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Revisiting concept of warfare in Islam

By Sulaimon Salau
29 January 2016   |   2:41 am
As a religion of peace, Islam stands firm against terrorism. In the Quran, God has said: “God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers.” (Quran 60:8) Authentic hadiths showed that…
Chief Missioner, NASFAT Worldwide, Sheikh Abdullah Akinbode (right); Vice Chairman, National Elders’ Council, NASFAT, Alhaji Soliudeen Alade;, Chairman, S.O.B Investment Ltd and donor of the multi-million naira building, Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola; Chairman BoT Fountain University, Osogbo, Alhaji Yinka Adeola; and Vice Chancellor, Fountain University, Prof Bashir Ademola Raji during the signing of MoU for the delivery of Multi-million naira administrative offices to Fountain University in Lagos… last Tuesday.

Chief Missioner, NASFAT Worldwide, Sheikh Abdullah Akinbode (right); Vice Chairman, National Elders’ Council, NASFAT, Alhaji Soliudeen Alade;, Chairman, S.O.B Investment Ltd and donor of the multi-million naira building, Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola; Chairman BoT Fountain University, Osogbo, Alhaji Yinka Adeola; and Vice Chancellor, Fountain University, Prof Bashir Ademola Raji during the signing of MoU for the delivery of Multi-million naira administrative offices to Fountain University in Lagos… last Tuesday.

As a religion of peace, Islam stands firm against terrorism. In the Quran, God has said: “God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers.” (Quran 60:8)

Authentic hadiths showed that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children, and he would advise them: “…Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child.”

And he also said: “Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years.”

Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire.

He once listed murder as the second of the major sins, and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, “The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.”

Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to hurt them. Once the Prophet Muhammad said: “A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died. On account of this, she was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth.”

He also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God forgave his sins for this action. The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?” He said: “There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.”

Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright and suffering possible. The Prophet Muhammad said: “When you slaughter an animal, do so in the best way. One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal.”

In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims. If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam.

According to Islamcan website, the word Jihad represents a concept which is much misunderstood in the West. The concept is explained nicely by the Christian scholar Ira 6. Zepp, Jr. in his book entitled A Muslim Primer on pages 133-135.

The essential meaning of Jihad is the spiritual, psychological, and physical effort we exert to be close to God and thus achieve a just and harmonious society. Jihad literally means “striving” or “struggle” and is shorthand for Jihad fi Sabeel Allah (struggle for God’s cause). In a sense, every Muslim is a Mujahid, one who strives for God and justice.

Al-Ghazali captured the essence of Jihad when he said: “The real Jihad is the warfare against (one’s own) passions.” Dr. Ibrahim Abu-Rabi calls Jihad “the execution of effort against evil in the self and every manifestation of evil in society.” In a way, Jihad is the Muslim’s purest sacrifice: a struggle to live a perfect life and completely submit to God.

Another form of Jihad is the striving to translate the word of God into action. If one has experienced God and received guidance from the Qur’an, one struggles to apply that guidance in daily life. So the larger, more prevalent meaning of Jihad is the spiritual struggle of the soul. In this case, Jihad is always present for the believer whether there is an external enemy or not. We should never reduce Jihad to violence.

A third level of Jihad is popularly known as “holy war.” The classic passage is found in the Qur’an: Fight in the way of Allah those who fight against you, but transgress not the limits. Truly Allah likes not the transgressors (Qur’an 2:190).

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