Hello
Is there a concept of killing in religion? I thought religion is for saving people. Hope you explain.
Answer
Hello Albert,
Thank you for your question.
In fact by “The concept of killing in religion” we meant particularly “the concept of killing in the name of religion”, as publicized by the media or understood by the people.
We may say that the concept is not in religion, but in the perceptions of people chiefly.
As you said, religion is for saving people, saving people from all kinds of evil including the evil of hatred and ill will that leads to conflicts and possibly killing.
Religion is Guidance; Divine Guidance given to humans through the prophets, as to how we should live here as the servants of the One God, enjoying equally the blessings He has given us.
In individual lives or in the privacy of our own hearts, we have to invoke God for help in times of need, and in the public domain we need to help one another in the creation of a welfare society. Religion gives us the fundamentals required for such a life.
But in our social life we may have frictions and abrasions owing to our own typical angularities and peculiarities. In order to avoid these from developing into conflicts and fights we need to strictly abide by the great teachings of the noble prophets. So religion has given us some guidelines as to how to punish criminals in society and in case of a war how to fight and what norms we should follow there.
Apart from these, to my understanding there is no concept of killing as such in religion.
Hope I have answered your question.
Name
Isabelle
-
Profession
Question
It is interesting that nobody is really discussing the root causes of terrorism - such as poverty, oppression, etc. Do you think that this is deliberate? Would terrorism end if these things are addressed?
Answer
Hello Isabelle,
Peace be with you!
Thank you for your question.
You are perfectly right in saying that nobody - i.e no one who matters - is discussing the root causes of terrorism. Because, if they discuss the root causes of terrorism, sometimes they themselves cannot escape a part of the blame.
As every school boy can understand, we can cure a disease only if we diagnose its causes. But in curing the disease of terrorism our leaders avoid even mentioning them.
Because the root causes will certainly point the fingers at certain people who pretend to be fighting terrorism.
Terrorism is the disease they suffer from, while pretending to cure it.
Also, our leaders are not interested in defining terrorism. Because a sound definition of terrorism will not exclude some of their terrible acts too, like the bombing of wedding parties, shopping centers and shooting of doctors (as in Falluja)- all of which were part of the illegal invasion of Iraq (code named "War on Terror") which killed over 100,000 innocent humans.
Coming to the second part of your question: The only way we can work towards eliminating terrorism is to eliminate its causes. So we need to discuss the causes and find out ways of removing those causes in the most effective manner.
Thank you for asking a very significant question.
Hope I have attempted an answer to your question.
Name
Anon
-
Profession
Student
Question
Africa is full of poverty and hunger, oppression and tyranny - however, you don't see any terrorism being carried out by Africans. Why do Middle Easterners and Asians then do it?
Answer
Hello Anon,
Peace be with you!
A number of recent studies of terrorism have shown that people dying of hunger do not always resort to terrorism. For one thing, in order to carry out acts of terror, one must have some energy, some initiative, some burning fire within.
The Middle Easterners and Asians some times resort to terrorism because their lands are occupied by neo-colonial forces. What is inflicted on them is "Shock and Awe" American style. So the Iraqis for instance re-invent it in their own way: Shock and Awe Iraqi style. That is how terrorists are systematically made by the exploiters and empire builders.
It is mostly out of desperation that humans become terrorists. No one is born a terrorist. There are no terrorist genes. People are made into terrorists by horrible occupation tactics like the ones employed by Israel or by the super powers.
As the honorable London Mayor said, if the roles had been reversed, and if westerners had been at the receiving end of "the Shock and Awe", they would have been the terrorists of today.
Hope I have answered your question.
Name
N. Javed
- United States
Profession
Question
Isn't the concept of jihad an entire ideology that basically advocates violence in the name of Islam?
Answer
Hello Javed,
Peace be with you!
Thank you for your question.
Jihad is a terribly misunderstood concept in today's world. Jihad cannot be used in the sense of "holy war" or even "fighting". Jihad means "striving". It basically means any striving for good. Even the efforts made by a student to pass an examination can be called a jihad.
In Islam it stands for any effort made by a Muslim to live in Islam. That is, if a person strives to pray five times a day punctually in spite of many difficulties, the struggle that he makes for that purpose is jihad. Similarly the efforts made by Muslims to feed the hungry or shelter the homeless in an area is jihad.
Jihad can mean fighting, when you fight in self defense, or to free your country from occupiers. Only in such cases can jihad be fighting.
