Violence and its position in Islam
Violence and its position in Islam
The position of violence in Islam could be discussed in the following subjects:
1- Individual and social manners
Islam rejects violence in individual and social manners and generally in all relations. Having good relationship with our neighbors, our family, respecting religious minorities, observing human being's greatness and avoiding violence in social relationships, all indicate that tolerance is pre-eminently considered in Islam.
The Prophet himself always observed moderation in individual and social manners. Kindness is one of the Prophet's characteristics:
However since mercy from God does exist, you have been
easy on them. If you had been harsh and cruel-hearted they would have dispersed from around you. (2/159)
" as I was ordered to do religious duties, I was also ordered to behave moderately towards people." Said the Prophet.
He also said: "behaving kindly towards people is a sign of faith and behaving moderately with them is half of life's blessing".
When the Prophet was supposed invite people (in Mecca) to Islam, the Quraysh called him a liar, magician, and madman, they also cursed, tortured and slandered him; but the Prophet only said to God: my Lord forgive my people, because they do not know!"
The Holy Imams also never used violence in their individual and social manners and moreover those who behaved violently towards them, then were profoundly influenced by the Imams and it caused the non-Muslims to embrace to Islam.
2- Making a religious law for individual and religious commandments
All the divine commandments especially the individual and religious commandments have been legislated based on moderation; it means that Islam has not legislated the illogical hard tasks:
God only assigns a soul something it can cope with (1/286)
Moreover every difficulty and hardship is rejected in Islam.
Although God never want His servants to get into trouble with religious commandments, He will not ignore those who disobey the religious commandments. As a result, moderation does not include performing religious divine law. Most of the Prophet's battles were done to keep Islam. Generally Imams also governed and revolted, in order to keep the religion.
3- Legislating and performing Islamic laws
Generally performing the penal laws creates justice in societies:
You will find [security for] life in such compensation, O prudent persons, so that you may do your duty! (1/179)
The Islamic law also needs to be legislated in order to make peace and justice in society, therefore legal punishments never indicate violence and even if they seem to be violent as they are confirmed by people, they are not violent anymore.
Islam apply moderation to prove a crime by making some conditions, Islam tries preventing to perform the laws. For example for proving adultery it needs four just persons to give evidence, in order to minimize the proof of the crime.
Misgiving in punishments indicates God's compassion. It means that any misgiving in crime will stop punishment:
My mercy embraces everything (7/156)
We have merely sent you as a mercy for everyone in the Universe (21/107)
Islamic government is supposed to apply logical policies in order to eliminate poverty and economic crimes in society.
Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil have the basic and central role in eliminating crimes.
Defending oppressed people is highly recommended in Islam; according to Islam those who have been oppressed are allowed to fight against the oppressors.
The Prophet firmly performed the Islamic rules. In Islam whoever commits robbery should be cut their hand.
Once a noble woman from the Quraysh called "Fatima Makhzumi" committed robbery, the Prophet ordered to punish her. Then the Prophet said: "swear to God if my own daughter commits robbery, I will cut her hand as well and I do not discriminate against people.
Islam is a religion of compassion, when compassion is not helpful, violence will be applied.
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