Muslim Woman

The mere enactment of good laws, the Quran asserts is not enough to ensure peace in the world. It is necessary that the laws should be properly enforced :We sent Our messengers with clear arguments and with these Our laws and the criterion of justice so that man may establish himself in justice ; and with it We have , also created steel wherein is mighty power and many other uses for mankind (57 : 25).

In other words, law which is not backed by force is no more than pious advice. Law must be enforced if the social order is to be maintained. The Quran, therefore, is in favour of the state maintaining sufficient power to enforce its laws. If the Quran calls God As-Salaam, the source of peace, it also applies to Him the terms, Protector, the Mighty, the Compeller, and the Self-reliant. The state should reflect these attributes as well.The power vested in the state should be used to maintain law and order and as a defence against those who threaten its independence. The state is not to use its powers to curtail the freedom of individual. The purpose for which the state exists is to maintain conditions in which the individual can develop and achieve self-realisation. This purpose is fulfilled only when the state is fully independent and prepared to meet aggression from any quarter : Make ready for your opponents all you can of armed forces and of horses tethered, that thereby you may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others beside whom you know not (8 : 60).

The state should not use its power to oppress the weaker nations. It should use its power to create conditions in which the way of life ordained by God can be followed. The first battle fought by the Muslims exemplifies the right use of force. The Rasool (prophet) and a small band of his devoted followers lived in Mecca for thirteen years. During this time they suffered all kinds of persecution with patience and humility. Every insult or act of violence was received in silence or at the most it evoked a gentle protest. But their self-imposed restraint was mistaken for weakness and every day they suffered outrages. When oppression became intolerable, they left their ancestral home and sought refuge in Madina, a town several hundred miles away from Mecca. Even here they were not left in peace. Their enemies were determined to compel them to renounce the new creed or to exterminate them if they refused to do so. A formidable force marched against them. For the refugees it was a question of life and death. even then they hesitated to meet force with force. They patiently waited for Divine guidance, that they might do which was right. They were at last permitted to resort to force and give battle to their implacable enemies: (As has been mentioned above) They do avenge themselves against any aggression committed on them and according to the Law of Justice this is obviously not a crime (Rather it discourages the crime) (42 : 41).

A clear directive is given in the following verses, Permission is given to those who are fought against (to right) for that they have been wronged ; and verily God has the power to help them :It is for this reason that permission is hereby given to the people (Momineen) who have been very oppressed and against whom war is being wrongfully waged, to fight (in self-defence). Allah Almighty indeed has the power to support oppressed people. The only fault of the oppressed people who were unjustifiably driven from their homes was that they proclaimed Allah Almighty alone as their Sustainer. (But evil rebellious forces never easily permit people to exercise the option of having their own Rabb). Imagine, if Allah Almighty had not enabled people to defend themselves against others (and let loose the rebellious forces to do whatever they liked), they would have not even spared places of worship like monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, where Allah's name is proclaimed profusely. These places would have been pulled down long ago. Allah Almighty will thus most certainly help any group which rises to defend the System based on justice and equity (wherein the freedom to worship is the basic right). Indeed Allah Almighty is most powerful and reigns supreme over everything. (22 : 39-40).

We can conclude from these verses that only, those who are persecuted and are not allowed to live in peace are justified in having recourse to war. The question arises, what are they to do if they do not possess the means to defend themselves ? In such a case, the Quran commands all righteous men to hasten to their rescue and fight on their behalf :How should ye not fight for the cause of Allah and of the feeble among men and of the women and the children who are crying: "Our Rabb! Bring us forth from out of this town whose people are oppressors. Oh, give us from before Thee some protecting friend! Oh, give us from before Thee some defender!"

War in the cause of Allah Almighty is for the help of oppressed people. Allah Almighty helps oppressed people through human agency and not directly. This is illustrated by the following: In Al-Madina, the Momineen had established their own state but those who could not leave Makkah were greatly oppressed. They cried to Allah Almighty for help and Allah Almighty said to the Momineen in Al-Madina: "What has happened to you that you do not fight in the cause of Allah? Do you not hear the cries of the helpless men, women and children in Makkah who entreat Allah: "O our Rabb! rescue us from this city whose inhabitants are oppressors. Send us someone who will protect and defend us" (4 : 75-76).

The meaning is clear. Oppressed people, all over the world pray for a helper to rescue them, for a defender to fight for them. Do you not hear the cry of the oppressed? Or, do you think that, being secure yourself, there is no need for son to fight ? You are wrong. It is your duty to hasten to the help of all who are groaning under Oppression - It is your duty to fight against cruelty and injustice, even if the victims do not profess the values and concepts you profess and do not belong to your country or race. From wheresoever comes the cry of the oppressed, thither you should hasten and fight against the oppressor. This is what war "in the name of Allah" means.The Momins fight in the cause of Allah against cruelty, tyranny and injustice. Their purpose is to make justice prevail in the world. The unbelievers fight to subdue other people and exploit them for their own ends. The Quran tells us in simple and direct language when war is justified and when it is not. The principles laid down by the Quran are clear and definite. They are not couched in language which may be susceptible to different interpretations. The distinction between a just and an unjust war is clear and should not be blurred by sophistical arguments, For example, people, if they are really persecuted, have a light to rebel against the government of their country. However, they would be acting directly against the Quranic principles if they magnified any petty grievance and called it persecution. They may be said to be the victims of persecution only if the basic rights, defined by the Quran, are denied to them. The Mu’min will keep up arms only to defend these rights, and he will hasten to help the oppressed, whether Muslim or non Muslim.

By - Religion Islam