LOOT: SPECIAL GIFT FOR MUSLIMS FROM 'ALLAH'

In this post, all the verse of Quran have been taken from the translation rendered by 'Hilali and Khan' and it is said to be the most widely circulated translation in the world. 

According to पतंजलि योगसूत्र, one of the golden rules is not to take what is not rightfully yours. This is called अस्तेय. The वैदिक/सनातन धर्म has had a hoary tradition on these lines. It talks of rising above such illusory gains.

Islam has no such tradition of योग so that one can rise above the pleasure of the senses. So different is Islam from वैदिक/सनातन धर्म that the eighth chapter of Quran is dedicated to justification of looting from other religions. The name of the chapter is Anfal or अन्फाल, which means loot of war. The title should be sufficient for an alert and balanced mind that if one of the longest chapters is devoted to such a topic, what kind of ideology can it preach. In this post, we will find how Jihad, killing of others, terrorizing the others and looting of others is justified.

To understand the post, it is better to get acquainted with a few Islamic words.

Mushrik - It means those who consider any one else as God, except Allah. The word 'shirk' or शिर्क means participation and its verb is shirkat or शिरकत. Thus, all those who worship the supreme creator by any other name like ब्रह्म, ब्रह्मा, शिव, कृष्ण, राम, दुर्गा, विष्णु, अय्यप्पा, मुरुगन, Jesus, Jehova or any other name are Mushrik. This word is primarily used to represent those who are involved in मूर्तिपूजा which is called 'बुत परस्ती' in Islam. Thus all Hindus and Buddhists are mushrik. In fact, the word बुत has its origins in the word बुद्ध because of the large carvings of Buddh which were revered by Buddhists.

'Ahle Kitaab - As compared to Mushriks, the people of Judeo-Christian origin are better placed. They are referred to as 'people of the book' or 'अहले किताब'. This preferential treatment to them is because the founder of Islam, Mohammad, borrowed generously from old testament and new testament. 

Kuffar - It is a term which includes Mushrik as well as people of the book. Singular of Kuffaar is Kaafir or काफिर.

Aayat - Verses of Quran. Hindi - आयत, singular -Aaya or आया.


Anfal - War booty, loot, also called ग़नीमत or Ghanimat.

Like evangelists, whom Gandhi ji rightly called 'vendors of goods', Islamists have also found out that Hindus have lost their intellectual agility and can be deceived by using the right kind of phrases and face expression. The days Hindus become intellectually active and courageous, they will not only be able to stem the tide of predatory creeds but will be able to save those poor souls who have been converted to Islam. Muslims all over the world and especially on our sub continent, are victims because they have been uprooted from their ancestral faith and converted to Islam, either with sword or some other inducement.


Islam was started by a seventh century Godman called Muhammad bin Abdullah (Muhammad son of Abdullah).

In the year 695 A.D., at 25, he had married a 40 years old wealthy and successful business lady named Khadija. This alliance was economically very fruitful for Muhammad. For next 25 years he did not have to worry about earning a livlihood. 
She died after 25 years and now Muhammad had to take care of his daily needs. He married a very old lady named Sauda to take care of his and Khadija's children and married six years old Aisha within a year of demise of Khadija. Since he had proclaimed himself to be a Godman, Allah obligingly 'revealed' the Surah 8 to take care of the monetary angle of his 'prophet'.


The gist of this chapter is that Allah wants his latest courier and his followers to raid, loot, kill and rape innocent persons and share the booty among themselves. The only fault of these innocents is that they do not follow the self styled 'prophet'. 


It so happened that Muhammad and his 305 followers had raided a Caravan. The caravan belonged to Mecca and its leader had been alerted about the evil designs of Muhammad and his cronies. He sent a message for reinforcements to protect the precious Caravan from the robbery, changed the route and reached Mecca safely. The raiding party of Muslims encountered the reinforcements. The meccans outnumbered the Muslims but were reluctant to fight as they felt that Muhammad and his men were their relatives. The Muslims did not have any such qualms and they attacked with their full might and defeated the Meccans. Some of the chiefs of Mecca were killed and the others left the field, leaving their belongings behind. It was a poor consolation for the war hungry Muslims so they started quibbling among themselves for the distribution. It was at this opportune time that Allah's latest instalment of instructions was 'revealed' through Muhammad.


