Hi Guys
The mere enactment of good laws, the Quran asserts is not enough to
ensure peace in the world. It is necessary that the laws should be
properly enforced :We sent Our messengers with clear arguments and
with these Our laws and the criterion of justice so that man may
establish himself in justice ; and with it We have , also created
steel wherein is mighty power and many other uses for mankind (57 :
25).
In other words, law which is not backed by force is no more than pious
advice. Law must be enforced if the social order is to be maintained.
The Quran, therefore, is in favour of the state maintaining sufficient
power to enforce its laws. If the Quran calls God As-Salaam, the
source of peace, it also applies to Him the terms, Protector, the
Mighty, the Compeller, and the Self-reliant. The state should reflect
these attributes as well.The power vested in the state should be used
to maintain law and order and as a defence against those who threaten
its independence. The state is not to use its powers to curtail the
freedom of individual. The purpose for which the state exists is to
maintain conditions in which the individual can develop and achieve
self-realisation. This purpose is fulfilled only when the state is
fully independent and prepared to meet aggression from any quarter :
Make ready for your opponents all you can of armed forces and of
horses tethered, that thereby you may dismay the enemy of Allah and
your enemy and others beside whom you know not (8 : 60).
The state should not use its power to oppress the weaker nations. It
should use its power to create conditions in which the way of life
ordained by God can be followed. The first battle fought by the
Muslims exemplifies the right use of force. The Rasool (prophet) and a
small band of his devoted followers lived in Mecca for thirteen years.
During this time they suffered all kinds of persecution with patience
and humility. Every insult or act of violence was received in silence
or at the most it evoked a gentle protest. But their self-imposed
restraint was mistaken for weakness and every day they suffered
outrages. When oppression became intolerable, they left their
ancestral home and sought refuge in Madina, a town several hundred
miles away from Mecca. Even here they were not left in peace. Their
enemies were determined to compel them to renounce the new creed or to
exterminate them if they refused to do so. A formidable force marched
against them. For the refugees it was a question of life and death.
even then they hesitated to meet force with force. They patiently
waited for Divine guidance, that they might do which was right. They
were at last permitted to resort to force and give battle to their
implacable enemies: (As has been mentioned above) They do avenge
themselves against any aggression committed on them and according to
the Law of Justice this is obviously not a crime (Rather it
discourages the crime) (42 : 41).
A clear directive is given in the following verses, Permission is
given to those who are fought against (to right) for that they have
been wronged ; and verily God has the power to help them :It is for
this reason that permission is hereby given to the people (Momineen)
who have been very oppressed and against whom war is being wrongfully
waged, to fight (in self-defence). Allah Almighty indeed has the power
to sup****t oppressed people. The only fault of the oppressed people
who were unjustifiably driven from their homes was that they
proclaimed Allah Almighty alone as their Sustainer. (But evil
rebellious forces never easily permit people to exercise the option of
having their own Rabb). Imagine, if Allah Almighty had not enabled
people to defend themselves against others (and let loose the
rebellious forces to do whatever they liked), they would have not even
spared places of wor****p like monasteries, churches, synagogues and
mosques, where Allah's name is proclaimed profusely. These places
would have been pulled down long ago. Allah Almighty will thus most
certainly help any group which rises to defend the System based on
justice and equity (wherein the freedom to wor****p is the basic
right). Indeed Allah Almighty is most powerful and reigns supreme over
everything. (22 : 39-40).
We can conclude from these verses that only, those who are persecuted
and are not allowed to live in peace are justified in having recourse
to war. The question arises, what are they to do if they do not
possess the means to defend themselves ? In such a case, the Quran
commands all righteous men to hasten to their rescue and fight on
their behalf :How should ye not fight for the cause of Allah and of
the feeble among men and of the women and the children who are crying:
"Our Rabb! Bring us forth from out of this town whose people are
oppressors. Oh, give us from before Thee some protecting friend! Oh,
give us from before Thee some defender!"
War in the cause of Allah Almighty is for the help of oppressed
people. Allah Almighty helps oppressed people through human agency and
not directly. This is illustrated by the following: In Al-Madina, the
Momineen had established their own state but those who could not leave
Makkah were greatly oppressed. They cried to Allah Almighty for help
and Allah Almighty said to the Momineen in Al-Madina: "What has
happened to you that you do not fight in the cause of Allah? Do you
not hear the cries of the helpless men, women and children in Makkah
who entreat Allah: "O our Rabb! rescue us from this city whose
inhabitants are oppressors. Send us someone who will protect and
defend us" (4 : 75-76).
The meaning is clear. Oppressed people, all over the world pray for a
helper to rescue them, for a defender to fight for them. Do you not
hear the cry of the oppressed? Or, do you think that, being secure
yourself, there is no need for son to fight ? You are wrong. It is
your duty to hasten to the help of all who are groaning under
Oppression - It is your duty to fight against cruelty and injustice,
even if the victims do not profess the values and concepts you profess
and do not belong to your country or race. From wheresoever comes the
cry of the oppressed, thither you should hasten and fight against the
oppressor. This is what war "in the name of Allah" means.The Momins
fight in the cause of Allah against cruelty, tyranny and injustice.
Their purpose is to make justice prevail in the world. The unbelievers
fight to subdue other people and exploit them for their own ends. The
Quran tells us in simple and direct language when war is justified and
when it is not. The principles laid down by the Quran are clear and
definite. They are not couched in language which may be susceptible to
different interpretations. The distinction between a just and an
unjust war is clear and should not be blurred by sophistical
arguments, For example, people, if they are really persecuted, have a
light to rebel against the government of their country. However, they
would be acting directly against the Quranic principles if they
magnified any petty grievance and called it persecution. They may be
said to be the victims of persecution only if the basic rights,
defined by the Quran, are denied to them. The Mumin (believers) will
keep up arms only to defend these rights, and he will hasten to help
the oppressed, whether Muslim or non Muslim.
Cheers
Nawaz
Religion Islam
http://www.parvez-video.com
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