are above the neck. A blow on the neck, face or head, finishes him off. If he has armour it is difficult to get at his heart. But if his hands are put out of action, he is unable to wield his sword or lance or other weapon, and easily becomes a prisoner.
*** The Allah of Muhammad is so merciful that he even instructs him
- through the angel Gabriel - exactly which part of the unbelievers' body was to be severed***
13 This because they contended against Allah and His apostle: if any contend against Allah and His apostle Allah is strict in punishment.
*** Why did Allah, if he were God, need the help of Muhammad and his murderous thugs to do his will? All Allah had to do but say "die" and they would have perished without any effort or need for war and bloodshed.
Besides, the pagan Arabs knew of Allah centuries before Muhammad and did not need him to remind them that he was the god of creation. Moreover, why does Muhammad include himself with Allah every time? Since when did he become on par with the 'divine' ?***
14> Thus (will it be said): "Taste ye then of the (punishment): for those who resist Allah is the penalty of the fire."
15 O ye who believe! when ye meet the unbelievers in hostile array never turn your backs to them.
16> If any do turn his back to them on such a day unless it be in a stratagem of war or to retreat to a troop (of his own) He draws on himself the wrath of Allah and his abode is Hell and evil refuge (indeed)!
17> It is not ye who slew them; it was Allah: when thou threwest (a handful of dust) it was not thy act but Allah's: in order that He might test the believers by a gracious trial from Himself: for Allah is He who heareth and knoweth (all things).
*** Repeatedly, the Quran asserts that it is only by Allah's intervention which gives victory to the followers of Muhammad. The creator of the universe plays war games with his human creation for fun***
18 That and also because Allah is He who makes feeble the plans and stratagems of the unbelievers.
*** It is absurd to assume that Allah, the presumed creator of the universe, schemes, thinks up strategies and wastes time attempting to prevent his own creation from 'plotting' against him ***
19 (O unbelievers!) if ye prayed for victory and judgment now hath the judgment come to you: if ye desist (from wrong) it will be best for you: if ye return (to the attack) so shall We. Not the least good will your forces be to you even if they were multiplied: for verily Allah is with those who believe.
20 O ye who believe! obey Allah and his apostle and turn not away from him when ye hear (him speak).
21 Nor be like those who say "we hear" but listen not:
22 For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb those who understand not.
23 If Allah had found in them any good He would indeed have made them listen; (as it is) if He had made them listen they would but have turned back and declined (faith).
*** As usual, in many verses of the Quran, they have inherent contradictions. How is it possible that if Allah 'had made them listen' they would not have done so?
Since it is Allah who in the first place pre-destines humanity, how is it possible or logical that they could NOT have obeyed? ***
24 O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His apostle when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart and that it is He to whom Ye shall (all) be gathered.
25 And fear tumult or oppression which affecteth not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong and know that Allah is strict in punishment.
26 Call to mind when ye were a small (band) despised through the land and afraid that men might despoil and kidnap you; but He provided a safe asylum for you strengthened you with his aid and gave you good things for sustenance: that ye might be grateful.
*** The safe assylum was the Madina of the Jews ***
27 O ye that believe! betray not the trust of Allah and the apostle nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.
28 And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial; and that it is Allah with whom lies your highest reward.
29> O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah He will grant you a criterion [furqana] (to judge between right and wrong) remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded.
8:30 Remember how the unbelievers plotted against thee to keep thee in bonds or slay thee or get thee out (of thy home). They plot and plan and Allah too plans but the best of planners is Allah.
*** If Allah is God, why would he need to plot and counterplot against his own creation? To attribute to the Almighty such human charcteristics is blasphemy of the first order. It defies logic and simple intellect to believe that God is a scheming, guile-full and underhand divine.
The verse is incomprehensible both from the theological and the logical points of view. Such attributes can be assigned only if Allah is NOT God ***
31 When Our signs are rehearsed to them they say: "we have heard this (before): if we wished we could say (words) like these: these are nothing but tales of the ancients."
*** The Quraysh who lived among the Jews and Christians had a goodly knowledge - even if they did not accept - of what these sects believed in. Muhammad was only reciting to them variations upon what they have already heard or learnt from the People of the Book.
