War & Peace
Islam can be regarded as being by definition
a religion of Peace by Surrender to Allah, the Creator. And yet there is much
in Islam that points to conflict and war. The result of this is that there is a
controversy between those who put the emphasis on the Peace and those who put
it on War. This opposition also illustrates War.
In fact, the whole of life can be regarded as
a war, a struggle between opposites, between good and evil, between progress
and regression, between positive and negative, between pleasure and pain,
between anabolism and catabolism within human metabolism, between construction
and destruction, between evolution and involution and between growing and
dying. In so far as the Universe is evolving there is a conflict between
"what is" and what "will be", between fact and values. All
other struggles and conflicts are parts of this.
However, the Quran tells us:-
"And of all things have We created in
pairs, that you may reflect (or receive instruction). Therefore flee unto
Allah. (Say:) Surely I am a plain Warner to you from Him." 51:49-50
We are, therefore, required to transcend the
pair of opposites. They are not really in conflict but complement each other.
Without one the other cannot be known or achieved. One knows the good in
contrast with the evil and achieves the good by overcoming the evil and one
grows by overcoming resistance. There can be no construction without
destruction of something else because the same materials are used in both
cases. Both what we regard as good and what we regard as evil subjectively come
from Allah and have a function, one to attract towards a goal and the other to
repel from the opposite pole.
The conflict between opposites can be defined
as a problem and life exists to find a solution which is a third reconciling
factor. Peace
arises from conformity with this universal process and that is Islam.
The aim of Islam is ultimate peace and
harmony but this cannot happen if there is unresolved conflict and disharmony
at local levels. The obstructions to harmony and the causes of this disharmony
must be fought against. There is an overall pattern and the pieces that disrupt
it must be made to fit into it. The negation of the negation is also a
positive. This requires effort. But effort requires expenditure of energy. All
gains require some kind of sacrifice. The pupil who wants success in life must
study in schools and colleges and this involves diverting energy from other
pursuits and giving up immediate pleasures. There is no physical, mental or
spiritual gain without payment. But the gain is not only proportional to the
effort but is also appropriate for the effort.
At the mundane level, however, when there is
a conflict between two parties different words are used to describe the same
thing by each according to whether it refers to themselves or the opponent.
Thus what is called terrorist by one is called freedom fighter by the other and
vice versa. The term martyr and suicide bomber are used in the same way.
When Hitler invaded Europe
the Resistance fighters were not regarded as terrorists but freedom fighters by
the Allies, though the Germans did regard them as such. The Israeli Government
is killing hundreds of Palestinians and destroying their homes. But when a
Palestinian kills a few Israelis in retaliation by a suicide mission then this
is condemned in the USA and Europe as terrorism. But not so the actions of the Israeli
government, because it is imitating the example set by USA. Those who fought for American Independence against
the British were not terrorists in American eyes. Such is the hypocrisy of
Politics. Can world problems be solved while even the rulers are irrational and
in the grip of self-deception?
Armed opposition and Suicide bombing by
Muslims has been condemned by non-Muslims as well as Muslims on the grounds
that they are attacks on innocent people and that suicide is a sin in Islam. A
study of the teachings of the Quran and of the real situation where these
events are taking place shows that things are much more complex. According to
the Quran:-
"In retaliation there is life for
you, O you possessors of understanding! That you may ward of evil." 2:179
"Fight in the Cause of Allah with
those who fight you, but transgress not the limits (or begin not hostilities);
verily, Allah loves not those who transgress (or the aggressors). Kill them
wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drive you out; for
persecution (oppression or sedition) is worse than slaughter; but fight them
not by the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you there; If they fight you then
kill them, for such is the recompense of those that are faithless. But if they
desist, then, verily, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. But fight them until
there be no more oppression (persecution or sedition) and that the Din
(religion, faith, justice, the attitude and way of life) may be Allah's; but,
if they desist, then let there be no hostility save against the unjust
oppressors." 2:190-193
There is no doubt whatever that Islam
requires self-defence and retaliation against oppression and aggression. But
there are certain restrictions:- (1) The fighting is not done for wealth, power
or prestige but in the cause of Allah, to prevent the destruction of Islam and
Muslim communities. (2) Aggression and unprovoked attacks are not allowed. (3)
Non-combatants men, women or children should not be harmed, (4) Property should
not be destroyed (5) Hostilities should cease towards those who convert to
Islam or repent. (6) The main aim should be towards making treaties and peace
with justice. (7) These rules should be carried out as far as possible, but it
may be unavoidable sometimes or mistakes can occur owing to accident or
ignorance or loss of control.
