Through Force or Faith? — Page 57
Sanctions for Self-Defence in Islam 57 of the righteous successors. He further enumerates three reasons for them: Firstly, for self defence; that is, as means of self preservation; for one’s own protection and defence. Secondly, for punishment; that is, life for life. When Muslims were attacked, wars were fought to punish the enemy. Islamic state was in place; the jurisdiction to punish existed. Thirdly, for ensuring freedom; that is, for the purpose of breaking the might of adversaries who used to kill and persecute people for becoming Muslims. This was done in order to break the strength of those people who persecuted those who accepted Islam. Now, let us look at the Quranic teachings for those wars and for what reason they were fought. By looking at these teachings, even a person of average intelligence can understand that the con- ditions in which Muslims were permitted to fight or engage in war were such that, if permission was not granted, the peace of the world would have been jeopardized and security would have vanished. These are such beautiful teachings that, as I have said earlier, the teachings of any other religion—be it Christianity or Judaism or any other religion—cannot even come close. Allah, the Exalted, says in the Holy Quran: َنِذُا َنْيِذَّلِل َنْوُلَتٰقُي ْمُهَّنَاِب اْوُمِلُظ١ؕ َو َّنِا َهّٰللا ىٰلَع ْمِهِرْصَن ُرْيِدَقَل 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. ( S u rah al- H ajj, 22:40)