How Do Hadith-rejecters Interpret 8:12

[Wakas]

8:12 is analysed in detail here:

http://www.quran434.com/wife-beating-islam.html#part1
section 16

16)
fa idriboo fawqa al-aAAnaqi wa idriboo minhum kulla bananin = so strike above/over the necks, and strike from them every/each finger/extremity.
[8:12]

Some use "smite". Translators are divided when it comes to the issue of who is being addressed by this command, even though the verse itself clearly states who is being addressed at the start, and that is the angels/controllers. In terms of what is more likely, it should be noted that this verse is likely addressed to the controllers than to the believers, due to the Arabic construction (i.e. no obvious break in addressee throughout and the first "fa" refers to the controllers, thus the second "fa" most likely does also) and it is in the imperative mood, meaning it is a command to be followed. Thus, it is impractical and illogical to command all believers when in battle to strike above/over the necks and each/every finger from the enemy. Especially since there is no need for doing both! Therefore it more likely refers to the controllers, as we shall now examine:

When your Lord inspires* to the angels/controllers** ?I am with you so keep firm those who believed. I shall cast terror into the hearts/minds*** of those who reject; so strike above/over the necks, and strike from them every/each finger/extremity.? [8:12]

*imperfect tense, i.e. an action in the process of being done.
**angels is better translated as controllers, i.e. forces in control of certain functions/laws. There are some controllers we know about, e.g. those found in nature: F=ma, E=mc? etc. and some we do not know about.
***qalb is often used like the English word "heart", meaning the physical organ, but more often for the locus of feelings/intuitions etc.

The verse seems to imply then: God will instil/cast terror into the heart/minds of those who reject, and then nature's forces take their course, resulting in affecting anything above the neck, e.g. the throat/mind/thoughts/senses/breathing and limbs/fingers of the rejecters, i.e. likely causing impairment of their performance. Instilling a sense of terror/fear in someone often results in their mind/thoughts/senses being affected/paralysed, and often results in trembling/shaking, especially transferring to the hands, which would likely result in weak fighting skills (swordsmanship or accuracy of arrows) when in battle. It is also interesting to note that when someone is fearful or anxious/nervous, their throat often becomes dry and precipitates an involuntary gulp reaction, i.e. a manifestation of fear/anxiety. Physical manifestations of anxiety: trouble concentrating, feeling like your mind's gone blank, dizziness, shortness of breath, muscle tension, fatigue, headaches (source).

The above understanding may also help clarify the confusion some translators have about 8:17 on who really did the defeating and who really did the casting (Arabic: rama, root: Ra-Miim-Ya). As it likely refers to the use of "cast" (Arabic: olqee, root: Lam-Qaf-Ya) done by God in 8:12. Also see 33:26 for comparison. Interestingly, if we take "rama" to mean "throw or cast" as in arrows or pebbles in 8:17 as done by some translators, then obviously the believers did not strike above the necks and each finger, making this interpretation even less likely. As is common, there are conflicting accounts between the traditional tafsirs on 8:17 and what was thrown, e.g. Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi (arrow), and Tafsir al-Jalalayn (pebbles), and Tanw?r al-Miqb?s min Tafs?r Ibn ?Abb?s (dust). See M.Asad's note on 8:17 which mentions several possible explanations.
Interestingly, some traditional interpretations take 8:12 to mean the "angels" literally struck off the necks in battle (but neglect to mention the fingers!), but if this was the case, then there would be little need for 8:17 to re-affirm who really did the defeating, i.e. God, as it would be rather obvious. To resolve this problem, some say just as the believers were to strike the necks with their swords the heads of the enemy would fall off, and this was the angels at work! It is a fanciful explanation, but again, they neglect to mention the fingers, or the logic of this application. Thus, the division amongst translators as to whom the command refers is likely related to their misunderstanding of DRB, hence their awkward explanations.

To conclude, 8:12 is addressed to the controllers, and DRB does not mean a literal/physical "strike" e.g. by sword, as is commonly understood, unless taken metaphorically. Thus, may be better rendered as "put forth" or "put into commotion" in these two occurrences.

[god1quran1]

إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلآئِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُواْ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ الرَّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُواْ فَوْقَ الأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُواْ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ

Remember your Lord inspired the Angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them." (Surah 8:12)

According to the understanding of orthodox Hadith-believing Sunni Muslims, this was a true historical event from the Battle of Badr.