"Make not Allah an excuse in your
oaths against doing good and observing your duty to Him, and make peace amongst
men, for Allah is both Hearer and Knower." 2:224
"And if two parties of the believers
quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds
against the other, then fight you all against the one which transgresses until
it returns to the commands of Allah; then if it returns, make peace between them
with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who are
equitable." 49:9
"Save those who join (or take refuge
among) a people betwixt whom and you is an alliance, or those who come to you
because their heart forbid them from fighting you or fighting their own people.
But had Allah pleased He could have given them power over you, and they would
surely have fought you. So if they withdraw from you and do not fight you, and
offer you peace, then Allah allows you no way against them." 4:90
"It is not for a believer to kill a
believer save by mistake; and whoever kills a believer by mistake then let him
free a believing slave and compensation must be paid to his people, unless they
remit it as charity. But if he be from a tribe hostile to you and yet a believer,
then let him free a believing slave. And if he comes from a people betwixt whom
and you there is an alliance, then let the compensation be paid to his folk and
let him also free a believing slave. But he who cannot find the means, then let
him fast for two consecutive months - a penance this from Allah, for Allah is
Knower, Wise." 4:92
"Prepare you against them (enemies)
what strength of forces and horses you have to the utmost of your power, that
thereby you may dismay the enemies of Allah, and your enemies, and others
beside them whom you know not. You do not know them, but Allah knows them!
Whatever you spend in the Way of Allah, it will be repaid you in full; and you
shall not be wronged. But if they incline to peace, incline you to it also, and
trust in Allah; verily, He is Hearer and Knower. But if they wish to betray (or
deceive) you, then, verily, Allah is sufficient for you! He it is who supports
you with His help and with the believers." 8:60-62
Modern warfare, however, has changed from what
it was in the past in four ways:-(1) Wars are fought mostly by remote means
rather than by hand-to-hand combat and in close quarters. Aircraft, bombs and
artillery have replaced swords and bow and arrows. (2) Nations have
professional armies consisting of highly trained, organised and equipped
soldiers who undertake a paid job. They are paid by the State from the taxes on
the citizens and constitute only a section of the community that can be
deployed by whoever controls the state. In the past it is all the members of
the community that had the duty to defend themselves. (3) Greater organisation
has created purely political Nations. But there has been an intermingling of
communities with diverse interests, cultures, ideologies, and value systems
within these nations. Though there is a conflict between the different
aspirations and interests of these communities the actions of Nations do not
reflect these, thereby causing tension and strains and increasing conflict.
Nations or those who control them fight wars for wealth, power or prestige. (4)
Wars are fought and can be fought in many more ways than by military means.
They can be fought by economic, political, diplomatic, propaganda, educational,
scientific, organisational, cultural and ideological means and they are
interdependent to a great degree. Techniques, skills and organisations in all
these departments need to be developed.
All this changes the conditions to which the
rules apply. These rules have to be adapted but this, in Islam, can only be
done by the use of guidelines within the Quran and Hadith. Unfortunately not
many people are able to do this. There is, therefore, a controversy between
those who want to stick to the old rules and those who have changed or
abandoned them.
Retaliation will be inevitably be condemned
by the oppressors and their supporters. This is because such opposition
prevents them from achieving what they wish to do by oppression. This reaction
must therefore, be ignored. These people prefer and praise "moderate"
Muslims, preferably those who have little faith and seldom practice Islam.
Those who oppress are not innocent. Those who
support the oppressors are not innocent either. The Israeli government is
oppressing the Palestinians. But the blame in this is not entirely one sided.
