Refuting Islamophobic Claims That Jihadists Represent Traditional and Mainstream Interpretations of Islam: Part 3 on the Jihadist Narrative Inciting Treachery towards One’s Country
By
New Age Islam Correspondent
8 July 2021
The
Jihadist narrative of loyalty to the Ummah and disloyalty to the country is
based on “Treachery towards One’s Country”. This narrative is one of the most
hazardous tools employed to encourage Muslims to perform terror activities
against their fellow citizens, and thereby achieving their nefarious agenda which
can be termed the so-called “Islamic State”. Their version of “Umma” does not
show mercy upon non-Wahhabi Muslims, such as Sufi-oriented Sunni and Shia
Muslims. The Jihadist ideologues support their argument but through the act of
misappropriating the Quranic verses, Ahadith and their traditional and
classical interpretations. However, the Islamophobes appear as another
challenge in line with the Jihadists to claim that Jihadism is based on
traditional and classical interpretations of Islam. Hence the purpose is to
refute both Islamophobes as well as Jihadists.
Before
refuting the Jihadists and Islamophobes in the light of the Quran, Ahadith and
traditional sources, it is essential to estimate the nature of the Jihadist
narrative propagating ‘treachery’, as unless we know it, we can’t correct them.
Anwar
al-Awlaki, a Yemeni-American al-Qaeda cleric, who played a major role in
brainwashing and recruiting the Western Muslims, repeatedly preached that there
was a war between Islam and the West. In his online statement “Message to the
American people (2010), he radicalized the Western Muslims with the idea that
loyalty must be confined to their religion rather than their country. He said;
“To the
Muslims in America I have this to say: How can your conscience allow you to
live in peaceful co-existence with the nation that is responsible for the
tyranny and crimes committed against your own brothers and sisters? How can you
have your loyalty to a government that is leading the war against Islam and
Muslims? The Muslim community in America has been witnessing a gradual erosion
and decline in core Islamic principles, so today many of your scholars and
Islamic organizations are openly approving of Muslims serving in the US Army to
kill Muslims, joining the FBI, to spy against Muslims and are standing between
you and your duty to Jihad.
“Slowly but
surely your situation is becoming similar to that of the embattled Muslim
community of Spain after the fall of Granada. Muslims of the West, take heed
and learn from the lessons from history: there are ominous clouds gathering in
your horizon. Yesterday America was a land of slavery, segregation, lynching
and Ku Klux Klan and tomorrow it will be a land religious discrimination and
concentration camps. Do not be deceived by the promises of preserving your
rights from a government that is right now killing your own brothers and
sisters. Today, with that war between Muslims and the West escalating, you
cannot count on the message of solidarity you may get from a civic group or a
political party, or the word of support you hear from a kind neighbour or a
nice co-worker. The West will eventually turn against its Muslim citizens”
(Anwar Al-Awlaki, ‘Message to the American people’, 2010, also cited in Salafi
Jihadi Discourse of ‘Sunni Islam’ in 21st Century)
From
Awlaki’s message, it becomes clear that the American Muslims must either make
war on America or flee from there and wage war against the country. Those who
choose to live in peaceful coexistence with America must be condemned and
declared outside the body of the believers of Islam, the Ummah, because in that
case, their conscience is dead.
In the
English magazine “Inspire” issued by Al-Qaeda, Awlaki addresses the
Western Muslims,
“Hence my
advice to you is this: you have two choices either hijra or jihad. You either
leave or you fight. You leave and live among Muslims or you stay behind and
fight with your hand, your wealth and your word. I specifically invite the
youth to either fight in the West or join their brothers in the fronts of
Jihad: Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia”.
In another
issue of ‘Inspire’, Awlaki says,
“Islam can
never recognize and live in peaceful coexistence with worshipping a cow or an
idol.” This statement came as a reaction to the Mardin Declaration, A Peace
Summit Conference (Mardin Abode of Peace) convened in the Turkish city of
Mardin at the Artuklu University campus (27-28 March 2010), in which a blessed
group of renowned Muslim scholars from across the Muslim world participated in
order to collectively study one of the most important (classical juridical)
foundations of the relations between Muslims and their fellow brothers in
humanity and other related concepts such as jihad, loyalty-and-enmity,
citizenship, and migration to non-Muslim territories. The Muslim scholars in
this declaration had proposed the grounding of peaceful and harmonious
co-existence and cooperation for good and justice between Muslims and
non-Muslims.”
Awlaki
further states,
“Overall
the language used in this declaration is not that of Islamic jurisprudence but
is more a language of a combination of lawyers and peace activists” and “the
statement declares that we cannot level the charge of kufr against fellow
Muslims, we are not allowed to rebel against rulers and we are not allowed to
terrorize those who enjoy safety and security”, it is then a declaration in
support of the 21st century status quo and hence the scholars who participated
in framing this declaration are enemies of the Salafi Jihadi movement.”
