Is Islam fundamental allow killing innocent people or are Islam let the difference between nations?
Answer
Dear Aras,
Peace be with you!
I think your question means this:
--Does Islam allow killing of innocent people? Does it make a difference between nations in its approach towards the lives of people?--
The answer to both the questions is No; emphatically no.
Allah in the Holy Qur’an very clearly says:
“If any one killed a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he killed the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people…” (Al-Ma’idah 5:32)
This means that there is no question of Islam approving the taking of innocent lives.
And about various nations of the world, Allah says:
“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Al-Hujurat 49:13)
So discrimination based on skin color or race or nationality etc is prohibited by Islam.
Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him, has said that all humans are from Adam and Adam was from the earth.
And also note:
The concept of the unity of Allah (Tawhid) very clearly postulates the idea that all humans are created equal; and no nation, race or tribe has any preference over another from the point of view of Islam. Justice is a high social value emphasized by Islam; and any one who violates the principle of justice has no place in Islam.
Even in the face of the most horrendous occupation by the kuffar as in Iraq, Muslims must NOT violate the commands of Allah given in the Holy Qur’an.
Hope this answers your question.
Name
John
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
A significant number of Christians are beginning to feel that Muslims hate them. What is your opinion on this threat to multiracilism and how best to counter it please.
Answer
Hello John,
Peace be with you!
Thank you for your question.
It is a sad fact that the players in the field of international politics have cultivated an atmosphere of hate where the chances of inter-religious harmony are becoming more and more remote, despite a dire need for the contrary.
We live in a shrinking world where natural resources are fast diminishing; and there is a greater awareness among thinking people now of the need for mutual dependence among nations. The concept of “the global village” means that isolationism will not work any more. Nations and communities have to come together and work together if the human race has to survive let alone live happily.
Former colonial masters and would-be colonizers imagine that once again new empires can be built on the shoulders of the old slave nations. Now they have a good tool in their hands which they didn’t have in the past centuries. I mean the media; with which they wage the new wars of conquests. If the objective of former colonizers was “to civilize” the savages, the professed objective of the present is to “democratize” them or to “liberate” them.
One of the tools used by the neo-colonizers is “religion”. The Born-Again Christians of the U.S have no qualms about using depleted uranium bombs on men, women and children who have nothing to do with the imaginary WMDs Saddam Hussein would have used against the super powers in “45 minutes”. As long as there are fanatics even in “civilized” clothing, all the lies that serve invasion and occupation sink in. In this scenario, Islam and Christianity happen to be mere scapegoats.
Dear Brother, Muslims DO NOT HATE Christians. Muslims hate those who bring death and destruction on the wings of B2 bombers, just as Christians or Hindus or anybody else would do. If those who bomb them happen to be Christians, the Muslims of Afghanistan or Iraq for instance cannot but hate THOSE Christians.
The least that we can do to remove hatred is to join the ranks of the Anti-War party and do some really good work so that the misanthropes who rule the world now are unseated from power and packed off to where they really belong.
Hope this answers your question.
Name
Shujath
- India
Profession
Question
Please throw light on the meaning and conditions required for "offensive" Jihad. Thanks.
Answer
Hello Shujath,
Peace be with you!
Thank you very much for your mail.
I don't know what you mean by "offensive" jihad. I think it means attacking
first as opposed to "defensive" jihad.
Well,it is not possible to give a comprehensive answer to your question within the scope of this Live Dialogue. I would therefore request you to read the article entitled, JIHAD EXPLAINED written by Dr Amir Ali, that was published by the III&E, Chicago.
Name
Roshan
- India
Profession
Engineer
Question
Hello
How can you justify Islam teaching its followers to fight, even when it professes to be a religion of peace?
Answer
Hello Roshan,
Peace be with you!
Thank you very much for your question.
You know it is a paradox of life that we need to fight often for the establishment of peace; just as we have to have jails (which deprive persons of freedom) in order to safeguard freedom. That is to say, if we do not imprison certain cut-throats and murderers, people can never feel free to do their work or even move about.
Similarly, there are people who will not allow peace to flourish on earth, if they are allowed to have their way. We can request them, reason with them and urge them to let others live. But when such peaceful measures fail, the only way open before us is to use force or simply to fight them. But we fight, not because we love to fight; but because we are compelled by the situation and because we have exhausted all other options. That is to say, when there is no other way, as a last resort, we fight. Because that is the only way peace can be restored.
Also we must understand that justice is the corner stone of peace and harmony. An unjust peace is like a volcano; it may erupt any time. So, our aim must always be the establishment of peace based on justice. If the oppressed people are prevented from crying out, there is some sort of peace. But we cannot consider that a desirable situation.
Islam is a practical religion, i.e a way of life to be lived in the world of reality. For this reason, recognizing the need for fighting in an unavoidable situation, Islam permits its followers to fight. Not because Islam encourages violence, but because Islam abhors injustice as also it disapproves of a fragile peace that threatens to erupt into a bloodbath.
Islam stands for Peace; it IS Peace itself.
Hope this answers your question.