The first verse is :

They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) about the spoils of war. Say: "The spoils are for Allah and the Messenger." So fear Allah and adjust all matters of difference among you, and obey Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW), if you are believers.

With this verse, Allah sanctioned the muslims to kill and loot all those who did not believe in Allah. The chapter has 75 verses in which 'Allah' uses a colourful vocabulary to denounce the followers of any other faith. I will quote some of these verses here.

And (remember) when Allah promised you (Muslims) one of the two parties (of the enemy i.e. either the army or the caravan) that it should be yours, you wished that the one not armed (the caravan) should be yours, but Allah willed to justify the truth by His Words and to cut off the roots of the disbelievers (i.e. in the battle of Badr).

In the verse 12 of this chapter, Allah commands to behead the Kaafirs and cause TERROR in their hearts.

(Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels, "Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes."

In the next verse, the reason for the terrorist activity is clarified

This is because they defied and disobeyed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever defies and disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.

Then Allah warns all non Muslims in verse 38:

Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief) their past will be forgiven. But if they return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded (as a warning).

In next verse, Allah gives the command to fight till all non Muslims are finished off.

And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.

Then the cat comes out of the bag in verse 41, where Allah asks for 20% in the robbery:

And know that whatever of war-booty that you may gain, verily one-fifth (1/5th) of it is assigned to Allah, and to the Messenger, and to the near relatives [of the Messenger (Muhammad SAW)], (and also) the orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor) and the wayfarer, if you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our slave (Muhammad SAW) on the Day of criterion (between right and wrong), the Day when the two forces met (the battle of Badr) - And Allah is Able to do all things.

Badr is the name of the place where this confrontation took place. Very few people know that the attack on Kargil was code named Al-Badr, taking inspiration from this robbery raid. Allah displays his anger on disbelievers. 
Quran - Chapter 8, verse 55

Verily, The worst of moving (living) creatures before Allah are those who disbelieve, - so they shall not believe.

Thus, Allah considers all those to be worst of creatures, who do not believe in ayats of Quran. So, except Muslims all are detested by Allah.

If Allah dislikes them then how should the faithfuls treat them. It is clearly explained. [8:57]

So if you gain the mastery over them in war, punish them severely in order to disperse those who are behind them, so that they may learn a lesson. 

Hindi rendering is more clear

तो अगर वह लड़ाई में तुम्हारे हाथे चढ़ जाएँ तो (ऐसी सख्त गोश्माली दो कि) उनके साथ साथ उन लोगों का तो अगर वह लड़ाई में तुम्हारे हत्थे चढ़ जाएं तो (ऐसी सजा दो की) उनके साथ उन लोगों को भी तितिर बितिर कर दो जो उन के पुश्त पर हो ताकि ये इबरत हासिल करें 

Allah really hates Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Zorashtrians, Jews and Christians. So, [8:59]

And let not those who disbelieve think that they can outstrip (escape from the punishment). Verily, they will never be able to save themselves (from Allah's Punishment).

Ajmal Kasab or Afzal Guru became terrorists because [8:60]

Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.

The above statement gives us an idea as to why radical Islamists are never short of money. 

