As with any Islamic law, the rules of war are derived from the primary source, the Quran, and the secondary source, the Hadith, or collected oral traditions. Sunni and Shi'a Muslims accept different Hadith as authoritative. As you will see in the print I have bolded, many Muslims are demonstrating unethical behavior according to the teachings of the prophet they are rioting & killing for. Again, I'm not sharing this for the sake of upholding Christianity as a faultless model, for it has it's share of inconsistencies:
Relevant Qur'anic verses
- Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah does not love transgressors. (2:190)
- If any one slew a person - except in retaliation for murder and for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people. (5:32)
- You may kill those who wage war against you, and you may evict them whence they evicted you. Oppression is worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Sacred Masjid, unless they attack you therein. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is the just retribution for those disbelievers.[2:191]
- If they (your enemies) refrain, then GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.[2:192]
- You may also fight them to eliminate oppression, and to worship GOD freely. If they refrain, you shall not aggress; aggression is permitted only against the aggressors.[2:193]
- If they resort to peace, so shall you, and put your trust in GOD. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.[8:61]
... if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then GOD gives you no excuse to fight them.[4:90]
- O you who believe, if you strike in the cause of GOD, you shall be absolutely sure. Do not say to one who offers you peace, "You are not a believer," seeking the spoils of this world. For GOD possesses infinite spoils. Remember that you used to be like them, and GOD blessed you. Therefore, you shall be absolutely sure (before you strike). GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do. [4:94]
- You shall not kill any person - for GOD has made life sacred - except in the course of justice. If one is killed unjustly, then we give his heir authority to enforce justice. Thus, he shall not exceed the limits in avenging the murder; he will be helped.[17:33]
- There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.[2:256]
- Proclaim: "This is the truth from your Lord," then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve. We have prepared for the transgressors a fire that will completely surround them. When they scream for help, they will be given a liquid like concentrated acid that scalds the faces. What a miserable drink! What a miserable destiny! [18:29]
Hadith accepted by the Sunni:
Muhammad is reputed to have said:
"You are neither hard-hearted nor of fierce character, nor one who shouts in the markets. You do not return evil for evil, but excuse and forgive." (Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 362)
"Do not kill any old person, any child or any woman" (Abu Dawud)
"Do not kill the monks in monasteries" or "Do not kill the people who are sitting in places of worship". (Musnad of Ibn Hanbal) Sunnis believe that one of the most general and encompassing rules of warfare in Islam was given by Abu Bakr to an Islamic army set out for Syria. Abu Bakr was Muhammad's first successor and is considered by Sunnis to have been his closest friend. Abu Bakr is reputed to have said:
"Stop, O people, that I may give you ten rules for your guidance in the battlefield. Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful. Slay not any of the enemy's flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic (or humanitarian) services; leave them alone."
Hadith accepted by the Shi'a:
Muhammad is reputed to have said:
"Allah has cursed he who kills one who does not fight him, or strikes one who does not strike him." (related by Imam 'Ali al-Ridha, the 8th Shi'a Imam)
"Go in the name of Allah, and in the way of Allah and according to the creed of the Messenger of Allah. Do not handcuff or tie up (prisoners) and do not mutilate (even the dead) and do not use treacherous means and do not kill old men or children or women. Do not cut down trees unless you are forced to do so. If any Muslim man, be he lowly or lofty, should look towards one of the Polytheists, then he should give him sanctuary so that he might hear the words of Allah. If he follows you, then he is your brother in faith, and if he refuses, then grant him sanctuary and seek succour in Allah." (related by Imam Ja'far al-Sādiq, the 6th Shi'a Imam)
"He who joins up with those who are not his rightful allies will have the curse of Allah upon him. He who denies the labourer his rightful wage will have the curse of Allah upon him. He who commits a crime or aids a criminal will have the curse of Allah upon him... O' 'Ali, the worst of people in the sight of Allah is the killer of one who does not fight him, or he who beats one who does not beat him, or he who gives allegiance to other than his rightful allies. They have committed kufr (non-belief) in what Allah, Almighty is He, has sent down." (related by Imam Ja'far al-Sādiq, the 6th Shi'a Imam)
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib is reputed to have said:
"Do not fight the people until they initiate fighting for then by the grace of Allah, you will have the justification, and leaving them until they initiate fighting is yet another justification. Then if you defeat them, do not kill one who is fleeing, and do not finish off the wounded or expose nakedness or mutilate the dead." (related by 'Abdullah ibn Jondab, the son of Imam 'Ali)
"Do not pursue those retreating, nor one who throws down his weapon, and do not kill the wounded. For these people are retreating and they have no troop to resort to. This what the Sunnah commended when fighting the trespassers." (related by Salam)
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10 comments:
There is much to learn from wisdom - no matter where it can be found. Much to ponder and think of and unitely condemn those who are united in opression of all sorts.
love, wisdom only breeds understanding and humanity. Thanks again for sharing.
Doesnt both christianity and muslim beleifs teach to love your enemy? If so, then we should be more careful about all the hatred that goes back and forth.
ALL religious belief systems have been perverted to make an excuse for violence I.E. The Catholic church had chaplins on both sides of WWII praying for victory!! imagine what would happen if everyone picked a holy book- be it the Koran, the Bible, the writings of the Dhali Lhama ect. and followed th advice on how we should treat our fellow man!!!!
Now if we can just get all my fellow Muslims to read all of that the world will become a much calmer place.
excellent post thanks.
First of all, I was quite impressed with your research in compiling all these verses.
Secondly, I, obviously have no doubt about any of them.
What, here, is most interesting, is royce's comment.
All religions are for peace & love among humans, but, not on expense of human dignity. All of them, do ask their followers to fight; fight only when you are attacked; when your rights are not respected; when your dignity is offended; when your fellows are massacred for no reasons or when it's necessary to create peace & harmony.
Excellent reserach and amazing post, esp coming from a Non-Muslim.
You have highlighted exactly what Islam stands for and teaches Muslims. Muslims are always told to forgive rathen then take the revenge. And if they do choose to take revenge, there is a very streict code of conduct in terms of the things you have highlighted.
I would also add that besides not attacking women, children and elderly, Muslims are forbidden to attack worship-places and worshippers of any religion. Also, it has been prescribed not to attack during night and not to attack on the back when in WAR.
Now, only if Mr. Bin Laden could read your post and realise how he is so NON-MUSLIM and not serving any good to Muslims.
Once again, amazing post nad if you would read Koran morein detail you will find how Muslims themselves are not following Koran and yet doing so many things in the name of Islam and Koran.
I've actually been thinking of buying a "Quran" just to learn more about the "enemy".
After reading some of your post today on this subject I went and did it.
Thanks,
John
As you have written below that you did not want to show off secularism but my dear friend,in my point of veiw Allah and his last prophet said if anyone kills just for his own sake he who is non of us so that is why how could you write that muslims are doing wrong,therefore i want to tell you which people who want to kill others on the basis of religion dnt know much about their religion.
well i appericiate you for All this.
REGARDS,
Great post. Thank you. I already knew of the Constitution of Medina which states some of your content but this post has added much to my knowledge.
During what I call the Golden Age of Cordoba, Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars were seekers together.
Muslim scholars brought algebra, Aristotle, music theory, astronomy water engineering to the "West".
Paris University held two Muslim philosophers as the most authoritative ones during at least one century: Avicennes and Averroès.
I pray for the day when it will be such as it was then.
I think this is an interesting post, however I would take issue with the qualifier "many" in regards to the numbers of Muslims who violate their faith....there are more than 1 billion of us in the world - what would you suggest would be the percentage % of us who transgressing our faith egregiously?
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