Beside demanding of the Quraysh that they forsake all their gods and godesses, Muhammad had nothing more to enlighten them with, that they have not already been aware of, from their association with People of the Book over a long period of several centuries ***
32> Remember how they said: "O Allah! if this is indeed the truth from Thee rain down on us a shower of stones from the sky or send us a grievous penalty."
33 But Allah was not going to send them a penalty whilst thou wast amongst them; nor was He going to send it whilst they could ask for pardon.
8:34 But what plea have they that Allah should not punish them when they keep out (men) from the sacred Mosque and they are not its guardians? No men can be its guardians except the righteous; but most of them do not understand.
*** The Quran never used the term Muqadassa to describe any of the holy places of Arabia; it always used the term al Haram (Prohibited/Sacred) instead.
The word (Quds) Holy is the Arabised version of the Hebrew (Kadesh) which was invariably used in association with Jerusalem ***
35 Their prayer at the house (of Allah) is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands: (its only answer can be) "taste ye the penalty because ye blasphemed."
*** Verses 33-35 show clearly that even prior to 'Islam', the idolaterous Arabs already observed the rituals of prayer (salat) at the Ka'ba.
Muhammad only changed a few pagan rituals but kept the essence of the religious practices of his forefathers. They remained exactly the same after 'Islam' as they were under paganism***
36 The unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the path of Allah and so will they continue to spend; but in the end they will have (only) regrets and sighs; at length they will be overcome: and the unbelievers will be gathered together to Hell.
37 In order that Allah may separate the impure from the pure put the impure one on another heap them together and cast them into hell. They will be the ones to have lost.
38 Say to the unbelievers if (now) they desist (from unbelief) their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).
8:39 And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease verily Allah doth see all that they do.
#1208 If they cease from fighting and from the persecution of truth, Allah judges then by their actions and their motives, and would not wish that they should be harassed with further hostility. But if they refuse all terms, the righteous have nothing to fear: Allah will help and protect them#
*** This is a repeat of 2:193. The followers of Muhammad did not heed this prohibition - as well as most of the others in the Quran - and instead they made aggression a way of life and in 100 years conquered, destroyed, subjugated and enslaved tens of millions of peoples from the Atlantic to China.
Most of these peoples had no conflict with or aggresed against Muhammad or the Arabs to begin with***
40 If they refuse be sure that Allah is your protector the best to protect and the best to help.
8:41 And know that out of all the booty that ye may acquire (in war) a fifth share is assigned to Allah and to the apostle and to near relatives orphans the needy and the wayfarer if ye do believe in Allah and in the revelation We sent down to Our servant on the day of testing the day of the meeting of the two forces. For Allah hath power over all things.
#1209 The rule is that a fifth share is set apart for the Imam (the Commander) and the rest is divided among the forces. The fifth share reserved is expressed to be for Allah and the Prophet, and for charitable purposes for those to whom charity is due. Ultimately everything is at the disposal of Allah and His Prophet: viii. 1: but four-fifths are divided, and only one-fifth is retained for the special purposes. The Imam has discretion as to the mode of division. In the Prophet's life-time a certain portion was assigned to him and his near relatives. (8.41)1210 Testing:Furqan: Criterion between right and wrong, decision between the forces of faith and unbelief. The battle of Badr is called by this name. See viii. 29 and n. 1202. (8.41)1211 Allah's power is shown in the events detailed in the three verses following (vv. 42-44), leading to the complete victory of the Muslims over the pagan Quraish#
*** The god of Muhammad, Allah, has a 20% share of all booty and plunder in partnership with Muhammad. Of course, Allah, never was able to claim his share and all of the 20% of the ill-begotten plunder remained, very conveniently and understansibly - in Muahmmad's hands.
A fifth is similar to the 20% maximum interest - ordained in the Torah - that can be levied on a loan to a gentile. Yet one more item copied from the Bible.
Invariably, Muhammad and his cohorts did not collect it as a bilateral business agreement, but as piracy, and to take away by force what they could not accomplish through their own hardwork and intellect.