Name
Scarlett
- Spain
Profession
Question
Muslim always claim that their wars are "ethical" as they believe the code of ethics of war in Islam is different than other codes of ethics and they also claim that war in itself is barbaric, but Islam came to encompass it with an ethical code of nobility and mercy.
How can this be?
Please explain.
Answer
Hello Scarlett.
Peace be with you!
Thank you for your question.
The Muslim claim is not that all the wars fought by Muslims were ethical; but that Islam has given a code of combat that is more ethical than all other codes of combat.
Indeed, war has always been a complex subject for objective analysis. As humans are free creatures capable of doing good or bad, can we imagine a world without conflicts?
The best we can strive for is to have a code of rules for the conduct of war. It is the merit of Islam that it does provide such rules, which remain ever nobler and more realistic than any other code existing for managing wars.
As war is barbaric, Islam seeks first to avoid it in all possible ways; and then if it can no wise be averted, Islam insists that it should be made as ethical as possible.
In war, all the restrictive injunctions of Islam are to be strictly observed. Worship does not cease during times of war. Islamic jurisprudence maintains that whatever is prohibited during peace is also prohibited during war.
Allah says in the Qur’an what means:
"Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loves not, aggressors." (Al-Baqarah 2:190)
The above permission to fight clearly lays down the following conditions: (1) Never commit aggression; fighting is allowed only for self-defense. (2) Fighting must never be against non-combatants or non-fighting personnel.
The Prophet used to instruct his followers during battles and tell them not to be embittered or inclined to commit treachery. He asked them to spare non-combatants, particularly children and hermits. Caliph Abu Bakr gave the following instructions to the commander who led the campaign to Syria:
“Do not betray; do not be treacherous or vindictive. Do not mutilate. Do not kill children, the aged or women. Do not cut or burn palm trees or fruit trees. Do not slay a sheep, a cow, or camel except for your food. And you will come across people who stay in hermitages for worship; leave them alone to what they devote themselves to.”
Justice is highly valued in Islam and no Muslim is allowed to violate it even in times of war against their bitterest enemies. From the early days of Islam, medical assistance was available to all irrespective of religion or creed and was even given to the enemies. The medical profession itself was specially honored in Islam, and it was the duty of the Muslims to offer help in this regard to all. Compare this to what the Americans did in Fallujah; they started their offensive by bombing hospitals or taking over them to prevent wounded Fallujans being treated there!
For the first time in the history of warfare, it was Islam that adopted an attitude of mercy and caring for the captured enemy. Unprecedented by previous legal systems, and long before the Geneva Convention, Islam set the rule that the captive is to be sheltered by his captivity and the wounded by his injury. Islam made it obligatory to feed prisoners.
Islam clearly prohibits subjecting captives to ill treatment by denying them food, drink, or clothing. According to Islamic law, the captive belongs to the state and not to his captor. The ruler has the ultimate option, as he sees fit, to grant him freedom immediately or at a later time, as he sees fit.
Sometimes enemy prisoners were exchanged for Muslim prisoners held in enemy hands. An acceptable ransom for release was for the prisoner to teach ten Muslim children to read and write. Combatants were set free upon their word of honor not to fight again; and if they broke their promise and were caught again, they might be severely dealt with.
Islam never fought civilian populations, but only fought despotic rulers. Islamic war was one of liberation and not one of coercion. The liberated people had the freedom to choose their religion, and Muslims often fought to ensure this freedom.
One of the major shortcomings of modern international politics is its scant regard for moral obligation. Time and again, treaties and agreements are flouted. From the outset, Islam has emphatically prohibited breach of trust and treachery. Recent examples of signing a pact with a nation with a hidden intent to attack it are diametrically opposed to the rules of combat Islam has laid down. The Qur’an tells us:
"O you who believe! Fulfill your undertakings…" (Al-Ma’idah 5:1)
As the above points clearly show,there are no rules of war more humane and realistic, than the rules of Islam.
I hope I have answered your question.
Name
jibrin
- Nigeria
Profession
banker
Question
Why is it that all Muslims in the world are regarded/recognized as terrorists?
Answer
Hello Jibrin.
Peace be with you!
Thank you for your mail.
As long as the world media are controlled by the vested interests disposed against Islam and Muslims, it is only natural that Muslims who oppose the western hegemony are dubbed "terrorists". All through history those who fight against tyrants and invaders have been referred to by some word that meant "terrorists" or something worse.
Islam believes in justice; and Muslims usually fight for justice. And it is only natural that the perpetrators of the most grievous injustice would hate those who stand for justice.
And the second point is about the word "terrorist". Who is a terrorist?
It is the super powers who wish to rule the world at the cost indescribable human suffering that decide who a terrorist is. According to them, dropping cluster bombs that look like food packets on starving children in Afghanistan is not terrorism; but resisting invaders who bomb mosques, is terrorism.
In view of the horrendous double standards followed by the so-called "civilized world",is there any meaning in expecting any justice from them?
Hope I have answered your question.
Name
M F
-
Profession
Question
Asslamu `Alykum,
Could you sum up the objectives of jihad. Is it true that Muslims seek to sweep the world convert all people to Islam through jihad?
