New Literature for a New Era

Right to Self-Defense Guaranteed by Civilized World

That is why the constitutions of practically every civilized country in the world, as well as the United Nations Charter Article 51, guarantee people individually and collectively the inherent right to self-defense and the defense of their family and property.

What Islam does is it takes this universal and fundamental human right of individuals, families, societies and nations to self-defense and canonizes it – to use a Christian religious expression. That means Islam makes that right a sacred and not just a mundane or secular one.

So, self-defense in Islam is not just a legal right but also a natural and sacred one, blessed by God.

So, some of those who assert that “Islam is a peaceful religion” seem to want to cover up this fact.

They have been thoroughly intimidated and demoralized by the relentless and ruthless propaganda that brands Islam and Muslims as inherently violent and incorrigibly irrational.

So, is Islam “peaceful” then? Of course, it is. In fact, Islam is peace, period, no matter how you look at it.

But Islam is also about truth – quite possibly much more than any other system in the world.

And Islam also is strongly about human rights.

And Islam is also against all forms of injustice, inequity, cruelty, oppression, exploitation, domination, tyranny and abuse.

But does Islam permit self-defense? Of course, it does. How can it not?

Which constitution of the world, and the law of which civilized country, does not permit self-defense?

Islam is thus as perfect a synthesis of Jesus’ model of personal compassion on the one hand and of Moses’ model of social justice and supremacy of the law on the other hand.

Anyone whose heart is not filled with lust and greed, and whose soul is not scarred by hate and prejudice, can see that Islam thus is really the entire old Bible in a brand new bottle.

Turning the Other Cheek

Is Islam about “turning the other cheek“?

No more than Christianity is. And no more than the 1000-year practices, policies, legal frameworks, criminal codes, and politics of the Christian nations and societies are.

No more than any other system of law, morality or government in the world is.

No more than international law is. And no more than the UN Charter is.

But Islam does offer you the higher option of turning the other cheek, and forgiving those who sin against you, should you choose to exercise that option.

But Islam does not mandate it. How can it?

How can any sane or sensible system of thought or laws or government in the world mandate that every thief, murderer, rapist, arsonist, bank-robber, child-molester and traitor be ab initio forgiven and coddled as a long-lost brother or sister?

With all this, are there some Muslims in this world who go overboard, lose control of their emotions and better judgment, and resort to violence? Of course there are.

Are there others who are not Muslim who do that sort of thing? Of course there are.

Is that acceptable behavior on the part of anyone of them – Muslim or non-Muslim? No, it is not.

Does Islam condone or sanction behavior like that? No, it does not.

Should we criticize and condemn senseless and irrational violence when it is perpetrated by Muslims? Of course we should.

In the same way as we and all Muslims and non-Muslims should also criticize and condemn senseless and irrational violence when it is perpetrated by non-Muslims.

Does Islam condone or sanction violence against civilians, women, children, the aged, the infirm and the priests, pundits and the clergy? Of course it does not.

Does international law condone or sanction such behavior? Do any of the other religions and legal systems of the world? Of course none of them do.

Does Islam condone or sanction torture? Of course it does not.

Does international law condone or sanction torture? Of course it does not.

Do any of the other religions and legal systems of the world sanction or condone torture? Of course they do not.

In the end, is Islam then a “peaceful religion“?

First of all, Islam not a “religion.” Islam is a comprehensive divine system of life that was devised by God to guide, illumine and direct human life and activity in every thing and that was practiced and modeled in his life and society by Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, in its entirety.

Second, Islam is totally, absolutely, uncompromisingly and completely all about peace – and about truth – and about justice – and about human rights for all human beings, regardless of their color, race, religion, gender, social class or nationality.

Third, at the same time, Islam is behind no other system of laws and government in the world, including the Charter of the United Nations, in protecting and guaranteeing the inherent right of individuals, societies and nations to self-defense. And to justice. And to equality and fair and equitable treatment. And to self-determination and freedom from tyranny.

Why should it be?

As for Aggression, It Is an Absolute No, No in Islam

But what about using force as a means of committing aggression? That in Islam is an absolute no, no.

I have not come across, nor am I aware of, anything as clear or forceful – I don’t mean the pun in that expression – in any culture, language, constitution or religion, against using force as a means of aggression, as in Islam.

“Allah does not like those who commit aggression or use excessive force,” says the Qur’an.

Innallaha laa yuhibbul mu’tadeen.

The Qur’an asks people to “cooperate with one another in every kind of good thing. But when it comes to committing an act of aggression and excess,” the Qur’an clearly says, “no, don’t cooperate with anyone on that basis and for that purpose” (5:2).

Wa laa ta’aawanoo alal ithmi wal ‘udwaan.

Even as the Qur’an allows the right of self-defense and retaliation, it clearly warns against aggression and excess, even in that context and even against that background.

The Qur’an says:

“If you were to retaliate or visit retribution on someone for any wrong done to you, then do so in strict proportion to what was done to you. But if you were to show restraint and patience then it may be even better (16:126).”

Wa in aaqabtum fa-aaqiboo bi-mithil maa ooqibtum bihi.

Wa la-in sabartum, fahuwa khairul lis-saabireen.

Here is another one in a similar context:

“When you are faced with aggression against you, then resist that aggression with similar force, but fear God Almighty, and clearly understand that God is with those who fear him (2:194).”

And yet another one:

“Let not your anger and displeasure at those who kept you away by force from the protected mosque cause you to commit aggression or use excessive force against them (5:2).”

It is the most basic and powerful Islamic dispensation that unjust and unlawful killing of one human being – regardless of the color, race, gender or nationality of that human being – is equal to the killing of all human beings from the beginning of time till the end of time.

So, which part of any of these luminous and self-evident passages of the Qur’an against violence and aggression the Muslims, or the anti-Islam and anti-Muslim propagandists and mercenaries, don’t understand?

I don’t know about you folks. But there is nothing like this anywhere in the world.

Nothing with this much clarity and with this much emphasis and forcefulness against unjust and unfair use of force and violence and against aggression.

The Qur’an and Islam – and Muslims – wrote the last word on it.

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