Worship places of non-Muslims in Muslim countries

By: Dr/ Najeh Ibrahim

Prpophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) found a slain woman. He said angrily: ‘She should not have been attacked!’ and in another narration 'She shouldn't have been killed'.

Then he dispatched a man to Khalid ibn el Waleed saying: ‘Tell Khalid not to kill women or laborers’.”

This was the situation in wars between fighting armies. So how could it be with our fellow citizens? Even if we disagree with each other concerning thoughts, faith or some national issues, it is not allowed for us -as Muslims- to kill wrong them. This is a well-known fact in Islam.

All this came to my mind while I was thinking about al-Qiddissin church accident and al Qaeda threats to the churches of Egypt in addition to what it committed against Iraqi churches.

I said whether the perpetrator belongs to al Qaeda or only adopts its ideology, the accident is a result of intellectual and religious defects that we should correct.

Al Jamaa al Islamyia lived a hard experience that we can consider as the hardest that ever witnessed by an Islamic movement.

We introduced our experience to the Islamic Ummah in general and to Egypt in particular to make use of. And we were honest in both; the experience and the revisions.

We did so to let the Islamic movements everywhere start from the point we stopped at.

Here, I mention some ideological and religious mistakes that may be behind the attack.

Al Qaeda and the constants and variables of religion:

The major problem in al Qaeda's ideology is rigidity. Al Qaeda doesn't differentiate between the constants and variables of the religion.

The constants of the religion are its major purposes, pillars, doctrine and manners. Add to this the five necessities especially protecting the soul, all souls, because a human being is Allah's building that shouldn't be destroyed just like that.

The variables are the branches of fiqh and the means which change from time to time and from place to place. And this is the secret why the Islamic Sharia is eternal.

The ideology of al Qaeda and mixing between the ends and the means:

Al Qaeda turns the means to ends. It wronged the concept of jihad. It made jihad an aim despite the fact that it is a means to defend the home land, the religion and honor.

They forgot that Islam protects human souls. This protection cannot be violated except in wars or by a judge's statement.

Jihad between denial and misunderstanding:

Jihad, the great obligation, was wronged by both Muslims and non Muslims. The former wronged it by using their swords in the situation. They didn't comprehend that jihad has rules. Al Rafei said:

"Swords of Muslims have ethics even during wars. The prophet, peace be upon him, ordered not to kill children, old people, women and monks."

This is in war. So how can it be in peace?

The latter wronged jihad by their desire to cancel it at all depriving Muslims from their right to defend their countries.

Therefore, the highest peak of Islam is lost between those who deny it and those who misunderstand it. Those who neglect its conditions fight in the wrong place and wrong timing. They direct their weapons to their fellow citizens instead of their real enemies who occupy their lands and desecrate their holy places.

I detonate… therefore, I exist.

But I have mercy… therefore, I exist.

Al Qaeda ideology doesn't only turn jihad to an aim in itself, it also makes killing and destruction in Muslim countries one of its purposes even if there is no gain for them, for Muslims or for any one else.

It is as if their motto today is "I kill, therefore I exist" "I detonate, therefore I exist"

This was never the way our ancestors understood Islam. On the contrary, they knew that "I worship God and have mercy to people… therefore I exist".

"The other" in al Qaeda ideology:

The greatest problem in al Qaeda ideology is that they deny the other. They never acknowledge Muslims that disagree with them. They never praised a good action done by an Arab or Muslim country.

Countries are like people include good and bad. We should praise the good, even if we disagree with it, and condemn the bad. This is a well known principle in Islam and all Muslims know it.

Al Qaeda was never said to praise any Islamic movement including Hamas which is known for its great sacrifices for the Palestinian issue.

Moreover, they don't recognize the rights of non-Muslims. They ignore that the Quran asks us all to be fair and good to non-Muslims; "and speak kindly to mankind". Allah said in this verse "to mankind" not "to Muslims only.

Non-Muslims in the Islamic fiqh:

Al Qaeda forgets, intentionally or unintentionally, that Islam allows Muslims to buy and sell to the people of the scripture. We can also offer them presents and accept the same from them plus sharing them in work, eating from their Carcasses, marrying from them, visiting the ill of them, teaching them and learning from them, etc.

