Why Was Jihad Sanctioned?
Jihad is the main misconception people have about Islam, thinking that the main aim for Islam is to kill people and take their money, and this is really not true. Jihad was sanctioned to protect people and let them leave peacefully by fighting those who fight Muslims and stand as an obstacle preventing Islam to reach people.
For example, if there was a village infected by a virus, and some people came to this village with the cure that will heal it, but some of the people in the village came out and prevented them from entering with that medicine. Wouldn’t it be a must that these people be prevented by force so that the medicine enters the village? There is no other solution. Otherwise the people in the village will die. This is simply the Jihad, it’s not terrorism, it’s rather a war against terrorism, a war so that people can live under the peace of Islam, God said in the Quran:
190 And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits.
193. And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is professed only for ALLAH. But if they desist, then remember that no hostility is allowed except against the wrongdoers.(Holy Quran 2:193)
Islam Teaches not to Kill Innocents
In Jihad, unlike the wars in the Old Testament, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ordered Muslims when fighting not to kill women, children or an old man or a monk, see for example this hadith:
Do not embezzle the spoils; do not break your pledge; and do not mutilate (the dead) bodies; do not kill the children. ( Narrated by Muslim)
Killing women, old men and monks was forbidden in another hadith in Muwatta’ concerning Abu Bakr the intimate disciple of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and the first Muslim Caliph :
“I advise you ten things: Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place. Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food. Do not burn bees and do not scatter them. Do not steal from the booty, and do not be cowardly.” (Muwatta’)
How to deal with non Muslims?
Muslims are ordered to treat non Muslims who don’t fight them well, and be fair with him, as God says:
- ALLAH forbids you not respecting those who have not fought against you on account of your religion, and who have not driven you out from your homes, that you be kind to them and deal equitably with them; surely, ALLAH loves those who are equitable. 9. ALLAH only forbids you respecting those who have fought against you on account of your religion and have driven you out of your homes, and have helped others in driving you out, that you make friends with them, and whosoever makes friends with them – it is these that are transgressors.(Holy Quran 60:8-9)
Killing them is forbidden to the extent that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) 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.”(Bukhari and Ibn Majah)
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