Sorry for not being able to answer all of the questions due to a lack of time. Please join us in our next live dialogue next monday at 15:30 GMT.
Answer
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Name
Hosam
-
Profession
Student
Question
Salaamu 'Alaykum
Ia it permissable to participate in a non-muslim direct action peace activist organization for palestine? They allow open homosexuals and women to be involved and indulge in haram activities as drinking and the like. Also there is no availability of muslim organizations participating in direst action. Also being involved required a certain amount of cooperation and negotiation with israeli soldiers. Example, while conducting house to house searches soldiers break through walls to avoid (imaginary)sniper fire by using the streets. So activists will offer to use themselves as human shields in order to prevent the damage to homes which can result in collapse and death of the residents. Is this permissable as it can save muslim lives and property but can disrupt mujahid actions against the israelis terrorists?
Answer
Generally, it is permissible to participate in such activities as long as there is a tangible Shari’ah countenance interest which accrues to the Muslims. Each specific case would have to be judged based on its merits.
Name
Sana
-
Profession
Question
There are so many "opinions" re whether so-called suicide bombings are permissible. What is your understanding of this?
And what is the family's responsibility in allowing someone to do this?
It seems Palestine is an exceptional situation, with the people being killed, injured, tortured, humiliated and oppressed for decades now. Is it "more permissible" in that type of situation?
Answer
Suicide operations which specifically target civilians would have to be considered forbidden in Islam. The reason for that is that Islam strictly forbids targeting non-combatants during war. Also there are very strong prohibitions in Islam against suicide or taking ones own life through ones own direct action. When looking at the issue of Palestine one has to consider the political efficacy of suicide bombings. In judging the efficacy of these actions, one has to consider several issues. One being, international, public opinion especially public opinion in the United states because of the critical role played by the America in this conflict. Therefore, one must ask have suicide bombings turned public opinion in this country for or against the Palestinians. Secondly, have suicide bombings led to the ability of the Israeli's to create a form of moral equivalency between there brutal occupation and policies and the suicide bombers who specifically target Israeli civilians. Thirdly, one has to consider, the nature of the Israeli response. Have suicide bombings led to an increase or a decrease in the scope and the intensity of the occupation. Fourthly, one has to consider do suicide bombings broaden or narrow the range of political options available to the Palestinians.
If one considers all of these issues one has to conclude that suicide bombings are not only wrong from an ethical perspective but also from a political and strategic perspective. We may note in conclusion that those who justify the permissibility of killing Jewish civilians that the great jurists Ibn Taymiyyah in one of his Fatawa mentioned that it is not permissible to kill a Jew based on the fact that he is a Jew. Such an action undermines the basis for civil society. I may add that when we expand our Islamic definition of Jihad to include acts which are essentially terrorism and/or indiscriminate attacks on civilians we abandon the lofty moral parameters established by our Creator to govern our conduct during times of conflict and we adopt the Western idea of total war. In these trying times Muslims must realize that our strength lies in our ethical and moral superiority. Once we abandon that, we are not better then the forces arrayed against us and the conflict will be decided by the position of superior armaments and other strategic resources. Such a calculus at work, we Muslims are doomed to defeat.
Surely Allah knows best.
Name
Thabit
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Profession
Question
We here conflicting definitions of the meaning of Jihad by different scholars. Some claim it is a defensive struggle against injustice while others claim that it an offensive struggle to establish the dean of Islam. Can you help reconcile or clarify these seemingly conflicting definitions.
Answer
Jihad means to struggle. Many of our jurists such as Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawzia divide this struggle into three types. First, The struggle against the self (ego). Secondly, the struggle against Satan and his dupes. Thirdly, the struggle against those forces amongst human beings who manifest amenity and antagonism towards Islam and/or its people(the Muslims). This latter struggle is governed by an elaborate and highly developed set of principles which defy a simplistic categorization into offensive and defensive actions.
Name
RUBAB
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Profession
ECONOMIST
Question
WHAT IS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JIHAD AND FREEDOM FIGHT.
Answer
The basic difference between Jihad and freedom fighting is that Jihad as we have previously mentioned is undertaken to defend Islam and/or the Muslims and as we have mentioned it is governed by well defined principles. A freedom fight is undertaken to liberate a particular land from an illegitimate occupying power. It may or may not be governed by the principles established by Islam. In modern times we have seen freedom fighters adopting tactics which emanate from doctrines associated with the strategic thinking which has been articulated by Marxist Leninist thinkers. These thinkers’ advocate tactics predicated on terrorism, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, brigandage, sabotage of civilian infrastructure and other tactics, which are generally forbidden by Islam. Examples of such Marxist Leninist thinkers and movements are Che Que Vera, the shinning path movement of Peru and others.
Name
Rabia
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Profession
Question
What is the best response for those so called "experts" on Islam like steve emerson who claim that Jihad, despite the definition muslim scholars may give of it, is historicallly a war to expand the borders of Islam?
Furthermore, How should we espond to the attacks by the christain right who claim that Islam is not a religion of peace by proof od the Quran which supposadly contains many verses in the Quran which invoke muslims to wage wars(jihad) against the unbelievers.