This was continued throughout the centuries after Muhammad by piratinng, plundering, plagiarrising and/or peverting the knowledge, wealth and hard work of other peoples ***
8:42 Remember ye were on the hither side of the valley and they on the farther side and the caravan on lower ground than ye. Even if ye had made a mutual appointment to meet ye would certainly have failed in the appointment: but (thus ye met) that Allah might accomplish a matter already enacted; that those who died might die after a clear sign (had been given) and those who lived might live after a clear sign (had been given). And verily Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things).
#The little Islamic force from Madinah went out to meet the big Makkan army, and they met on the two sides of a valley at Badr, while the Quraish caravan was on lower ground towards the sea, about 3 miles from Badr. (8.42) They were all at cross purposes. The caravan was making for Makkah, but scarcely thought it could get there. The Quraish force was trying to save the caravan and then annihilate the Muslims. The Muslims had decided to attack the Quraish army from Makkah which turned out to be big, more than three times their number. Yet the two forces met, precisely at the spot and at the time when a decisive battle should take place and the Muslims dispose of the pretensions of the Makkans. If they had carefully planned a mutual appointment, they could not have carried it out more precisely. On the Muslim side the few martyrs knew that the victory was theirs and those who survived the battle enjoyed the fruits of the victory. On the pagan side, both those who died and those who lived knew fully the issue joined. Even psychologically both sides went in with full determination to decide the issue#
*** The interpreter is, as usual misrepresenting the facts and deliberately perverting history to make it look as if this encounter - Badr - was a per chance happening and not a deliberate ambush by the 'Muslims'.
In the history of the Arabs, this battle occurred during the holy month of Ramadhan during which, no wars should have been conducted. The 'Muslims' broke one of the 'holiest' rules that even the pagan Arabs tended to observe.
Muhammad and his followers were actually desecrating a forbidden and holy month. The caravan was way-laid contrary to all the rules in Arabia pertaining to this holy month. This act of deceit was exactly the reason that the numerically inferior 'Muslims' were able to surprise and defeat their superior enemy.
Moreover, this verse - like thousands of others in the Quran - is trying to explain away an event AFTER it had happened and make it sound divine ***
43 Remember in thy dream Allah showed them to thee as few: if He had shown them to thee as many ye would surely have been discouraged and ye would surely have disputed in (your) decision: but Allah saved (you): for He knoweth well the (secrets) of (all) hearts.
44 And remember when ye met He showed them to you as few in your eyes and He made you appear as contemptible in their eyes: That Allah might accomplish a matter already enacted: for to Allah do all questions go back (for decision).
*** All the excuses in the world cannot change the fact that Muhammad and his followers acted treacherously and with contempt for holy the month, that later was made also holy under Muhammadan Islam***
45 O ye who believe! when ye meet a force be firm and call Allah in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper.
46 And obey Allah and His apostle; and fall into no disputes lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.
47 And be not like those who started from their homes insolently and to be seen of men and to hinder (men) from the path of Allah: for Allah compasseth round about all that they do.
8:48> Remember satan made their (sinful) acts seem alluring to them and said: "No one among men can overcome you this day while I am near to you": but when the two forces came in sight of each other he turned on his heels and said: "Lo! I am clear of you; lo! I see what ye see not; lo! I fear Allah; for Allah is strict in punishment.
49 Lo! the hypocrites say and those in whose hearts is a disease: "these people--their religion has misled them." But if any trust in Allah behold! Allah is Exalted in might Wise.
*** In fact, the only hypocrites and the only ones 'in whose heart is a disease' are the followers of Muhammad and not the pagan Arabs ***
8:50 If thou couldst see when the angels take the souls of the unbelievers (at death) (how) they smite their faces and their backs (saying): "Taste the penalty of the blazing fire.
*** The merciful and compassionate Allah tortures even the souls of the INNOCENT unbelievers in spite of the fact that it was he who MADE them ERR and not through their own choice ***
51 "Because of (the deeds) which your (own) hands sent forth: for Allah is never unjust to His servants:
*** This verse is telling an incredibly clear lie since the preceding verse shows Allah reveling and enjoying the torment of his own INNOCENT
servants ***
52 "(Deeds) after the manner of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them: they rejected the signs of Allah and Allah punished them for their crimes: for Allah is strong and strict in punishment:
8:53 "Because Allah will never change the grace which He hath bestowed on a people until they change what is in their (own) souls: and verily Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things)."
