Enforcement of Islam vs Propagation of Islam and Western Muslim Minorities (3)

We have seen in part (1) & (2) of this article that in Quran basically two kinds of directions have been given to Muslims for ‘qattal’; one is in the form of ‘order’ and the other is in the form of ‘permission’. These two types of directions have been given to basically three kinds of Muslims; first are the ruling Muslims; the second are the non-Ruling Muslims; and the third are such subjugated Muslims which were once ruling nation in their respective areas. We have also seen that ‘order of qattal’ applies to ruling Muslim nations; permission of qattal’ applies to non-ruling nations. Now in the succeeding lines, we will see what kind of direction of ‘qattal’ applies to the subjugated Muslim nations.

As mentioned above, subjugated Muslim nations are such nations which were once ruling nations but presently have been subjugated by non-Muslim nations. Quran orders such nations to wage ‘qattal’  like ruling nations have been ordered to wage ‘qattal’.

“And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing….. (al-baqra-191).

The addressee of this verse is also plural; it means the addressee are Muslim nation. This verse states about the subjugated Muslim nation which once was ruling nation but then have been subjugated by non-Muslims who have expelled them from their houses after subjugating them. In this verse Allah has ‘ordered’ such subjugated Muslims to wage ‘qattal’ against the oppressors. As direction for ‘qattal’ is in the form of ‘order’ (as we have seen that this form of direction for qattal is specific for ruling Muslim nations), we cannot presume that this direction is about non-ruling Muslim nations. This order for ‘qattal’ is clearly for subjugated Muslim nations which before being subjugated were ruling Muslim nation and owner of their lands/houses of which they were expelled after being subjugated.  Because such subjugated Muslim nations were once independent/ruling nations and as a ruling Muslim nations they were under obligation to enforce Islam over all other systems- if required by using force- therefore that status of such subjugated Muslim nations is not changed on the basis of the reason that they have been subjugated by non-Muslims. Therefore such subjugated Muslim nations are all the time under obligation, if they have capability, firstly to get their lands free from the non-Muslims’ occupation, if required through use of force, and thereafter take steps to enforce Islam over all other systems. Therefore we can see that subjugated Muslim nations have been ordered to wage ‘qattal’.

The difference between non-ruling Muslim nation and subjugated Muslim nation is that non-ruling nation has never been a ruling nation in the region/state they are living in; but a subjugated nation has been once a ruling nation in the region/state where they are living in or have been expelled from. Another difference is that non-ruling nations are not all the time under obligation to wage ‘qattal’; they can wage ‘qattal’ only if one or more of the three conditions/reasons exists; these conditions are: self-defense; injustice and suppression; and intention of establishment of Islamic system- this third condition can only be met with after gaining victory and after getting control over the concerned area (if non-ruling Muslim nation does not meet this third condition after waging ‘qattal’, whole ‘qattal’ would be declared un-Islamic). The fourth condition is availability of capability. If no one of the three conditions exists, non-ruling nation cannot wage ‘qattal’, even if capability for ‘qattal’ exists. But subjugated nation is all the time under obligation to wage ‘qattal’, if they have the capability. The reason is obvious; when a nation is subjugated, the conditions of self-defense and injustice and suppression are already met with; whereas the third condition i.e. intention of establishing Islamic system over them-selves can only be met with after regaining control over the lost state/areas.

 A subjugated nation is different from a ruling nation in the sense that  a ruling nation is all the time under obligation to comply with the implications of ‘order for qattal’, already mentioned in part (2). Out of these implications, one (i.e. enforcement of Islam over others) is to be complied with after gaining victory, and the second one (i.e. relating to establishment of Islam over them-selves) is to be complied with before waging ‘qattal’. As long as a ruling nation does not comply with these implications of ‘order for qattal’, such Muslim nation would be considered as avoiding Allah’s order for ‘qattal’. But a subjugated Muslim Nation is, as mentioned above, all the time under obligation to wage ‘qattal’, if they have the capability.

The difference between a ruling Muslim nation, a non-ruling Muslim nation, and a subjugated Muslim nation is that a ruling nation has to establish Islam over them-selves before waging ‘qattal’. But a non-ruling nation and a subjugated Muslim nation has to establish Islam over them-selves after waging ‘qattal’.

Now we deal with the matter of capability in waging ‘qattal’. Capability has been given importance in Quran in waging ‘qattal’.

“Prophet (saww), urge the believers to battle/ ‘qattal’. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand” (al-anfal-65).

“Now, Allah has lightened [the hardship] for you, and He knows that among you is weakness. So if there are from you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you a thousand, they will overcome two thousand by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the steadfast” (al-anfal-66).

