Geneva Conventions 1949 copied War Etiquette in Islam
21/4/2017, 24 Rejab 1438H
The World Without Islam
"Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly." (Quran 60:8)
Surat Al-Mā'idah (The Table Spread), Chapter 5, Verse 8:
"O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah , witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do." (Quran 5:8)
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| Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments in Prague |
In Islamic rules of war, we are forbid to torture any human being and mutilate the bodies of the dead.
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| Chastity Belt |
In Islam, we've been taught about war etiquette since 1400 years ago. In Islam, we are forbid to torture any human being. Even if the non muslim ask for protection from us, we must give protection and shelter to them until they are safe to return to their place of safety.
Surat At-Tawbah (The Repentance), Chapter 9, Verse 6:
"And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah . Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know." (Quran 9:6)
Surat Al-Ĥujurāt (The Rooms), Chapter 49, Verse 6:
"O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful." (Quran 49:6)
Purpose of war in Islam
Surat Al-Ĥaj (The Pilgrimage), Chapter 22, Verse 39:
"Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory." (Quran 22:39)
Surat Al-Mā'idah (The Table Spread), Chapter 5, verse 32:
"Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors." (Quran 5:32)
Geneva Conventions 1949
Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that Abu Bakr as-Siddiq was sending armies to ash-Sham. He went for a walk with Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan who was the commander of one of the battalions. It is claimed that Yazid said to Abu Bakr, "Will you ride or shall I get down?" Abu Bakrsaid, "I will not ride and you will not get down. I intend these steps of mine to be in the way of Allah."
Then Abu Bakr advised Yazid, "You will find a people who claim to have totally given themselves to Allah. Leave them to what they claim to have given themselves. You will find a people who have shaved the middle of their heads, strike what they have shaved with the sword.
"I advise you ten things:
Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place. Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food. Do not burn bees and do not scatter them. Do not steal from the booty, and do not be cowardly." (Muwatta Malik)
1) Don't cut a tree
2) Don't kill a child (Muslims and Non Muslims)
It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah that a woman was found killed in one of the battles fought by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He disapproved of the killing of women and children.
| Reference | : Sahih Muslim 1744 a |
| In-book reference | : Book 32, Hadith 28 |
| USC-MSA web (English) reference | : Book 19, Hadith 4319 |
| (deprecated numbering scheme) |
3) Don't kill old people (Muslims and Non Muslims)
4) Don't destroy a temple or a church (Places of worship)
"[They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right - only because they say, "Our Lord is Allah ." And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might." (Quran 22:40)
5) Don't destroy a building
6) Don't kill those who surrendered
7) Don't kill who ran away
8) Don't kill a woman (Muslims and Non Muslims)
"Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors." (Quran 2:190)
9) Don't kill a sick person (Muslims and Non Muslims)
10) Don't kill a monk or a priest (Religious leaders)
11) Don't disfigure the dead
12) Don't kill an animal except for eating
13) Be good to the prisoners and feed them
14) Don't enforce Islam
Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 256:
"There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion" (Quran 2:256)
15) Do not commit suicide
Narrated Abu Huraira:
We witnessed (the battle of) Khaibar. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said about one of those who were with him and who claimed to be a Muslim. "This (man) is from the dwellers of the Hell-Fire." When the battle started, that fellow fought so violently and bravely that he received plenty of wounds. Some of the people were about to doubt (the Prophet's statement), but the man, feeling the pain of his wounds, put his hand into his quiver and took out of it, some arrows with which he slaughtered himself (i.e. committed suicide). Then some men amongst the Muslims came hurriedly and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Allah has made your statement true so-and-so has committed suicide. "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O so-and-so! Get up and make an announcement that none but a believer will enter Paradise and that Allah may support the religion with an unchaste (evil) wicked man. (Sahih Bukhari)
Prophet Muhammad's commands in war
War etiquette in Islam has been set by Prophet Muhammad during his life, more than 1400 years ago. In year 1949, the law has been copied as Geneva Conventions 1949 for human rights. However, whenever the western countries like US and Israel violated the law, no one will take legal charge against them. That is why Allah created heaven and hell, for eternal justice. No one will escape the punishment from Allah, unless the person make tawbah (sincere repentance) before he die.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has his own government during his life, that's why he formed the law for the country. It is rewarding for us to follow the law that existed and applicable until today, and sinful to disobey. However the command in war etiquette is only applicable during war to protect the own land and family from invasion, and for self defense only.
Prohibition of war in sacred months
We cannot wage war in 4 sacred months (Dhul-Qa'da, Dhul-Hijja, Muharram and Rajab) in a year, unless for protection.
