A deep prejudice against Islam runs in the veins of many Westerners. Palestinians and Iranians have been the target of dehumanizing lies, a classic case of psychological projection in which Israel and the West accuse Muslims of the kind of crimes they themselves are guilty of. In flagrant denial of their own crimes, they project the mirror image of themselves upon Muslims, many believing that Islam by its very nature is an enemy of so-called Western values.
It is this demonization of Muslims that has allowed many Westerners to condone the genocide in Gaza.
A combination of aggressive propaganda, ignorance, and lies has made an enemy of Iran, despite many overtures toward peace and cooperation coming from Iran.
In the back of many people’s minds, terrorism is thought to be excused, and even justified in the name of Islam. Nothing could be further from the truth, because, from the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims had a high standard of humanitarian principles in the conduct of war. These principles existed long before the formulation of International Humanitarian Law, such as the Geneva Conventions.
Contrary to popular belief, Islam did not convert by the sword, Such a conversion could not be considered authentic. Since the Quran says, “Let there be no coercion in religion.” in the lands ruled by Islam, Christians and Jews were allowed to follow their own religious law and beliefs. These communities were protected and survived in Muslim societies for 14 centuries.
Under Islamic Law war must only be conducted among combatants. Civilians cannot be killed. Even crops and orchards cannot be destroyed.
While wars may take a particularly brutal turn, Islam actually forbids the dismemberment of bodies in war, and even urges speaking respectfully to one’s enemies. During the times when people battled with swords, even striking another human being in the face was forbidden, perhaps, because of the implicit understanding, expressed among the Sufis, that the face is the address of the soul.
It is also forbidden to kill by fire. This was the justification for Iran’s stated policy prohibiting themselves from making nuclear weapons. During the life of Muhammad it was not even allowed to burn a field because of killing any animals that might live there, including insects. The subject of animal rights deserves a substantial essay on its own, but we will leave it for now.
We all know that truth is the first casualty of war, but lying is not a justifiable tactic from an Islamic perspective. If your enemy cannot trust your word, then you’re not “agreement-capable,” and this reduces the possibility of any reconciliation through communication.
In the history of Islamic societies, inevitably many prisoners were taken in wars, but in principle, they must not be abused, nor deprived of their dignity. Universal human dignity is an explicit and fundamental value of Islam.
The values of chivalry, often thought to be quintessentially European, actually originate among the guilds and military orders of Islamic lands. This chivalry, based in noble character and heroic generosity, is called Futuwwa, and Javan Mard in Persian. These values of chivalry are directly traceable to an esoteric lineage of the family of the Prophet Muhammad.
During the Crusades, when King George fell ill, Sultan Saladin sent his personal physician to look after him. The story is well-known and prized among Muslims.
Have there been departures from these high principles over the course of history? Certainly, because human beings in trying to gain an advantage over another may sometimes betray fundamental principles, but the exceptions do not cancel the core principle. What is significant here is the presence of a code of honor.
As an American, this is what I have learned after more than 40 years of visiting and living in Muslim countries, as well as knowing, and having many Muslims as friends.
Scapegoating and demonizing of Muslims, especially in America and Western Europe, has made genocide acceptable in some people’s minds. What the Nazis carried out in relative secrecy will always be a shame on the human race. But the continual bombing, the starvation, the total humiliation, the destruction of every support of human life, and the obliteration of cultural institutions and sacred sites, both Muslim and Christian, has been allowed and even condoned by the world community.
And in the American government voices of dissent are rare. Should we ask the question: what brings such a large number of congressmen to get up on their feet, cheer and applaud a war criminal, and get up again and applaud, and again, and again, and again?
History will record this shameless display of moral insanity. And truth will one day prevail if humanity does not lose its soul.
Most recently, what some call “The United States of Israel” has launched an unprovoked, illegal war against Iran. Iran’s “crime” is its support of the Palestinian people, in accord with countless UN resolutions.
War these days, more than anything, is information war, a war for people’s minds. Some assert that we must beware of Iranian “sleeper cells”. The CIA is well known for such “Gladio” operations, in which terror is perpetrated in order to enrage and manipulate the public against an intended target. We should be prepared and not be surprised if there is a major false flag event in the United States, for which Iran will be blamed.
Four Quranic Principles on War and Justice
Fighting Only in Self-Defense
“And fight in God’s cause against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression – for, verily, God does not love aggressors.” Qur’an 2:190 Translated by Muhammad Asad
Fight Oppression and Bring About Justice
“And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.” Qur’an 2:193 Translated by Yusuf Ali.
Permission to Fight for Those Who Have Been Driven from Their Own Lands
“To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they are wronged; and verily, God is Most Powerful for their aid; (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right, (for no cause) except that they say, ‘Our Lord is God’. Did not God check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of God is commemorated in abundant measure. God will certainly aid those who aid His (cause); for verily God is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might (Able to enforce His Will).” Qur’an 22:39-40 Translated by Yusuf Ali.
Bear Witness to the Truth Even if It Be Against Yourself
“O You who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God, even though it be against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk. Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, God’s claim takes precedence over the claims of either of them. Do not, then, follow your own desires, lest you swerve from justice: for if you distort the truth, behold, God is indeed aware of all that you do.” Qur’an 4:135 Translated by Muhammad Asad.
