Is Islam A Militant Religion?

In Islam, the use of force is allowed only in special situations, particularly when the Muslim community is threatened by hostile forces. This is indeed natural and logical for any nation. Then again, the use of force in a campaign of Jihad is determined by the Khalifah (Caliph) of Islamic States in a very ordered and ethical way,. Islam considers all life forms as sacred, but particularly emphasizes the sanctity of human life. Allah Almighty عَزَّوَجَلَّ says in the Majestic Quran:

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٥١﴾

… And do not unjustly kill any life which Allah has made sacred; this is the command to you that you may understand 

[Ana’am 6:151]

Further, Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says:

مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًا

… Whoever kills a human being except in lieu of killing or causing turmoil in the earth, so it shall be a s if he had killed all mankind… [Maidah 5:32]

Such is the value of a single human life, that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, the Most merciful equates the taking of even one human life unjustly as the killing of all of humanity.

It is important to understand that in Islam, war is only permitted in specific and dire circumstances. It is disliked and only permitted as a last resort when all other attempts for peace are unsuccessful. It keeps warfare at a level of mercy and respect for the enemy such as none other has been able to reach. The Beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم, sometimes had to fight for the mere survival of his mission, but one security was ensured, he immediately reverted to peace and diplomacy.

Even in a state of war, Islam enjoins the Muslim armies, deal justly with the enemy on the battlefield. Islam has drawn a clear line of distinction between the fighters and non-combatants of an enemy country. The Merciful Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم told his armies:

“Do not kill any old person, any child or any woman.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, Hadith no. 2614)

And he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم said: “Do not kill monks in monasteries.” (Narrated by Ahmad, Hadith no 2728 – Also in Sharah Ma’ani-al-Athar)

Upon seeing the corpse of a woman on a battlefield, the Merciful Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم angrily asked his companions why she had been killed, and he strongly condemned the awful act. For those enemies active in combat and those taken as prisoners of war, the list of rights is lengthy. There should be no torture; no killing of the wounded or defenseless, no mutilation of enemy bodies and return of enemy corpses must be honored. In light of the aforementioned, it becomes crystal clear that Islam does not permit aggression, violence, injustice, or oppression. At the same time, it calls for morality, justice, tolerance and peace.

Far from being a militant dogma, Islam is a way of life that transcends race and ethnicity. The Grand Quran repeatedly reminds us of our common origin:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣﴾

“O mankind, indeed we created you from male and a female, and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Verily the most noble of you in the sight of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is the most righteous of you.” [Hujuraat 49:13]

Conflicts / differences between human beings, a world that is currently plagued with terrorism, perpetrated by individuals and by States, Islam is a beacon of light that offers hope for the future.