Leadership at Peace and War in Islam

Hasan A. Yahya,  Professor of sociology

 The word “Islam” is closely related to the word “salam or silm” which means peace. Prophet Muhammad, (pbuh) himself had a very peaceful nature, was extremely tolerant, and highly protective of the non-Muslim minorities living in the Muslim state.

However, history books tell us that at times when states find war inevitable, Islam in specific and dire circumstances, permits war. It keeps warfare at a level of mercy and respect for the enemy that no other army has been able to reach. The Prophet sometimes had to fight for the mere survival of his people and message, but once their security was ensured, he immediately reverted to peace and diplomacy. He considered struggling for life is real Jihad,  more difficult than Jihad at war times.

There is a rigid code Muslims must abide by in deciding when they can fight and how the fighting should be conducted. War itself is despised, and is only a last-resort option when all other attempts at peace have been made.

The only times in which believers are allowed to take up arms are when they are defending their own lives and the lives of their people, when they see the weak being oppressed in acts of tyranny, and when they are prohibited from practicing their religion:

Quran reads for example in surah (2: 191): “And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.”

A Muslim is never allowed to initiate hostilities. They, however, retaliate after offences made by others. In Qur’an, this is very clear, in the same Surah (2:190) reads:  “And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but transgress not the limits. Surely, Allah likes not the transgressors.”

War was forbidden in certain months  In the same sura (2:217) Qu’an reads: “They question thee (O Muhammad) with regard to warfare in the sacred month. Say: Warfare therein is a great (transgression), but to turn (men) from the way of Allah, and to disbelieve in Him and in the Inviolable Place of Worship, and to expel His people thence, is a greater with Allah; for persecution is worse than killing. And they will not cease from fighting against you till they have made you renegades from your religion, if they can. And whoso be cometh a renegade and dieth in his disbelief: such are they whose works have fallen both in the world and the Hereafter, Such are rightful owners of the Fire: they will abide therein,”

Aside from these circumstances, there is no legitimate fighting in Islam. The conditions placed upon the soldier in battle are of utmost respect for the enemy and for human life. Islam makes a clear distinction between combatants and noncombatants, forbidding soldiers to harm defenseless civilian in any way. In one of his speeches, the Prophet said: “Do not kill the women, children, aged or the ill.” He also prohibited Muslims from harming monks in their monasteries or hermits in their caves. Or cutting down trees, or destroying livestock, wells, homes or land of the enemy is likewise forbidden.

 Furthermore, Muhammad and the Guided Khalifs supervised Muslim armies that there is no excuse for any expedition or attack resulting in the killing of civilians, no one has the right to take innocent lives.

The Qur’an lays down strict guidelines for the declaration of war by a Muslim army, and Muslims are prohibited from breaching any treaty to which they have agreed. Qur’an shows in sura (8:58) that: “If you fear treachery from any people throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms (that there will be no more covenant between you and them), Certainly Allah likes not the treacherous. The above principles on war and peace were practiced 14 centuries before UN implemented them in its codes. (687 words) www.hasanyahya.com