Awlaki says
he does not need any religious verdict to kill the Americans,
“Do not
consult with anyone in killing Americans. Fighting Satan does not need any
religious verdict, consultation or prayer for guidance in decision making. They
are ‘the Party of Satan’. Fighting them is the obligation of the time. We have
reached the stage where it is either us or them. We are two opposites which can
never coexist. They seek something which can never come to be unless we are
annihilated. It is a decisive battle. It is the battle of Moses and Pharaoh. It
is the battle of Truth and Falsehood”.
Zawahiri
wrote a book encouraging Muslims to realize their duty in uniting against the
global front of infidelity and its secular “agents”. He said, “We call the
Ummah—on all its factions, classes, and groups—to join the caravan of jihad”
and that this would lead to “staying clear of idolatrous tyrants, warfare
against infidels, loyalty to the believers, and Jihad in the path of Allah”).
In order to fulfil this obligation, Muslims have to abandon their attachment
and loyalty to their country and “shun a life of play, amusement, extravagance
and fun, and prepare [themselves] for the real life of killing, fighting,
striking and damaging” (Zawahiri, 2007)
The terror
outfit, Al-Qaeda urged Indian Muslims to commit treachery towards their country
by “uniting ranks, gathering arms and waging jihad” against India.
(https://www.india.com/news/world/al-qaeda-urges-indian-muslims-to-wage-jihad-against-india-4019871/).
ISIS also
propagates the same treachery-narrative in several forms.
The first
online edition of India-specific propaganda magazine ‘Voice of Hind’ dedicates
an entire page to highlight the “disease of nationalism”. Describing
nationalism as ‘disease’ and ‘transgression’, the pro-ISIS group wants to incite
the Indian Muslims for committing treachery against their homeland, as it says,
“And there is no doubt that the call to nationalism is a call to ’Asabiyyah
(partisanship and party spirit) and it is a call to becoming angry for the sake
of ’Asabiyyah and fighting for ’Asabiyyah. And there is no doubt also, that the
call to nationalism is a call to transgression, pride and arrogance, since
nationalism is not a divinely revealed way of life which prevents its people
from oppression and proud boasting. Rather
it is an ideology from the time of Jahiliyyah which leads its people to
boasting about it and having ’Asabiyyah for it even if they are the oppressors
and the others are the oppressed!” (Voice of Hind, 1st issue, p.8)
The
aforementioned Jihadist quotes clearly incite Muslims to commit treachery
towards their own countries, such as America and India. This is clear violation
of the Quran, Ahadith and the traditional interpretations of Islam.
Allah
Almighty says,
“But (do
not fight) those who have allied with a people that between you and them there
is a (peace) treaty, or who (losing heart) come to you in such a state that
their breasts are afflicted (with this obsession) whether they should fight you
or their own people. If Allah had so willed, He (strengthening their hearts)
would have given them supremacy over you. Then they would certainly have fought
you. So if they keep away from you and do not fight you and send you (a
message) for peace, then (in the interest of peace) Allah has left no way open
for you (to launch any aggression) against them.” (4:90)
This is
tafsiri (exegetic) translation of the Quranic verse 4:90. This verse forbids
fighting those who have made peace-treaty. Be it America or India, today
approximately all the countries of the world have made the constitution in
which people of different religions are guaranteed religious freedom and
security. So the Jihadists’ inviting Muslims to commit treachery towards their
country is not only forbidden but a shameful act.
Allah
Almighty says, “Allah does not forbid you to be good to them and treat them
with equity and justice who did not fight against you on (the question of) Din
(Religion), nor did they drive you out of your homes (i.e., homeland). Surely,
Allah likes those who conduct themselves with equity and justice.” (60:8)
There is
consensus of the majority of the scholars that this verse 60:8 is Muhkam and
not abrogated (Mansukh). The apparent meaning of this verse is that the Muslims
should be good to non-Muslims including Mushrikin and Kafirin who do not fight
Muslims in matters of religion and live with peaceful coexistence. Furthermore,
the non-Muslim majority countries have welcomed Muslim refugees rather than
driving the Muslim citizens out of their homes. Surely these countries are not
like the pagans of Makka who drove the early Muslims out of their homes and
inflicted religious persecution on them. So the Jihadists’ inviting Muslims to
commit treachery towards their country is not only forbidden but a shameful
act.
Along with
the Quran, Ahadith also encourages peace for all the human beings. It should be
incumbent upon Muslims to walk on the path of peace in the countries where they
are ensured religious freedom, security and peace.
It is
reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever has three
qualities together will have gathered the faith: equity with yourself, offering
peace to the world, and spending from small amounts”. (Sahih Bukhari)
According
to this hadith, offering peace to the world is a source of strengthening the
faith. So the Jihadists’ inviting Muslims to commit treachery towards their
country is not only forbidden but a shameful act.