*** The Quran repeatedly asserts that Allah 'hearth and knoweth all' and yet, the same Allah is depicted in the Quran as a divine who does not know the limitations of his own creation forcing him to re-evaluate their strengths and weaknesses over time by repeatedly changing his mind through the Quranic process of ABROGATION ***
54 "(Deeds) after the manner of the people of Pharaoh and those before them": they treated as false the signs of their Lord; so We destroyed them for their crimes and We drowned the people of Pharaoh: for they were all oppressors and wrong-doers.
55 For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are those who reject Him: They will not believe.
# 1223 In viii. 22 we were warned against "the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah", who do not make use of their faculties of hearing, speaking and understanding, in the service of Allah, and in fact misuse their faculties to blaspheme Allah. The same brute creatures are shone here in another light: they are faithless both to Allah and man#
*** The above verse is as usual in the Quran is a repeat of others of the same mantra. The Quran repeatedly contradicts itself since in the case of pre-destination, the so-called unbelievers, the 'beasts' are so because Allah - the merciful and compassionate - had ordained them to be such.
Although they had no choice in the matter, the Quran none the less asserts that they must suffer eternal damnation in Allah's Hell***
8:56 They are those with whom thou didst make a covenant but they break their covenant every time and they have not the fear (of Allah).
# The immediate occasion was the repeated treachery of the Banu Quraiza after their treaties with the Muslims. But the general lesson remains, as noted in the two following verses. Treachery in war is doubly wrong, for it endangers so many lives. Such treachery should be punished in such a way that it gets no chance again. Not only the actual perpetrators but those who follow their standard should be rendered powerless. And the broken treaty should be denounced so that the innocent party can at least fight on equal terms. From actual physical warfare we can carry the same lesson to spiritual warfare. A truce or understanding is possible with those who respect definite principles, not with those who have no principles and are merely out for oppression and wickedness. A) The purpose of the verse is to urge Muslims to act against their enemies described above with a severity and resoluteness which would serve as a deterrent to other enemies of Islam who might be inclined to follow their example and act treacherously towards Muslims#
*** The Banu Quraiza were one of the Jewish tribes that welcomed and protected Muhammad at the beginning of the Hijrah in 632 CE.
Since all we have at hand in historical records, are the one-sided and self-serving oral traditions of the Muhammadans, and none from the Jews who were obliterated, one can only deduce what actually happened based upon subsequent acts committed by the Muhammadans.
When the Islamic records are put in their proper perspective, one can only conclude that it was the newly forming Muhammadan entity that betrayed and eventually murdered the Quraiza.
As a further reminder to the reader, these 'Jewish' tribes were of native Arab origin who converted - force or coersion - to the religion of the Jews.
In this case, Muhammad's acts of planned terrorism against the Jewish tribe are justified by the merciful Allah, because according to him, unbelievers are the worst of beasts.
Hence it is perfectly all right to murder, rape, torture and pillage the non-believers. Not only that, but Allah is also advising Muhammed and his followers, that when anyone protests against the injustices committed by them, the Muhammadans should make sure and deal with them with such violence, that it will strike fear among everyone else who may think of supporting dissent.
This shows if not proves, that the Quran is not a holy book, but simply a political-religio manual for controlling people with terror.
The above details are just a few of the incidents that demonstrate the intolerant and merciless nature of the inhuman acts committed by Muhammad and the 'Muslims'.
Further articles in this series will reveal more of Muhammad's heinous, sadistic and cruel crimes against all humans who did not follow his creed***
57 If ye gain the mastery over them in war disperse with them those who follow them that they may remember.
8:58 If thou fearest treachery from any group throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms: for Allah loveth not the treacherous.
*** The Quranic verses, which are invariably written AFTER the events described therein, do their best to paint their enemies with the same epithets that should have been assigned to the followers of Muhammad.
It is they, who after all, acted treacherously and subsequently broke every covenant that they ever made with other peoples ***
59 Let not the unbelievers think that they can get the better (of Allah): they will never frustrate (them).
60 Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power including steeds of war to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of Allah and your enemies and others besides whom ye may not know but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah shall be repaid unto you and ye shall not be treated unjustly.
