O servants of Allah! The event that took place recently in France has left a mark of pain in our hearts. Similar events have happened many times in Muslim countries, and innocent souls have fallen victim to them.
Such actions are considered a crime and a form of sowing corruption on earth. These actions are contrary to the pure religion of Islam, its goals, its wise and correct regulations, its praiseworthy rules and ethical norms.
Explanation of the severity of this crime and Islam’s attitude towards it.
1 – Islam commands justice (‘adl), good deeds (ihsan), mercy (rahma) and forbids blameworthy actions (munkar) and unlawful encroachment (baghyi). Allah (pure and exalted is He) says about this in the Quran:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, Allah commands justice, grace, as well as generosity to close relatives. He forbids indecency, wickedness, and aggression. He instructs you so perhaps you will be mindful.
Quran, Surah “Bees”, 16:90
There is no justice, no goodness and mercy (rahma) in this committed crime. It is only a reprehensible act, overstepping the bounds and a crime.
Islam is all justice, all keeping of promises, loyalty and reliability! In Islam there can be nothing that goes beyond justice towards injustice (zulm). If something goes beyond justice towards oppression and injustice, then it has nothing to do with Islam. Islam has nothing to do with it! This is a reprehensible crime that every Muslim should condemn!
If something goes beyond the fulfillment of a contract, promise, reliability and honesty to the point of treachery and betrayal, then it also has nothing to do with Islam. This also includes what happened recently in France, the murders and explosions that were carried out by some people who consider themselves to be Muslims. They claim to be Muslims, while they themselves do not adhere to the orders and regulations (hukm) of this pure religion. They do not follow the path of the Book of Allah (pure and exalted is He) and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). They do not attach any importance or weight to the words of the righteous predecessors (salaf as-salih) of this community (ummah) and the religious opinions (fatwas) of the scholars. Therefore, we have no doubt that these explosions and murders are a crime, injustice and treachery. And a person should have no doubt that justice is an obligatory command (wajib). Islam insists that one should be just both towards those one loves and towards those one dislikes. Allah (pure and exalted is He) says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ
O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just! That is closer to righteousness. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
Quran, Surah “The Table Spread”, 5:8
2 – Islam forbids transgression of permitted limits (i’tida) and lawlessness (zulm). The Almighty says:
وَلا تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgress
ors. Quran, Surah “The Table Spread”, 5:87
In an authentic hadith it is said: “Allah Almighty says:
يَا عِبَادي، إنِّي حَرَّمْتُ الظُلْمَ عَلَى نَفْسي وَجَعَلْتُهُ بيْنَكم مُحَرَّماً فَلا تَظَالَمُوا
O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another. Muslim (2577)
The actions discussed here are entirely based on transgression and injustice.
3 – Islam forbids sowing evil and corruption on earth. Allah says:
وَاللَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْفَسَادَ
Do not seek to spread corruption in the land, for Allah certainly does not like the corruptors. Quran, Surah “The Story”, 28:77
Allah (pure and exalted is He) also says:
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الأرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
When they are told, “Do not spread corruption in the land,” they reply, “We are only peace-makers!”
Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:11
Perfect actions are one of the worst forms of spreading wickedness and sowing corruption on earth.
4 – Islam came with great rules, one of which is the elimination and prevention of harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ
There is no injury nor return of injury.
Ibn Majah (2341) and ad-Daraqutni (4/228)
The crimes that took place were entirely based on causing harm to Islam and Muslims.
5 – Another rule of Islam is to bring benefit to people. And what benefit is contained in what was done? No benefit, only incalculable harm!
6 – There is no doubt that what happened is the killing of those who cannot be killed. It is forbidden to kill people from among the disbelievers who do not fight with Muslims, even if they are in the territory where the war and battle are going on. That is, if there are people who distance themselves from the battle with Muslims, such as women, children, helpless people, the disabled or peasants busy with their farming, not participating in the war in any way, then Islam forbids killing them even in the territory where the war is going on and battles are taking place. Especially if we are talking about land where there is no battle, and then such murders are considered an even more serious crime. Islam forbids the encroachment on innocent lives and souls. Allah (pure and exalted is He) says:
وَلا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلا بِالْحَقِّ
Do not take a ˹human˺ life—made sacred by Allah—except with ˹legal˺ right.
Quran, Surah al-Night Journey, 17:33
7 – Islam specifically prohibits the killing of women, children and the elderly. In a hadith narrated by Buraydah, it is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said while instructing military leaders:
لاَ تَقْتُلُوا وَلِيدًا
“do not kill children” Abu Dawud (2613)
It was also narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
وُجِدَتْ فِي بَعْضِ مَغَازِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَقْتُولَةً، فَأَنْكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذَلِكَ، وَنَهَى عَنْ قَتْلِ النِّسَاءِ وَالصِّبْيَانِ
“a woman was found killed in one of the battles fought by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He disapproved of the killing of women and children.”
al-Bukhari (3014, 3015) and Muslim (1744)
Some versions of this hadith report that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw a murdered woman with people gathered around her corpse, and he approached them and said:
مَا كَانَتْ هَذِهِ تُقَاتِلُ فِيمَنْ يُقَاتِلُ
‘This (woman) was not one of those who were fighting.’
Ibn Majah (2842). See as-Saheehah (708)
It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
لاَ تَقْتُلُوا شَيْخًا فَانِيًا وَلاَ طِفْلاً وَلاَ صَغِيرًا وَلاَ امْرَأَةً
Do not kill a decrepit old man, or a young infant, or a child, or a woman.
