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Name
Showki
- Malaysia
Profession
Question
Your title means that the Prophet (PBUH) taught the Muslims the importance of war and its methodology. Is that Islam’s chief contribution?
Answer
Salaam Showki,
Thank you for your question.
No, Islam's chief contribution to humanity is not its rules of combat, though they are really significant.
In fact, Islam is a peaceful religion, and its teachings help humans to attain peace in this world and peace in the next. But at the same time Islam is a Complete Way of Life, that includes fundamental teachings applicable to different spheres of human life.
Given the nature and psychology of man, it is obvious that war is unavoidable and as such, rules are necessary for military engagement too. One of the positive aspects of Islam is that the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet gave clear and valid rules to be followed not only in times of peace, but also in times of war. In fact worship of Allah does not cease in times of war.
To put the matter succinctly, fighting is allowed by Allah Almighty only when it is absolutely unavoidable; that is to say, Muslims are permitted to fight only after all other options are explored and exhausted.
In today’s world we know Muslims in many parts of the world are the victims of unprovoked aggression, brutal occupation, and severe torture. As the international organizations meant to work for peace are coerced into serving the neocolonialist forces, the oppressed people have no course open before them except fight.
The aggressors and occupiers of Muslim lands present a distorted picture of Islam and Muslims with a view to finding justification for the atrocities they commit on people. As part of this orchestrated propaganda, we find a vicious attempt to malign the Prophet of Islam; they misrepresent him as a person who supports violence. It is against this background that we have thought of the present subject. And our choice of this subject is not meant to give the impression that the Prophet’s chief contribution was in giving rules of warfare.
Being a practical religion, Islam has to give rules for warfare too, as it gives rules in other areas of human activity.
Hope I have answered your question.
Name
Hussein
- Australia
Profession
Student
Question
Salam dear respected scholar. How could we apply the Prophet's directions on ethics of war in modern warfare?
Answer
Salaam Hussein,
Thank you for your question.
First of all, I do not accept the idea that Islam must somehow approve of, and accommodate everything that is considered “modern”. And what we call “modern warfare” is the product of anti-human (and therefore anti-Islamic) forces of the so-called “civilized world”.
Indeed the question - how could the rules of warfare taught by the Prophet be applicable to “modern warfare” – is like the question, “how can we apply the rules of Islam to “modern partying” or “modern casinos”?
Hope you know what I mean.
In my humble opinion, there is absolutely NO QUESTION of the Prophet – if he were alive today for example – permitting the use of DU bombs or any of those "marvelous" doomsday devices (I mean the daisy cutters, cluster bombs, white phosphorus, napalm etc etc stored in the US and Israeli arsenals) on living beings; no matter what the evangelical Christians believe about Jesus: that when he comes for a second time he will use the very bombs in the US arsenal to decimate the “infidels” in the Middle East.
Hope I have answered your question.
Name
Taqwa
- Australia
Profession
Question
Dear Scholar, In The Sealed Nectar the book on the beloved prophet peace be upon him, there is a story where the prophet peace be upon him had the feet and hands of his enemies cut off and maybe even worse. I can not remember the details because I read it a while back, but I remember it was done to a tribe called Bani Quaraikan or something like that. Please advise on why and what reasons our gentle prophet peace be upon him did that. I know he is the only perfect human and I hate to question anything he ever did, but I'd just like to know.? JazakaLlahu Khairan
Answer
Salaam Taqwa,
Thank you for your question.
This question of yours needs a detailed answer, because (1) there is some difference in the details you have given; and (2) the circumstances of the incident need detailed explanation.
So I refer you to the answer given to the almost the same question, by our scholars in the Shari'ah section available here:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503548440
Thank you very much.
Name
Abdo Aldalyö
- Egypt
Profession
Web Site Admin
Question
How can the intellectuals confront the campaign which both the orientalists and the secularists launch against our great prophet. I feel that all Muslims carry sins by not clearing the Picture of the True Islam
Secondly I want to know if the Boycotting of the Goods have direct effect on republishing those silly and foolish pictures and if this is true what are the ideal methods to prevent such absurdity ?
