Jews, Rocks and Trees, Explanation of contraversial hadith. Options

[Jim]

Islam haters love to bring up End Times prophecy and claim that Islam teaches an active campaign to exterminate Jews. The fact is that Just like Christianty, Islam has Prophecy about what will happen in the future. These prophetcies are not mandates , like they would mislead people to believing, but a peak at future events.

It is proven (in the Prophetic Sunnah) that when the leader of Muslims, the Mahdi, comes to lead them in praying Fajr, `Isa Ibn Maryam (Jesus son of Mary) will come down to them, and the imam will step back so that `Isa (Jesus) can come forward and lead the prayer, but `Isa will put his hand on his back and say, "Go forward and lead the prayer, for the iqamah was given for you."� So their imam will lead them in prayer, and when he has finished, then `Isa will head towards the Dajjal (The Anti-Christ), with whom will be seventy thousand Jews. When the Dajjal looks at him, he will melt like salt in water, and the Messiah `Isa (Jesus) (peace be upon him) will catch up with him at the gate of Lud (which is a town near Jerusalem) and kill him. Then Allah will cause the defeat of the Jews (the 70,000 army who followed the Anti-Christ), and there will be nothing that Allah has created that they hide behind, but Allah will cause that thing to speak. Rocks, trees, walls and animals will all say, 'O Muslim, O slave of Allah, here is a Jew, come and kill him!'" except for the box-thorn tree (al-gharqad), for it is one of their trees and will not speak.

Proofs:

AFTER the lesser signs of the Hour appear and increase, mankind will have reached a stage of great suffering. Then the awaited Mahdi will appear; he is the first of the greater, and clear, signs of the Hour. There will be no doubt about his existence, but this will only be clear to the knowledgeable people. The Mahdi will rule until the False Messiah (al-Masih al-Dajjal) appears, who will spread oppression and corruption. The only ones who will know him well and avoid his evil will be those who have great knowledge and Iman (faith). The false Messiah will remain for a while, destroying mankind completely, and the earth will witness the greatest Fitnah (tribulation) in its history. Then the Messiah Jesus (alayhe sallam) will descend, bringing justice from heaven. He will kill the Dajjal, and there will be years of safety and security. (Ibn Kathir)

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) said, "The Prophets are like brothers; they have different mothers but their religion is one. I am the closest of all the people to Jesus son of Mary, because there is no other Prophet between him and myself. He will come again, and when you see him, you will recognise him. He is of medium height and his colouring is reddish-white. He will be wearing two garments, and his hair will look wet. He will break the cross, kill the pigs, abolish the Jizyah and call the people to Islam. During his time, Allah will end every religion and sect other than Islam, and will destroy the Dajjal. Then peace and security will prevail on earth, so that lions will graze with camels, tigers with cattle, and wolves with sheep; children will be able to play with snakes without coming to any harm. Jesus will remain for forty years, then die, and the Muslims will pray for him." (Ahmad)

Ibn Masud reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) said, "On the night of the Isra (night journey), I met my father Abraham, Moses and Jesus, and they discussed the Hour. The matter was referred first to Abraham, then to Moses, and both said, 'I have no knowledge of it. Then it was referred to Jesus, who said, 'No-one knows about its timing except Allah; what my Lord told me was that the Dajjal will appear, and when he sees me he will begin to melt like lead. Allah will destroy him when he sees me. The Muslims will fight against the Kafirs, and even the trees and rocks will say, "O Muslim, there is a Kafir hiding beneath me - come and kill him!" Allah will destroy the Kafirs, and the people will return to their own lands. Then Gog and Magog will appear from all directions, eating and drinking everything they find. The people will complain to me, so I will pray to Allah and He will destroy them, so that the earth will be filled with their stench. Allah will send rain which will wash their bodies into the sea. My Lord has told me that when that happens, the Hour will be very close, like a pregnant woman whose time is due, but her family do not know exactly when she will deliver'" (Ahma, Ibn Majah)

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The Dajjal (Anti-Christ) would be followed by seventy thousand Jews of Isfahan wearing Persian shawls. (Muslim)

Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu) said, "The Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) said, 'The Hour will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them. When a Jew hides behind a rock or a tree, it will say, "O Muslim, O servant of Allah! There is a Jew behind me, come and kill him!" All the trees will do this except the box-thorn (al-Gharqad), because it is the tree of the Jews." (Ahmad.)

