The Sanctity of Life in Islam By Mohammad Hashim Kamali It is a manifestation of the dignity of man that Islam has placed an infinite value on human life. This is expressed in the Quran in the following terms: We ordained for the children of Israel that if anyone slew a person, unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land, it would be as if he slew the whole of mankind. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of a whole people. (al-Ma’ida, 5:32) The reference to the children of Israel, that is, the Jews, represents continuity of the basic values that are common to all revealed religions. Both Judaism and Islam are committed to the protection of human life. It makes no difference whether the victim is a Jew, a Muslim or anyone else. The value that is advocated is holistic and indivisible in that aggression against one is tantamount to aggression against all. Life is not only of infinite value, it is also sacred: Nor take life which God has made sacred, except for a just cause (al-Isra, 17:33). Al-Ghazali has quoted these ayat and drew the conclusion that in respect of the sanctity of life and the prohibition of aggression against it, Muslims and non-Muslims are equal. Attack on the personal safety of non-Muslims invokes the same punishment in this world and the Hereafter. [Muhammad Al-Ghazali, Huquq al-Insan, p. 54] In times of military engagement, the warriors are under a personal duty not to destroy civilian life. It is consequently unlawful to attack women and children, the elderly and the insane, the ill and the invalid and this include the blind, the lame, the crippled and the unconscious. The exempted categories also include the priest and the monk and those engaged in worship as I well as farmers who occupy themselves with their works in the field provided that they are not involved in the conflict. The hadith contains detailed instructions on all of these and the Prophet has generally advised military commanders and soldiers in the battlefield to be fair, avoid excessive violence and incline toward peace. [Zuhaili has quoted five hadiths on the subject. See for details, Zuhaili, al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh, VI, 421 ff.] Noble Quran (3:102) O ye who believe! Heed Allah as He deserves to be heeded, and die not except in a state of Islam [in submission to Him]. Narrated Abu Huraira: Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said, On the Day of Resurrection Allah will hold the whole earth and fold the heaven with His right hand and say, I am the King: where are the kings of the earth? (Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 479) 25 Duas from the Nobal Quran 1. Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire. (2:201) 2. Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance and make our foothold sure and give us help against those who reject faith. (2:250) 3. Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or fall into error. (2:286) 4. Our Lord! Lay not upon us such a burden as You did lay upon those before us. (2:286) 5. Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear, grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who deny the truth. (2:286) 6. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Your grace. Verily You are the Giver of bounties without measure. (3:8) 7. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and the lack of moderation in our doings, and make firm our steps and succour us against those who deny the truth. (3:147) 8. Our Lord! Whomsoever You shall commit to the Fire, truly You have brought [him] to disgrace, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers. (3:192) 9. Our Lord! Behold we have heard a voice calling us unto faith: Believe in your Lord and we have believed. (3:193) 10. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and efface our bad deeds and take our souls in the company of the righteous. (3:193) 11. Our Lord! And grant us that which you have promised to us by Your messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement. Verily You never fail to fulfill Your promise. (3:194) 12. Our Lord! We have sinned against ourselves, and unless You grant us forgiveness and bestow Your mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost! (7:23) 13. Our Lord! Place us not among the people who have been guilty of evildoing. (7:47) 14. Our Lord! Lay open the truth between us and our people, for You are the best of all to lay open the truth. (7:89) 15. Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and make us die as those who have surrendered themselves unto You. (7:126) 16. Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the evildoing folk, and save as by Your mercy from people who deny the truth. (10:85-86) 17. Our Lord! You truly know all that we may hide [in our hearts] as well as all that we bring into the open, for nothing whatever, be it on earth or in heaven, remains hidden from Allah (14:38) 18. Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Your presence and dispose of our affairs for us in the right way. (18:10) 19. Our Lord! Grant that our spouses and our offspring be a comfort to our eyes, and give us the grace to lead those who are conscious of You. (25:74) 20. Our Lord! You embrace all things within Your Grace and Knowledge, forgive those who repent and follow Your path, and ward off from them the punishment of Hell. (40:7) 21. Our Lord! Make them enter the Garden of Eden which You have promised to them, and to the righteous from among their fathers, their wives and their offspring, for verily You are alone the Almighty and the truly Wise. (40:8) 22. Our Lord! Relieve us of the torment, for we do really believe. (44:12) 23. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins as well as those of our brethren who proceeded us in faith and let not our hearts entertain any unworthy thoughts or feelings against [any of] those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness and Most Merciful (59:10) 24. Our Lord! In You we have placed our trust, and to You do we turn in repentance, for unto You is the end of all journeys. (60:4) 25. Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and forgive us our sins, for verily You have power over all things. (66:8)
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 00:49:40 +0000
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