The next Qur’anic reference to the Gardens of Paradise is located at 9:89. In this case the context is particularly crucial for understanding its significance. Let’s consider 9:86-95:
When a Sura comes down, enjoining them to believe in Allah and to strive and fight along with His Messenger, those with wealth and influence among them ask thee for exemption, and say: “Leave us (behind): we would be with those who sit (at home).
They prefer to be with (the women), who remain behind (at home): their hearts are sealed and so they understand not.
But the Messenger, and those who believe with him, strive and fight with their wealth and their persons: for them are (all) good things: and it is they who will prosper.
Allah hath prepared for them gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein: that is the supreme felicity.
And there were, among the desert Arabs (also), men who made excuses and came to claim exemption; and those who were false to Allah and His Messenger (merely) sat inactive. Soon will a grievous penalty seize the Unbelievers among them.
There is no blame on those who are infirm, or ill, or who find no resources to spend (on the cause), if they are sincere (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger: no ground (of complaint) can there be against such as do right: and Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
Nor (is there blame) on those who came to thee to be provided with mounts, and when thou saidst, “I can find no mounts for you,” they turned back, their eyes streaming with tears of grief that they had no resources wherewith to provide the expenses.
The ground (of complaint) is against such as claim exemption while they are rich. They prefer to stay with the (women) who remain behind: Allah hath sealed their hearts; so they know not (What they miss).
They will present their excuses to you when ye return to them. Say thou: “Present no excuses: we shall not believe you: Allah hath already informed us of the true state of matters concerning you: It is your actions that Allah and His Messenger will observe: in the end will ye be brought back to Him Who knoweth what is hidden and what is open: then will He show you the truth of all that ye did.
They will swear to you by Allah, when ye return to them, that ye may leave them alone. So leave them alone: For they are an abomination, and Hell is their dwelling-place,-a fitting recompense for the (evil) that they did.
(Yusuf Ali)
It is hard to read these verses as coming direct from Allah. They have the clear appearance of being words used by Muhammad to cajole and move Muslims into taking up arms to fight alongside him in militant jihad. It is insinuated that refusal to fight with Muhammad constitutes direct defiance of Allah’s will; that those who refrain are like women. Hell awaits all who have no good excuse for fighting alongside Muhammad, while Muhammad uses the prospect of entering the Gardens of Paradise as a primary means of motivating Muslims to join him in militant jihad.
The contrast with biblical theology is patent. When armed men approached Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest him, he asked rhetorically:
Am I leading a rebellion, that you come with swords and clubs? (Luke 22:52).
Indeed, during that same event, when Peter decided to intervene with violence, cutting off the ear of the servant of the high priest, Jesus commanded:
Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? (Matthew 26:52-54).
As Jesus stood before Pilate he declared:
My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place (John 18:36).
It is this Jesus, submiting to violence done against him, rather than inciting violence - even in the name of self-defence - who says to the forgiven criminal on the cross beside him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
Posted July 26, 2009
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