Is Islam Unique in Calling for the Use of the Sword in the Protection of the Truth?

Is Islam Unique in Calling for the Use of the Sword in the Protection of the Truth?

Islam is not alone in resorting to war and fighting as a means for safeguarding the truth. In fact, all past and present laws came with a similar principle.The Books of the Old Testament which are referred to by the Jews today are filled with statements on war, struggle, fighting, destruction, devastation, ruin and hostage taking; thus affirming the legality of war but in its most reckless form, for in Deuteronomy, book 20, verses 10 and above: ‘When you come near to a city to fight, call for peace; if it responds to your call for peace and opens its doors in front of you then all its people will be under your command and all will be your slaves. If it does not heed to your demands for peace then besiege it,and if your Lord God pushes it to you then strike all its males with the edge of your sword. As for the women, children, and beast and all that is in the city, they are all a booty for you. And eat the booty, of your enemy, which your Lord has given you. Such should you do to all those cities that are very far from you and those cities that are not the cities of those nations. As for the cities of those peoples which your Lord God gives unto you do

not leave a soul in it-the Hannites, the Amorite, the Ankanites, Fayarazites, Yousite, like your Lord has orderedyou. ’In Gospel Matthew in the tenth book, verses 25 and onwards: ‘Think not that I have come to spread peace inthe land, but the sword. For, I have come to separate a man from his son, and the son from his father and the daughter-in-law from her mother-in-law... and the animosity of the person with his household, whoever loves ason or a daughter more than I will not deserve me, and whosoever does not take his cross and follow me also does not deserve me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find me. ’Modern international law has also admitted to certain circumstances under which war becomes legal and laid down laws and regulations for it. The Islamic rules regarding this issue are finer, more detailed, more merciful, and more just than all this andeven lead to peace:

‘Indeed , there has come to you from Allah a light and a plain Book. Wherewith Allah

guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them

out of darkness by His will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way.’

(Surat-al-Maa’idah (5), ayah 16)

Positive Steps by Islam, and What it Has Laid Down in Terms of Guarantees for the Establishment of Peace

After all that we have mentioned, it is very easy to say that Islam was the most comprehensive legislative system that had taken steps in the path of establishing peace. Islam drew for stability the most genuine guarantees, if adopted by the countries of the world, and followed by the rulers, leaders and politicians the world would then rest and save the agonies of war. Among these regulations and guarantees:

1- The sanctity of the meanings of brotherhood and the overcoming of the spirit of racism and rigidity; on this, much has been said in the last section.

2- The training of the souls on the spirit of forgiveness. At the beginning of this section the position of Islam regarding this point was presented; virtues like the absolute necessity for trustworthiness, and the prohibition of subversion and the dishonouring of treaties and agreements.

3- The restriction of the idea of war into the smallest possible boundaries, forbidding transgression in all its manifestations, and the dominance of the principles of justice, compassion, and the respect of law and order even at the time of war itself. In this respect Islam has the high ground. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:

‘O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the

enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety,

and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-acquainted with what you do.’

(Al-Maa’idah (5), ayah 8)

4- Arms control, and again Islam has superseded all contemporary measures in this regard when the All-Mightysaid:

‘And if two parties of the believers fall into fighting , then make peace between them

both, but if one of them rebels against the other, then fight you (all) against that which

rebels till it complies with the command of Allah; then if it complies, then make

reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves those who are

equitable.’

(Surat-al-Hujuraat (49), ayah 9)

The Prophet (PBUH.) spoke about the treaty of Fudool, that regulated the military actions before Islam, in thekindest of terms (this was a treaty conducted before Islam) when he said:

‘I witnessed, in the home of Abdullah Ibn Jadaan, a treaty that is more beloved to me than red camels.’

Then he said:

‘And if I was invited to it during Islam, I would have agreed.’

Where do the leaders of this age stand in realisation of these steps?

What is the position of the leaders, politicians, scholars, lawyers and philosophers of this age in relation to these measures. And what have they done to restore peace on earth after the world has, in less than a quarter of century, witnessed two devastating world wars that have destroyed the green and the dry? After the first ofwhich the ‘League of Nations’ was established to install peace but, it was destined to die before it was born dueto its inability to solve even one case of disagreement between the nations that joined it and signed its treaties;

it was only a moment of time before these countries and nations started preparing for war yet again to fulfil their political and imperialistic desires. It was said that the reason for its failure was the lack of a military sanction forthe wrong-doer.Subsequent to the last war the ‘United Nations’ was founded and the Security Council was established.

However differences and disagreements are still intensifying and gaining momentum. Neither the U.N. nor the security council, till now, have been able to resolve one dispute or untangle a disagreement. I fear, that nothing will remain except a Third World War.

So why does the bewildered humanity not return to its creator and learn the lessons of peace, intellectually, theoretically and practically from Islam? ‘Say praise be to Allah and peace be upon His chosen servants. Is God not far more supreme than that with which they associate ?’.