Answer
Hello MF,
Peace be with you!
Thank you very much for your question.
Jihad can be defined as "a sincere and noticeable effort (for good); or an all-true and unselfish striving for spiritual goodness."
The Prophet (pbuh) has told us of two kinds of jihad: The greater jihad and the lesser jihad. The greater jihad is the spiritual struggle a person needs to make to conquer his own selfishness, lust or greed. The lesser jihad is the struggle with external forces, where necessary.
There is a verse in the Qur’an which commands Jihad with the Qur’an (Al-Furqan 25:52). It is obvious that jihad with the Qur’an is an ideological struggle to conquer people’s hearts and minds.
As Islam is the Way of Life taught by the Holy Qur'an and all the prophets of God, it is the most balanced and the best possible way of life humans can seek to realize in this world. So to invite those outside the pale of Islam into the path of Islam is one of the noblest actions a Muslim is capable of doing.
To desire to convert a person to a good way is a good effort and jihad as struggle for good cannot but be good. But at the same time, no one can be forced to accept a particular philosophy or way of life. Every one is free to choose his path. God does not permit the use of any kind of coercion in the matter of religion and so there is no question of Muslims sweeping the world with some sort of aggressive jihad.
I hope this answers your question.
Name
T.
-
Profession
Question
Is Islam really a religion of mercy? If yes, then how do you explain the so-called martyrs, who kill innocents in Israel?
Answer
Hello T.
Peace be with you!
Thank you very much for your question.
First of all, there is a difference between what Islam teaches and what Muslims do in particular contexts. The martyrdom operations undertaken by the Palestinian freedom fighters is a subject of controversy and if you are interested to know more about its aspects, you may read the fatwa given in Islamonline, available here:
Sheikh Fu'ad Mukhaymar, states the following:
"The view adopted by the majority of our contemporary Muslim scholars, describing as martyrs the Palestinians who blow themselves up in the occupied land in showing resistance against the aggression, is correct for the following reasons:
A person who blows himself up sacrifices his life for the survival of others. He dies for his homeland and his holy sites.
Those disarmed people are annihilated every day. Their houses and factories are destroyed and their farms are devastated. They stand with their hands tied before the tanks and armored vehicles of their enemies. The least they can offer is this sacrifice. A person who does this operation is considered by Ulama as a martyr especially as he sacrifices his life, not for a material gain, but for the sake of Allah.
The Palestinians lack the military support of the whole world. In this case, do they have to wait their doom or try their best to defend themselves?
The instances cited by scholars, in supporting their arguments, are also correct. History is full of many fascinating examples in which Muslims demonstrated an outstanding courage and strong spirit in fighting their enemies; they would sacrifice their lives for the sake of achieving their aim.
As regards the questioner’s reference to the narration that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) disapproved the act of a fighter who killed himself, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did this when he knew that the man killed himself out of despair and discontent. But on the issue at hand, a Palestinian knows well what he does and chooses it with his free will. It’s for this great sacrifice that he deserves martyrdom."
Name
Jack
-
Profession
Question
Why Muslims do not recognize Israel and accept to live with Israelis side by side in peace?
Answer
Hello Jack.
Peace be with you!
The answer is very simple. If someone forcibly enters your house and forces you to leave it at gun-point, can you recognize him as its true owner? If so, Muslims can recognize Israel as a legitimate state.
Moreover Israel on a daily basis destroys the crops and shops of the Palestinians, demolishes their homes and kills or wounds at least half a dozen defenseless humans.
Please allow the Muslims at least the right NOT to recognize Israel as a legitimate state, before they die anyway.
Name
Ahmad
- Sri Lanka
Profession
Teacher
Question
Asselamu aleykum..
In battles people kill. Is killing humans a good thing? Why does Islam allow killing?
Answer
Hello Ahmad,
Wa alaikumussalam.
Thank you for your mail.
It is true that humans kill in battles and sometimes they do so in peace time too, in cold blood for no reason; maybe just for deriving some sort of sadistic pleasure. And no doubt, killing humans is not a good thing.
But sometimes as a society of humans we may have to do something apparently bad like killing, to avert something worse than that.
Life is such that sometimes we are offered a choice between two bad things. When there is no other way, we need to choose the lesser of the two evils. Fighting is such a situation where we resort to that action, because we have no other way.
Islam is a practical way of life; and its rules are not merely for the individual but for the society as well. As a society, humans need to take care of the welfare of all. Individuals may have to make sacrifices occasionally when the welfare of the whole society is in peril. Fighting to establish the peace of the whole society, a person may die or he or she may kill others. It all depends on the situation whether fighting in a particular situation is justified or not.
Islam permits fighting as a last resort in establishing justice or in restoring peace and harmony. Under no circumstances can fighting be justified when undertaken to annex other people’s land (as is done by Israel) or to steal the God-given natural wealth of a country or just by way of empire-building (as is done by the “Coalition of the willing”).
Islam allows fighting for justice and peace when all other doors are closed.
I hope this answers your question.
