where exactly? that's sad to hear!
Participating in the War against Iraq| Sheikh Salman al-Oadah|
All praise is due to Allah and may peace and blessing be upon our Prophet Muhammad.
One of the main principles of Islam is that there should be mutual support and cooperation among Muslims and that all kinds of aggression among them are forbidden. A Muslim may not attack another Muslim, his family, or his property.
Our Prophet (peace be upon him) made the following declaration during his final pilgrimage three months before his death. He said: "A Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim. He will not oppress him, abandon him in difficulties, forsake him, or insult him".
Killing a Muslim for any reason is a grievous sin. We can find no warning in the Qur'ân against any sin besides polytheism sterner than the warning that it gives us against killing a fellow Muslim. Allah says: "Whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein, and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful chastisement is prepared for him".
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If two Muslims fight each other brandishing swords, then both of them - the killer and the one killed - will be in Hell."[Bukhârî].
He said: "Do not return to unbelief after me by killing one another." [Bukhârî and Muslim]
He also said: "The believer will continue to enjoy grace in his religion until he spills forbidden blood." [Bukhârî].
Abû al-Dardâ' said: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: "Allah may forgive all sins except for the one who dies as a polytheist or a believer who kills another believer intentionally." [Sunan Abî Dâwûd]
`Ubâdah b. al-Sâmit relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If a believer kills another believer and is pleased with what he did, Allah will never accept from him any excuse or justification."
Khaled b. Dahqân said: I have asked Yahyâ b. Yahyâ al-Ghasânî about what it means to "be pleased with what he did". He said: "This occurs during times of public strife where someone will kill another and feel that his act is justified, so he does not does not ask Allah to forgive him."
From all of this, it should be perfectly clear that a Muslim may not participate in killing or injuring his fellow Muslim. Likewise, he may not participate in the destruction of any Muslim country or any premises therein, whether civilian or military, no matter what the reason. Even if a Muslim faces the risk of death or personal loss for not participating, he does not have the right to save himself by killing his brother. In other words: he may not kill his brother to avoid being killed himself.
Therefore, we maintain that it is forbidden for any country, group or individual to join in attacking Iraq, destroying it, or killing its people. They may not support the attack on Iraq in any way, not verbally, politically, tacitly, logistically, materially, nor financially. On the contrary, they have to do what is in their power to prevent the war by all appropriate means. If they are unable to prevent the attack on Iraq, the least they can do is to avoid participating in any aspect of it.
This is in fact an aspect of one of the principles of our faith: that of loyalty between the believers and disavowal of the unbelievers. Allah says: "O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as your protecting friends. They are friends and protectors of one another. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust".
It is a great shame that some parties have decided to assist these invading aggressors. They do so hoping to realize some short-term worldly benefits like a high position in the forthcoming authority. In truth, they can hope for nothing but disgrace in this life and in the Hereafter as well if the do not repent. All those who are involved in helping in the invasion of Iraq should repent to Allah and distance themselves from the American war effort which seeks only to establish a new era of occupation on our soil. America seeks to strengthen its position as the only world power and at the same time protect Israel's position in this Islamic region by threatening and intimidating the neighboring countries.
America plans to establish in Iraq a prototype of an ideal regime by American standards to be example of material progress, freedom and democracy for the surrounding countries. However, in the future, this area will be a base for intelligence gathering and further military campaigns. We should not fail to mention the control America seeks to have over the oil, gas, and other natural resources of the region.
We would like to mention that it is permissible for a country's military to assist in safeguarding public premises and civilians and to help in assisting the refugees fleeing from Iraq. These, in fact, are positive efforts that Muslim countries should engage in and are services that will be required.
We pray to Allah that He protect the people of Iraq and to prevent the attack of the unbelievers.
We seek Allah's help and in Him we put our trust.
