Playing God

"All rights of this book are reserved for the publisher and the author. This copy is for reading purpose only. This copy cannot be uploaded on any website except those of the publisher and the author." Playing God: Misreading a Divine Practice 47 The following verses are generally presented in support of this view: +, BJ 9- Ž3 jX fB1 W16 < N i1 2U"1 “ /I :;< ? 6@- J 1 ;< > € ? X +2 - 16 - +,- c - +,-G]- Jn- { c e+ 3 7 e7 Vx R +2 3H }q< { Xv )s : (( So when the forbidden months are over, slay the Idolaters wherever you find them. Seize them, surround the m and everywhere lie in ambush for them. But if they rep ent from their wrong beliefs and are diligent in the prayer and pay zak ā h , then spare their lives. God is Oft-Forgiving and Ever- Merciful. (9:5) N ? ?P i! - ]m1 N 31 - ?^! F!G J 6 ! ! - 7- W „ W 1 J-@ F!G F? P‰i1 F!K - x € +,- > ! F !v 1 k ! )s: zs( Fight those who believe not in Allah or the Last Day, ed., vol. 5 (Beirut: D ā r al-fikr, n.d.), 413-414. In this regard, the Hanafite jurists are however of the view that death was only prescribed for the Idolaters of Arabia of the Prophet’s times. As far as polytheists of other times and lands are concerned, they cannot be put to death if they do not accept Islam. Like the People of the Book, they too can be allowed to remain on their faith if they accept the superiority of Islam and pay jizyah. For details, see: Shams al-D ī n al-Sarakhs ī , Kit ā b al-mabs ū t , 2 nd ed., vol. 10 (Beirut: D ā r al-ma‘rifah, 1978), 7. www.javedahmadghamidi.com www.al-mawrid.org