Rules of engagement in war of ideas against Jihadists
Part one: Roots of war of ideas In Muslim World
Chapter 2: The Holy Quran as the Book of war of ideas
C-Reforming Muslims
1-According to his behavior, ( Kafer ) or/and ( Moshrik ) ( Infidel , Idol worshipper ) in the Quranic terminology means transgressor and terrorist that kills innocent and peaceful people. According to his faith, ( Kafer ) or/and ( Moshrik ) ( Infidel , Idol worshipper ) in the Quranic terminology means the one who worship idols beside Allah, and tries to impose his religion on other people. Quraysh in the past and the Saudi Kingdom and the Iranian religious regime are the classic example for this case.
Islam in terms of faith is the submission to God alone. A Muslim by faith is one who submits his heart and face and senses to God. This is the meaning of Islam from a “faith” point of view on which the judgment is to God alone as He alone knows what lays in peoples’ hearts and no other creature could.
Islam in terms of behavior is peaceful dealing on earth. So, Muslim is any peaceful human, regardless of his or her faith and belief. A Muslim is everyone who does not wrong anybody nor shed innocent blood. These are the only boundaries within which we can judge people: every individual that is peaceful in his conduct and behavior is a Muslim regardless of his faith, sect, orientation, culture or religion.
2-The elders of Quraysh were the leaders of idolaters in the Arabian Peninsula. They used their power to subjugate and victimize the weak and poor people in Mecca who used to be passive, helpless and peaceful. So, most of them embraced Islam as a way for salvation in this life. Although they were peaceful, but most of them were in need for religious reform and to be educated high values.
War of ideas in the Quran has two ways: Dismantle peacefully the religious culture of the idolaters and reform Muslims.
Quran - as the final Holly message, that confirms them and explains them – restored the Ten Commandments and added more in order to reform Muslims and purify them.
3- Purifying humans – and Muslim and Arabs in particular – is one of the Islamic missions. The Prophet Abraham when raising the basic foundations of the Holy Mosque in Mecca with the help of his son Ishmael, prayed asking Allah to send a messenger from among his son Ishmael line age to purify this coming nation. This messenger is Mohamed: 002.127 And when Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House: Our Lord! accept from us; surely you are the Hearing, the Knowing: 002.128 Our Lord! And make us both submissive ( Muslims ) to Thee and (raise) from our offspring a nation submitting to Thee, and show us our ways of devotion and turn to us (mercifully), surely Thou art the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful.002.129 Our Lord! and raise up in them a Messenger from among them who shall recite to them your verses and teach them the Book and the wisdom, and purify them; surely you are the Mighty, the Wise.). The mission of the final Prophet (Mohamed) had been announced many centuries before the appearance of Quraysh. This mission was repeated in the Quran for reminding Arab Muslims in particular: ( 003.164 : Certainly Allah conferred a benefit upon the believers when He raised among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them, and teaching them the Book and the wisdom, although before that they were surely in manifest error. ) ( 062.002 He it is Who raised among the Gentiles an Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His verses and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom, although they were before certainly in clear error, )
Quran has many rules in this regard:
The Ten Commandments:
Before Mohamed, the Ten Commandments were revealed into Prophet from the lineage of Isaac and Jacob. Quran has brought them for the Arabs and all the humans, saying :(006.151Say: Come I will recite what your Lord has forbidden to you-- (remember) that you do not associate anything with Him and show kindness to your parents, and do not slay your children for (fear of) poverty-- We provide for you and for them-- and do not draw nigh to indecencies, those of them which are apparent and those which are concealed, and do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice; this He has enjoined you with that you may understand.006.152And do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner until he attains his maturity, and give full measure and weight with justice-- We do not impose on any soul a duty except to the extent of its ability; and when you speak, then be just though it be (against) a relative, and fulfill Allah's covenant; this He has enjoined you with that you may be mindful; 006.153And (know) that this ( Quran ) is My path, the right one therefore follow it, and follow not (other) ways, for they will lead you away from His way; this He has enjoined you with that you may guard (against evil). ).
Then Allah indicated to the Book of Moses :(006.154Again, We gave the Book to Musa to complete (Our blessings) on him who would do good (to others), and making plain all things and a guidance and a mercy, so that they should believe in the meeting of their Lord.), then saying about the Quran : (006.155And this is a Book We have revealed, blessed; therefore follow it and guard (against evil) that mercy may be shown to you.).