Surat At-Tawbah (The Repentance), Chapter 9, Verse 36:
"Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them." (Quran 9:36)Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 217:
"They ask you about the sacred month - about fighting therein. Say, "Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allah and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] al-Masjid al-Haram and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allah." (Quran 2:217)
Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 194:
"[Fighting in] the sacred month is for [aggression committed in] the sacred month, and for [all] violations is legal retribution. So whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is with those who fear Him." (Quran 2:194)
The Prophet (ﷺ) said at Mina, "Do you know what day is today?" They (the people) replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better," He said "Today is 10th of Dhul-Hijja, the sacred (forbidden) day. Do you know what town is this town?" They (the people) replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "This is the (forbidden) Sacred town (Mecca a sanctuary)." And do you know which month is this month?" They (the People) replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, ''This is the Sacred (forbidden) month ." He added, "Allah has made your blood, your properties and your honor Sacred to one another (i.e. Muslims) like the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours, in this town of yours." (Sahih Bukhari)
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth, the year is twelve months, of which four are sacred; (and out of these four) three are in succession, namely, Dhul-Qa'da, Dhul-Hijja and Muharram, and (the fourth one) Rajab Mudar which is between Jumad (Ath-Tham) and Sha'ban." The Prophet (ﷺ) then asked us, "Which month is this?" We said, "Allah and His Apostle know (it) better." He kept quiet so long that we thought he might call it by another name. Then he said, "Isn't it Dhul-Hijja?" We said, "Yes." He asked "What town is this?" We said, "Allah and His Apostle know (it) better.' Then he kept quiet so long that we thought he might call it by another name. He then said, "Isn't it the (forbidden) town (Mecca)?" We said, "Yes." He asked, "What is the day today?" We said, "Allah and His Apostle know (it) better. Then he kept quiet so long that we thought that he might call it by another name. Then he said, "Isn't it the Day of An-Nahr (slaughtering of sacrifices)?" We said, "Yes." Then he said, "Your blood (lives), your properties," (the sub narrator Muhammad, said: I think he also said): "..and your honor) are as sacred to one another like the sanctity of this Day of yours, in this town of yours, in this month of yours. You shall meet your Lord and He will ask you about your deeds. Beware! Don't go astray after me by striking the necks of one another. Lo! It is incumbent upon those who are present to inform it to those who are absent for perhaps the informed one might comprehend it (understand it) better than some of the present audience." Whenever the sub-narrator Muhammad mentioned that statement, he would say, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said the truth.") And then the Prophet (ﷺ) added, "No doubt! Haven't I conveyed Allah's Message to you! No doubt! Haven't I conveyed Allah's Message to you?" (Sahih Bukhari)
Save mankind entirely
"whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." (Quran 5:32)
It is sinful for any human being to kill any innocent people, but we should save people from war that may kill them. Stop the war by knowledge, as knowledge is power. Sharing knowledge to prevent war is better than wage war.
When you kill a man, means that you kill a brother/son/father/grandfather for other people. The family will loss a brother/son/father/grandfather. The child will lost a father. A father will lost his son. The wife and children will lost the protector for the family.
Allah will punish those who kill the innocent people, unless they make sincere repentance (tawbah). Otherwise, you will feel guilty all your life, that may lead to depression, PTSD that may lead to suicide just like the US soldiers and veterans.
Islam is a peaceful religion. To have inner peace, is by be closer to Allah swt because happiness only given by Allah swt.
"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. This is the assurance of safety which the servant of God, Umar, the Commander of the Faithful, has given to the people of Jerusalem. He has given them an assurance of safety for themselves for their property, their churches, their crosses, the sick and healthy of the city and for all the rituals which belong to their religion. Their churches will not be inhabited by Muslims and will not be destroyed. Neither they, nor the land on which they stand, nor their cross, nor their property will be damaged. They will not be forcibly converted. No Jew will live with them in Jerusalem.
The people of Jerusalem must pay the taxes like the people of other cities and must expel the Byzantines and the robbers. Those of the people of Jerusalem who want to leave with the Byzantines, take their property and abandon their churches and crosses will be safe until they reach their place of refuge. The villagers may remain in the city if they wish but must pay taxes like the citizens. Those who wish may go with the Byzantines and those who wish may return to their families. Nothing is to be taken from them before their harvest is reaped.
If they pay their taxes according to their obligations, then the conditions laid out in this letter are under the covenant of God, are the responsibility of His Prophet, of the caliphs and of the faithful." – Quoted in Ibn Jarir al-Thabari, Tarikh al-Umam wa al-Muluk, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1997, jilid II, hlm. 449
References:
- The Geneva Conventions Of 12 August 1949, https://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/publications/icrc-002-0173.pdf, viewed 21st August 2017.
- Geneva Convention Relative To The Protection Of Civillian Persons In Time Of War Of 12 August 1949, http://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.33_GC-IV-EN.pdf, published 12th August 1949.
- Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments, http://museumtortury.cz/en/index.html, viewed 6th May 2017.
- The Lady Travels, http://www.theladytravels.com/praguetorturemuseum/, posted 11th June 2012.
- Jerusalem and Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, http://lostislamichistory.com/jerusalem-and-umar-ibn-al-khattab/, published 10th December 2012.
- Perjanjian Elia: Kesepakatan antara Umar dengan Nasrani di Yerussalem, https://islami.co/perjanjian-elia-kesepakatan-antara-umar-dengan-nasrani-di-yerussalem/, published 12th December 2017.
- Kedatangan Islam di Bumi Samarkand, https://aboutmiracle.wordpress.com/2007/05/30/kedatangan-islam-di-bumi-samarkhand/, published 30th May 2007.
- Surat-surat Rasullullah S.A.W.: Ajak Penguasa & Raja-raja Kafir Masuk Islam, http://www.voa-islam.com/read/tsaqofah/2011/12/25/17183/suratsurat-rasulullah-ajak-penguasa-rajaraja-kafir-masuk-islam/;#sthash.RYOV02Tr.dpbs, published 25th December 2011.
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