277Chapter 18: Struggling for God: Jihad

Fighting ethicallyThe teachings of Abu Bakr, the first Caliphof Islam and close companion of ProphetMuhammad, clarify the ethics of armed strug-gle. He taught his companions the followingethics:

Do not commit treachery or deviate from theright path: This teaching calls believers notto abandon the Muslim army during conflict,to fight in battle with a God-conscious mind,and to avoid becoming the oppressor in thefighting against oppression.

Do not mutilate dead bodies: This teachingseeks to end oppression and bring freedom,not to dishonor those who have died andthose who are alive.

Do not kill women, children, or aged men:Scholars also include non-combatant menin this teaching.

Do not harm fruit-bearing trees: Jihadseeks to end oppression. As such, Muslimsmust protect the environment and foodstocks so that inhabitants of the land do notsuffer hunger or disease.

Do not steal the enemys food: Stealing isprohibited as an unethical act, and wardoes not legitimize stealing.

Protect rabbis, priests, and monks: Muslimsmust protect religious people and institu-tions because Qital seeks to establish thefreedom of worship.

Scholars of Islamic law have identified other warethics from the practice of Prophet Muhammadand early generations of pious Muslim leaders:

Do not wage wars of hostilities: Muslimscant start wars unless they have justifica-tion of self-defense, stopping of oppression,or freedom of religion.

Only a state leader can declare war:Islamic scholars agree that offensive armedstruggle cant take place unless the leaderof an Islamic state officially declares war.Surprise attacks and unofficial wars arecompletely forbidden. However, defensivearmed struggle to resist oppression andtyranny is generally permitted even withouta legitimate state leader.

Invite enemies to Islam: Before any hostil-ity takes place, the Islamic state must inviteits enemies to Islam. If they accept, then allhostilities must end, and former enemiesbecome brothers in faith. According to sev-eral Islamic jurists, the state must also issuethis invitation throughout the war in an effortto end hostilities.

Struggle only for good purposes: Qital mayonly occur to serve the public good. Anyother type of war, such as one fought toacquire resources, is completely forbidden.Resources can only be acquired throughtrade that is by mutual goodwill that ben-efits public good of both the seller and thebuyer. Killing and destruction for resourcesis not an ethical act, even if it may benefitsome in the short term (4:2930).

Do not wage war to seize land or expandterritory: Muslims are allowed to fight for justreasons, but simply conquering land with-out establishing justice is impermissible.

Do not poison wells or food stocks: Manycontemporary scholars of Islamic lawbelieve that this rule also forbids the use ofmodern warfare with chemical and biolog-ical weapons.

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