Accordingly, the Ten Commandments are: Worshipping Allah alone, be kind to your parents, do not kill your children, and come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret, do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice, do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner until he attains his maturity, and give full measure and weight with justice, and when you speak, then be just though it be (against) a relative, and fulfill Allah's covenant, and follow the Quran only.
There are three only from these Ten Commandments that related to the faith: Worshipping Allah alone, fulfill Allah's covenant, and follow the Quran only). Other Commandments are laws in dealing with humans : (be kind to your parents, do not kill your children, and come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret, do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice, do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner until he attains his maturity, and give full measure and weight with justice, and when you speak, then be just though it be (against) a relative.).
More Commandments
1-Those Ten Commandments are repeated and expanded in chapter 17, Sura Al Isra’a: (017.022 Do not associate with Allah any other god, lest you sit down despised, neglected. 017.023And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word.017.024And make yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion, and say: O my Lord! have compassion on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little. 017.025Your Lord knows best what is in your minds; if you are good, then He is surely Forgiving to those who turn (to Him) frequently. 017.026 And give to the near of kin his due and (to) the needy and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully. 017.027 Surely the squanderers are brothers of the devils, and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord. 017.028And if you turn away from them to seek mercy from your Lord, which you hope for, speak to them a gentle word.017.029And do not make your hand to be shackled to your neck nor stretch it forth to the utmost (limit) of its stretching forth, lest you should (afterwards) sit down blamed, stripped off. 017.030Surely your Lord makes plentiful the means of subsistence for whom He pleases and He straitens (them); surely He is ever Aware of, Seeing, His servants. 017.031And do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We give them sustenance and yourselves (too); surely to kill them is a great wrong. 017.032And go not nigh to fornication; surely it is an indecency and an evil way. 017.033 And do not kill any one whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause, and whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided. /017.034And draw not near to the property of the orphan except in a goodly way till he attains his maturity and fulfill the promise; surely (every) promise shall be questioned about. 017.035And give full measure when you measure out, and weigh with a true balance; this is fair and better in the end. 017.036 And follow not that of which you have not the knowledge; surely the hearing and the sight and the heart, all of these, shall be questioned about that. 017.037And do not go about in the land exultingly, for you cannot cut through the earth nor reach the mountains in height. 017.038All this-- the evil of it-- is hateful in the sight of your Lord. 017.039This is of what your Lord has revealed to you of wisdom, and do not associate any other god with Allah lest you should be thrown into hell, blamed, cast away. )
Here, the Islamic faith in believing in Allah alone was confirmed twice in the beginning and at the end: (017.022 Do not associate with Allah any other god,) (and do not associate any other god with Allah lest you should be thrown into hell, blamed, cast away ).
Other nine commandments were repeated here with more details: (. 017.023 And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word.017.024 And make yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion, and say: O my Lord! have compassion on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little. 017.025 Your Lord knows best what is in your minds; if you are good, then He is surely forgiving to those who turn (to Him) frequently) (. 017.028 And if you turn away from them to seek mercy from your Lord, which you hope for, speak to them a gentle word. )( 017.031 And do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We give them sustenance and yourselves (too); surely to kill them is a great wrong. 017.032 And go not nigh to fornication; surely it is an indecency and an evil way. 017.033 And do not kill any one whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause, and whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided. /017.034And draw not near to the property of the orphan except in a goodly way till he attains his maturity and fulfill the promise; surely (every) promise shall be questioned about. 017.035 And give full measure when you measure out, and weigh with a true balance; this is fair and better in the end.)(039 This is of what your Lord has revealed to you of wisdom.).