The Prophet
also said, “Establish reconciliation between people. Verily, corrupted
relations between people are the razor.”
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) said, “Worship the Most Merciful and spread peace.” (Ibn
Majah).
The
Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, “O Uqbah, reconcile whoever cuts
you off, give to whoever deprives you, and turn away from whoever wrongs you.”
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) said, “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating
harm in Islam in Islam”. (Ibn Majah, Dar Qutni, Muwatta, Mustadrak, according
to Imam Hakim and Imam Dhahbi, this hadith is Sahih on the conditions of Imam
Muslim).
In his
address the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to all the people including
Muslims and non-Muslims,
“O sons of
Adam and the men and women of the world all over! Your blood, your properties
and your prestige are declared forbidden forever –they are as sacred to you as
are this day and this month in this Baitul Haram.”
These
Ahadith encourage peaceful coexistence but the Jihadists claim there was always
war between Islam and the West and that Islam cannot live in peaceful
coexistence. Then what a conflict between the Jihadist narrative and Islam!
Allah
Almighty says, “But do not strive for Fasad (evil and terror) in the land.
Surely, Allah does not like (Mufsidin) those who violate peace.” (28:77)
The west
and India have guaranteed Muslims peace and religious freedom but the Jihadists
are striving for Fasad and violating peace by radicalizing and recruiting the
youth. These Jihadis are the Fasadis and if the countries punish these fasadis
for the sake of safety of the civilians and law of the land, it is their duty.
Muslims should not fall prey to the Jihadist claim that Muslims are persecuted
in these countries as their sympathy is meant only for those Fasadi Jihadists
who are punished and killed in retaliation. It is worth noting that they
themselves have killed thousands of Muslims who have not joined their Jihadist movement
or those who do not follow their version of Islam. But you can see in the West
or India, all the citizens are permitted to practice their religion and take
legal support when persecuted by anyone, regardless of religion and you do not
need to follow the religion of those who provide you with security, justice and
religious freedom.
The
Jihadists must ponder over the messages of the Quran and Ahadith so as to
understand them correctly. Allah Almighty Who chose Islam as His Religion (Din)
(3:19) and filled it with the teachings of peace, prefers peace to war to such
an extent that He orders the Muslim community through the prophet (peace be
upon him) to accept the hands stretched out for peace even if the opponents
have evil intentions. They should check if they do not have evil intentions for
the mainstream Muslims who do not support their Wahhabi version of Islam, such
as the intention of killing Sufi-Sunni and Shia Muslims by describing them as
‘apostates’.
We do not
deny the existence of war-related verses in the Quran and Ahadith. There were
certain occasions for which some verses of the Quran were revealed to permit
war. But they were revealed for the Muslims so as to defend their religion and
lives. The basis of war was not denial of the faith but the cause of religious
persecutions. This can be understood from the following verse;
Allah
Almighty says, “Allah does not forbid you to be good to them and treat them
with equity and justice who did not fight against you on (the question of) Din
(Religion), nor did they drive you out of your homes (i.e., homeland). Surely,
Allah likes those who conduct themselves with equity and justice.” (60:8)
In the
words of Jihadists Patriotism or nationalism is a ‘disease’, and hence Muslims
should strive for committing treachery towards their countries. This narrative
too is the result of ignorance. To observe this ignorance of Jihadists, please
read the article referenced below;
Refutation of Extremist Ideology Inimical to Patriotism (Hubbul Watani)
is urgently Required
In this
article, the author says,
“Patriotism
or Nationalism is not a concept antithetical to religion or community. The
country where a citizen enjoys religious rights, security, liberty and freedom
is a beloved place for him. For Muslims, a country where they freely bow down
before God Almighty in five-time prayers and have freedom to devote all their
time to remember God and His Prophet (peace be upon him) is indeed their
beloved homeland, the safety and security of which is their responsibility.
“Patriotism
(Hubbul Watani) is not a part of Jahiliyyah. Love of country is a
tendency which naturally resides in citizens and increases when they
continuously feel secure and have full freedom to practice their religious
rituals. On the contrary, Jahiliyyah is a personal shortcoming which can be
repelled by education, good deeds, piety and adherence to the rights of Allah
(Huquq Allah) and human rights (Huquq al-Ibad). A country, which gives equal
opportunities to its citizens to become good human beings in all walks of life,
is not responsible for Jahiliyyah.
“The
meaning of patriotism could not be clear to the terror organizations because
they did not utilize correct sources of understanding the Quran. The
indications of patriotism are mentioned in the Quran and its commentaries
written by several exegetes of the Quran (Mufassirin). The concept of
patriotism has also been encouraged in the books of Ahadith and their
commentaries, the Sharihin-Ahadith. According to a hadith, whenever the Prophet
(peace be upon him) came back from journeys, he used to see the wall of Makkah
with love. In the commentary of this hadith, Imam Asqalani and Imam Aaini etc
have written that this hadith justifies patriotism or love towards the
country.” To read the full article, click the link given above.
