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Controversial miscellaneous issues related to Islam

Right of Protection against external aggression

Non Muslims in Islamic state have the right to be protected by the state from all sorts of aggression whether external or internal.

As for external aggression both Muslims and non Muslims have equal rights. The famous Islamic scholar Ahmad Ibn Hanbal in his book Ula An-Nuha states: “The ruler of Muslim community is bound to protect the non Muslims and to save them from aggression. Should they fall into captivity, the Imam must marshal all the recourses to secure their release and punish the transgressors against their lives and properties, even if they were the sole (non Muslims) living in a remote village".

If enemies from other countries attacked the non-Muslim of any denomination in an Islamic state, Muslims were asked to fight in order to protect the freedom of religious worship of the non-Muslim.

Ibn Hazm, the prominent Islamic scholar states in his book Maratib Al-Ijma: “Muslims who have entered into a pact of dhimma should fight until death with those who try to oppress non-Muslims in the Islamic state in order to abide by the guarantee given to them by Almighty Allah, His messenger, upon whom be peace. Otherwise they will be considered as traitors"

Examples:

  • The famous scholar Imam Ibn Taymiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, while speaking to Qultoo Shah—a Tartar—regarding the freeing of prisoners of war. Qultoo Shah agreed to set Muslim free upon Ibn Taymiah’s request; however, the latter insisted that Christian be released with the Muslims, which was what happened in the end. This stand by IbnTaymiyah reflects the perspective of jurisprudence on the subject of the right to external protection.
    (http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1153698300029&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout)

  • Imam AlQurafi quotes the statement of Ibn Hazm from his book Maratib al-Ijma:"If enemies at war come to our country aiming at certain Dhimmi, it is essential for us that we come out to fight them with all our might and weapons since he is under the protection of Allah and His messenger. If we did anything less than this, it means we have failed in our agreement for protection."