Hazrat Umar Farooq — Page 27
THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM ABOUT WAR Islam promotes peace and forbids aggression. It regards war as an abnormal and destructive activity, to which recourse can be had only in the last resort. According to the teachings of Islam when war becomes inevitable it should be so waged as to cause the least possible amount of damage to life and property. The Prophet suffered continuously and consistently at the hands of the Makkans but he did not fight. When he escaped to Madinah, and Islam began to spread fast in Arabia, the enemy attacked in order to wipe off Islam from the surface of the earth. Permission to fight was therefore granted to Muslims. The Holy Quran says: “Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged, and Allah indeed has power to help them. Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘ Our Lord is Allah. ’ (Ch: 22: 40,41) And “Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors. ” (Ch: 2: 191) After the revelation of these verses, the Muslims took up arms to defend themselves and to defend their faith. . RULES TO BE OBSERVED DURING WAR 1) The Muslims are asked to raise the arms only against those who attack Muslims first. 2) To attack religious places and to destroy them is strictly forbidden. 3) War is resorted to only for the sake of God and to establish peace, and not for the advancement for any other motive. 4) The old, women and children are not to be killed. 5) Public buildings, fruit bearing trees and crops are not to be destroyed. 6) Ambassadors and delegates from other countries should be held in great respect. 7) Prisoners of war should be well looked after. They should not be treated harshly. 8) If in the course of a battle the enemy shows an inclination to truce, the Muslims are asked to stop fighting as well. 27