When Will the Armies Move? The Duty to Defend Palestine

HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS in Gaza have been martyred overnight as the Shayateen break the ceasefire and go on a killing spree with the full knowledge and support of their allies.

Despite a ceasefire, aid and electricity to Gaza were cut off, and the West Bank was under attack. This current escalation of violence was just a matter of when and not if.

Sadly, we see the same emotional reactions from the Muslim community expressing outrage, grief, and anger. They call politicians, protest outside Downing St, urge the UN/ICJ/ICC to take action and participate in boycotts, dua, and charity. However, we rarely consider whether these actions are effective or what is truly needed.

Rationally, and Islamically, we see that in cases of state-level military occupation and genocide, the answer must be military intervention at the level of another state. It’s not complicated.

We know that the obligation to act to remove evil is dependent on capability.

Allah says about our duty to those who are oppressed:

وَإِنِ ٱسْتَنصَرُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلنَّصْرُ

But if they seek your help (against persecution) in deen, you must help them. (al-Anfal 72)

And He says:

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ وَٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْوِلْدَٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَٱجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّۭا وَٱجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِيرًا

And what is it with you? You do not fight in the cause of Allah and for oppressed men, women, and children who cry out: “Our Lord! Deliver us from this land of oppressors! Appoint for us a saviour; appoint for us a helper—all by Your grace.” (an-Nisa 75)  

Our rulers, who could act, have been installed since the creation of their nations by colonial powers to serve their interests. They therefore won’t. But what about the armies? They too have the capability. Why don’t they act to help the Muslims in Palestine?

To understand their failing we need to understand some essential Islamic thoughts.

1. There is no obedience when it leads to disobedience to Allah

It is well known that soldiers follow the chain of command. It would be chaos otherwise. We know that Allah instructs us to obey those in authority amongst us. But for the Muslims that obedience has a caveat- a Muslim cannot obey anyone if that leads to disobeying Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

There is a narration in ibn Majah where ‘Abdullah bin Hudhafah bin Qais As-Sahmi was appointed as a leader of an expedition. At a stop, the men lit a fire to keep themselves warm. ‘Abdullah, a man who liked to joke, said: “Do I not have the right that you should listen to me and obey?” His men said: “Yes.” He said: “And if I command you to do something, will you not do it?” They said: “Of course.” He said: “Then I command you to jump into this fire.” Some people got up and got ready to jump, and when he saw that they were about to jump, he said: “Restrain yourselves, for I was joking with you.” When they returned to Madinah, the incident was mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ, and he ﷺ said: “Whoever among you commands you to do something that involves disobedience to Allah, do not obey him.”

There are other hadith and ayat to that understanding. If the rulers and commanders of Muslim armies are preventing their forces from moving to defend the Palestinians, then this action involves sin and disobedience to Allah and it becomes a grave sin for the soldiers to obey.

2. The poison of nationalism

Perhaps the greatest poison that has been injected into the body of the Muslim ummah is nationalism. It allows a soldier to stand on one side of a border and do nothing as Muslims get killed in his sight on the other side. Why? Because the one getting killed is not of his nationality.

The nation-state, a modern-day manifestation of tribalism, was never an Islamic concept. Rather it is one that arose from the West and is used by the colonialists to keep us weak and divided.

The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Whoever is killed under the banner of blind following, who calls to tribalism or supports tribalism, then he has died upon ignorance.’ (Muslim)

Martyrdom is achieved by fighting to raise the Word of Allah most high and not by fighting for your nation-state, your flag or your ruler based on nationalism (where you support your own people blindly regardless of wrongdoing).

3. The correct motivation

فَلْيُقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَمَن يُقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَيُقْتَلْ أَوْ يَغْلِبْ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

Let those who would sacrifice this life for the Hereafter fight in the cause of Allah. And whoever fights in Allah’s cause—whether they achieve martyrdom or victory—We will honour them with a great reward. (an-Nisa 74)

Allah tells us that the motivation to be a soldier and fight in Allah’s cause is to earn Allah’s pleasure in victory or martyrdom and the hope of His eternal Jannah.

Today unfortunately for many who join the army it is about some worldly gain be it a title, the medals, the army lifestyle, a piece of land at retirement, lucrative business deals etc.

Allah warns about this attitude:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ ٱنفِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا مِنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ

O believers! What is the matter with you that when you are asked to march forth in the cause of Allah, you cling firmly to (your) land? Do you prefer the life of this world over the Hereafter? The enjoyment of this worldly life is insignificant compared to that of the Hereafter. (at-Taubah 38)

What can we do?

Those of us who cannot directly stop the evil have to create an environment where those who can act, do act.

The Muslim armies are men from the sons, brothers, husbands and fathers of this ummah and in the global world, we all have connections.

So, if the armies are to move then we all need to contribute to building public pressure by reminding those in the armies to obey Allah above everything else, to forsake nationalism and to strive for what awaits in Jannah and not some insignificant gain in the dunya. Their role is to defend the ummah and not the tyrants. For that, they have our full support, honour, and gratitude.

If they move, then they have fulfilled their obligation to Allah.

If they do not, then we continue to create public pressure so that we fulfil our obligation to those among the Muslims who are sinful:

قَالُوا۟ مَعْذِرَةً إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ

‘They replied: ‘To be free from guilt before your Lord, and perhaps they may fear Allah.’ (al-Araf 164)

It is for Allah to deal with them and replace them with those who will obey him:

إِلَّا تَنفِرُوا۟ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَيَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّوهُ شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

If you do not march forth, He will afflict you with a painful torment and replace you with other people. You are not harming Him in the least. And Allah is Most Capable of everything. (at-Taubah 39)