Some Points About War, Jihad, & Terrorism

People still refuse to accept that Islam is against terrorism and that Jihad has only limited applications mainly defending ones own country and defending the religion when under attack.  Muslims are not to be the aggressors.  Jihad in the larger sense is the work that a person applies upon him or herself to modify the character to control desires, whims and wishes to be in line with what God has requested of us, such as not committing adultery, drinking, taking drugs, stealing, lieing, cheating, slandering etc.  Controling these behaviors is the bulk of what is jihad on a daily basis.

Below are a few verses from the Quran which support the information that Islam does not allow the killing of innocent people, and that the sanctity of life is of great importance.  Islam, in its teachings is a religion of peace and tolerance.  It is ignorance, anger and frustration that override the laws given by Allah, God the Almighty, and the only way to over come that is to continue trying to educate and break down the walls that create hate and anger.

1. The human being is inherently a sacred creation. It is forbidden to transgress against any human being, irrespective of color, ethnicity, or religion. The Qur’an says: “We have honored the descendants of Adam.” [17:70]

2. It is forbidden to kill a human soul unjustly. Killing a single person is to God as heinous as killing all of humanity, just as saving a single person from death is as weighty as saving the lives of all humanity. The Qur’an says: “If anyone killed a person except as recompense for murder or spreading havoc in the land, then it would be as if he killed all of humanity. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the lives of all humanity.” [5:32]

3. It is forbidden to impose a religious faith upon a person. The Qur’an says: “There is no compulsion in religion.” [2:256] A person will not even be considered a Muslim if he or she accepted Islam under duress.

4. The message of Islam asserts that human relationships must be established on the highest moral standards. Muhammad said: “I was only sent to perfect good conduct.”

The Qur’an says: “We sent aforetime our messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the scripture and the balance so the people could establish justice. And We sent down iron wherein is mighty power and many benefits for mankind.” [57:25]

We read in another place in the Qur’an: “God does not restrain you with regard to those who do not fight you on account of your faith nor drive you out of your homes from dealing kindly and justly with them, for God loves those who are just.” [60:8]

5. All the resources of the Earth were created for humanity. The Qur’an addresses this when it says: “It is He who has created for you all that is on the Earth.” [2:29] 

These resources were only created for human beings to benefit from them within the limits of justice and for the betterment of humanity. Therefore, spoiling the environment, spreading havoc on Earth, perpetrating violence against weaker nations and fighting to wrest from them their wealth and the fruits of their prosperity, is conduct that is reviled by God. In the Qur’an we read: “When he turns his back, his aim is to spread mischief throughout the Earth and destroy crops and cattle, but Allah does not love mischief.” [2:205] and: “Do not make mischief in the Earth after it has been set in order.” [7: 56]

6. Responsibility for a crime rests solely upon the perpetrator of that crime. No one may be punished for the crimes of another. The Qur’an says: “No bearer of burdens must bear the burdens of another.” [35:18]

7. Justice for all people is their inalienable right. Oppressing them is forbidden, irrespective of their religion, color, or ethnicity. The Qur’an states: “And whenever you speak, speak justly, even if a close relative is concerned.” [6: 152]

8. Dialogue and invitation must be done in the best possible manner. The Qur’an says: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good preaching and argue with them in the best manner” [16:125]

We believe in these principles, as our religion commands us to. They are the teachings of Muhammad. They agree to some extent with some of the principles that the American intellectuals put forth in their paper. We see that this agreement gives us a good platform for discussion that can bring about good for all of mankind. 

On the basis of principle, Islam prohibits targeting innocent people like women, children, and others like them even when there is actually a war being waged between the Muslims and the disbelievers. Disbelief, in and of itself, is not a justification to kill someone.

Allah’s Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs who came after him stressed the need to protect the weak and the noncombatants and were very considerate of them. 

There are laws that have been set down about how Muslims conduct war. Islam today is the same Islam as yesterday; it hasn’t changed its structure since the days of the prophet. If Islam hasn’t changed, what are the things that are causing them to do these kinds of things now? What has changed to cause their behavior? And the Wahhabi movement is now more than 200 years old, so what is causing the change in behavior now? …These suicide attacks are not part of the Islamic approach to killing, and they are not part of Islamic history. The Arabs and Muslims never before relied on this method in war. And for this reason we don’t find in the classical works of Islam that the issue has been addressed in this way.