Answer
Salaam Abdo Aldaly,
Thank you for your question.
The best way to confront the campaign against the Prophet is, first for our scholars and leaders to approach the Danish government (for instance) to ban such blasphemous acts.
If they do not listen to our requests, the second step is to use the same freedom they swear by, to launch a huge campaign in the west to bring the Prophet and his teachings before their audience.
And if there is governmental opposition to such a venture, then (the third step) is for our governments and leaders to respond in a suitable manner of their choice (politically or economically for example).
And if our leaders do not take any interest in this matter, the next step would be for the Muslim peoples to boycott the Danish in a democratically acceptable way.
The re-publication of those cartoons was NOT the result of the boycotting of Danish products. It was the result of the court decision in Denmark to acquit a few Muslims accused of plotting against the life of the cartoonist. The supposition is that those Muslims are guilty. To revenge against them as well as the Muslim world they republished the cartoons. They could do this so easily because they are certain that the Muslims will never react by tarnishing Jesus; and also because they know that Muslims in general are notoriously inept.
And Allah knows best.
Name
Ahmad
- Egypt
Profession
Translator
Question
Respected Sheikh,
Assalamu alaikum,
As well known, Islam firmly prohibits the murder of civilians, and even it does prohibit killing armed men except if they are attackers. But, the point here I want to ask about is civilians: Are we, under the current circumstances, allowed to stage military operations against our enemies, like the US soldiers in Iraq or the Jews in Ocuppied Palestine, if it is highly likely that civilians will be caught in such operations?
Answer
Salaam Ahmad,
Thank you for your question.
It is clear that Islam prohibits the killing of innocent people in peace time or war time.
People of countries occupied by foreign forces have every right to fight for their independence. They can conduct military operations against those soldiers, their supporters and suppliers. But we are not allowed to adopt all the tactics followed by our enemies; as we are Muslims, and we need to obey Allah and His Apostle.
And Allah knows best.
Name
Mohsin
-
Profession
Question
Dear Professor,
There are many anti websites on the internet against our prophet and religion. How do you want to respond to them as a scholar?
Answer
Salaam Mohsin,
Thank you for your question.
Please refer to the answer I have given to Abdo Aldaly.
Thank you.
Name
Jeremy
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Why didn’t Mahomed teach love instead of war?
Answer
Salaam Jeremy,
Thank you for your question.
Indeed Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught love, mercy and justice; which are the very essential conditions for peace.
Muhammad was against war; he permitted war very reluctantly, when he had no other choice. And he allowed his followers to fight only as a last resort when no other course was open.
Note that war is an exception, not a rule; particularly from the point of view of Islam.
I need not elaborate the political, economic, social and religious reasons for war. The well-known psychologist Carl Jung has said that it is the human unconscious that urge humans to shed blood. We know that rival ideologies contend in this world for supremacy, often leading large masses of people to the battle field. In fact, Religion – Islam – strives for Peace. For this purpose, the Prophet of Islam taught his followers the need for taming their passions. Speaking of ‘jihad’, the Prophet said that the best jihad was to fight against one’s own self, in order to conquer the passions of greed, anger, hatred etc.
So the Prophet permitted fighting only when he confronted no other choice: that was when fighting was the only way towards attaining justice and peace. And he taught that fighting for justice is fighting in the way of Allah; because he knew that no peace is possible without justice.
And God knows best.
Name
E.
-
Profession
Question
As-Salamu Alaikum.
I have read somewhere amongs the fatwas on this website that some prominent scholars have allowed killing civilians if the enemy kills your civilians. How could that be? That doesn't seem ethical and morally correct, let alone Islamic. Can you please shed some light on this?
Answer
Salaam E,
Thank you for your question.
I am fully convinced that Islam does not allow the killing of innocent civilians.
In this matter I quote the fatwa of the great scholar Sheikh Qaradawy:
He said:
"Islam forbids the killing of civilians, children, women and elderly, this is the law of war in Islam"
And Allah knows best.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Answer
Editor
Finally, we would like to thank our guest for speaking to Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue. We request our readers to join us in the upcoming sessions.
