Removing Shirk from Muslim Society
This is according to Hani Chitchian, a member of the Quran and Etrat School of the University of Tehran, speaking in the 34th session in a series on Surah At-Tawbah. Following are excerpts from his remarks in the session:
God in Surah At-Tawbah, introduces and reprimands some 12 groups of people. All of them are Muslim and live in the Muslim society. They are divided into three groups of Mukhallafun, Arabs and Munafiqun, which I explained about before.
We talked about these groups before but some verses are addressed to those who are within the circle of “O Believers!” We want to analyze these verses to get to a number of strategic measures to realize Bira’at and coherence of the society.
Surah At-Tawbah begins with a verse about Bira’at: “An acquittal from Allah and His Messenger to the idolaters with whom you have made agreements.” (Verse 1) It says that it is necessary to declare Bira’at from the disbelievers who broke their promise. The Islamic society is not a place for Shirk. Mercy and compassion are ok but one cannot accept the presence of non-monotheistic issues and the implementation of un-Islamic rules in society. If you accept Islam to be the basis of governance, all of Islam’s rules should be implemented without an exception.
This Surah was revealed two years after the Conquest of Mecca. Verse 3 is about the disbelievers who thought they could continue their past path. “This Announcement from God and His Messenger is to be made to the people on the day of the great Pilgrimage; God and His Messenger have declared no amnesty for the pagans. If you (pagans) repent, it would be better for you, but if you turn away (from God), know that you cannot make God helpless. (Muhammad) tell the unbelievers that a painful punishment has been prepared for them.”
So on the day of Hajj, which is apparently the last Hajj of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), where all Muslims have congregated, it should be declared to everyone that God and His messenger disavow disbelievers. That is to say, these two cannot have the same path, both in belief and in way of life.
The first tells the disbelievers that it would be better for them to repent but if they refuse, they should realize that they can never frustrate God.
The Quran clearly states that believers should honor the treaty as long as the other side does too: “You (believers) must fulfill the terms of the peace treaty with them. God loves the pious ones.” (Verse 4)
God loves those who practice Taqwa. The first order to believers is to honor the treaty as long as disbelievers honor it too. But when disbelievers broke their promise after four months, then the Quran says: “slay the pagans wherever you find them.” (Verse 5)
The verse further says: “Capture, besiege, and ambush them. If they repent, perform prayers and pay the religious tax, set them free. God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.”