Before walking
on the path of Jihadism, the Jihadists too had full religious rights of
worshipping Allah alone, spending their day and night in remembrance of Allah
Almighty and His beloved prophet. They needed neither to fight in defence nor
to call anyone to migrate. But after
committing acts of atrocities and terrorism on civilians, they are globally
described as the most wanted criminals. It is shocking affairs that they are
calling others to become criminals like them in the name of the Quran, Islam
and Jihad.
The reading
of the Quranic verse (17:34) sheds light on the importance of maintaining
treaty or agreement. This signifies that in all cases Muslims need to keep the
promise of the treaty. Let us understand it in the Indian context, that after
the independence of India, the constitution was formed mutually by the support
of all Indians that they all will abide by the laws as per the constitution. It
is obligatory upon Indian Muslims to keep the promise of abiding by the
constitution. If anyone of them violates this law, he will be termed as
criminal in Indian law as well as in Islam, as Allah Almighty says,
“And
fulfil the covenant [promise]. Verily the covenant will be questioned about” (17:34).
Are there
any Muslims who can dare to face the divine wrath by violating the peace-treaty
which in the present times has appeared in several forms such as The Charter of
United Nations, Constitution and Democratic Laws? If there is any Muslim to
dare, he may the person misguided or brainwashed by the Jihadists.
Violating
the covenant or the promise of living in peaceful coexistence is indeed an act
of treachery which is strictly forbidden in Islam. Islam strictly forbids
treachery and betrayal even against an enemy as the Quran states,
“Allah
does not love treacherous people”. (8:58)
Ibn Umar
reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When
Allah gathers together the earlier and later generations on the Day of
Resurrection, he will raise a banner for every treacherous person. It will be
announced that this is the treachery of this person, the son of this person.”
(Source: Sahih Bukhari 5823, Sahih Muslim 1735)
In the
traditional interpretations of Islam too, it is forbidden to commit treachery
towards one’s country. The following are some excerpts which substantiate this
fact;
Imam Ahmad
bin Yahya al-Murtadha (Zaydi-Shi’i School) in his “Matn Al-Azhar Fi Fiqh
Al-A’immah Al-Athar (known as Kitab al-Azhar), said that the granting of aman
(safe passage) through hostile territory to a Muslim and his property obliges
Muslims to grant the same for members of that community and that any property
taken by force should be returned. He further said that as part of the covenant
it is forbidden to violate the conditions (shurut) of that territory (Ibn al-Murtada,
Kitab al-Azhar, vol.3, p.753).
The
conditions mentioned in the Constitution of the West or India, are that the
citizens follow the law of the land and not violate safety, peace and security
of the land.
The Shafi’i
Imam and expert of Islamic Jurisprudence Abu Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Shirazi
writes,
“if a
Muslim enters enemy lands with aman and steals or borrows money and returns to
Dar al-Islam and the owners demand it back, he is obliged to return the wealth
because safe passage necessitates the guarantee of people’s wealth”
(Al-Shirazi, al-muhadhab)
The
contemporary scholar Muhammad Najib al-Muti’i states that this view was shared
by Imam Shafii. Al-Mutii further states that Imam Abu Hanifa also forbade the
violation of property rights afforded to an individual by Aman and
referred to such violation as a religious sin. (Al-Nawawi, Kitab Al-Majmou
Sharh Ul-Muhadhab Lil-Shirazi)
The
sixteenth-century Shaafii jurisprudent, Ibn Hajar al-Haythami also understood
that such protection is mutual and therefore obliges Muslims to protect
non-Muslims with whom they have a covenant. When Muslims are given freedom to
practice their faith and live freely within non-Muslim-majority countries or
under non-Muslim rule, for example, they are obliged to defend the resident
country in the event of attack. Moreover all Muslims around the world are
obliged to be obedient to the law of the land with which they have expressed
their agreement. In Fath al-Jawwad, for example, Imam Haythami writes,
“so we
would have to defend any non-Muslim with a treaty of protection (dhimma) as a
necessary part of such a contract (Muqtada Ul-Aqd), as we would even in
enemy territory if there is a Muslim living therein, or a neighbouring country
as opposed to any country not like this unless specified in a treaty”
(Al-Haythami, Fath al-Jawwad, vol.3, p.346)
The Quran,
Ahadith and traditional plurality of views and interpretations of the primary
sources of Islamic law reject the Jihadist narrative which incite treachery
towards one’s country. Thus Jihadists and Islamophobes have no ground to claim
that the Jihadists are based on traditional version of Islam.
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