*** Muhammad's Allah is a warmongerer who shows neither compassion nor mercy to any of his own PREDESTINED creation who allegedly do not believe in him and in his messenger ***
61 But if the enemy incline towards peace do thou (also) incline towards peace and trust in Allah: for He is the one that heareth and knoweth (all things).
62 Should they intend to deceive thee verily Allah sufficeth thee: He it is that hath strengthened thee with his aid and with (the company of) the believers:
63 And (moreover) He hath put affection between their hearts: not if thou hadst spent all that is in the earth couldst thou have produced that affection but Allah hath done it: for He is Exalted in might Wise.
64 O Apostle! sufficient unto thee is Allah (unto thee) and unto those who follow thee among the believers
8:65 O apostle! rouse the believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you patient and persevering they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred they will vanquish a thousand of the unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding.
#1232 In a fight, odds of ten to one against any one are appalling. But they do not daunt the men of faith. Whether they personally win or die, their Cause prevails. They are sure to win: because (1) they have divine aid, and (2) even humanly speaking, those who take up arms against truth and righteousness are fools, and their seeming power is but a broken reed#
*** In this verse, the Quran is putting very onerous odds for the Muhammadans to achieve in reality. No matter how brave and capable people may be, a ten:one odds in a fight are difficult to realize, hence necessitating the 'revelation' of another verse for a much more reduced odds of two:one instead; as in the following ABROGATING verse.
This Sura also clearly exposes Islam to be a belief system that not only encourages violence but actually makes it a sacred duty for Muhammadans to kill anyone who does not believe in Muhammad's version of Islam.
Not only is the "All forgiving Allah" exhorting his followers to kill anyone who is not a 'Muslim', but he is also saying that all non-Muslims are so stupid that they will be unable to defend themselves and therfore deserve death ***
66 For the present Allah hath lightened your (task) for He knoweth that there is a weak spot in you: but (even so) if there are a hundred of you patient and persevering they will vanquish two hundred and if a thousand they will vanquish two thousand with the leave of Allah: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.
#1233 Given equal conditions, Muslims on account of their faith could win against odds of ten to one. But where their organization and equipment are weak, as was the case about the time of Badr, they were set a lighter task, and asked to tackle no more than odds of two to one against them. As a matter of fact at Badr they won through against odds of more than three to one#
*** Verses 65 & 66 represent a major trend in the Quran where by Muhammad, finding it difficult for his followers to achieve or implement a Quranic condition, creates a follow up verse reducing and lightening the burden upon them, hence actually abrogating the earlier one.
If the Quran was given by God, these verses make a mockery of His Prescience. It should be obvious that the Almighty should already know whether the followers of Muhammad are or are not capable of and does not need to abrogate, change, modify or lighten any of them. Each should have been a perfect fit for the occasion (See Bukhari Hadith 6:175)***
67 It is not fitting for an apostle that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looketh to the hereafter; and Allah is Exalted in might Wise.
#1234 An ordinary war may be for territory or trade, revenge or military glory,-all "temporal goods of this world." Such a war is condemned. But a Jihad is fought under strict conditions laid down by Islam, and solely for the cause of Allah. All baser motives, therefore are strictly excluded. The gain in the shape of ransom from captives has no place in such warfare. At the same time, if there has been heavy loss of life already, captives may be taken, and it would be for the Imam to exercise his discretion as to the time when it was safe to release them, and whether the release should be free or on parole or on a fine by way of punishment. Destruction and slaughter, however repugnant to a gentle soul like that of Muhammad, were inevitable where evil tried to suppress the good. Even Jesus, whose mission was more limited, had to say: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace but a sword." (Matt. x. 34). Seventy captives were taken at Badr, and it was decided to take ransom for them. While the general principle of fighting for the purpose of taking captives in order to get their ransom is condemned, the particular action in this case was approved in vv. 68-71#
*** The difference between Muhammad and Jesus regarding violence is incomparable. Although Jesus is quoted as saying the above, he none the less never shed a single drop of blood. He was by any standard of measure, the least violent and most humble of the major prophets.
Muhammad and his followers on the other hand, never stopped shedding the blood of others although most of their victims had not threatened them or 'Islam'.
