Rebuttal to Ali Sina's article "Juwairiyah"
By
Bassam Zawadi & Umar
This article is in response to Ali Sina's article "Juwairiyah" which can be accessed here. Ali Sina said:
In the history of the Arabs that predates the arrival of Islam, never before had there been such wars, certainly none on the scale and magnitude of those that were instigated by Muhammad the founder of Islam. Previous battles in Arabia had mainly centered on tribal differences and were confined to bouts of squabbling with some fights. With the introduction of Islam came not only war, but also an unrelenting genocide and terror that would quickly become integral components in furthering Islam's expansionism.
The early years of Muhammad's prophetic carrier, in his native town Mecca, were peaceful. After 13 year of preaching no more than 70 or 80 people had embraced his cause. Not all of them were able fighting men. That explains why those early years were peaceful. Muslims did not have the strength to fight. However soon after Muhammad migrated and settled in Medina, and the Arab population of that town accepted his religion, he began invading and looting first the merchant caravans and then the human settlements to survive and to provide for his followers who had accompanied him and because of their lack of expertise had a difficult time finding employments in Medina.
Our Response:
When the Muslims migrated from Makkah to Medina, they left all their possessions in Makkah. Later on the Quraysh took all the possessions of the Muslims in Makkah, and led by Abu Sufyan they took all those possessions to Syria so that it could be sold. So If Ali Sina is referring to the caravans that held Muslim belongings that were to be sold, then I see no problem that it was attacked. Let's ask Ali Sina if someone would take all his belongings in his house, then sell them, would Ali Sina just sit quietly, and let people take his possessions and sell it? I don't think so. Let us also note that this was how the Battle of Badr began. (Note: It wasn't just one caravan, it was many but The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) intercepted the caravan specifically led by Abu Sufyan mainly because it would deliver a big blow to the Meccan glory, and Abu Sufyan, who learned of these intentions, led his caravan out of the main route and inclined it towards the Red Sea. Abu Sufyan sent a messenger to the Quraysh, telling them:
O Quraysh! your merchandise! it is with Abu Sufyan. The caravan is being intercepted by Muhammad and his companions. I cannot say what would have happened to them. Help! Help! (Muhammad Husayn Haykal. Hayat Muhammad, Cairo 1974, pg. 256)
Also, I want to add on the fact that the Quraysh began to make preparations for an attack on Medina, which they believed would exterminate the nascent power of Islam. But before fighting the decisive battle they were anxious to enlist the support and sympathies of the Non-Muslim tribes living around Medina. (See Abdul Hameed Siddiqui, The Life of Muhammad peace be upon him, p. 175-176).
Ali Sina states in his article that Muhammad (peace be upon him) attacked human settlements to survive and to provide for his followers "soon after" he migrated to Medina. I honestly don't know what is his source. If he is referring to the attacks on the surroundings tribes, then we'll get to that later on Insha'Allah. But here is how Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) helped the Muhajirun (emigrants from Makkah) who left everything in Makkah:
Prayers being thus regulated, the Prophet next turned his attention to cementing the ties of brotherhood amongst the Muslims of Medina who were called Ansar, and the Muhajirun, i.e., emigrants from Mecca. It was a necessary step since the refugees who had left their hearths and homes and had said goodbye to friends and relatives were feeling lonely. To raise their feelings of loneliness, and to attune them to the changed circumstances, a new fraternity was established amongst the Muslims of Mecca and those of Medina.
This brotherhood was indeed unique in the history of the world. The fellow-feeling and love on which this new relationship was established found a wonderful expression. For example Sa'd b. Sabi a Helper said to his fellow brother 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf, " I am the richest man amongst the Helpers. I am glad to share my property half and half with you. I have two wives, I am ready to divorce one, and after the expiry of 'iddah, you may marry her." But 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf was not prepared to accept anything : neither property nor home. So he blessed his brothers and said : " Kindly direct me to the markets so that I may make my fortune with my own hands." The Helpers were extremely generous to their brethren-in-faith. They once approached the Holy Prophet with the request that their orchards should be distributed equally between the Muslims of Medina and their brethren from Mecca. But the Prophet however, decided that the refugees would work in the orchards along with the Helpers and the yield would be divided equally amongst them. (Abdul Hameed Siddiqui, The Life of Muhammad peace be upon him, p. 138-139).
Now continuing with Ali Sina's argument... This brotherhood was indeed unique in the history of the world. The fellow-feeling and love on which this new relationship was established found a wonderful expression. For example Sa'd b. Sabi a Helper said to his fellow brother 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf, " I am the richest man amongst the Helpers. I am glad to share my property half and half with you. I have two wives, I am ready to divorce one, and after the expiry of 'iddah, you may marry her." But 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf was not prepared to accept anything : neither property nor home. So he blessed his brothers and said : " Kindly direct me to the markets so that I may make my fortune with my own hands." The Helpers were extremely generous to their brethren-in-faith. They once approached the Holy Prophet with the request that their orchards should be distributed equally between the Muslims of Medina and their brethren from Mecca. But the Prophet however, decided that the refugees would work in the orchards along with the Helpers and the yield would be divided equally amongst them. (Abdul Hameed Siddiqui, The Life of Muhammad peace be upon him, p. 138-139).
More...http://www.call-to-monotheism.com/rebuttal_to_ali_sina_s_article__juwairiyah_
ආ නෑ නෑ කොපි පේස්ට් කරලා. 