Answer
Concerning the first part of the question that Jihad was an imperialistic enterprise, even if we assume for the sake of argument that was the case during the initial phase of Islamic expansion, that phase has long since past. Virtually all of the gains made by Islam during the past four hundred years have been the result of organized and in many instances unorganized missionary activity. The greatest proof of this has been the spread of Islam here in the USA. We don't read nor have we heard of any invading Muslim armies coming to these shores to force Islam upon the American people. The millions of converts have all freely chosen Islam usually after a process of intense study and reflection.
As for the second part of the question, we respond to them by the very Quran and Sunnah which they misquote and manipulate for their evil agendas. For example, they claim that Islam advances a theory of perpetual warfare. This idea has no basis in Islam. Proof of that, Allah(swt) mentions in Surat Al Anfal verse 61 in the context of a conflagration between Muslims and non-muslim forces: "If they (the enemy) incline towards peace then you so incline and place your trust in Allah". This verse emphasizes as explained by Fakhru EDin Al-Razi in his commentary don't let your suspicion that the enemy has some ulterior motive for seeking peace discourage you from perusing a peaceful reconciliation of the conflict. This teaching surely is not one conducive to the idea of perpetual warfare. Similarly, we may reference a prophetic tradition which states: "do not desire to meet the enemy[in a conflagration. Ask Allah for good health security and well being" This Hadith related by both Al-Bukhari and Muslim emphasizes that Muslims should do everything within their power to avoid a conflict. Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani in his great exegetical work Fatih Al-Bari mentions that the reason for this position is that the origin in human society is peace and security. War is an aberration. We know the benefits of peace, where as war brings uncertainty. A basic principle in Islam is that we do not leave that which is sure for that which is doubtful. I might add that peace, well being, and good health are blessings as any muslim will acknowledge. It is forbidden in Islam to desire the eradication of a blessing. Allah (swt) mentions in this regard that if you reject[ the blessings I have bestowed upon you] My punishment is severe.(Surat Ibrahim verse 7).
Again, this is a teaching, which is antithetical to the idea of permanent war. Another misconception they wish to popularize concerning Islam is that it advances the idea of indiscriminate warfare against all of infidels. However we read in the Quran in Surat Al-Mumtahinah Verse 8 " Allah does not forbid you concerning those(non-Muslims) who have not fought you nor driven you from your homes that you treat them righteously and behave justly with them. Surely Allah loves those who are just". This verse flies in the face of the contention that Islam advocates indiscriminate warfare against all non-believers.
Surely Allah knows best.
Name
Thomas
- United States
Profession
Haidon
Question
Assalum Aleykum,
As a Palestinian-Msulim American I am frustrated by the Israeli occupation. I have read several Fatwa's where certain mitjihad have condoned suicide bombings and classified them as martyr operations. I agree with them to a certain extent, but like Western concepts of war isnt Jihad, subject to limitations? Killing children and women is reprehensible. They are innocent by and large. How can we justify, the killing of civilians? I think, as Muslims, we should agree that children should never be targets of martr operations, under any circumstances. I believe that those who target children will taste hell. What are the rules, limiting Jihad?
Your guidance is most welcome and appreciated. Salamu aleykum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu.
Answer
See second answer above.
Name
Casey
-
Profession
graduate student
Question
Asalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh.
Brother...I don't have a question. I just wanted to say how refreshing it is to see your rational and ethical approach to the situations being addressed. Jazak'Allah Khair! May Allah keep you and your family on the straight path.
Answer
Jazaka Allahu Khairan and may Allah bless you and bless us all to live and to see a just and equitable solution to all of the problems confronting humanity in general and the Muslims in particular.
Name
Abu Safiya
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Profession
Question
As-Salaamu Alaikum,
At what juncture do we, as Muslims, take accountability for our current state?
We have heard many people complain about colonialism, corruption, etc. as the root of our current state. However, when do we have to stop and point to ourselves?
Answer
Yesterday.
Allah(swt) says in a hadith Qudsi.....rather it is your action which Allah reckons for you therefore whoever finds good let him praise Allah and whoever finds other then that let him blame no one except himself. My dear brother, you are entirely correct in implying that we as Muslims must stand and assume full responsibility for our shortcomings and failures. We have failed to learn the lessons of history. We have failed too fully develop our tremendous human and material resources. We have failed to generate the creativity, which will allow us to move beyond the narrow and ill-defined agendas of our movements and organizations. We have scarcely begun to break down the barriers of sectarianism, partisanship, nationalism, and ethno-centrism, which divide and weaken us. Addressing these issues is well with in our ability. Our failure to do so demonstrates a lack of will, resolve, and vision on our part first and foremost and cannot be attributed to the Zionists, America, the UN or anyone else.
Name
Abd al Qadir
-
Profession
Question
Why don't you and other like-minded Muslim scholars stand up and condemn suicide bombings by Muslims in Palestine, with the same sense of urgency with which you have for condemning American foreign policy? I am a Muslim and I'm afraid at the loss of moral clarity in our community when it comes to the killing of innocents. It's up to you, our leaders, to admonish us. Although I am concerned with what the media has to say about this, I am more concerned with what Allah will say to us on Judgment Day.