Theirs, were wars of aggression for loot, booty, rape and enslavement and had nothing whatsoever to do with any divine guidance or divine purpose. They used Jihad only as an excuse to conquer other territories and peoples.
With the minimum of reflection, one can figure out that North Africa, Europe and Asia did not have any people who threatened Arabia at the time but became victims to Arab conquests and aggression.
The interpretation of the verse is deliberately made misleading because it actually states that Muhammad should not take prisoners of war unless and until his perceived enemies are totally subdued (slaughtered).
This verse is in reference to the prisoners that Muhammad held for ransom after the battle of Badr. Allah the "Merciful" is saying that they should all have been killed.
In addition, Allah is conveniently commenting that whatever loot Muhammad has plundered is "lawful and good" because it was done in His service. So, murder, rape, plunder and destruction are all perfectly fine with Allah as long as they are done in His name.
"The messenger of Allah" is also insidiously making himself seem very kind for having spared the lives of the prisoners, when in fact he only let them live so that he could get more money for ransoming them.
Like most of the verses of the Quran, they are conveniently 'revealed' to justify and/or explain away Muhammad's unholy, illegal, illegitimate and treacherous misdeeds***
68 Had it not been for a previous ordainment from Allah a severe penalty would have reached you for the (ransom) that ye took.
#1235 Though any motive of worldly gain, which may have been in the minds of some among the victorious Muslim army, is condemned as worthy of a severe penalty, what actually happened is ascribed to the Plan of Allah, which was preordained. Among the prisoners taken were the Prophet's uncle 'Abbas and Hadhrat 'Ali's brother, Aqil, who afterwards became Muslims. 'Abbas was an ancestor of the founder of the celebrated 'Abbasi Dynasty which played such a notable part in Islamic history. In his case the promise made in verse 70 was amply fulfilled. In the case of all prisoners, if there was any good in their hearts, their very fight against Islam and their capture led to their being blessed with Islam. Thus does Allah's Plan work in a marvellous way, and evolve good out of seeming evil#
***As usual, Muhammad's Allah is always understanding and most forgiving of Muhammad whatever he did. As Aisha mentioned in Bukhari to her husband Muhammad
" Allah is always answering any and all your wishes". She too, although a young teenager, found it odd and was puzzelled at such incredible rapport between Muhammad and Allah ***
69 But (now) enjoy what ye took in war lawful and good: but fear Allah: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.
*** Allah, the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful gives divine sanction for the blood spilt and the loot plundered by Muhammad and his followers against His own creation whom He had already PRE-DESTINED to ERR ***
70 O apostle! say to those who are captives in your hands: "If Allah findeth any good in your hearts He will give you something better than what has been taken from you and He will forgive you: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful."
*** It seems that Allah has changed his mind - another abrogating verse - and became more merciful towards the prisoners of war if they submit to him and to Muhammad.
After having had their relatives massacred, their land and wealth plundered, the 'Oft-Forgiving Most Mercifulmerciful' Allah, is giving them something better.
Can any intelligent and decent human being tell the reader, what anything 'better' was received by the subjugated victims of aggression? ***
71 But if they have treacherous designs against thee (o apostle!) they have already been in treason against Allah and so hath He given (thee) power over them and Allah is He who hath (full) knowledge and wisdom.
72 Those who believed and adopted exile and fought for the faith with their property and their persons in the cause of Allah as well as those who gave (them) asylum and aid these are (all) friends and protectors one of another. As to those who believed but came not into exile ye owe no duty of protection to them until they seek your aid in religion it is your duty to help them except against a people with whom ye have a treaty of mutual alliance: and (remember) Allah seeth all that ye do.
73 The unbelievers are protectors one of another: unless ye do this (protect each other) there would be tumult and oppression on earth and great mischief.
*** It was the Arab conquests which brought about tumult and oppression all over the conquered territories. They had no excuse - besides conquest - to be there and no one invited them***
74 Those who believe and adopt exile and fight for the faith in the cause of Allah as well as those who give (them) asylum and aid these are (all) in very truth the believers: for them is the forgiveness of sins and a provision most generous.
75 And those who accept faith subsequently and adopt exile and fight for the faith in your company they are of you. But kindred by blood have prior rights against each other in the Book of Allah. Verily Allah is well acquainted with all things.
