Islam 4 ABC Refined Flashcards

Question

Outline 3 Muslim beliefs/teachings about the Just War theory: (just repeating it?)

Answer 1

Defensive wars are allowed to protect Muslim community (ummah) from harm. Wars should only use the amount of force necessary. War should only happen when all peaceful solutions have failed. Muslims who die in cause of Allah are among “excellent companions” that God has blessed Muslims believe that defensive wars are permissible to protect the Muslim community (ummah) from harm. They see it as a way to defend themselves against aggression and ensure their safety. The Qur'an says, "And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah." According to Muslim teachings, war should only be considered as a last resort after all peaceful means of resolving a conflict have been exhausted. This emphasises the importance of seeking peaceful solutions and avoiding unnecessary bloodshed. The Qur'an advises, "But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors."

Answer 2

It ensures wars are fought for good reasons, like defending against harm. It tries to keep innocent people safe during conflicts. It guides Muslims to act with morals and values even during wars. Muslims believe that those who die for the cause of Allah are among the 'excellent companions' that God has blessed. This is important as fighting in a Just War shows commitment to Allah and could help them on the Day of Judgement to achieve Jannah. Muslims believe there are certain circumstances where war is permissible (when the conditions of lesser Jihad are fulfilled). For example if religious freedom is taken away. Just War in this scenario shows the extent Muslims would go to in order to protect their faith which shows respect to Islam.

Answer 3

Most Sunni and Shi’a Muslims believe that just wars must always be in self-defence and authorised by a legitimate authority. For Sunni Muslims, this authority would be a prophet or khalifah, while for Shi’a Muslims it would be a prophet or one of the 12 imams. Sunni scholars interpret the concept of just war primarily through the lens of defensive jihad, which allows for armed conflict only in self-defence or in response to aggression. They emphasise the importance of a legitimate authority declaring war, adherence to rules of engagement, and proportionality in the use of force, aligning with the principles of the Just War theory. A hadith states, "Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors." In contrast, Shia scholars may hold a more nuanced view, often emphasising the concept of jihad al-daf', or defence against aggression, similar to the Sunni perspective. However, Shia Islam also has a doctrine known as Jihad al-Talab, which permits offensive warfare under certain conditions, particularly to defend the faith or establish justice. This perspective is rooted in historical events such as the Battle of Karbala, where Imam Hussain and his followers fought against injustice and oppression, even though they were outnumbered. A narration attributed to Imam Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, states, "Fight the oppressors till justice is established." For this reason, they may not see war as a last resort.

Answer 4

According to Twelver Shi’a Muslims the return of the Twelfth Imam, called the Mahdi, who they believe is presently in hiding until God sends them back to earth, will herald the need for a jihad that will call all people to justice and remove any obstacles to it. Sa’id Akhtar Rizvi, a Twelver Shi’a Scholar, says: “The Holy War is forbidden for Twelver Shi’a Muslims during the period when our Imam is hidden from us” Therefore, until he returns, a holy war is not possible today. Other Muslims agree that lesser jihad is justified if it is to guarantee freedom of faith and to repel and invasion or threat, in this case being possible. Ibrahim Amini, member of the Guardian Council of Iran says: “The Qur’an has saddled Muslims with a heavy responsibility of fighting corruption and defending the oppressed” However, Muslims are divided over whether a just war is possible today as there are disagreements over who is the “legitimate authority” in Islam. The vast majority of Muslims rejected the recent claims of IS’ leader to be the khalifah, as they view IS as a terrorist organisation, not part of Islam Many Muslims also believe that the conditions for lesser jihad, which were given to Prophet Muhammad, do not apply today because there are now international laws and organisations, such as the UN that protect human rights. Therefore, the Just War criteria are also difficult to meet: “The principles of Just War are often violated in practice, but that in itself shows that they are tough principles” says Hajj Muhammad, in Islam and Just War Theory Other Muslims argue that in some Hadiths the Prophet Muhammad said the Messiah and Mahdi would come to end religious wars Some Muslims believe a just war is possible if they are persecuted for their faith, they are allowed to fight back with equal force as seen through the quote 'fight until there is no more persecution.' Some Muslims believe a Just war is not possible today, this is because some Muslims are absolute pacifists, and believe that war is always wrong. This is because they believe it leads to the inevitable death of innocent civilians.