Things have escalated out of control owing to the stupidity of those in power
and intervention of the US and other powerful interests. Most of the Israelis
are supporting their government in doing this. The US government is supporting Israel in doing this. Most of the people of the US are supporting their government in doing this. None
of these are innocent, though the degree of culpability varies.
Suicide is certainly condemned in Islam. This
is because it is regarded as:- (a) Ungratefulness to Allah in rejecting His
gift of life and its powers and opportunities. (b) A negation of the purpose of
life (c) The removal of the possibilities a person has. (d) It is a selfish act
of moral cowardice designed to escape from the difficulties of life. (e) It often
involves a delusion or non-objective assessment of circumstances. A person may
have exaggerated a difficulty relative to his abilities and circumstances. In
fact, the person has ignored many other advantages. (f) Suicide is sin and
earns punishment in Hell. That is, it is not an escape but a perpetual event, a
fixation in the fabric of space-time because it constitutes an unresolved
problem.
The concept
"suicide" must have three ingredients:- (i) The knowledge of the
situation - the balance between the inner state or desires and the external
conditions, the opportunities or pressures (ii) The motive, the desire to
self-destruct in order to gain some advantage or to escape from suffering. (iii) The deliberate destructive action
- It does not refer to accidents or errors..
But sacrifice of one's life for a good cause
is justified. That is what life is for - to have effects.
"Say, Verily, my worship and my
sacrifice, and my living and my dying belong to Allah, the Lord of the
Worlds." 6:163
"Verily, Allah hath bought of the
believers their lives and their wealth, because the Garden will be theirs; they
shall fight in the way of Allah, and they shall slay and be slain, a promised
binding on Him in Truth, in the Torah and the Gospel and the Quran; and who is
more faithful to His covenant than Allah? Rejoice then in the covenant which ye
have made with Him, for that is the supreme triumph." 9:111
Christians also believe that Jesus sacrificed
his life for a good cause and do not condemn this.
People go to war willing to sacrifice their
lives in defence of their community. This is regarded as praiseworthy. But in
all these cases the purpose is not to kill themselves and they do not kill
themselves.
There may, however, be a situation where a
person's death might save many other people. For instance a person might be
tortured in order to force him betray his friends. He might then calculate that
his own death would be a good alternative. The intention to kill himself will
be there but the knowledge of the situation might justify it. A person who is
well insured might kill himself to provide for his family.
But people might kill themselves not for the
advantage of others but because they think they might gain something thereby.
They might think that they will receive a reward in paradise as martyrs do. But
this cannot really be regarded as martyrdom. However, in so far as the act is
in a good cause this could be regarded as meritorious. It is at least
courageous.
There are several borderline cases to
consider. A person might be suffering greatly but might be dying and the
doctors are keeping him artificially alive. He might crave to die but he might
not kill himself but (a) allow himself to be killed by others; (b) he might
even plead to be killed or (c) force others to kill him. The doctors or others
might simply withdraw the artificial support systems. (d) A person might put
himself into a situation where the probability of his death is increased. This
could happen consciously or (e) even unconsciously - Accident proneness is a
condition where people unconsciously try to punish themselves because of guilt
feelings or wish to escape from these. (f) A person might kill himself in error
- he might take an overdose of drugs hopingg to be rescued in order to attract
attention and sympathy, but has miscalculated. (g) A person might kill himself
by accident because he has failed to take proper precautions. (h) A person
might be severely depressed and this is a psychological malady. All these cases
could occur in war situations and might affect other people. No one is wholly
independent. Relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbours, and even bystanders
are affected.
Sacrifice, however,
does not necessary mean death. One can sacrifice ones energy, time, effort,
attention, pleasures, talents, advantages, organs, money, and property and so
on. The sacrifice is done for a gain and every gain involves a sacrifice - all
things have to be paid for and one gets what one pays for. One can sacrifice
physical or material advantages for social advantages such as friendship and
love or mental advantages such as knowledge, skills and education or for
spiritual advantages or vice versa. One can make the sacrifice for personal
advantages, for the benefit of others, or for the community as a whole or for
mankind or for the planet or for the Universe or in the service of God. In
fact, Islam, being surrender to Allah, requires that we do things for Allah's
sake and this includes service towards creation and the creatures of God. This
consists not only of actively resisting evil and good direct actions but also
indirect activity such as encouragement and stimulating others.
