DOES ISLAM PERMIT VIOLENCE?
DOES Islam permit violence? No, it does not. However it is true that Islam grants permission to fight in self-defence as a last resort, just as is done by any other religious or non-religious system of justice. But perpetration of violence is completely different from self-defence, and is expressly forbidden in Islam. The purpose of violence, in the sense in which it is generally used, is to coerce or destroy an enemy. This has no justification or sanction in Islam. If someone is considered an enemy by someone else, that does not make it lawful for the latter to engage in violence aimed at destruction.
A study of the Quran shows that Islam differentiates between enemies and aggressors. If a group unilaterally commits violent aggression without provocation against another, the latter have the right, according to the Quran, to counter this action in self-defence, using violence only if necessary in retaliation. The Quran says—
“Permission to take up arms is given to those who are attacked.”
THE QURAN, 22: 39
But dealings with enemies are a totally different matter. The teachings of Islam on this subject are exactly the same as those of Jesus Christ, from the Bible—
“Love your enemy.” LUKE, 6: 31
The following verse of the Quran advises us of the correct Islamic Principles in any dealings with enemies—
“And who is better in speech than he who invites men to the service of God,
and does good works, and says,“I am surely of those who submit”?
And good and evil are not alike. Requite evil with good, and he who is your
enemy will become your dearest friend.”
THE QURAN, 41: 33-34
This shows that according to the teachings of Islam, our duty is not to annihilate any enemies, but to befriend them. According to Islam, everyone is born in this world with a good nature. But sometimes, people temporarily go against their natural selves and become ‘enemies’. But if they are treated with unilateral good behaviour, they will return to their original nature. And enemies of the past will be transformed into friends of the present.
Let us examine the reasons why people resort to violence. One reason
is ideological extremism. Without zealotry, there will be no violence. The
Prophet of Islam enjoined upon us to shun extremes. He observed—
“There is no extremism in religion.”
HADITH reported by AL-NASAI, IBN MAJAH and AHMAD
Another reason for resorting to violence is anger. Islam regards anger as one of the major moral evils. The Quran defines true believers as those who “when angered are willing to forgive.”
Obviously, if according to the teachings of Islam, people forgive and forget, then the need to resort to violence will not arise at all. The third reason for resorting to violence is the fact that violence has come to be regarded as a supremely powerful means of achieving a goal.
Perpetration of violence is expressly forbidden in Islam.
But the Quran puts an end to this line of thinking also. According to the Quran, violence is a negative reaction yielding no result but destruction. It is neither a useful nor a positive means of achieving any objective. The Quran teaches us that no disagreement should be allowed to reach the level of a confrontation, and that attempts should be made to bring it to an end by adopting measures of reconciliation. The Quran says—
“Reconciliation is best.”
THE QURAN, 4: 128
A conciliatory, rather than a confrontational, course of action should be adopted to deal effectively with any disagreement. It is obvious that if the real teachings of Islam were followed, no disagreement would escalate to the point of violence.
There is a relevant saying of the Prophet—
“God grants to non-violence what he does not grant to violence.”
HADITH from SAHIH MUSLIM
This saying of the Prophet is indicative of the true system of nature. In this world, the system of nature established by God is based on the principle that peaceful methods are far more useful and result-oriented in the achievement of any goal. Violent methods can only bring about destruction; and cannot produce any positive result.
Muslims must be judged in the light of Islam, not Islam in the light of Muslim actions.
It is necessary here, to add that ‘Islam’ and ‘Muslims’ are not terms that are interchangeable. Islam is the name of an ideology, while Muslims are the group of people who profess to have adopted Islam as their religion. This being so, the actions of Muslims must be judged by the teachings of Islam, rather than assume that Islam is defined as the sum of all the activities of Muslims.
If a Muslim, or a group of Muslims, indulge in violence, they must personally be held responsible. Their actions cannot be attributed to the influence of Islam. Of those who claim to be Muslims, the Quran observes—
“You have not believed yet; but rather say, “we have accepted Islam”, for the
true belief has not yet entered your hearts.”
THE QURAN, 49: 14
Those who complain of unfavourable circumstances, and of not being recognised, whose eyes are set on problems rather than opportunities, can never attain their goals in life.