Answer 5

A holy war must be a last resort A holy war must be authorised by a Muslim leader A holy war may occur for a few reasons, one of them being if persecution becomes intense. A holy war is seen as a final option after all peaceful solutions have been exhausted. This means it's only used when there's no other way to resolve a conflict. The Qur'an says, "Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress." A holy war must be authorised by a recognized Muslim leader or government. This ensures that the decision to go to war is made by those who have the authority to represent the Muslim community. As stated in a hadith, "The Imam is a shield, behind whom you fight and protect yourself.". FORBIDDEN: To target or harm innocent civilians - “If anyone kills a believer deliberately, the punishment for him is hell and there he will remain” Attack leaders of other faiths Initiate a war Use fighting to convert people to Islam Call on the help of non-Muslims to fight a lesser jihad

Answer 6

Lesser jihad is also known as many as Harb al-Maqadis (Holy War) The Qur'an permits Muslims to fight in self-defence against aggression: “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you” Muslims are instructed to fight against oppression and injustice, as mentioned: "And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children” The Qur'an emphasises the importance of mercy and compassion even during times of conflict, encouraging Muslims to show kindness to captives and enemies who seek peace

Answer 7

The Prophet was commanded by God to seek every opportunity to make peace Following a battle, Muslims and non-believers should make a pace to avoid further confrontations and maintain peace. The pact should be respected. If the pact following the war was broken, Muslims are entitled to retaliate The Prophet Muhammad was commanded by God to seek every opportunity to make peace. The Qur’an says: “if they incline towards peace, you [Prophet] must also incl;ine towards it” The “greeting of peace” offered by non-believers is understood by Muslims to mean an attempt from them to stop the violence. Muslims are therefore taught to respect such offers and refrain from any further hostilities. The Qur’an says: “do not say to someone who offers you a greeting of peace, “You are not a believer”” Following a battle, Muslims and non-believers should make a pace to avoid further confrontations and maintain peace. The pact should be respected and not violated. The Qur’an says: “Fulfil your agreement with them to the end of their term” If the pact following the war was broken, Muslims are entitled to retaliate. This is because life becomes unsafe for Muslims again. The Qur’an says: “If they break their oath after having made an agreement with you … then fight these leaders of disbelief”

Answer 8

Some Muslims are pacifists so they reject the idea of war altogether. This is because these Muslims believe War is never the right answer and conflict should always be resolved peacefully. This is supported by the quote from the Quran "The best servants of the Lord walk humbly" Some Muslims believe war is necessary when religious freedoms are being stripped away. This shows how the most important thing for a Muslim is his ability to practise religion. Most Muslims believe that the Qur’an shows that the aim of the Prophet Muhammad’s wars was to ensure peace between Muslims and non-believers, and this is it. Other Muslims, however, have interpreted some verses as granting believers permission to wage holy wars to Islam and convert others. Adul A’la Maudidi, in Jihad in Islam, says: “Islam wishes to destroy all states … on earth which are opposed to the ideology of Islam”. The majority of Muslims do not agree with these interpretations. They say, instead, that the only conditions for Harb-al-Maqadis are to stop violent persecution and restore freedom to practise one’s faith. They also emphasise that the Prophet Muhammad was “a mercy … to all people” and so could not force anyone to become a Muslim. The Qur’an also says: “Your only task is to remind, you are not here to control them”

Answer 9

Muslims might regard a war as a Holy War if those fighting in the war are good Muslims, because the Qur’an says that truly religious people will be prepared to fight in the cause of God. Muslims would also regard a war as a Holy War if it had been authorised and led by someone chosen by the whole Muslim community who avoided harming civilians as there is a hadith which says Muhammad said, “Do not kill any child, any woman, or any elderly or sick person”

Answer 10

Holy War is important to Muslims as it provides a means to defend the faith (Islam) and protect believers (ummah) from persecution, oppression, or aggression. It is viewed as a sacred duty to uphold the principles of Islam and safeguard the community from external threats or injustices. “Stand firm in justice” Holy War is seen as a means to protect and preserve sacred sites, such as mosques and pilgrimage sites, from desecration or destruction. It is also regarded as a way to uphold Islamic values, principles, and traditions in the face of challenges or attacks from adversaries. “[Protect] many monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, where God’s name is much invoked” Holy war teaches Muslims to treat non-believers well to avoid any conflict. This is significant as it shows how Holy war promotes peace both within the Ummah and between Muslims and Non-Muslims.Shown by the quote, 'If anyone kills a believer or a non-believer deliberately, the punishment for him is hell.' Holy war teaches Muslims to honour agreements/pacts. This is important as it teaches Muslims to refrain from lying and to be as honest as possible.

Answer 11

One condition is if persecution towards them becomes intense. This means that if Muslims are suffering solely because of the beliefs they hold, which they think is wrong and harmful, it must come to an end. The Qur’an also says: “Those who have been driven unjustly from their homes only for saying “Our Lord is God” are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged” A second condition is if freedom of belief is taken away. This is the right to worship and includes other faiths whose places of worship Muslims are commanded to protect. The Qur’an says: “[protect] many monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, where God’s name is much invoked” Another condition is if they have to defend themselves and others from an attack started by aggressors. The Qur’an says: “Those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged” If Muslims have to defend themselves and others from an attack started by aggressors It is authorised by a Muslim leader (prophet or khalifah) It is a last resort

Answer 12

War is allowed if religious freedoms are taken away. Shown by the Quranic Quote, 'fight them until there is no more persecution.' Showing how the Most important thing for a Muslim is his ability to practise religion. Muslims may support war if it is authorised by a legitimate Muslim authority. Showing how respect to those who hold value is an important quality in Islam.