The Jews mentioned in the Hadith are the Zionist (armed) Jews who FIGHT alongside the anti-Christ against the Muslims, not innocent Jews and Zionists. Not only Jews will be defeated but the Kufar who are occupying Muslim lands with injustice and they will be sent packing back from where they came.

1. This is END TIMES prophecy that deals with only 70,000 Jews who follow the Anti-Christ, not a madate to exterminate all Jews.
2. It signifies a military confrontation.
3. In fact, Islam protects all people, Jews alike from injustice.
4. These prophetic hadith are not much different than the Prophet Jeremiah who predicted destruction of Israel and Judah before it happened if they didnt repent and obey God.
5. They also do not give permission to Muslims to commit crimes against Jews.

[Bloc]

Thanks for that great explanation Jim .

[Rhoda]

Yes, it is helpful.

Since I am the one who raised this question, I am grateful for an answer.

HOWEVER:
Islam haters love to bring up End Times prophecy and claim that Islam teaches an active campaign to exterminate Jews. The fact is that Just like Christianty, Islam has Prophecy about what will happen in the future. These prophetcies are not mandates , like they would mislead people to believing, but a peak at future events.

I expect I am the ISLAM HATER referred to above.

I prefer to be identified as one who asks questions. Thank you.

[Bloc]

I expect I am the ISLAM HATER referred to above.

I prefer to be identified as one who asks questions. Thank you.

Rhoda, I don't think Jim was referring to you at all. I think he was speaking more broadly about anti-Islam websites or forums that twist facts, hadith and the Qur'an to portray a certain view of Islam that does not correspond to reality.

I've learned a lot about Jim through this forum and I can't imagine him directing such a comment towards you for asking a question like this.

[guardian1]

i had heard that those ayats were in reference to some jews who had betrayed muhamed and conspired with his family in mecca to have him killed. any truth to this?

[Jim]

Yes, it is helpful.

Since I am the one who raised this question, I am grateful for an answer.

HOWEVER:
Islam haters love to bring up End Times prophecy and claim that Islam teaches an active campaign to exterminate Jews. The fact is that Just like Christianty, Islam has Prophecy about what will happen in the future. These prophetcies are not mandates , like they would mislead people to believing, but a peak at future events.

I expect I am the ISLAM HATER referred to above.

I prefer to be identified as one who asks questions. Thank you.

Rhoda dear, I dont think you are an Islam hater.

However, there are many out their that are causing significant problems for Muslims with their misrepresentations and propoganda.

It is common sense that one of the worlds largest religions does not teach not exterminate Jews. If it did, then over the course of 1400 years they would not exist. Now I have given proof.

I have more faith in your intelligence than for you to actually believe Islam haters.

I was not thinking of you as an Islam hater when I posted this, but I intended to address their assertions.

[Jim]

i had heard that those ayats were in reference to some jews who had betrayed muhamed and conspired with his family in mecca to have him killed. any truth to this?

Not these ayat Gaurdian. These are specifically End Times ayat.

There are other ayat that refer to what you are thinking about.

[guardian1]

Not these ayat Gaurdian. These are specifically End Times ayat.

There are other ayat that refer to what you are thinking about.

do you know which ones, cuz i have no idea. i'm a truck driver, what can i say....

[Jim]

do you know which ones, cuz i have no idea. i'm a truck driver, what can i say....

I dont have all of the hadith on hand, but here is some information on the instance or the Jewish tribes in the early history of Islam that rebelled against the Prophet, violated their agreements and were subsequently punished according to their own laws.

