Kill Those Kaafirs?

Asalamu aliakuam.
It’s me again. I know I'm really bothering you,but I really hope you do not really mind or annoyed.I just want to pour out my heart to someone.
Some crises are occurring in my country and they are really bothering me. Some muslims are killing Christians while claiming that they are doing it for the oppression of muslims, thinking they are claiming they are fighting jihad. They even went as far as causing havoc on Christmas day,think they burnt churches,I read in a hadith that the Prophet disallowed killing pple in their places of worship but this is exactly what these pple did. And, I feel sorry for the Christians, these pple kill their children, wives e.t.c, didn’t the Prophet also disallow this? Shouldn’t we muslims be of the best behaviour ? I’m really confused though because at the same time I once read in a hadith translated as something like muslims should kill those who disbelieve in Allah and his messenger. Is this true? can u talk about how we should treat the disbelievers please?
Thank you very much as you answer my questions,I know they are really much but I really do need your help and appreciate it so much.
Signed,
Once again In Need of Help

Wa’alykum as salam wa rahmatullah wa barkatoo,

First of all, in need of help again, please don’t ever say that you are bothering us or annoying us. This blog wouldn’t exist without people like YOU! Together, we’re a team :)

Beside, you really have a knack of asking AWESOME questions, LOL. Like seriously!

As for ‘the crises’ that are occurring in your country, we’re very saddened to hear that. Wallahi, that is terrible. Burning churches? Killing innocent people?! How is this jihad? You are right in questioning this evil behavior and saying that we are supposed to be the best examples! I see that you have mentioned ‘reading a hadith that said we should kill those who disbelieve in Allah and in his messenger. I really have NO IDEA what hadith you are referring to. (Maybe the other sisters can help us), but I think you might have heard someone taking out a verse of the Qur’an out of context, so we’ll look into that, inshaAllah.

Let’s start first, though, by taking a look at what the Qur’an says in regard to those who disbelieve and our relationship with them:

• Allah does not forbid you, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for God loves those who are just (Surat Al Mumatihina 60: 8)

• Invite all to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching. And argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious...And if you punish, let your punishment be proportional to the wrong that has been done to you. But if you show patience, that is indeed the best course. Be patient, for your patience is from God. And do not grieve over them,or distress yourself because of their plots. For God is with those who restrain themselves, and those who do good. Qur'an 16:125-128

• "Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!" (Surah 41, Verse 34).

What about the surah or the entire Chapter that is called “The Disbelievers”

Say, "O disbelievers,(1) I do not worship what you worship. (2) Nor are you worshippers of what I worship.(3) Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. (4)Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. (5) For you is your religion, and for me is my religion." (6)

Or this?

Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects Taghut (evil) and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trust worthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. " (Qur'an 2:256)

Think about it! If we are clearly told to leave people to make their own choice about Islam, then it only makes sense that we are not allowed to hurt them physically either if they make a decision not to follow Islam, doesn’t it?

Furthermore, the Prophet sallah Allahoo alyhee wa salam told us that whoever kills a person of another religion and there is a peace treaty between them, will never be able to smell paradise.

(Al-Bukhaari narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever kills a mu’aahid will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance may detected from a distance of forty days.’)

So then, what is jihad? And when are we supposed to do it?

Jihad literally comes from the root word meaning to ‘struggle’ and it refers to things much broader than fighting in war. It includes things like struggling against unlawful temptations, struggling to give charity, struggling to purify the soul, etc.

However, it does also refer to ‘fighting in a war’, but it in NO Way denotes killing random innocent civilians.

 Let’s take a look again at what the Qur’an says:

• Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors. (2:190)

• "Permission [to fight] is granted to those who are being persecuted, since injustice has befallen them, and God is certainly able to support them [with victory].

• They were evicted from their homes unjustly, for no reason other than saying, "Our Lord is God." If it were not for God's supporting of some people against others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques - where the name of God is commemorated frequently - would have been destroyed. Absolutely, God supports those who support Him. God is Powerful, Almighty." (Surah 22, Verses 39-40).

• If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves." (Surah 2, Verse 194).

This kind of jihad then is about protecting the right people have to practice their religion or fighting tyranny and oppression and it should occur after peaceful methods have been attempted like negotiations, peace treaties, etc.

AND still! Even when we fight in a war in self defence, we are told not transgress or to go over board. Yes, even in war, there are very strict rules. No fruit bearing tree should be cut down, no woman killed, no place of worship destroyed, etc. Elderly men, children, and even preachers of other religions must not be harmed. The Prophet said:

 Do not kill women or children or non-combatants and do not kill old people or religious people,'' and he mentioned priests, nuns and rabbis. And he said, "Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees and do not poison the wells of your enemies."

You see, Islam forbids oppression, even during ‘war’.

‘And do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from beign just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.” (5:8)

“And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al Haram lead you to transgress” (5:2)

Well, then, what about this verse and ones like it (which may be the hadith you are referring to):

And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al- Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.(191)

I would say,  it is extremely dangerous to read one verse and not read the entire context. Just read on to the very next verse:

And if they cease, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (192)

This also brings to mind this verse: "But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in Allah: for He is the One that Heareth and Knoweth (all things)." (Surah 8, Verse 61).

We also need to re-read the original verse. It says ‘from wherever they have expelled you’- meaning again that they started the oppression, first. These are not ordinary civilians. We are not to touch innocent people. These are people who 'began the oppression'- thus, we're allowed to defend ourselves. Again, though, our punishment though should be proportionate to what they have done.

You know what? I think we should take a look at the Prophet’s life- the prophet who was our role model- and see how he treated the disbelievers. As we all know, the Arab Pagans abused and tormented the Prophet and his followers for more than 13 years. They persecuted them so greatly, the Prophet and his handful of followers were granted leave from Makkah and emigrated to Madinah. Even though they emigrated, the Qurayshis didn’t stop plotting against them. And yet, years later, the Prophet returned to Makkah, with 10,000 followers. What did the Prophet do to the Arab Pagans who had been plotting against him and his followers for 20 years? Did he kill them because they were non-believers?  No! No, no! He forgave them.These were 'criminals', so what do you think we should do with those who are innocent?!

As for those people attacking the Church, I just want to share this: during the time that Omar bin Al Khattab was Khalifa, he was invited to a Church, but he refused to pray in the church so that Muslims would not request converting the church to a mosque.

It should be clear then that Muslims only fight when they have to. As for ordinary civilians, we are told to treat them respectfully and with kindness. If they choose not to believe, that is between them and Allah. We are not the ones who should punish them.

Hope this answers your question and don't worry- you can still send in some more :)