Answer 13

One of the meanings of Islam is “peace”, therefore Muslims regard anything that is the opposite of peace as being against the will of Allah, and WMDs included Furthermore, the Qur’an promotes the sanctity of human life. The use of WMD goes against this. Muslims advocate for global cooperation and disarmament efforts to eliminate WMD Islam emphasises the sanctity of life and prohibits the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) as they cause widespread destruction and harm to innocent lives Muslims are taught to be stewards of the Earth and to protect the environment, including avoiding actions that could result in environmental devastation or harm to future generations Islam promotes peace and security among nations, encouraging dialogue, diplomacy, and disarmament as means of resolving conflicts and ensuring global stability

Answer 14

They are an effective deterrent - nations may be less likely to attack if there is a threat of them being used The losses suffered by the side that uses them are minimal They ensure a quicker end to conflicts It is a better course of action that invasion The scale of destruction is immeasurable, and the damage caused cannot be undone Civilian and non-combatant deaths are inevitable They cause many long-term ill-effects, which can extent to future generation Using them could amount to war crime

Answer 15

Nuclear weapons, which are extremely powerful bombs that can kill large numbers of people Chemical weapons which cause death or injury through their chemical action Biological weapons which use a virus or disease to infect millions of people.

Answer 16

**FOR** One of the meanings of Islam is “peace”, therefore Muslims regard anything that is the opposite of peace as being against the will of Allah. WMD can cause immense damage and devastation, and affect the lives of many people, as seen in 1945 when the USA dropped 2 atomic bombs on Japan. Therefore, Muslims would not support the use of WMD. Furthermore, the Qur’an promotes the sanctity of human life. The use of WMD goes against this, which is why many muslims support organisations like the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in order to rid the world of atomic weapons and make it a safer place for everyone to live. Allah wants people to live in security, not fear, and condoms Yajuj and Majuj, two mighty powers in the future who would continue their dangerous plan to harness and unleash fire that will ruin part of the Earth : “Gog and Magog are spoiling this land. May we, then … erect a barrier between us and them?" **agiANST** Some scholars in Muslim countries, such as Shaykh Ali Gomaa, former Grand Mufti of Egypt, have argues the case for having WMD as a deterrent but not necessarily using them. The Qur’an says: “prepare to frighten off [these] enemies of God and of yours”. They use this verse to support the development of WMD for the purpose of self-defence and if other conditions for lesser jihad are met. Other Muslims may say that WMDs allow for less conflict in the future, and if conflict is inevitable, it is best to use WMDs as they ensure losses suffered by the side that uses them are minimal and ensure a quicker end to conflicts. **more:** Some Muslims do not support the use of WMD as innocent people will certainly die. This shows how WMD's break the sanctity of life. The Quran also states 'killing one person unjustly is like killing all of mankind' showing how WMD's could lead one away from Heaven. Furthermore, Ayatollah Khamenei, leader of Twelver Shi’a Muslims says: “We declare the use of WMDs as impermissible (haram)” Some Muslims support the use of WMD's despite the immeasurable scale of destruction. This is because they believe as long as the job gets done, then all other factors are irrelevant. Some of theses Muslims also believe everybody that is not a Muslim should be killed therefore support WMD's Some scholars in Muslim countries, such as Shaykh Ali Gomaa, former Grand Mufti of Egypt, have argues the case for having WMD as a deterrent but not necessarily using them. The Qur’an says: “prepare to frighten off [these] enemies of God and of yours”. They use this verse to support the development of WMD for the purpose of self-defence and if other conditions for lesser jihad are met.

Answer 17

Many atheists and Humanists are cautious about the use of WMD. They accept some benefits but also agree that there are several problems associated with them. Professor Richard Norman says: “It is difficult for humanists to lay an absolute principle on modern weapons of mass destruction … they have to accept that however terrible a war may be … that sometimes a refusal to go to war may be even worse” There is no strict humanist perspective on nuclear weapons. Some see them as an unacceptable threat to humanity; others as a useful deterrent. Some may believe the destruction and loss of civilian life they cause is unjustifiable. Others may adopt a utilitarian approach, deciding that their use may be justified if it would ultimately save more lives by finally ending a war (this was one of the arguments used to justify the bombing of Japanese cities at the end of the Second World War). Either way, many humanists would consider the importance of the evidence when deciding on such a matter. The unnecessary suffering caused by chemical weapons and the indiscriminate threat they pose to civilians make many humanists feel their use cannot be justified. However, some might suggest that many conventional weapons are just as bad, and some people argue that the opposition to chemical weapons is partly motivated by the desires of those states who already hold a vast superiority in conventional weapons. However, even if this were the case, it still would not necessarily justify the use of chemical weapons. People who follow ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, may support the acquisition of WMD if it is to fend off a grave threat, and serves the greater good. Or they may argue it depends on the circumstances; situation ethics.