Some of the important facts that need to be kept in mind while passing any judgments about the killing of the Banu Qurayzah are as follows[1]:

After the Prophet's migration to Medinah, the Banu Qurayzah, with the other Jewish tribes of the locality, became a party to the Medinah declaration, according to which, these Jewish tribes and the Muslim state of Medinah were to act as alliances against any foreign attacks. According to this declaration, the Jews were allowed complete religious freedom and were granted protection of life and wealth as long as they honored the declaration;

Previously, the Banu Qurayzah were given a lesser status than the other Jewish tribe - the Banu Nadheer - which is evident from the fact that the blood money that they were granted, if any of their tribesman was killed by Banu Nadheer was half that of what was granted to Banu Nadheer. The Prophet (pbuh) corrected this injustice and granted the Banu Qurayzah the same political status as that of Banu Nadheer. (Abu Dawood, Kitaab al-Diyyaat, Baab al-Nafs bi al-Nafs, Hadith No. 3896);

The Jewish tribes did not honor their part of the Medinah declaration and on the instigation of the Qureish broke the agreement. At this the Banu Nadheer were sent into exile; while the Banu Qurayzah asked forgiveness and requested a renewal of the agreement, to which the Prophet (pbuh) agreed and allowed them another chance (Muslim, Kitaab al-Jihaad wa al-Siyar, Baab Ijlaa al-Yahood min al-Hijaaz, Hadith No. 3312);

Even after all this, the Banu Qurayzah joined the alliance that was gathered by the Qureish against the Muslims.

It was in this background that immediately after the confrontation with the confederates (Ahzaab), the Prophet (pbuh) decided to take the Banu Qurayzah to task. Even then, had the Banu Qurayzah sought forgiveness for their betrayal, the Prophet (pbuh) may have given them respite, as he did so in the past. Nevertheless, the Banu Qurayzah had decided to fight the Muslims. This was evident from the fact that when Ali (ra) reached their fort, they openly abused the Prophet (pbuh)[2]. The Muslims kept the forts of Banu Qurayzah under siege for about one month. Ultimately, the Banu Qurayzah requested the arbitration of Sa`d Ibn Mu`aaz (ra) - one of the leaders of the tribe of Aws - a traditional ally of the Banu Qurayzah[3] and promised that they would accept whatever Sa`d ibn Mu`aaz decided for them. Later on, Sa`d decided that all those among the Banu Qurayzah, who could fight be killed, while all their women and children be taken as slaves and all their wealth and property be confiscated and distributed among the Muslims. Subsequently, the sentence pronounced by Sa`d was implemented by the Muslims.

It should be clear from the facts given above that in the light of their behavior preceding the judgment the Banu Qurayzah deserved a very strict punishment. Furthermore, it is also clear that the punishment was not decided by the Prophet (pbuh), but was actually decided by a person, who was appointed as arbitrator, by the Banu Qurayzah, themselves.

However, one may still be of the opinion that the Prophet (pbuh) should have softened the punishment, even if it was pronounced by an arbitrator, who was appointed by the Banu Qurayzah themselves. On the contrary, the Prophet (pbuh) not only upheld and implemented the decision pronounced by the arbitrator, but also commended it as: 'in accordance with God's law'.

To fully understand why the Prophet (pbuh) did not soften or alter the sentence pronounced by Sa`d ibn Mu`aaz, we should keep in mind that Banu Qurayzah were actually Jews, who were subject to the laws of the Torah. Deuteronomy 20: 10 - 14 says:

When you draw near to a town to fight against it, offer it terms of peace. If it accepts your terms of peace and surrenders to you, then all the people in it shall serve you at forced labor. If it does not submit to you peacefully, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it; and when the LORD your God gives it into your hand, you shall put all its males to the sword. You may, however, take as your booty the women, the children, livestock, and everything else in the town, all its spoil. You may enjoy the spoil of your enemies, which the LORD your God has given you.

It was in accordance with this law that Moses (pbuh) ordered the killing of all the men of Midian and taking all their women and children as captives. Numbers 31: 7 - 11 read as:

They did battle against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and killed every male... The Israelites took the women of Midian and their little ones captive; and they took all their cattle, their flocks, and all their goods as booty. All their towns where they had settled, and all their encampments, they burned, but they took all the spoil and all the booty, both people and animals.