"And they give food out of love for Allah to
the poor and the orphan and the captive: (Saying) We only feed you for Allah's
sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks." 76:8-9
"And that there may spring from you a nation
who invite to goodness, and bid right conduct, and forbid what is wrong (or
indecent); these are the successful." 3:104
“Not alike are
those of the believers who sit at home, except those have a disability, and
those who strive in Allah's way with their wealth and their lives. Allah hath
preferred those who strive with their wealth and their lives to those who sit
still, by many degrees.” 4:95
The word "Martyr" refers to those
who are killed while doing a service in the cause of God, that is something
having an objective purpose and effect. But there are degrees - those who
sacrifice something of their wealth, pleasures, talents, advantages, time,
energy, organs etc., suffer and undergo deprivation in such a service can also
be regarded as Martyrs. Martyrs have a reward in paradise. They have earned
this by paying with the sacrifice of their physical or mental advantage,
exchanging it for spiritual benefits. They are not regarded as being dead
according to the verses:-
"Remember Me, then, and I will
remember you; thank Me, and do not disbelieve (or reject faith). O you who do
believe! Seek aid from sabr (patience, perseverance, self-restraint and
constancy) and from prayer, verily, Allah is with the patient. And say not of
those who are slain in Allah's Way (the Way of striving, sacrifice and
restraint) (that they are) dead. Nay, they are living; but you do not perceive
it. We will try you with something of fear, and hunger and loss of wealth, and
lives and fruits (of toil); but give good tidings to those who patiently
persevere Who, when there falls on them a calamity say, "Verily, we are
Allah's and, verily, to Him is our return." 2:152-156
Those who kill themselves because they expect
to gain something from this as, for instance a reward in paradise cannot really
said to be martyrs. They may well be punished for suicide, but they may obtain
a reward in so far as they do something that is beneficial to others. They are
also courageous and acts of courage specially when based on a spiritual belief
do modify people. On the other hand false or delusional beliefs cannot be good
nor can acts that actually do harm or more harm than good. It is possible,
however, that the suicidal act is the only way of achieving the good end or
even the best way of doing it. It is God who will judge in the end.
We have to consider
three things:- (1) Warfare in Islam is considered legitimate when it is on
behalf of Allah and in defence of Islam. Is the action really doing that? The
action might be doing the reverse by antagonising people from Islam. (2) Are
the people on whose behalf the action is being taken really Muslim? Perhaps
most of them are not, are indifferent, do not support the action and might even
collaborate with the enemy. (3) Is the action really done for the love of Allah
or is it to gain a reward which might be an economic, a political, a social or
even a psychological advantage or perhaps an illusion.
The question is: Is sacrificing of one's life
in killing the enemy a good cause? This appears to depend on whether:- (a) It
gets at the real blameworthy targets (the responsible rulers and the military)
(b) It has the desired effect of removing oppression. (c) It does not create
greater evil than good. (d) That the goal could not have been achieved by means
which contain less evil. Killing is certainly evil but is allowed in law in
order to get rid of greater evil e.g. prevent the spread of murder and
oppression. Killing does bring retaliation and produces resentment and
abhorrence. It also produces fear that leads to unintelligent emotional
reactions. There are certainly better ways of dealing with problems. But these
might be closed owing to ignorance, stubbornness or lack of intelligence on the
part of either or both parties in the conflict.
The controversy is about whether these acts
are justified in Islam. All actions in Islam are justified by service to Allah.
The question is: Are these people doing it for Allah and are they guided by
Allah? When one looks at the people who are involved, the Kosovans, Afghans,
Palestinians and so on, one finds that few of them are knowledgeable or
practicing Muslims. One gets the impression that they are merely using religion
for political purposes. This impression is strengthened when one sees little
being done to actually increase the education, organization and power of
Muslims. In fact, we are dealing with purely political situations. Often they
are killing more innocent Muslims than invading enemy soldiers, thereby
inviting opposition from fellow Muslims. Had they confined their efforts to
destroying or removing enemy military targets that would have been
understandable and met with greater support.