According to Hadith history, in the aftermath of the Battle of Badr, the Muslims inspected the dead bodies of the disbelieving warriors and noticed that some of the bodies had burns on their necks, fingertips and toes. Since we Sunni Muslims believe that an army of Angels led by their general Gibraeel (Alaihe salaam) literally participated in the Battle of Badr, therefore this verse was literally fulfilled because those mysterious burn marks were the injuries inflicted by the Angels.

However, since Hadith-rejecters reject the Hadith and the history related by Hadith, so how do they interpret this verse from the Quran. I would be very interested to know.

This is a classic example of how hadiths have been fabricated which allegedly 'explain' a particular verse of the Quran after the fact.

A word of advice -- if you are to predicate your argument on a 'Sunni' Hadith, you need to provide an exact reference and post it for all to see. Without a reference your argument is as weak as the hadith itself, if it exists that is ...

[noshirk]

salam Israfeel

8:11 Sleep overcame you to give you tranquility from Him; and He sent down to you water from the sky to cleanse you with it and cause the affliction of the devil to leave you; and so that He may strengthen your hearts and set firm your feet.
8:12 Your Lord inspired to the angels: ?I am with you so keep firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have rejected; so strike above the Aanak/necks, and strike from them every banan (/one standing).?

i don't think that 8:12 is speaking about any battle. I see no war in 8:12.

بن (مقاييس اللغة)
وإنما اشتقاق البَنَان من قولهم أبَنَّ بالمكان إذا قام؛ فالبنان به يُعْتَمَدُ كلُّ ما يكون للإقامة والحياة

so banan can be understood as any kind of habitation for resting or living.
i see no fingertips in 8:12.

above aanek is not on aanek. Above aanek there is the head wich contains brain, eyes, noses, mounth, ears...

if i read 8-11, action seems to happen during the night.
in 8-12, God tells angels to:
-keep firm those who believe.
-I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have rejected,so strike above the necks, and strike from them every one standing

the effect expected for "strike above the necks, and strike from them on banan" is to cast terror into hearts. Not to kill.

so 8-11 and 8-12 are speaking about the psychological preparation during the night before the war.
good "conditions" for believers, and "nightmares" or difficult meteorogical conditions (destroying habitations), frightening and whatever put terror in hearts of ennemies. That was the task af angels.

the war begins in 8:15 until 8-17
8:15 O you who believe; when you encounter those who have rejected on the battlefield, do not flee from them.....


that is how my rabb explained to me verse 8-12.

Peace

[DrGm]

peace,

8:12 - remember your Lord inspired to the angels (heaven dwellers), " Surely, I am with you;  so, assure the believers;  i will create terror in the hearts of the disbelievers;  you strike their nuche, and strike their fingertips".

from this we understand that angels are commanded by Allah to assure the believers when they are in need.  so, whenever we feel assured and remember Allah, it is because of the angels who assure inspirations into us as per Allah's command.  our need is to be away from the disbelievers affairs without interfering our peace.  in our need, Allah gives us wisdom that makes the disbelievers to bow (lower the neck) in shame even to face the believers.  also, Allah says that because of His wisdom the disbelievers will not even have guts to accuse and point fingers to the believers.

this is how i understood from the Book.

peace

[Little Mannie]

I like all of these possible answers.  It occurs to me also the possibility that it could also be referring to our duty of exposing and apprehending/removing the "heads" (leaders) of corrupt organizations and cutting them off from their unlawful means of operating/survival.  Ahem, AIPAC. 

They will be wrought with cognitive dissonance and inner terror, but Allah won't destroy them--unlike the kool-aid that the Sunnis believe.  It is up to believers to bring Israel and their proxies to justice through due process of law.  Really, it makes you wonder if the manifesto of the kufar and related propaganda has intentionally been sandwiched into "hadith" and scholarly opinions.

[huruf]

I like all of these possible answers.  It occurs to me also the possibility that it could also be referring to our duty of exposing and apprehending/removing the "heads" (leaders) of corrupt organizations and cutting them off from their unlawful means of operating/survival.  Ahem, AIPAC. 

They will be wrought with cognitive dissonance and inner terror, but Allah won't destroy them--unlike the kool-aid that the Sunnis believe.  It is up to believers to bring Israel and their proxies to justice through due process of law.  Really, it makes you wonder if the manifesto of the kufar and related propaganda has intentionally been sandwiched into "hadith" and scholarly opinions.

I like your understanding.

salaam