Obviously, on reciprocal basis, the Israelites themselves were subject to the same divine law. Thus, Sa`d Ibn Mu`aaz pronounced his judgment according to this law, upon which, the Prophet (pbuh) declared that his decision was 'in accordance with God's law'.* Furthermore, because of this particular nature and basis of the judgment, the Prophet (pbuh) neither had the right nor the authority to alter it.

Because Sa`d ibn Mu`aaz's decision was in accordance with the directives of the Torah, which the Jews accepted to be divine and were, therefore, subject to, the Prophet (pbuh) did not alter the decision. It was, in fact, because of this background of the judgment that when Hayee ibn Akhtab - one of the Jewish leaders - was brought to the place where he was to be killed, he looked at the Prophet (pbuh) and said:


By God, I have no regrets in opposing you, but the fact is that whoever tries to deceive God, is Himself, ultimately, deceived.

Then he turned toward his people and said:

People, there is no harm in the implementation of God's laws. This was a directive of God, it was decided, it is a punishment, which God had prescribed for the Israelites.

Thus, the Banu Qurayzah were, in fact, slaughtered by the sword of the Torah - the book, which they, themselves, held to be divine.

[History]

For the record, I have found most non-Muslims are unaware about the hadith regarding the end-times prophecy of even trees that hide Jews will call out for Muslims to kill them.

I learned of it from Muslims at other Islamic sites, such as Ummah.com and the SunniForum, etc.
Most, in my experience, use it as justification for not engaging in peace with Israel and justifying attacks against not only Israeli soldiers but any Jew, and for calling for more Muslims to be opposed to Jews.

While it is true that "Muslim-haters" may ignorantly point out this passage as an example of Islmaic intolerance; it is also true there are (unlearned) Muslims who agree and also use the passage to promote anti-Israel/anti-Jewish actions.

Respectfully,
History

[Honu]

I gotta agree with History on this one. I've seen printed materials from the Abu Sayaf Group (an Al Qaeda/Jemah Islamyah offshoot) in the Philippines that uses this Hadith to justify crimes against non-Muslims. They are wrong, but they sometimes easily fool less learned Muslims.

And History - you owe us an intro!

[History]

Do I need to pick out theme music, too.

What sort of "intro" do you want?

Respectfully,
History

P.S. Many years ago, someone created a cartoon hero of a bunch of us "Religion and Ethics Forum" posters. I'll try to find the link if it is still active.

[Honu]

History, just a brief hello with some things about yourself. Post it in the Intro's Forum.

[koroigetsuga]

For the record, I have found most non-Muslims are unaware about the hadith regarding the end-times prophecy of even trees that hide Jews will call out for Muslims to kill them.

I learned of it from Muslims at other Islamic sites, such as Ummah.com and the SunniForum, etc.
Most, in my experience, use it as justification for not engaging in peace with Israel and justifying attacks against not only Israeli soldiers but any Jew, and for calling for more Muslims to be opposed to Jews.

While it is true that "Muslim-haters" may ignorantly point out this passage as an example of Islmaic intolerance; it is also true there are (unlearned) Muslims who agree and also use the passage to promote anti-Israel/anti-Jewish actions.

Bro History I would ask that you bare in mind these are 'sunni' hadith, not shia ones. So if they make you uncomfortable I hope you will keep that distinction in mind

[History]

What do the Shia hadiths teach about Jews and the End-Times?

Respectfully,
History

[koroigetsuga]

What do the Shia hadiths teach about Jews and the End-Times?

Respectfully,
History

There will be righteous Jews, Christians and Muslim who will know about the awaited one when he comes.

just as there will be misguided people amongst jews, christian and muslims who will oppose him

these two categories apply ofcourse not just to the abrahamic faiths, but other monotheists, and indeed the rest of all mankind as well. the righteous ones will follow him and the misguided will oppose him.

Sunnis prophecies also prophecize the same outcome. we both must hold on to our creed my friend, because when that time comes, it will be our faith that will save us.