Combining these two  verses, importance of capability is reflected out. These two verses together state  that, in ‘qattal’, Muslims’ manpower will overpower non-believers’ ten times manpower or two times manpower, depending upon the steadfastness of the Muslims. In other words, the capability to wage ‘qattal’ varies with different degrees of steadfastness/ ‘sabr’ of the Muslims. Steadfastness/ ‘sabr’ is to withstand odds and difficulties posed by the situation. If Muslims’ ‘sabr’/ steadfastness is lesser, their capability will be lesser and vice versa.  If a person expires during battle, the act of being killed is not called steadfastness/ ‘sabr’; if he survives odds of battle, the act of survival is called steadfastness/ ‘sabr’. What I mean to say is that if the contest is so uneven that Muslims are only likely to be killed without any chance of success, such a ‘qattal’ would be called a ‘qattal’ waged without required capability/steadfastness which has been given importance in Quran.The Muslims first should improve their chances of survival through increasing their steadfastness/capability, and thereafter they should go for 'qattal'; steadfastness is not act of being killed without any chances of success;  steadfastness is surviving the  hardships (of war) and determines the level of capability of a nation to go to war.

In all three types of ‘qattal’- waged by ruling Muslims; by non-ruling Muslims; and by subjugated Muslim nations- the condition of capability to wage ‘qattal’ is essentially to be met with. However it may be appreciated that capability to wage ‘qattal’ is always relative; sometimes with little capability, greater successes may be achieved; and sometimes with enormous capability, only little may be achieved. What is important is to have required capability, not matching capability. It may also be appreciated that such  Muslim nations which are otherwise under obligation to wage 'qattal' are not absolved, due to lack of capability, of their responsibility to comply with Allah's direction for 'qattal'; if Muslims cannot wage obligatory 'qattal' due to lack of capability, it is their duty to remove whatever deficiency they have in their capability.

It may also be appreciated that when a ruling Muslim nations or a non-ruling Muslim nations or a subjugated Muslim nation- each one fulfilling the required conditions to wage ‘qattal’- is locked in battle/ ‘qattal’, other Muslim nations- whether or not fulfilling the required conditions of ‘qattal’- are also under obligation to assist the Muslim nation engaged in such ‘qattal’.

“And what is [the matter] with you that i. you fight not in the cause of Allah ii. and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?” (al-nisaa-75).
In this verse, every Muslim nation (addressee is a nation as plural word i.e. kum has been used) whether fulfilling conditions of 'qattal' or not, is being ordered under direction (i) to support ruling Muslim nations which of course are fighting for enforcement of Islam (which is the for the cause of Allah); and under direction (ii) to support non-ruling nations and subjugated nations. Of course, such support is based on the fact that such fighting ruling Muslim nation, non-ruling Muslim nation; or subjugated Muslim nation fulfills the required conditions of 'qattal'. Though it is not mandatory for the supporting Muslim nations to have fulfilled the required conditions of 'qattal'; the reason is obvious.  Because originally fighting nation fulfills such conditions, the conditions of 'qattal' are not violated, even if supporting nations do not fulfill those conditions.

 

We may conclude that three types of Muslim nations are allowed to undertake qattal:

First are the ruling Muslim nation. The second are the subjugated Muslim nation- the subjugated nation are the people which were previously ruling nation in their areas/state which has been  subjugated by non-Muslims. The third are minority Muslim nation- the minority Muslims are such Muslims who are living with non-Muslims as a minority and have never been a ruling nation in the areas they are living in. All these three categories of Muslim nations are allowed to undertake qattal for the three reasons/objectives:  i. self-defense of the Muslims; ii.  if Muslims are subjected to injustice and suppression; iii.  if Muslims being non-ruling nation want to establish Islamic system over them-selves. In addition to these three objectives, the fourth objective is freedom of Muslims from non-Muslims’ subjugation. The subjugated Muslim nation are all the time under obligation to regain their freedom. The fifth objective is to enforce Islamic systems over the non-islamic systems provided the Muslims involving in war have first enforced Islam over themselves. The minority Muslim nation are permitted to undertake qattal for the first three objectives, if required. The subjugated Muslim nation are under obligation to regain their freedom, even through qattal, if required. The ruling Muslim nation are under obligation to undertake ‘qattal’ for all the five objectives. The sixth principle of qattal is to acquire substantial capability of qattal before undertaking it; the substantial capability is not necessarily matching capability.


It may be appreciated that if any one of three categories of Muslim nations is undertaking qattal for one or more of the above mentioned objectives, all other categories of Muslim nations are under obligation to join such qattal in support of fighting Muslims.
 It may also be appreciated that each of three categories of Muslim nations are under obligation to undertake 'qattal' only if they have support of majority of their respective nation- because it is prerogative of Muslim nation to use force, it is majority of Muslim nation which is allowed to use force. Similarly if any one of three categories of Muslim nations wants to join fighting in support of any other Muslim nation, such fighting should have backing of majority of that other nation. [Islam has its own method of ascertainment of majority opinion which is subject to rectification, if required, by men of knowledge and piety; this process is different from that of western democracies. for details plz. see https://secondriseofislam.blogspot.com/2013/04/islamic-political-system-its-main_30.html].  The rational behind these two conditions is that ultimate motive of qattal in Islam is establishment of Islamic systems which further lead to honor, respect, power and glory in this world; if any Muslim nation themselves do not want honor and glory etc. in this world, no individuals or another Muslim nation is under obligation to provide such nation with such prizes (continued).