On the other hand a great proportion of
Muslims is so in name only and has become passive, and collaborators with the
enemy. It is part of the degeneration of Muslims that they have become cowardly
and prefer an easy life. Indeed the Quran tells us that even in the days when
the Prophet was alive there were cowards and hypocrites who found reasons why
they should not fight. But today there is no Prophet to rally them. Muslims are
divided and do not support each other. They have no central authority to direct
them or to train them in the required skills.
The majority of those who have the education,
power and control in Muslim countries are westernized and their interests are
connected with that of the West. They are usually atheists or hypocrites with
little understanding of Islam. On the other hand most Muslims have relatively
little education or knowledge about the world and tend to be misled into
unintelligent and unwise reactions. In particular their mentality is still in
the past and this leads them against modern realities.
It is also true that Muslims are militarily
weak compared to the West. In any conflict they will certainly be defeated and
might be annihilated. These realities must be faced and it is part of Islam to
do so and admit that "It is as Allah Wills". The reactions of the militants
may, therefore, be regarded as unrealistic and outdated. They should use
political, economic and educational means but they resort the more primitive
methods because of the lack of abilities. Other people take advantage of these
fact to oppress them. This can also be regarded as a punishment for their
degenerate state.
There is fundamental clash of values and
interest between the West and Islam in that Man is regarded as supreme in the
West and Allah in Islam. Islam is, therefore, much more interested in Justice,
Compassion and Truth and regards the values held by the West as illusions and
self-deceptions. There seems to be no hope of a peaceful solution as long as
the rulers in the West regard and call those people "terrorists" who
are regarded by Muslims as fighters for freedom, justice, virtue and truth. In
fact, an impartial examination of facts shows that it is the Israeli and US
governments which are conducting the real terrorists activities and use the
word "terrorist" as an excuse against those who retaliate. In the
case of the oppressed people of Palestine there is probably no other way of retaliation because
there is an overwhelming difference in military strength. The suicide bombing
is a mark of desperation. It will continue as long as injustice exists. But
there is no sign that Israel, backed and financed by the USA, is willing or
trying to negotiate a just peace settlement.
Organisations such as Taliban and Al Quida
which seem to be taking military action against US Imperialism and invasions of
Muslim countries appear to have a rather primitive, naïve and oppressive
program for Muslim countries which threaten to keep them backwards. They can
hardly be supported by enlightened people. Their actions can be condemned on
the grounds that :- (a) They are indiscriminate and kill citizens of many
countries, Muslims and many who even supported the cause of the oppressed
people. (b) Their acts are not on behalf of Islam or Muslims - there is no
consultation with Muslims citizens about their actions. Yet it is they who
suffered from the consequences, the backlash. (c) Their acts are ineffective
and even counter-productive. Though the Western News media concentrated their
attention only in the casualties of this attack, a much greater number of
Muslims were killed not only by direct US retaliation in Afghanistan and Iraq. (d) Al Quida is killing mainly Muslims, setting
Muslims against each other, creating disorder in Muslim countries and weakening
them against their enemies while provoking others against Muslims and Islam.
On the other hand it could be argued that
these organisations and their actions constitute both a symptom and a
punishment on Muslims for their degenerate state. So also is the invasion of
Muslim countries. The effect ought to be to awaken and repent.
However, as long as there is injustice there
will be retaliation and this retaliation is no greater injustice than the
injustice against which the retaliation is done. Indeed, more people have been
killed, maimed, impoverished, robbed of all means and hope, of health and
education by the oppression and subversions caused by the US world wide.
Question:-
What would be an
Islamic solution to the Afghan Problem? What action would you recommend that
should be applied there?
Answer:-
How would Americans
or the British or the Europeans react if they were invaded by foreign forces
that killed their and destroyed their property and brought chaos all in order
to establish an alien regime that will serve the invader's interests? Would they
not want to exterminate them and drive them out? And
how would they regard those who collaborated with the enemy? I
am sure many in the West know this full well but suppress their conscience if
they have one, or ignore if they have none and are psychopaths.
