Every act of indiscriminate killing and anarchy which happens anywhere in the
world is blamed on those Muslims who make endeavours to lead lives in conformity
with the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The most recent acts
of atrocities which occurred in Spain has once again brought the focus on
true Muslims and in fact on Islam. Our aim in this article is not to conjecture
with theories and the political dimensions surrounding the Madrid bombings nor
to attempt to explore the sinister forces lurking behind these atrocities. Theories
and phantoms abound. Our aim is to present the Islamic perspective —what
the Shariah’s viewpoint is on these indiscriminate killings which
rock the world every now and again. We do not believe that Muslims who understand
Islam and who endeavour to lead lives of the Sunnah, can perpetrate such atrocities
and indiscriminate killing and maiming of people, including women and children.
We also do not believe in the existence of the bogey and phantom called Al-Qaedah
which is a pure creation of the U.S.A. to present as a smokescreen for every
atrocity which is committed by sinister forces.JIHAAD
Every Muslim of sound intelligence
and who does understand what Islam is, also understands that Jihaad is
not brutality, atrocity and anarchy. It is an orderly, systematic institution
with lofty goals. The scope of this brief article precludes elaboration
on this the topic of Jihaad. If Allah Ta’ala
wills, we shall expound on this subject in a future issue of the Majlis.
As for the slaying and maiming of people, the Shariah is quite unambiguous.
It is not permissible during Jihaad to kill women, children and even priests
and monks who engage in their acts of baatil worship. Islam never permits brutality,
torture and atrocities which are all salient features of the kuffaar. They
live and rule with torture and brutality. Muslims who follow Islam have no
share in these gruesome events.
PERPETRATORS
Allah Ta’ala is aware who the perpetrators
of these atrocities are and what their agenda is. Should any Muslim individuals
be responsible for these acts of anarchy, they do not represent Islam or
the Ummah. In fact, their very Imaan is in question. Perpetrators of such
heinous atrocities cannot escape the consequences of their foul misdeeds,
neither in this world nor in the Aakhirah. It soothes us to believe that
even such Muslims who are wedded to crass materialism will not stoop to the
brutal methods which are the capital of the kuffaar.
THE RASOOL
For Muslims the example and pattern of
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) suffice. His attitude on the occasion of the Conquest of Makkah is the
guideline for true Mujaahideen. on that momentous occasion, Nabi-e-Kareem
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) forgave his torturers and persecutors. In lieu
of their years of brutality and torture, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
offered the Mushrikeen Imaan (Belief and Safety). The aim of Jihaad is to clear
the road for Da’wat and Tableegh for the everlasting salvation in the
Hereafter of Allah’s creation. The aim is not the acquisition of wealth,
territory and power through the spread of anarchy and indiscriminate killing
and maiming of people. Such are the ways of non-Muslims whose goal does not
envisage anything beyond the plane of this earthly life. Islam believes in
and demands the institution of Jihaad. Jihaad is a fundamental dimension of
Islam. Without Jihaad, there cannot be Islamic domination on earth.
But what transpired in Madrid is not Jihaad. It does not have the remotest
relationship with the Jihaad of Islam.
The Majlis Vol 15 No 11
ISLAM, KILLINGS, BARBARITY AND JUSTICE
The Purpose of Islam
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
came with the mission of Islam for one single purpose, viz. the salvation of mankind. This purpose was the
guiding factor the forgiveness which was granted to the Mushrikeen on
the day of the Conquest of Makkah.
Inspite of the oppression, persecution
and torture which the Mushrikeen of Makkah had perpetrated on the Muslims for 13 years, everything was forgiven
and forgotten when Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and his noble Sahaabah
entered Makkah as victors. There was no vengeance, no molestation and no acrimony.
There was no need to establish any truth commission or put anyone on
trial for the horrendous atrocities which had been committed against the
Muslims in the past.
Islam came for the everlasting salvation of mankind, hence its Message is
directed to all human beings. It is this overriding objective of Islam which
precluded the commission of acts of revenge when Makkah was conquered.
Thus the Jihad of Islam is to open up the path for the propagation of the
Message of Salvation. Its aim is not to destroy humankind. The example of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahaabah is adequate for the true Believers.
While it is of the imperative acts of non-Muslim
conquerors to unleash horror and terror, rape and plunder on the vanquished
foe, Islam follows an opposite direction. When the enemy is conquered and
defeated in the battlefield, there is no wanton pillage and killing.