Therefore your statement that "the concept of jihad is an entire ideology that basically advocates violence in the name of Islam" is a very objectionable subversion of a noble concept in Islam.
Hope I have answered your question.
Name
Iqbal
- Pakistan
Profession
Question
Dear Professor,
I have a question about what Muslims are supposed to do. In the face of all the oppression and injustice that Muslims face all over the world, how are they supposed to regain their rights, their sovereignty, their dignity? It is so easy for people to say stop the violence, when they are sitting in their comfortable homes, eating nice meals, knowing their children are safe. But those who aren't so comfortable, those who face this injustice daily - what are THEY supposed to do?
Answer
Hello Iqbal,
Assalamu alaikum
Thank you for your question.
This is a very pertinent question in the present circumstances. I believe that the best course for Muslims is to derive as much energy and initiative as they can from the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah in these circumstances. If we believe that the Holy Qur'an is Divine Guidance for all time, then there MUST be guidance there in these difficult times too.
One of the first things that catch the attention is that Muslims should go out to the world and give a correct picture of Islam. Because da'wah is a duty on every Muslim as enjoined by the Qur'an. We need to do this duty.
The first part of it is to live as true Muslims and the second part is to convey the message of Islam as best as we can. Because one thing is clear: Most people of the world hate Muslims out of ignorance and misunderstanding.
Please understand that even when the US and UK governments are engaged in killing Muslims by hundreds, there are thousands of Non Muslims who feel that Muslims are being attacked unjustly and they voice their protest. We must not turn these good people into our enemies by exploding bombs in buses and trains. For one thing, it is against the explicit teachings of Islam to harm, let alone killing, innocent people. Secondly this kind of terrorist attacks are the worst things that Muslims can do to Islam. So the best thing for us to do is to go out to the world and prove that we are really Peace-loving people, thereby establishing that Islam is Peace.
And another point we need to take into consideration is that Muslims often fight among themselves for the silliest of reasons. Sects and factions and schisms do exist in the name of minor differences. Remember the teaching of the Holy Qur'an: that we should hold fast to the Rope of Allah, and that we should not be divided. IF we remain united, and IF we strive to help our own poor and ignorant people in Pakistan, in Bangladesh, Indonesia and so on, we will be doing the best jihad of the times. Then we would be proving to the world, that Islam is Peace, Islam is Brotherhood, Islam is Love of our own brethren. And then insha Allah, Allah will come to our help.
So instead of sitting comfortably in our homes eating our meals and forgetting our duties, let us do something for Islam that is reasonable, that is good for us, good for the world and for Islam itself.
May Allah Almighty help us and guide us!
Name
Jake
- Australia
Profession
IT Specialist
Question
Other than the crusades, has there been violence carried out in the name of religion by people other than Muslims?
Answer
Hello Jake,
Peace be with you!
The crusades were of course in the name of Jesus "the Prince of Peace". The Thirty Years War (1618-1625) was a war fought in the name of religion within Christianity. And I wish to draw your attention to recent burnings of Muslims in Gujarat by Hindu extremists. That was in the name of the religion of Hinduism. There were many others too.
Particularly I wish to point out that the Palestinian Conflict is inspired by the misinterpretation of one verse in the Jewish Bible. Again, consider the present War on Terror: Bush said that he was chosen by God to wage this battle.And the Christian Right is for an all-out war called the Armageddon in which Jesus (who would be coming again) will use nuclear bombs against non-Christians and wipe out most of humanity from the face of the earth. President Bush is one who believes this. And if so, is there any wonder that there is no peace in the world?
Name
atheist
-
Profession
Question
I find it ironic that more wars and violence has been committed in the name of religion, and at the same time religions claim that they are "peace", "love", "mercy" and all that. Isn't this hipocrasy?
Answer
Hello Atheist,
Peace be with you!
Thank you for your question.
It is a terrible myth that is being spread by the enemies of Religion that more wars have been waged in the name of religion than in other names. Think of the two world wars: Were they in the name of Religion? How many millions of people died in those two wars?
The US itself has waged a number of wars in almost all parts of the world killing millions not in the name of religion: The millions killed in Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia, the 200,000 Iraqis killed in Operation Desert Storm, the thousands of Palestinians who have died fighting Israel's occupation of the West Bank, the millions who died in Yugoslavia, Somalia, Haiti, Chile, Nicaragua, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Panama, at the hands of all the terrorists, dictators and genocidists - all these people lost their lives not in the name of religion. And what about Stalin, Hitler, Khmer Rouge and so on and on.... So many mass murders in the name of a deified nation or country or "ism" like Communism, fascism etc...
