by Jane Bate and Bryan Hermansdorfer, ©2022
(Feb. 12, 2022) — [See the previous chapters in this series here.]
Under Islam, non-Muslims, also (derogatorily) called Kafirs, become a distinct under-class, sometimes referred to as najis, meaning filth. In fact, non-Muslims, no matter your religion, gender, age, or the catalogue of good deeds you may have accrued, are destined for Hell (ROTT w4.3). Unbelievers, in fact, are to be hated by Muslims for Allah’s sake (ROTT w59.2) and are never to be taken by Muslims as friends (Quran 5:51). This last command to Muslims is so strong that it is mentioned multiple times in the Quran: 1:5-7; 3:10; 3:28; 3:85; 3:118; 5:80; 7:44; 9:23; and 53:29!
Here are a few examples of stark differences in how non-Muslims may be treated by Muslims as compared to their treatment of fellow Muslims. Non-Muslims may be killed, whereas killing another Muslim is a crime: (Quran 4:93): “For those who intentionally kill another Muslim, Hell will be their punishment, where they will live forever. The wrath of Allah will be on them, He will curse them, and they will receive terrible torture.” Similarly, non-Muslims may be cheated, raped, enslaved, may not own weapons, and on and on.
The Pact of Umar made an exception for protection of non-Muslims provided that those non-Muslims paid the jizya, a tax which kept their heads attached to their necks. Living under these conditions, however, was exceedingly stressful for the non-Muslims since, if even one of them broke a rule under that pact, the Muslims had a right to retaliate against all those unbelievers!
Of course, Quranic pronouncements on treatment of non-Muslims will vary according to whether those rules were stated in the Meccan (early) Quran or the Medinan (post-hijra) Quran. The Medinan sections, however, are far more unforgiving and, unfortunately, are the authoritative rulings.
Viewed against this background, the Americans left in Afghanistan are in great danger!