With the current USA -Iraqi war going on, more questions are being raised
everyday about the position of Islam (Submission in English) on issues related
to the war. One of these urging question, is the position of Islam (Submission)
on the Prisoners of War (POWs), their status, their treatment and their well
being. In this brief article , I will try to present this issue as every
true Muslim (Submitter) can see and understand from the Quran (The Final
Testament). This will give a chance to those who have never been exposed
to Islam or its teachings to know the truth and not be confused by any atrocities
carried out by a failing regime or a government that does not follow or adhere
to the teachings of God in the Quran even when they claim to be Muslims or
Islamic. History repeats itself, and many of what people think as Islam as
they watch on TV is no more than corruption of the religion carried out by
the same people who corrupted their own land to stay in power and oppress
their own people against every law in Islam (Submission).
If the Iraqi military , Afghanistani fighters or Pakistani militia, for example,
who claim to be Muslims carried their own atrocities against their POWs,
they do so, not representing Islam (Submission). but rather representing
the corruption of their own religion that they have been living with for
years. What they practice is NOT Islam or the law of Islam but their own
man-made inhumane laws that defy God's law and His book, the Quran as we
will see.
Comparison between Islam and The International Law Concerning War
Islam permits war but keeps it within the limits of mercy at which the twentieth
and twenty first century civilization have finally arrived to. Islam has
set down certain rules, more than 1400 years ago, the most merciful and
considerate to people, and required its followers to observe them.
Such rules go in line with the principles of international law e.g Geneva
convention (1950), in many ways, but differ in that they are divine rules
legalized through religion and executed through the faith of Muslims
(Submitters). The principle of international law lack this authority that
ensures putting them into practical effect. A law is a law only when it is
supported by some force that ensures its performance, and there is no such
force for international law. The Muslim rules, though they aim at justice
and mercy, have the faith of Muslims as an authority to ensure their being
carried out. Any failure in applying these laws by those who claim
to be Muslims is only a reflection of the corruption of these Muslims and/or
their government and their desertion of the divine law in Islam in favor
of their own man made inhumane laws and thus their behaviour does NOT represent
Islam (Submission) and they cannot be considered Muslims (Submitters) since
they defied God in His own book, the Quran..
A. International law determines that
the citizens who are not regular members of an army are not considered as
fighters, and hence should not be inflicted with harm; only regular soldiers
(or armed people engaged in a war) are considered as fighters.
Islam (submission in English) agrees on this point, for the Koran says:
[2:190] You may fight in the cause of GOD against
those who attack you, but do not aggress. GOD does not love the
aggressors. It is an act of transgression to when believers fight
those who do not fight them, people like their enemy's children and wives,
as well as their sick, old , non-military personnel and clergy.
B. International law forbids killing
the wounded, torturing the enemy, destroying them by treachery or deception,
or using bombs, missiles or weapons which add to their torture. It also prohibits
the poisoning of wells, rivers and foods; it recommends that the corpses
of the dead be respected, and prohibits any severity or mayhem be inflicted
on them, regardless of the nationality of dead people.
Islam applies the same principles, and the army or troop leader is expected
to follow the Quranic laws closely, not to be the aggressor or transgress
the limits. The captives or POWs are expected to be treated in the most humane
manner possible for the situation, cared for, fed, treated, protected, sheltered,
not to be tortured, humiliated or insulted.
[2:190] You may fight in the cause of GOD against
those who attack you, but do not AGGRESS. GOD does not love the
AGGRESSORS.
All fighting is regulated by the basic rule in 60:8-9. Fighting is allowed
strictly in self-defense, while aggression and oppression are strongly condemned
throughout the Quran.
[2:193] You may also fight them to eliminate oppression,
and to worship GOD freely. If they refrain, you shall not AGGRESS; AGGRESSION
is permitted only against the AGGRESSORS.
Once a captive, a POW cannot be killed. Quran permits only killing the enemy
fighters who are actively fighting the believers while commanding to protect
the captives who may be kept protected until the war is over ,or set free
(e.g. severely injured captives, handicapped captives or those who do not
represent danger anymore of returning as fighters).
[47:4] If you encounter (in war) those who disbelieve,
you may strike the necks. If you take them as CAPTIVES you may set them free
or ransom them, until the war ends. Had GOD willed, He could have granted
you victory, without war. But He thus tests you by one another. As for those
who get killed
in the cause of GOD, He will
never put their sacrifice to waste.
C. International law prescribes a
number of principles regarding the proper treatment of captives. They should
not be killed, injured, ill-treated or humiliated if they surrender or if
they are deprived of their freedom.
Islam also urges on the polite treatment of captives in general, and God
commends the righteous who treat such people hospitably, saying:
[76:8-9] They donate their favorite food to the
poor, the orphan, and the captive. "We feed you for the sake of GOD; we expect
no reward from you, nor thanks.
Those who Seek Protection
Among the principles of Islam which reveal tolerance toward the enemy in
the time of war, is that it allows individuals and groups of the enemy who
actively fight against Islam, to get in touch with Muslims and to reside
in Muslim lands under the protection of the Islamic law which is known
as the "Law of Protection." Islam ensures the protection of such people and
requires Muslims to protect them with all they can afford as long as they
are in Muslim territories. It even offers them certain privileges and releases
them from certain obligations which Muslims have to observe.
The purpose of this Law of Protection is to give these people a chance to
learn the truth about Islam. The origin of this lies in God's words:
[9:6] If one of the idol worshipers sought safe
passage with you, you shall grant him safe passage, so that he can
hear the word of GOD, then send him back to his place of security. That is
because they are people who do not know.
Islam deals with this point at length and permits the Muslim individuals
to protect and settle a covenant with one or a group of non-Muslims. This
measure of protection and guarantee on his part is to be respected.
Islam's Call For Peace
In international law, there is a set of well-established rules concerning
the obligations of nations toward each other in times of war and peace. The
first of these is that a country should base its relations with other countries
on terms of peace so that it may exchange benefit and cooperate with others
in order to promote humanity to utmost perfection. Peaceful ties like these,
they say, should not be broken except in extreme urgencies that necessitate
war, provided that all peaceful steps have failed in terminating the cause
of dispute.
This is what Islam has always been working for, and the relations of Muslims
with others are primarily based on peace and confidence. Islam refuses the
killing of people merely because they embrace a different faith, nor does
it allow Muslims to fight against those who disagree with them on religious
questions. It urges its followers to treat such people kindly:
[60:8] GOD does not enjoin you from befriending
those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from
your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves
the equitable.
In another place, God says: [4:90]
........ Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and
offer you peace, then GOD gives you no excuse to fight them.
We also have: [8:61] If they resort to peace, so
shall you, and put your trust in GOD. He is the Hearer, the
Omniscient. Instructions like these pave the way for the establishment
of peace, and go in harmony with the present tendency to set down principles
that call for the abolishment of war.
This should give the reader a broad idea about the peaceful and humane face
of the TRUE Islam (Submission), not the corruption seen practiced by some
who claim to be Muslims. To read more about these topics may we recommend
also;
Geneva Convention relative
to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
The
war system in Islam (Submission),
JIHAD
& TERRORISM
Fighting
in the cause of God,
Why
then are the Muslims defeated ?
info@submission.org