Compared with these the killings in the name of religion were nothing.
Peace, Love and Mercy are of course ideas and values taught by religions. It is true that the so-called religious people often forget God and act like atheists. Often they are hypocritical; for instance they preach peace, but do not practice it etc. But this does not in any way lessen the value of the religions that teach Peace, Love and Mercy. Because the same religions MOVE millions to strive for Peace, love and mercy in their lives against all odds. Just open your eyes.
Hope I have answered your question.
Name
Ali
- Norway
Profession
Question
Asalamu aleikom,
Is it up to humanity to punish those who do not follow Allahs command, for example drinking alkohol, blasphemy or homosexuality, to whip or kill in the name of God or should we leave it to Allah almighty?
Answer
Hello Ali,
Assalamu alaikum
Thank you for your question.
The punishments prescribed by Islam for certain crimes can be carried out only by the proper authorities after due legal process. And the courts of law that pronounce Islamic judgments and impart punishments should have considered certain very important conditions before action is taken. I do not wish to elaborate on this point. But only wish to state most emphatically that it is not up to certain self-righteous individuals to imagine that they are appointed by God to punish people and do havoc in the world.
I hope I have answered your question.
Name
Rogier
- Netherlands
Profession
Question
Do you, personally, unequivocally condemn the multiple bombings in London? How about the terrorist bombs in Bali and Madrid, and the attacks of 9/11/2001?
Answer
Hello,
Peace be with you!
I personally, unequivocally condemn all the bombings, single, double or multiple, whether done by Muslims, Jews or Christians.
With equal force, I condemn the devastation of Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Probably you may agree that some of the later bombings in some cities may have been triggered by the illegal invasion of Iraq by the "Coalition of the Willing" that killed over 100,000 innocent Iraqis.
I condemn the air-dropping of yellow food packets followed by yellow cluster bombs on illiterate people in the remote regions of a war-torn Afghanistan, which tore to pieces many unsuspecting children who picked up the packets.
Thank you.
Name
Horace Thrapthwarpe
- Bahamas
Profession
Aquatic Fishmonger
Question
Dear Madam: do you not concur that the topic should instead be called "Our Religion Enjoys Killing Infidels and Heretics?"
Answer
Hello Horace,
Peace be with you!
First, the person who answers this question is not a lady, but a gentleman.
Secondly, today's topic is "The Concept of Killing in Religion".
And I note the topic you suggested is: "Our Religion Enjoys Killing Infidels and Heretics". But I don't know what this religion of yours is, that enjoys killing infidels etc. Is it some perverted form of Christianity or some pagan religion?
In the Middle Ages, there was an institution called the Inquisition that was notorious for burning heretics. That was in Christianity. And the very word "heretic" is typical of the paranoid Christian church of the past.
If you by any chance mean Islam, let me say that you betray a very deplorable ignorance of Islam: Islam does not allow the killing of infidels and heretics. Please spend some time to learn about Islam from the original sources, instead of swallowing the lies spewed out by some of your televangelists.
Name
Murad
-
Profession
Question
Does the view of "Dar-alharb" and "Dar-al-Islam" which is held by some Muslims today have anything to do with the Quran and Hadiths?
It seems to me as if this view of the world was established by scholars long ago when you either conquer or be conquered. It doesn't quite seem to be the case today. In any case, does the Quran or Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) ever bring up this idea of either being the land of Islam or "al-harb"? Thank you.
Answer
Scholars have a lot to say in this regard, especially when it comes to dividing the world into Diyaar "states" or "regions" or "countries", but the philosophy behind it relates to the basis of relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims, i.e is it war or peace.
As for the point whether the Prophet (PBUH) recognised this or not, yes the Prophet came with a universal message, but it's a message without coercion or pressure. If you accept it you enter into the fold of Muslim community. If not you are considered "non-Muslim" but with inalienable rights in Islam that Muslims, individuals and governments, have to respect.
Even when the Prophet (PBUH) established the first islamic state in Medina, he didn't isolate it from other existing non-Muslim communities.
He did enter into peaceful alliances with them....etc.
So this doctrine or idea cannot be justified today for waging war on innocent people or killing in the name of religion.
Besides, there is a third category to that division, called "dar el-H`ad" (abode of covenant" and this indicate an entire new term of relationship, without going into detail.
