Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu…
1. What is the value Islam gives to human life?
Ans. Killing one innocent soul is like killing the whole of humanity.
Allah says in The Qur’an: “That is why We ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever takes a life—unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land—it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.” (Surah Al-Maidah 5:32)
2. What does Jihad mean in the Arabic language and what does it mean Islamically?
Ans. In Arabic, the word ‘jihad’ means striving and expending one’s energy.
In Islamic terminology, ‘jihad’ means the Muslim striving to make the word of Allaah supreme and to establish His religion on earth. (see islamqa.info|21961)
3. Does The Qur’an teach Muslims Jihad in the sense of fighting physically against an enemy?
Ans. Yes. The Qur’an teaches the Muslims to fight their enemies to protect themselves and their religion.
Allah says: “And fight in the way of Allaah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits (i.e. do not overstep the boundaries set by Allah). Truly, Allaah likes not the transgressors” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:190]
4. Does Islam teach Muslims to fight all Kafirs (Non-Muslims)?
Ans. Allah orders us to be kind and just with those who did not oppress us or torture us for the sake of our religion. Jihad is to be fought against only those who harm us in our religion.
Allah explains both the cases in verses 60:8 and 60:9 – Allah says: “Allah does not forbid you from dealing kindly and fairly with those (people, Non-Muslims) who have neither fought nor driven you out of your homes. Surely Allah loves those who are fair.” (Surah Al-Mumtahanah 60:8)
“Allah only forbids you to be friends with those who have fought against you on account of religion and who have driven you out of your homes and have abetted in your expulsion. And any who make friends with them, they are the wrong-doers.” (Surah Al-Mumtahanah 60:9)
5. What is the ruling on killing a Non-Muslim who is under a pact of security with another Muslim, or living under a Muslim state, or in an agreement with Muslims?
Ans. Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever killed a Mu’ahad (a person/Non-Muslim who is granted the pledge of protection by the Muslims) shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its fragrance can be smelt at a distance of forty years (of traveling). [Sahih Al-Bukhari 6914]
6. What is the Islamic stance on killing women and children in Jihad?
Ans. Abdullah ibn Umar reported: A woman was found killed in one of the battles of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, so the Prophet condemned the killing of women and children. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3014, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1744)
7. What are the things included in Jihad?
Ans. Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“Jihad is of various kinds, with one’s self, one’s wealth, by making du’aa’, by teaching and guiding, by helping to do good in any way. The greatest form of jihad is jihad with one’s self (i.e., going oneself and fighting), followed by jihad with one’s wealth, jihad by speaking out and guiding others. Da’wah is also part of jihad. But going out oneself to fight in jihad is the highest form.
(Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 7/334, 335)
8. Are suicide bombing operations counted as Jihad?
Ans. Blowing oneself up is suicide, which is haraam (forbidden) because Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “And do not kill yourselves” [an-Nisa’ 4:29]. And the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “ … “Whoever kills himself with a piece of iron will have that iron in his hand, thrusting it into his belly in the Fire of Hell for ever and ever.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5442; Muslim, 109. [Taken from islamqa.info|217995]
9. What is the opinion of the scholars of Islam about the statement of some deviant speakers that ‘We can loot the wealth of the disbelievers in non-Muslim countries’?
Ans. Imam Ash-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: When a Muslim enters dar al-harb (the non-Muslim lands) on peaceful terms, and finds himself in position to take something of their wealth, it is not permissible for him to take it, whether it is a little or a lot, because if he is safe from them, they should be safe from him, and because it is not permissible for him to take anything from them when they have given him safety except what it is permissible for him to take from the wealth of the Muslims and ahl al-dhimmah (non-Muslims living under the protection of the Muslim state). Wealth may be forbidden for a number of reasons:
If the owner is a Muslim: If the owner is (a non-Muslim) living under the protection of the Muslim state, (and) if the owner is one with whom there is a peace deal, until the deal expires; such people are considered to be like ahl al-dhimmah as far as the sanctity of their wealth is concerned, until the deal expires. Al-Umm, 4/284. [See Islamqa.info|14367]
10. What are some beneficial books to learn about the Islamic stance on modern day terrorism?
Ans. There are numerous books on the subject, some of them are:
(a) The Treatment of Terrorism in Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah by Shaykh Abdur-Rahman as-Sudays.
(b) Terrorism, Its Reasons and the Means to Remedy It by Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz Al ash-Shaykh.
(c) With Which Intellect and Religion can Suicide Bombings and Destruction be Considered Jihaad? by Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbaad.
(d) Anwar al-Awlaki and His Errors in the Issue of Jihaad by Salafi Manhaj.
(e) Islam, A Religion of Terror? by Tasaddaq Husayn.
[The PDFs of these books are available online, yet we would encourage you to buy the physical copies of these books.]
-Compiled by Mohammed Thajammul Hussain Manna.
Saheehus-Seerah 