There can be no
doubt that the values that the invaders wish to impose on the Afghans and
others are incompatible with Islam. I understand that the first things that
were established in Afghanistan after the foreign subjugation of Kabul and
other areas were music and dance halls, gambling dens and brothels, and, of
course, Capitalism and consumerism. It is well known that in order to undermine
religion it is necessary to destroy the traditional family and this was to be
done by taking men and women into factories and offices run and controlled by
foreign masters and that the children should be taken out of the influence of
their families and placed in secular schools.
It is, of course,
true that it is the traditional family that preserves a primitive form of
Islam. And this is reinforced by the Madrasas where education consists mainly
of learning the Quran by rote without refinement of spiritual awareness or
mental and physical skills; and ignoring all modern developments in science,
technology and organisation. This certainly can only produce a backward nation
that cannot possibly compete in the real world. On the other hand no nation or
community has ever risen or achieved anything when it had no religion that
provided moral values and ideals and channelled psychological energy.
As far as I can
make out three things need to be done:-
(1) All foreign
troops need to be withdrawn. If they do not do so voluntarily they need to be
driven out with heavy losses.
(2) The leaders of
all sections of the population, including the Taliban should be invited to come
together to form a permanent Assembly where discussions and negotiations can
take place and policies can be constructed. It is not at all necessary that
there should be a single uniformity throughout the land, but common interests
could form a Federation.
(3) A comprehensive
educational-cultural system should be formed using intensive use of radio,
television, video, internet, magazines, public lectures and an organisation of
teachers and guides with various expertises that can travel round the country
advising and demonstrating to villages and towns.
The problem is that
most of the leaders and men of power in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other Muslim
countries tend to be traitors to Islam and treacherous puppets for foreign
masters if not mere self-seekers. Though there are certainly some Muslim groups
and organisations that try to do something positive to help the Muslim nations,
they tend to be relatively ineffective. The majority of Muslims are powerless
and apathetic. But unfortunately the more motivated, frustrated and desperate
are concerned mainly with negatives rather than positives, with destruction
rather than construction, and the massacre of fellow Muslims rather than
attacks on the invaders. Whether Al Qaeda is one of these I do not know.
Western bias and propaganda cannot be trusted. It may be just the faithless
Bathists taking revenge. But all these conditions do appear to favour the
Invaders. As for the suffering of Muslim it is their degenerate state that
brings on them its own punishment.
Whereas in Islam
the aim is Peace, particularly Spiritual Peace by harmony with Reality, and the
purpose of war is defence against the forces that disrupt it, the aim in the
rest of the world has been and is so even today is the accumulation of material
wealth and power. Even peace time is a struggle for economic domination and war
is a instrument to achieve this. There is little doubt that the invasion and
destruction of Afghanistan and Iraq by the USA and its allies had no other
aim. The US government, falsely
regarded by intense media propaganda as Democratic, and its powerful Corporation,
are controlled by a small group of people that hold all the wealth and power in
its own interest. It runs a global terrorist organisation, both through secret agencies
and by military bases, to dominate and bully the rest of world where many
nations are dominated by similar small groups whose interests are linked with
the US group. Though the war against
those that do not serve their interests and the cost of subduing and dominating
them is financed out of the taxes on the ordinary citizens whose lives are also
sacrificed, the war is most certainly profitable for this power group. It is
they who have the majority of shares in the Arms Industries and the companies
that supply the troops and in the Mineral Mining and Construction companies
that take over affairs after the destruction of the lands that have been
invaded. The administration and education of the conquered peoples has also to
be replaced to create an organisation and mentality that is advantageous to the
invaders and this is to be paid for by the taxes on the victims. It is those
who oppose the exploiting invaders and retaliate who are demonised before and
after the event, while the collaborating traitors earn praise and rewards but
are nevertheless usually abandoned and betrayed. And this entire vicious state
of affairs is maintained by a constantly spun web of moral self-justifying illusions
and delusions that victimises even the perpetrators.
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