There are more commandments: (017.026 And give to the near of kin his due and (to) the needy and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully. 017.027 Surely the squanderers are brothers of the devils, and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord. 017.028 And if you turn away from them to seek mercy from your Lord, which you hope for, speak to them a gentle word.017.029 And do not make your hand to be shackled to your neck nor stretch it forth to the utmost (limit) of its stretching forth, lest you should (afterwards) sit down blamed, stripped off )( 017.036 And follow not that of which you have not the knowledge; surely the hearing and the sight and the heart, all of these, shall be questioned about that. 017.037 And do not go about in the land exultingly, for you cannot cut through the earth nor reach the mountains in height. )
Some of these commandments were repeated and confirmed here: (004.036 And serve Allah and do not associate anything with Him and be good to the parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the neighbor of (your) kin and the alien neighbor, and the companion in a journey and the wayfarer and those whom your right hands possess; surely Allah does not love him who is proud, boastful;)
2-There are two kinds of believers, bad believers and good believers who will be the winners in the Day of Judgment. Those winners are described in Sura (Al Mo’omenoun ) or the Believers. Its first verses say: (023.001 Successful indeed are the believers, 023.002 Who are humble in their prayers, 023.003 Who avoid vain talk; 023.004who are purifying themselves,023.005 And who guard their private parts, 023.006 Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or or those whom their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy, 023.007 But whoever seeks to go beyond that, these are they that exceed the limits; 023.008 And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant, 023.009 And those who keep a guard on their prayers; 023.010 These will be the heirs, 023.011 Who will inherit Paradise: they will dwell therein (for ever). ).
3-In Sura Al Forkan, Chapter 25, we have more details:
(025.063 And the servants of the Almighty Allah are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace. 025.064 And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing (in prayers).025.065 And they who say: O our Lord! turn away from us the punishment of hell, surely the punishment thereof is a lasting 025.066 Surely it is an evil abode and (evil) place to stay. 025.067 And they who when they spend, are neither extravagant nor parsimonious, and (keep) between these the just mean. 025.068 And they who do not call upon another god with Allah and do not slay the soul, which Allah has forbidden except in the requirements of justice, and (who) do not commit fornication and he who does this shall find a requital of sin; 025.069 The punishment shall be doubled to him on the day of resurrection, and he shall abide therein in abasement; 025.070 Except him who repents and believes and does a good deed; so these are they of whom Allah changes the evil deeds to good ones; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. 025.071 And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah with an (acceptable) conversion;- 025.072 And they who do not bear witness to what is false, and when they pass by what is vain, they pass by nobly. 025.073
And they who, when reminded of the communications of their Lord, do not fall down thereat deaf and blind.025.074 And they who say: O our Lord! grant us in our wives and our offspring the joy of our eyes, and make us guides to those who guard (against evil). 025.075 These shall be rewarded with high places because they were patient, and shall be met therein with greetings and salutations. 025.076 Abiding therein; goodly the abode and the resting-place. ).
4- More details : 013.019 Is he then who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like him who is blind? Only those possessed of understanding will mind, 013.020 Those who fulfill the promise of Allah and do not break the covenant, 013.021 And those who join that which Allah has bidden to be joined and have awe of their Lord and fear the evil reckoning. 013.022 And those who are constant, seeking the pleasure of their Lord, and keep up prayer and spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them secretly and openly and repel evil with good; as for those, they shall have the (happy) issue of the abode.013.023 The gardens of perpetual abode which they will enter along with those who do good from among their parents and their spouses and their offspring; and the angels will enter in upon them from every gate: 013.024 Peace be on you because you were constant, how excellent, is then, the issue of the abode. 013.025 And those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying it, and sever that which Allah hath commanded should be joined, and make mischief in the earth: theirs is the curse and theirs the ill abode.
5- In some details, the Quranic teachings include even how to walk and how to talk and the good manner in dealing with each other in homes and in parties, in eating and dressing:
(025.063 And the servants of the Almighty Allah are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace.)
