A RECENT ALLEGATION by some detractors of Islam is that terrorist organizations like ISIS or Daesh, Boko Haram, and Al-Qaeda, represent the real Islam as they follow and practice the original teachings of Islam explained by the Holy Quran and demonstrated in the life and practices of Prophet Muhammadsa.
This allegation is utterly baseless, the reality is that all the incidents of terror and devastation perpetrated by these terrorist groups are all against the clear-cut teachings of the Holy Quran. Furthermore, absolutely no support for such acts of brutality can be found from the life of Prophet Muhammadsa of Islam. These acts which are perpetrated by these barbaric groups, falsely invoking the name of Islam, genuinely grieve all true and peace loving Muslims. They are based on such brutal and inhumane ideologies which have nothing whatsoever to do with Islam.
When we look in depth at the Holy Quran and the life and character of Prophet Muhammadsa of Islam, it becomes clear that the early Muslims never initiated any battle or armed violence and they never forced Islam upon others. Extremist organizations are, in fact, the antithesis of Islam, the teachings of the Holy Quran and the life and example of Prophet Muhammadsa. Let us make a few comparisons to illustrate this point.
In several verses of the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty has laid down various principles of defensive warfare (which are only the means of protecting the freedom of conscience and worship for all religions and not just Islam). For example, Allah established the principle of fighting in self-defence in the following verse:
And fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors.16
Extremist organizations violate this verse by attacking indiscriminately and transgressing the rights of others with extreme cruelty. They want to fight those who do not wish to fight them. How deeply and clearly their actions contrast the commandment in the above verse! Yet it is amazing that critics of Islam assert that extremist organizations are following the Holy Quran in letter and spirit. In fact, this verse quoted above is itself enough to prove that all terrorist organizations (present or past) are acting against the clear-cut teachings of the Holy Quran.
Again, Allah the Almighty commands Muslims to never exceed the limits or to transgress during any defensive armed engagement:
And if you desire to punish the oppressors, then punish them to the extent to which you have been wronged; but if you show patience, then, surely, that is best for those who are patient.17
Do the terrorist organizations follow the above commandment? Of course not! Instead, they go out of their way to kill innocent civilians – some of whom are even pursuing humanitarian causes at the time of capture by these terrorists. To suggest that the terrorists are acting on Islamic teachings is an abomination and an atrociously unfounded claim that can only be made by Islamophobes who are intent on defaming Islam out of their own ignorance.
Allah the Almighty also says that during a battle, a party should only fight until there is no more persecution, and religion can once again be professed freely for the sake of God alone.
Furthermore, the Holy Quran stipulates that the Muslims must fulfil any covenants or pacts they form with idolaters if they have not acted with aggression towards Muslims and have kept the terms of their mutual agreements from their side:
Excepting those of the idolaters with whom you have entered into a treaty and who have not subsequently failed you in anything nor aided anyone against you. So fulfil to these the treaty you have made with them till their term. Surely, Allah loves those who are righteous.18
Allah says that upholding treaties is a necessary requirement of righteousness and that He loves those who are righteous.
Allah also instructs Muslims to always act fairly and with justice, even during battle and that the enmity of others should not drive a Muslim to act unjustly:
O ye who believe! be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do.19
Explaining this further, Prophet Muhammadsa is reported to have said:
Go in Allah’s name, trusting in Allah, and adhering to the religion of Allah’s Messengersa. Do not kill the elderly, or a young infant, or a child, or a woman; do not be dishonest about booty, but collect your spoils. Create peace in the land, and treat the people with benevolence, for surely, Allah loves the benevolent...20
As regards prisoners of war, Allah says that it is not permissible to take captives except in a state of a pitched battle, because to do so would suggest that, rather than seeking the love of God as evidenced by following His commandments, one cares only for amassing wealth and power:
It does not behove a Prophet that he should have captives until he engages in regular fighting in the land. You desire the goods of the world, while Allah desires for you the Hereafter. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.21
Thus, it proves very clearly that it is forbidden, outside of war-time, to keep anyone captive; yet in recent times, we have seen these so-called “Islamists” forcibly imprisoning numerous innocent people, while taking defenceless women as concubines. This is yet another proof that such people have nothing to do with the true and explicit teachings of Islam.
Regarding prisoners of war, Allah the Almighty has stated in the Holy Quran that they should be freed following the conclusion of fighting and not enslaved for a longer period of time as was the custom then.22 Allah says that they should either be freed in return for ransom or, preferably, released freely out of kindness and as a favour. This alternative of releasing them freely as an act of kindness underscores the fact that the other option, i.e. ransom, could not have meant blackmailing and extortion of exorbitant amounts of money, or any excessive demands placed on them – as is seen in the case of extremist organizations these days – in exchange for granting them freedom. This applies both to males and females.
In the early days, women used to go to the battlefields to support and motivate the men who fought and, in this way, those women were also liable to be captured. The Holy Quran, however, made it categorically clear that no woman is to be treated cruelly or violated in any way. This shall be illuminated further in the chapter entitled, Slavery and Prisoners of War.