War In Islam .. ?!

[FutureIsNow]

I guess, in early times when islam was newly introduced, the muslims waged war against non-islamic empires unless they accept islam.

This this applies now too ?

+ I need a biased answer, not an answer which is placed on some specific sunni or shia ideologies.

[jaylen]

muslims never engaged in war unless it was absolutely necessary. Meaning they never declared war unless war was the last resort. Islam means submission to Allah SWT and Allah SWT represents ALL peace, he also controls war. He brings peace to that as well-meaning he doesn't let anyone completely destroy the other. As of the present time, NO MUSLIM nor muslim nation declared war on anyone. It is the kuffar as usually that are declaring war on muslims. They themselves called it the crusades a day or so after 9/11. No muslim nation considered this a war until GW BUSH declared it such. So NO muslims do not declare war and have never declared war on anyone unless they broke covenants or peace treaties. BY the way many Tribes of Israel nor Christians broke the treaties with the muslims. Therefore they declared war on themselves.

Just as they are doing now. Look at Yugoslavia, chechnya, afghanistan, iraq, iran and syria. What did the muslims do there. NOTHING except be muslim. Who is declaring war on them? now did they declare war on anyone? NO they didn't. It was all a form of crusades that no one wants to admit to. YET!

[FutureIsNow]

errr, but in early times, muslims ever declared war.. when christian kings refused to accept islam etc.. ?

[Omar HH]

Plz buy this book: Fiqh al-Sira by Shaykh al-Bouti.

Muslims did wage war in the early days against the major powers of their days just like Christians and Jews did.

Yes.

There were times when Muslims attacked first yet this was after offering the spread of Islam and offering the jizya tax for peace.

In modern day this does not apply currently as there is no Caliph, and even if there was if the Muslims have a peace treaty (`ahd) with a non-Muslim state then it is unlawful to attack it and one would hope in the modern day situation that this would be the case (more and more peace treaties).

Ibn Rushd said in al-Muqaddimah of Maliki fiqh that Muslims are only obliged to fight offensively until the borders of the Muslim state are safe. When they are safe it is no longer an obligation to fight.

Please read an article by Imam Zaid Shakir called "Jihad is not Perpetual Warfare"

Wassalam.

[jaylen]

will do.

but didn't they negotiate prior to declaring war. even if it was for unpaid taxes, or refusal to accept islam. There are rules for this but I'm not educated well enough to list them but war is a last resort for muslims. No?

[Omar HH]

War is a last resort after calling the people to Islam and asking them to accept the jizya as most scholars have agreed upon.

How do we reconcile offensive war?

Kufr is the worst thing possible and by offensive war we are liberating people from kufr - this is the goal, and spreading Allah's Din, his laws, and the power of the Ummah of the Prophet :saw:.

The purpose of offensive Jihad is to love good and betterment for others - liberaitng them from their kaffir rulers and kufr, and protecting them under an Islamic state with the rights of Allah.

If you look at the kaffir definition of war (Carl von Clausweitz) it's "politics by other means" yet in Islam the offensive war was a type of worship which was to love good for others. This is evident by the praying for one's enemy to be guided before battle (as Imam Nawawi states) and calling to the Din of Allah and then the jizya before fighting.

Also the rules of warfare are strict and it is not allowed to kill women, children, wageworkers, and noncombatants as is narrated in the fiqh books.

Non-Muslims fight wars for political motives. Clausewitz says to "convert the enemy to our will" while Muslims do not care about their will, nor their worldly power, nor prestige, yet the pleasure of God and the guidance of people. It is motivated by genuine human concern for the well being of others.

Ibn Tuffah said there are only two types of wars:

Unjust war - which is a war of which creates a barrier to the good.
Just war - which is a war of which lifts the barriers to the good.

The ultimate good is guidance and the Shari`ah of Allah protects one's life, honor, intellect, property, and religion. The ultimate evil in life is kufr which clouds one in darkness upon darkness and confusion. It befits the Muslim to want others to be protected from the ultimate evil.

This is a refutation of those terrorists who fight for anger, or for revenge. Who lose sight of the aims of war and kill innocents not for their desire for guidance but for their desire of vengance and their hatred. This is not the situation of war with the Muslims - this is the situation of fighting for one's lower self and desires.

An excellent example of this is Imam Ali whom was spit on by a Jew during battle and thus instead of killing him, Imam Ali had let him go. This was because at first he was fighting for Allah but then he had done it for his lower self.

One should do the greater jihad against one's lower ego and desires before one can ever hope in being rewarded for the lesser jihad. As we said we are speaking in historical terms here as offensive lesser jihad is now in the history books - but without a Caliph anyone who fights offensively is breaking the rules of Islamic law.

The terrorists kill themselves, kill others, hurt others, and cause chaos and panic in the streets. Instead of making the word of Allah high they make it look bad through the unlawful acts which they commit that tarnishes the image of Muslims worldwide.

Instead of acting in accorance of the meaning of jihad they in fact are doing anything but jihad and are following the path of Shaytan.

In the end the purpose of the offensive war is not to take people to hellfire but to guide people to infinite bliss in Paradise as well as the good in this life which can only be achieved through true spiritual guidance.

The goal of the Muslim is to provide the most good - or that which will benefit in life, religion, and the hereafter - to the highest number of people.

And with Allah is all success.

[jaylen]

jazak Allah khayr for that

[jaylen]

I can't find this book online Fiqh al-Sira by Shaykh al-Bouti: where did you get it?

[Omar HH]

I can't find this book online Fiqh al-Sira by Shaykh al-Bouti: where did you get it?

http://hammadin.blogspot.com/2006/03/jurisprudence-of-prophetic-biography.html

[if0rg0t]

Ibn Rushd said in al-Muqaddimah of Maliki fiqh that Muslims are only obliged to fight offensively until the borders of the Muslim state are safe. When they are safe it is no longer an obligation to fight.
Wassalam.

You may want to add that, while it may not be obligatory to fight, it is certainly praiseworthy to do so (obviously taking the circumstances into consideration) - as Jihad is Da'wah by the sword. One would be saving the disbelievers from the hellfire (if they convert) and making them part of an Islamic system.

[FutureIsNow]

In modern day, i dont think a muslim nation can fight with some other country over islam.