(004.148 : Allah does not love the public utterance of hurtful speech unless (it be) by one to whom injustice has been done; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. 004.149 If you do good openly or do it in secret or pardon an evil then surely Allah is Pardoning, Powerful. )
(017.037 And do not go about in the land exultingly, for you cannot cut through the earth nor reach the mountains in height)
(031.018 And do not turn your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exulting overmuch; surely Allah does not love any self-conceited boaster; 031.019 And pursue the right course in your going about and lower your voice; surely the most hateful of voices is braying of the asses. )
(024.027 O you who believe! Do not enter houses other than your own houses until you have asked permission and saluted their inmates; this is better for you, that you may be mindful. 024.028 But if you do not find any one therein, then do not enter them until permission is given to you; and if it is said to you: Go back, then go back; this is purer for you; and Allah is Cognizant of what you do.024.029 It is no sin in you that you enter uninhabited houses wherein you have your necessaries; and Allah knows what you do openly and what you hide. 024.030 Say to the believing men that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts; that is purer for them; surely Allah is Aware of what they do. 024.031 And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; and turn to Allah all of you, O believers! so that you may be successful. )
(024.058 O you who believe! let those whom your right hands possess and those of you who have not attained to puberty ask permission of you three times; before the morning prayer, and when you put off your clothes at midday in summer, and after the prayer of the nightfall; these are three times of privacy for you; neither is it a sin for you nor for them besides these, some of you must go round about (waiting) upon others; thus does Allah make clear to you the communications, and Allah is Knowing, Wise. 024.059 And when the children among you have attained to puberty, let them seek permission as those before them sought permission; thus does Allah make clear to you His communications, and Allah is knowing, Wise. 024.060 And (as for) women advanced in years who do not hope for a marriage, it is no sin for them if they put off their clothes without displaying their ornaments; and if they restrain themselves it is better for them; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. 024.061 There is no blame on the blind man, nor is there blame on the lame, nor is there blame on the sick, nor on yourselves that you eat from your houses, or your fathers' houses or your mothers' houses, or your brothers' houses, or your sisters' houses, or your paternal uncles' houses, or your paternal aunts' houses, or your maternal uncles' houses, or your maternal aunts' houses, or what you possess the keys of, or your friends' (houses). It is no sin in you that you eat together or separately. So when you enter houses, greet your people with a salutation from Allah, blessed (and) goodly; thus does Allah make clear to you the communications that you may understand.)
(049.011 O you who believe! let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nicknames; evil is a bad name after faith, and whoever does not turn, these it is that are the unjust. 049.012 : O you who believe! avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful. 049.013 O you men! surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty); surely Allah is Knowing, Aware. )
6- There are more details in applying justice and fulfilling the promise and not to use the name of Allah for the vanities of this life :
( 016.090 Surely Allah enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion; He admonishes you that you may be mindful. 016.091 And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have made a covenant, and do not break the oaths after making them fast, and you have indeed made Allah a surety for you; surely Allah knows what you do.016.092 And be not like her who unravels her yarn, disintegrating it into pieces after she has spun it strongly. You make your oaths to be means of deceit between you because (one) nation is more numerous than (another) nation. Allah only tries you by this; and He will most certainly make clear to you on the resurrection day that about which you differed. 016.093 And if Allah willed He would certainly make you a one nation, but He misguides whom chooses misguidance and guides whom chooses guidance, and most certainly you will be questioned as to what you did. 016.094 And do not make your oaths a means of deceit between you, lest a foot should slip after its stability and you should taste evil because you turned away from Allah's way and grievous punishment be your (lot). 016.095
Nor sell the covenant of Allah for a miserable price: for with Allah is (a prize) far better for you, if ye only knew. 016.096 What is with you must vanish: what is with Allah will endure. And We will certainly bestow, on those who patiently persevere, their reward according to the best of their actions. 016.097 Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.)
(004.135 O you who believe! be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness of Allah's sake, though it may be against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives; if he be rich or poor, Allah is nearer to them both in compassion; therefore do not follow (your) low desires, lest you deviate; and if you swerve or turn aside, then surely Allah is aware of what you do.)
(005.001 O you who believe! fulfill the obligations. ) (005.008 O you who believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice, and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably, that is nearer to piety, and he careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is Aware of what you do. )
( 042.040 And the recompense of evil is punishment like it, but whoever forgives and amends, he shall have his reward from Allah; surely He does not love the unjust. 042.041 And whoever defends himself after his being oppressed, these it is against whom there is no way (to blame). 042.042 : The way (to blame) is only against those who oppress men and revolt in the earth unjustly; these shall have a painful punishment. )
002.027 : Those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying it, and sever that which Allah ordered to be joined, and (who) make mischief in the earth: Those are they who are the losers.
003.077 (As for) those who take a small price for the covenant of Allah and their own oaths-- surely they shall have no portion in the hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them, nor will He look upon them on the day of resurrection nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful chastisement.).
These are just Quranic samples, but the big test is in Jihad.