Answer 18

Many Muslims speak out against **big** weapons that can hurt many people. They want these weapons to be stopped and not made more. They say this because they want to protect people and keep them safe. The Qur'an teaches: "And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right." Muslims also say that countries should talk and work together to solve problems with these weapons. They believe that talking and making agreements is the best way to avoid fighting. They say this because they want peace for everyone. Muslims agree WMD's can have devastating effects Muslims turn to the Quran for guidance on this matter Muslims agree that WMD's are wrong as it breaks the sanctity of life.

Answer 19

Muslims fight terrorism by paying for adverts to condemn terror in the name of UK Muslims. They have also initiated a national process to explore grassroots responses to terrorism. A third way is by working closely with Muslim communities and the police to develop a successful counter-terrorism policy.

Answer 20

Engaging in peacebuilding and mediation efforts to resolve conflicts peacefully. Participating in educational and interfaith initiatives to promote understanding and dialogue. Providing humanitarian aid and support to communities affected by conflict. Campaigns for justice

Answer 21

“Do not cut down fruit–bearing trees” “Do not destroy an inhabited place “Do not be cowardly”

Answer 22

Muslims are urged to "seek peace and reconciliation" even in times of conflict, following the Prophet Muhammad's example of resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiation. This approach aligns with Islamic teachings promoting "sulh" (reconciliation) and "mufawadah" (equality) to maintain peace and harmony within society. In cases of aggression or persecution, Islam permits "defensive jihad" (struggle) to protect the Muslim community (ummah) and uphold justice. However, this defensive action is strictly regulated by Islamic principles, emphasising proportionality, avoidance of harm to non-combatants, and exhausting peaceful options before resorting to conflict. The Qur’an says: “Permission to fight back is hereby granted to those being fought, for they have been wronged.” "And if [two] factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah." "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice” "Whoever forgives and amends, his reward is with Allah."

Answer 23

Militant groups such as IS use particular verses from the Qur’an and some Hadiths to justify their violence. They may say the fact that the Qur’an says “fighting has been ordained for you, though it is hard for you”, or how it says “so go out … no matter whether you are lightly or heavily armed … and struggle in God’s way”. However, the vast majority of Muslims reject such interpretations and terrorists’ claims to represent Islam. They say that verses like these were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad when the very existence of Islam was under threat, and that they should not be a justification for spreading error. They believe the IS are disbelievers and not true Muslims. The Qur’an says: “The disbelievers support one another. If you do not the same, there will be persecution in the land and great corruption”. The Prophet Muhammad foretold that there would be people after him who would call themselves Muslims but commit acts of evil and would be the worst creatures on earth. Many Muslims believe this refers to religious conflicts in the name of Islam and are not “holy” at all.

Answer 24

Muslims oppose terrorism because suicide is haram in Islam, so a suicide bomber is going against Islam by committing suicide as well as bringing harm to innocent people. Another reason for opposing terrorism is that Islam prohibits a Muslim from attacking innocent civilians. There is a hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad says ‘Do not kill women or children or non-combatants and do not kill old people or religious people.” It is haram: "And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right." It is harmful to all of society: "Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely." It is despised by Allah: "Allah does not like corruption." One of the meanings of Islam is peace, which is the opposite of terrorism.

Answer 25

Muslims say that it is ignorance or misinterpretation of religious teachings that cause acts of terrorism. The prophet Mohammad advised Muslims to take precautions with these extremists. The Hadith says: “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one … by preventing him from oppressing others” Muslims use statistics to prove Islam is not at fault for terrorist attacks. For example, 94% of terrorist attacks in the USA from 1980 and 2005 have been by non Muslims. Ken Sofer says: “People have a desire to explain [terrorist incidents] as some sort of connected phenomenon [to Islam] but it is different in each scenario”

Answer 26

Some atheists and Humanists have blamed religions such as Islam for violence and extremism. Jane Caro, an atheist says: “Gods have been used to justify almost any cruelty … the religious have murdered throughout history in the name of God” Others may claim religion is only one small factor in causing conflict. Economic and resource competition also act as a major cause of conflict. Competition for valuable resources such as land, water, minerals, or energy sources can spark conflicts between individuals, communities, or nations. Economic disparities and unequal distribution of resources may exacerbate tensions, driving competition and sometimes leading to violent confrontations.

Islam 4 ABC Refined Flashcards

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