We keep on hearing the word Jihad. Here is its true meaning [8:65]

ऐ रसूल तुम मोमिनीन को जिहाद के वास्ते आमादा करो (वह घबराए नहीं ख़ुदा उनसे वायदा करता है कि) अगर तुम लोगों में के साबित क़दम रहने वाले बीस भी होगें तो वह दो सौ (काफिरों) पर ग़ालिब आ जायेगे और अगर तुम लोगों में से साबित कदम रहने वालों सौ होगें तो हज़ार (काफिरों) पर ग़ालिब आ जाएँगें इस सबब से कि ये लोग ना समझ हैं  

When the Muslims had won the confrontation, they held about 50 Meccans as captives so that more money could be earned in the form of ransom (if this is not gangsterism, what is?). Out of these poor captives were two men named An-Nazr and Ukba, who used to tease Muhammad by saying that he was not a prophet. Now they were at the mercy of Muhammad. An-Nazr was immediately beheaded by Ali on command of Muhammad (so much for freedom of expression and mercy). Ukba asked Muhammad as to why was he being executed, Muhammad replied

Because of your enmity to Allah and his prophet

To this Ukba pleaded:

And my little girl! who will take care of her?

Muhammad replied

Hell-fire!

And Ukba was cut into pieces.
Then Muhammad said to the corpse of the man:

I give thanks unto the Lord that hath slain thee, and comforted mine eyes thereby.

Life of Mahomet by William Muir, pp 229,230

The ever obliging Allah sent the justification of this cold blooded murder immediately. Allah, through his prophet has a desire for slaughter of Kuffar. Thus they have to be killed.[8:67]

It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and free them with ransom) until he had made a great slaughter (among his enemies) in the land. You desire the good of this world (i.e. the money of ransom for freeing the captives), but Allah desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. 

Then in verse 69, the loot money is given sanction, making it lawful for Muslims.

So enjoy what you have gotten of booty in war, lawful and good, and be afraid of Allah. Certainly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

After declaring that loot is a good deed for Muslims and 20% of it is for 'Allah', he goes on to define the real Muslims in verses 72 - 75:

जिन लोगों ने ईमान क़ुबूल किया और हिजरत की और अपने अपने जान माल से ख़ुदा की राह में जिहाद किया और जिन लोगों ने (हिजरत करने वालों को जगह दी और हर (तरह) उनकी ख़बर गीरी (मदद) की यही लोग एक दूसरे के (बाहम) सरपरस्त दोस्त हैं और जिन लोगों ने ईमान क़ुबूल किया और हिजरत नहीं की तो तुम लोगों को उनकी सरपरस्ती से कुछ सरोकार नहीं-यहाँ तक कि वह हिजरत एख्तियार करें और (हॉ) मगर दीनी अम्र में तुम से मदद के ख्वाहॉ हो तो तुम पर (उनकी मदद करना लाज़िम व वाजिब है मगर उन लोगों के मुक़ाबले में (नहीं) जिनमें और तुममें बाहम (सुलह का) एहदो पैमान है और जो कुछ तुम करते हो ख़ुदा (सबको) देख रहा है...और जो लोग काफ़िर हैं वह भी (बाहम) एक दूसरे के सरपरस्त हैं अगर तुम (इस तरह) वायदा न करोगे तो रूए ज़मीन पर फ़ितना (फ़साद) बरपा हो जाएगा और बड़ा फ़साद होगा...और जिन लोगों ने ईमान क़ुबूल किया और हिजरत की और ख़ुदा की राह में लड़े भिड़े और जिन लोगों ने (ऐसे नाज़ुक वक्त में मुहाजिरीन को जगह ही और उनकी हर तरह ख़बरगीरी (मदद) की यही लोग सच्चे ईमानदार हैं उन्हीं के वास्ते मग़फिरत और इज्ज़त व आबरु वाली रोज़ी है...और जिन लोगों ने (सुलह हुदैबिया के) बाद ईमान क़ुबूल किया और हिजरत की और तुम्हारे साथ मिलकर जिहाद किया वह लोग भी तुम्हीं में से हैं और साहबाने क़राबत ख़ुदा की किताब में बाहम एक दूसरे के (बनिस्बत औरों के) ज्यादा हक़दार हैं बेशक ख़ुदा हर चीज़ से ख़ूब वाक़िफ हैं

Thus Jihad is the best duty of a Muslims. This is the true Islam and true Muhammad.