Interesting info I have never seen before.
Anyone of the Muslim faith care to confirm this? Quote:
To an outsider the behavior on behalf of the UAE may appear curious. Islam and a free democracy are incompatable. The Qur'an permits moslyms to break agreements and treaties with infidels if they find better options elsewhere.
Qur’an 47:33 “Believers, obey Allah, and obey the Messenger. Do not falter; become faint-hearted, or weak-kneed, crying for peace.” Any treaties with Infidels can be broken anytime for any reason, they have no meaning.
Qur’an 9:3 “Allah is not bound by any contract or treaty with non-Muslims, nor is His Apostle.”
NOTE: In other words, it is acceptable to break treaties and obligations with infidells and make war on them whenever strong enough to do so
Read more: UAE, Canadian relations 'frosty' as Forces base deal yanked
Note the above is from the discussion area of one of the Canadian national newspapers addressing this issue.
Not trying to fan any flames; just trying to substantiate whether this an accurate interpretation of the Islamic view on contracts.
Dune,
I don't know who has given these misinterpreted verses of the Quran. Here are the correct translations of the quoted verses:
47:33 O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the messenger, and render not your actions vain.
It doesn't say anything about contractual obligations so the reference to this verse is simply out of context in this case.
9 : 3 And a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve.
For fully understanding the meaning if the verse, it is important that we read the preceding and the following verses of 9 : 3
“A declaration of the dissolution of agreements from God and His messenger to the idolaters with whom you have made [no-war] agreements. Thus, you [O polytheists] may freely traverse in the land for four months, but know that you shall not escape God’s judgment and that God shall surely humble the unbelievers. A proclamation [should be made] to these people from God and His messenger on the day of Hajj-e-Akbar, [declaring] that God and His messenger are no longer under any obligation toward these polytheists. If you repent, [O polytheists,] it shall be better for you but if you turn your backs [paying no heed], then know that you shall not be able to escape God’s judgment. Give these rejecters the glad tidings of a painful punishment, except those polytheists who have not dishonored their treaties with you and have not aided anyone against you. With these, fulfill your treaties till the appointed term. Indeed, God loves the righteous. When the sacred months are over, slay the polytheists wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them and lie in ambush for them.” (Al-Taubah 9: 1 – 5)
The Qur’an further says: “How can there be any responsibility of these agreements on God and His messenger, except those with whom you made agreements at the Sacred Mosque? Thus, so long as they uphold their part of the treaty, you should uphold yours. Indeed God loves the righteous.” (Al-Taubah 9: 7)
A close look at the above verses shall suffice as evidence to the fact that the directive, “Arrest them, besiege them and lie in ambush for them” is given against those polytheists with whom the Muslims, under the leadership of the Prophet (pbuh), had entered into an agreement and who had disregarded this agreement and aided others against the Muslims. Obviously, these qualities cannot be generalized on all the polytheists of the world.
The Qur’an further says: “Will you not fight against those who have broken their oaths and have conspired to banish the messenger? They were the first to attack you.” (Al-Taubah 9: 12)
Thus, a further qualification of those against whom the directive is given is that besides breaking their oaths with the Muslims, they conspired to banish the Prophet (pbuh) and were the first to attack the Muslims. It is obvious that the referred directive implies to take action against a particular people. It cannot be generalized to the whole world and to all times to come. The Qur’an further clarifies that the directive is mainly against those particular polytheists who were the custodians of the Haram – the Ka`bah.
Yes, I am a Muslim and my aim is not to start an inter-religious debate or to prove something but just to put the misquoted verses in the right perspective.