I’ve been out all day and missed the fireworks. I in no way intended to say that Muslim states don’t have a right to defend themselves under international law and have a strong army. My point is that the verse was used in the wrong context, 96th street on a sunny afternoon, or imply that someone can show up anywhere and start killing innocent people.

Actually, I gave the khutbah there (96th) a year ago and, mashallah, two ladies became Muslim. I didn’t yell at them, nor try and scare them. But I recalled the verse: “Invite to the way of your lord with wisdom” and the satement of the Prophet (sa) as related with sound narrations by a large number of companions when he sent Muadh and Abu Musa to Yemen, at that time Yemen was a non-Muslim country and the Prophet did not say to them, “Scare them! Scare them to death” instead he said, “Give good news and dont’ cause people to flee.” This is important because this happened towards the last few weeks of the Prophet’s life after al-Anfal was sent.

I recalled the incident of Tufail al-Dawsi who came to the Prophet and said, “Please make dua that Allah will destroy al-Daws!” The Prophet raised his hands and said, “O Allah guide Daws” and then “Indeed kindness always bring good, and harshness always brings evil.”

As shown on the tape itself, the Brothers don’t have much Arabic knowledge. One stated, “This is an order” but, in fact, it is Mudar’i and not an order. Secondly, the verb alone does not provide the meaning of the verse since it is hal connected to a majrur which Br. Abdullah didn’t even mention. Thus, his tafsir was wrong as was his reading. Also, the fact that there are two Qir’at of the verb itself which were not explained shows a problem as well since according to the rules of Usol as noted by al-Suyuti in al-Itaqan, the reading with the heavier verb is given priority and this wasn’t done?

While there are commentators that hold this applies to anyone who fights the Muslims, I have yet to come across one that would agree with what these brothers are doing. Here’s a list of tafsir’s who mention the opinion that I stated. Perhaps these Imams are just simple sellouts like me?

Tabari mentions the Mushrikin of Mecca:

{ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُو اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ } يقول: تخيفون بإعدادكم ذلك عدوّ الله وعدوّكم من المشركين.

Regarding the second part of the verse he quotes the Companions saying it was Bani Quradha, the Persians or the hypocrites. Al-Razi held that the latter opinion was stronger and some even held it was the Jinn such as al-Tabari.

al-Qurtubi:
قوله تعالى: { تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدْوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ } يعني تُخيفون به عدوّ الله وعدوّكم من اليهود وقريش وكفار العرب. { وَآخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ } يعني فارس والروم؛ قاله السُّدِّي. وقيل: الجنّ. وهو ٱختيار الطبري.
States that striking fear applies to the Yahoud of Medina, the Qureish and the disbelievers of the Arabs.

Tasir Jalaayin:

{ تُرْهِبُونَ } تُخَوِّفون { بِهِ عَدْوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ } أي كفار مكة { وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ } أي غيرهم وهم المنافقون أو اليهود
States the kufar of Mecca, the Jews of Medina and the Hypocrites

Imam Nasafi says the same:
[البقرة: 98] { تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ } بما استطعتم { عَدْوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ } أي أهل مكة { وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ } غيرهم وهم اليهود، أو المنافقون، أو أهل فارس، أو كفرة الجن. في الحديث ” إن الشيطان لا يقرب صاحب فرس ولا دارا فيها فرس عتيق ” وروي أن صهيل الخيل يرهب الجن

Imam ibn Ashur in his Tafsir:
وعدو الله وعدوهم: هم المشركون فكان تعريفهم بالإضافة، لأنّها أخصر طريق لِتعريفهم، ولما تتضمنه من وجه قتالهم وإرهابهم، ومن ذمّهم، أن كانوا أعداء ربّهم، ومن تحريض المسلمين على قتالهم إذ عُدُّوا أعداءً لهم، فهم أعداء الله؛ لأنّهم أعداء توحيده وهم أعداء رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم لأنّهم صارحوه بالعداوة، وهم أعداء المسلمين، لأن المسلمين أولياء دين الله والقائمون به وأنصاره، فعطف { وعَدوَّكم } على { عدوَّ الله } من

May Allah grant us insaf

SDW

-Here is documented proof for the position of Shaikh Suhaib that there is reference to the People of Makka.

(Kashaf)

Unfortunately, Yousef al-Khattab neither demonstrates the skill of scholarship we would expect from a person who is said to study at a Yeshiva nor a sign of scholarship in the world of Islam. We do not have before us the mind of (RAMBAM) Maimonides nor Imam at Tabari (r). So, where do we stand with Yousef al-Khattab who claims to have the ability to interpret the Qur’an with the sayings of the Ulema? By what criteria are we obliged to negate the multiplicity of scholarly opinions surrounding the above text to come to accept that opinion transmitted by Yousef as being the soundest opinion to practice? What scholarly criteria is used to come to that position and neglect others?

وقوله: { تُرْهِبُونَ } من الرهبة وهى مخافة مع تحرز واضطراب.

والضمير المجرور – وهو قوله { بِهِ } – يعود إلى الإِعداد المأخوذ من قوله { وَأَعِدُّواْ }.

أى: أعدوا ما استطعتم من قوة، حال كونكم مرهبين بهذا الإِعداد عدو الله وعدوكم، من كل كافر ومشرك ومنحرف عن طريق الحق، وعلى رأس هؤلاء جميعا، كفار مكة الذين أخرجوكم من دياركم بغير حق، ويهود المدينة الذين لم يتركوا وسيلة للإِضرار بكم إلا فعلوها.

وقوله { وَآخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ } معطوف على ما قبله.

أى: ترهبون بهذا الإِعداد أعداء معروفين لكم – كمشركى مكة ويهود المدينة، وترهبون به أيضاً أعداء آخرين غيرهم أنتم لا تعرفونهم لأنهم يخفون عداوتهم لكم، ولكن الله – تعالى – الذى لا يخفى عليه شئ يعلمهم، وسيحبط أعمالهم.

وقد اختلف المفسرون فى المراد بهؤلاء الأعداء الذين عبر الله عنهم بقوله لا تعلمونهم الله يعلمهم، فمنهم من قال: المراد بهم بنو قريظة ومنهم من قال: المراد بهم أهل فارس والروم.

Many times Muslims forget that we are all growing and learning. Yes, the shaytan is out there and Yes, the USA has declared war upon Islam and the Muslims. That means, wisdom is needed MORE, not less. Cowardice is to be hated, strategizing is commended.

http://www.salafimanhaj.com/pdf/SalafiManhaj_YusufKhattaab.pdf

If you hate America so much, why do you continue to live here?

I’m not asking for myself, but I’ve witnessed some people slandering you by bringing up this point. I’d suggest addressing that as well to clear doubts.

http://www.salafimanhaj.com/pdf/SalafiManhaj_KufrDoonaKufr.pdf

2ndly, if you hate America so much what is stopping you from getting out of here? If you’re not here to bring any good to the society then what is your excuse? These people frustrate me with their gangster mentality. They steal from the good of this country and spit it back in its face.

salamz