Muslims who indulge in such misdeeds are
not ambassadors of Islam nor do they have an understanding of the goals and
purpose of Islam. Islam can be presented to the kuffaar only by the presentation of the example and character of
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and his Sahaabah. This was the original
method of Tableegh and Da’wah. Large scale conversion to Islam in the
conquered territories was a direct effect of the sterling character of the
Sahaabah.
INDISCRIMINATE KILLINGS
Islam has come for the everlasting salavation
of humankind—not merely
for worldly success and safety. The true life is the existence in the Hereafter.
Without Islam, this goal cannever be attained. Entire mankind is the target
of Islam’s mission of Da’wat and Tableegh.
All people are the makhlooq (creation)
of Allah Ta’ala, and the message
of the Qur’aan has been dispatched to earth for everyone’s benefit.
But Islam cannot be presented to all people if they are alienated by atrocities
which are unleashed in the name of Islam.
Indiscriminate killing of people in the
name of Islam or Jihad is not advocated by the Shariah. Those who indulge
in indiscriminate killing of Allah’s
makhlooq are bereft of Imaani understanding and the maqsad [purpose] of Rasulullah’s
mission.
While indiscriminate killing of people, including women and children, torture,
rape, pillage and plunder are the usual acts of horror of the kuffaar, the
followers of Islam are not allowed to emulate such tactics.
The torture in the prisons of Iraq, in Guantanamo Bay, in the prisons of Afghanistan,
Pakistan, India, Russia and elsewhere are acts which are exclusive with those
who have no true belief in Allah and the Aakhirah. If Muslims succeed in conquering
these debaucherers, torturers, sadists and sub-human specimens of mankind,
it will not be permissible to recipocrate with brutality as is the practice
of the kuffaar.
Islam is an extremely lofty and celestial system of life. It has no room for
the ways and tactics of kufr which are all spawned by shaitaan. All systems
of Islam are divine. The demarcations of these lofty systems are clearly defined
by the Shariah. Muslims are not permitted to transgress the limits of the Shariah
regardless of the harm and hurt they had suffered at the hands of the savages
and barbarians.
BARBARISM
It is the obligation of a conquering Muslim nation to eliminate the barabarism
of the barbarians. The aim is not to eliminate the barbarians. The barbarians
have to be transformed into human beings so that their everlasting salvation
in the Aakhirah is assured. That was what Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
had achieved. No nation had ever succeeded in transforming barbarians into
human beings. This was the distinction of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
Muslims May Not Reciprocate with Barbarity
In the Qur’aan Majeed Allah Ta’ala
states:
"Do not let hatred for a community induce you to transgress (the limits)
because they (the mushrikeen) had prevented you from Musjidul Haraam."(Surah
Maaidah,aayat 2)
The Sahaabah were extremely annoyed and agitated when the Mushrikeen of Makkah
had prevented them from performing Umrah in the year 6 A.H. The terms of the
peace treaty of Hudaibiyyah were absolutely humiliating for the Muslims.
Besides this episode, there were several
other incidents which had augmented the hatred for the Mushrikeen. Some Sahaabah
were contemplating revenge. It was on this occasion that the aforementioned Qur’aanic
verse was revealed.
THE LIMITS
In this aayat Allah Ta’ala forbids
vengeance. He prohibits Muslims from compensating persecution with persecution,
torture with torture, injustice with injustice. The aayat states with great
clarity that Muslims should not allow their hatred for any community to cause
them to transgress the limits of the Shariah.
Those who had persecuted and tortured Muslims were forgiven and accepted within
the fold of Islam. Islam had come for their salvation in the Aakhirah. Their
past misdeeds were not set up as a barrier for their entry into the fold of
Islam. Islam does not propagate the concept of truth commissions and similar
institutions. It acts in the best interests of mankind. There is nothing better
for people than their everlasting salvation in the Hereafter.
JUSTICE
Islam is a Deen of justice and compassion.
Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi (rahmatullah alayh) states in his Maaariful
Qur’aan:
"The Qur’aan Kareem teaches
fairplay and justice for both friend and foe. All are equal in this respect.
Regardless of how brutal your enemy was and how much he had persecuted you,
it is your obligation to treat him with justice. Islam is unique in this.
This is the speciality of Islam. It safeguards the rights of even enemies.
Islam does not compensate injustice with injustice. It responds with justice."
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