Over the decades Militant Islam has portrayed the general perspective of the religion - Islam. Thus extremism was perceived to equate to Islam. However, labeling and equating it to terrorism are most trumped up by those who are Ignorant of Islam, so those quarters with hatred the religion and inventing Islamophobia.
22) 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 leader of the Muslim community in a very ordered and ethical way. Islam considers all life forms as sacred but particularly emphasizes the sanctity of human life.
Allah says in the Qur'an:
۞ قُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًۭٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًۭا ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَـٰدَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَـٰقٍۢ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ١٥١
"Say: "Come, so that I may read to you what your Lord has forbidden you, that is, do not associate anything with God; and do good to your parents; and do not kill your children because of sin, (actually ) It is We who provide sustenance for you and for them, and do not approach the evils (adultery) of it and the hidden ones; and do not kill the soul that God has forbidden (to kill) except in the right way (which is permitted by That's what God commands you to do, so that you understand it.."
[6:151]
Allah says:
مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحْيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ ٣٢
"For this reason (the story of brutal murder) we decreed upon the Children of Israel, that whoever kills a human being without any reason to kill that person, or (because of) doing damage on the face of the earth, then it is as if he has killed all mankind. ; and whoever takes care of the safety of one human being, then it is as if he has taken care of the safety of all human lives. And verily, our messengers have come to them with clear evidence; then, verily, most of them after that, truly became people who transgressed (caused damage) on the face of the earth.."
[5:32]
Such is the value of a single human life, that Allah equates the taking of even one human life unjustly with killing all of humanity. It is important to understand that in Islam, war is only permitted in specific and dire circumstances. It is despised and only permitted as a last resort when all other attempts at peace have been made. It keeps warfare at a level of mercy and respect for the enemy such as none other has been able to reach. The Prophet (), sometimes had to fight for the mere survival of his mission, but once security was ensured, he immediately reverted to peace and diplomacy.
15i.e., in legal retribution for murder.
16i.e., that requiring the death penalty.
Even in a state of war, Islam enjoins that armies deal with the enemy justly in the battlefield. Islam has drawn a clear line of distinction between the combatants and the non-combatants of an enemy country. The Prophet () told his armies,
"Do not kill any old person, any child or any woman.”17
And he said:
"Do not kill the monks in monasteries."18 Upon seeing the corpse of a woman on a battlefield, Prophet Muhammad () angrily asked his companions why she had been killed, and he strongly condemned the atrocious 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 corpses to the enemy 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.
17 Narrated by Abu Dawud.
18 Narrated by Ahmad.
Far from being a militant dogma, Islam is a way of life that transcends race and ethnicity. The Qur'an repeatedly reminds us of our common origin:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ ١٣
"O mankind! Indeed, We have created you from male and female, and We have made you into various nations and tribes, so that you may get to know each other (and be friendly with each other). Indeed, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is more pious among you, (not the one who has more lineage or race). Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, and All-Deep in His Knowledge (of your circumstances and practices).."
[49:13]
It is the universality of its teachings that makes Islam the fastest-growing religion in the world. In a world full of conflicts and deep schisms 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.
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