Islam has protected non-Muslims, living in Muslim countries, throughout the ages. In fiqh, if a Muslim spoiled the wine or pigs of another Muslim, he will not be accused for it but if he does this to the wine or pigs of a non-Muslim- who believes such things to be not prohibited- he will be fined their value.

This is the opinion of Muslim jurists about wine and pigs. So, what will they say about the money and properties of non-Muslims? Of course, it is not allowed to destroy them. Then, what about lives and worship places?

Islam has always preserved the lives, money, honor and worship places of non-Muslims. Killing was never a target that Islam urges its followers for. It was never a way to solve problems especially with our fellow-citizens. On the contrary, Sharia urges Muslims to spread security in society and end disputes through dialogue.

Killing non-Muslim citizens, for no justified reason, is not allowed by Sharia. We never heard that any of Muslim Imams allowed such a thing.

Worship places of non-Muslims in Muslim countries:

Islam forbids attacking the worship places of non-Muslims. Allah says:

"For had it not been for Allah's repelling some men by means of others, cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned"

In al Jalalyn explanation, cloisters are for monks, churches for Christians and oratories for Jews.

Al Qaeda has recently taken the worst way, which is attacking places of worship in Iraq. It bombed some mosques of Iraqi Shiites in return for attacking Sunni mosques. Then it started to target churches. By this al Qaeda initiates a violation of Islamic rules that was never done before.

Muslim armies, which opened many countries in the east and west, never harmed the places of worship of non-Muslims although they were the only power on the face of earth then for they knew that the teachings of Islam prohibits such an act.

Random explosions and generalization of punishment:

The worst result of random explosions is generalizing the punishment. Explosives are blind. They don't differentiate between good and bad, friend and enemy and who is allowed to be killed and who is not.

Unfortunately, al Qaeda has made this a main instrument when it carries out operations in Muslim countries. It forgets that generalizing the punishment is against the teachings of Islam which stipulate that punishment is personal according to the holy verse that says "No laden soul can bear another's load."

The prophet of Islam said: "Whoever hurts a non Muslim, I shall be a complainant against him on the day of Resurrection.”

So, how is the case with this that killed a non-Muslim at his feast and in his place of worship? How such a man killed children, women and old people ignoring that Islam forbids killing such people even in wars?

According to our religion, it is not accepted to do injustice to any person, whether a Muslim or a non-Muslim. In a hadith Qudsi, Allah says “My slaves, I have forbidden injustice to myself and have forbidden it between you so do not wrong each other”.

Islam has secured for non Muslims, living in Muslim majority countries, to perform their rites and celebrate their feasts in peace without being terrified.

Is the attack in retaliation for the imprisonment of converted Christian women in some monasteries?

If the operation was a reaction for the extreme situations of the church , it may make things worse and Muslims will not benefit from that and if it was in retaliation for holding some Christian women, who converted to Islam, against their will, we say this is unfair. It is a big mistake. Such an act is a violation of the freedom of faith and personal freedom. It is also a violation of the constitution of the civil state, which is the only authority to imprison or jail people.

Is the grand sheikh of al Azhar or the mufti allowed to hold Muslim women that want to convert to Christianity? And what will happen if he does? Certainly, every one will attack him.

Such behavior of the Egyptian church was the cause of most of the sectarian problems took place lately. However, this is not a justification for such a bloody act.

Using power is not allowed except by the executive authority under the supervision of judiciary in order not to make chaos.

Individuals are not allowed to take actions of sovereignty:

Individuals are not permitted to take the role of the executive authority even if the latter failed or neglected to do it because the harms that will result from this may be greater than returning the rights to their people.

The statement of al Jamaa al Islamiya… to whom it may concern:

Finally, I end my article with a quotation from the statement of al Jamaa:

The al Jamaa al Islamyia has called the state to solely control any sectarian conflict and make law the only arbitrator. We have stressed also that any Muslim or Christian group is not allowed to take the role of the state or decide whom to wage war against.

The critical situation we are in because of such blind bombings makes us urge wise Muslims and Christians to initiate a fruitful dialogue for the benefit of our country.

Translated by: Mrs. Fatima Suleiman

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