Abu Dawud (2614)
Based on these hadiths, scholars have come to a unanimous (ijma’) conclusion that it is forbidden to kill women, children and the like. Those who have committed this vile act do not differentiate between children and adults, between women and men, between the young and the old.
8 – Islam came with mercy and grace! The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
مَن لَا يَرْحَمُ لَا يُرْحَمُ
He who does not show mercy (towards his children), no mercy would be shown to him.
al-Bukhari (5997) and Muslim (2318)
And it is said:
الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمْ الرَّحْمَنُ ارْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ
“The merciful are shown mercy by Ar-Rahman. Be merciful on the earth, and you will be shown mercy from Who is above the heavens.” Ahmad (6494), Abu Dawud (4941), at-Tirmidhi (1924); al-Albani called it authentic.
There are many hadiths about the need to show mercy. The Quran itself begins with the words “بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ” “In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Shower of Mercy!” Islam is a religion of mercy that came to save people, not to destroy them!
The goal of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was to save people. And so when the angel came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: “O Muhammad, I can destroy this city because they disobey and oppress you,” he said:
بَلْ أرْجُو أنْ يُخْرِجَ اللَّهُ مِنْ أصْلاَبِهِمْ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئاً
“No but I hope that Allah will let them beget children who will worship Allah Alone, and will worship None besides Him.”
Al-Bukhari (3231)
Abu Umamah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
مَنْ رَحِمَ ذَبِيحَةً رَحِمَهُ اللهُ يومَ القيامةِ
“Anyone who shows mercy, even to an animal meant for slaughtering, will be shown mercy by Allah on the Day of Rising.”
Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad (381)
Glory be to Allah (SubhanAllah)!
Remember that Allah (pure and exalted is He) forgave the sinner for his mercy towards a dog who was very thirsty and was forced to eat damp soil. The man went down into a well, filled his shoe with water, then grabbed the shoe with his teeth, climbed out of the well and gave the dog a drink. And it is said about him that Allah thanked him and forgave him his sins.
There is a hadith from Ibn Mas’ud in which he said:
كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَفَرٍ فَانْطَلَقَ لِحَاجَتِهِ فَرَأَيْنَا حُمَّرَةً مَعَهَا فَرْخَانِ فَأَخَذْنَا فَرْخَيْهَا فَجَاءَتْ الْحُمَرَةُ فَجَعَلَتْ تُفَرِّشُ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ:
“We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during a journey. He went to ease himself. We saw a bird with her two young ones and we captured her young ones. The bird came and began to spread its wings. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and said:
مَنْ فَجَعَ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا رُدُّوا وَلَدَهَا إِلَيْهَا
“Who grieved this for its young ones? Return its young ones to it. “
Abu Dawud (2675) and Ahmad (3835)
Glory be to Allah (SubhanAllah)! Look at the great mercy that Islam calls for, and then think about what these people do. Where is the mercy (ar-rahma) of Islam? If only they could think! If only they had reason!
9 – It is very important to understand that Islam strictly forbids such things as treason and perfidy (al-hiyana). Allah the Almighty said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُحِبُّ الْخَائِنِينَ
Surely Allah does not like those who betray.
Quran, Surah “Spoils”, 8:58
And it is said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُحِبُّ مَنْ كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا
Surely Allah does not like those who are deceitful, sinful.
Quran, Surah “Women”, 4:107
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
لِكُلِّ غَادِرٍ لِوَاءٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرْفَعُ لَهُ بِقَدْرِ غَدْرِهِ
Allah will set up a flag for every person guilty of breach of faith on the Day of Judgment, and it will be announced: Look, this is the perfidy of so and so.
Al-Bukhari (7111) and Muslim (1735)
This banner will be a sign indicating the one who committed treachery in worldly life. How great and monstrous is the treachery of those who kill innocent people!
Without a doubt, the fulfillment and observance of contracts (covenants) is an obligatory commandment of religion (wajib). It is forbidden to violate contracts and encroach on unbelievers who are in an agreement with Muslims that they will not cause each other any harm. It is forbidden to encroach on people who entered the lands of Islam, having received a guarantee of safety. Also, a Muslim who entered a non-Muslim country, having received a guarantee of safety and having guaranteed it on his part, is not allowed to encroach on its inhabitants, since Islam requires the observance of contracts. The Almighty says:
وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولا
Honour ˹your˺ pledges, for you will surely be accountable for them.
Quran, Surah “Night Journey”, 17:34
Also Allah (pure and exalted is He) says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ
O believers! Honour your obligations.
Quran, Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:1
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
مَنْ قَتَلَ مُعَاهَدًا لَمْ يَرِحْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا تُوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا
“Whoever killed a Mu’ahid (a person who is granted the pledge of protection by the Muslims) shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its fragrance can be smelt at a distance of forty years. al-Bukhari (6914)
That is, the one who breaks the covenant of safety will be so far from Paradise that he will not even smell it.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said:
مَنْ آمَّنَ رَجُلًا عَلَى دَمِهِ، فَقَتَلَهُ فَأَنَا بَرِيءٌ مِنَ القَاتِلِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ المَقْتُول كَافِرًا
“He who grants a man security and then kills him will be given the banner of treachery on the day of resurrection.”
Ibn Hibban and others, al-Albani confirmed its authenticity. See “Sahih at-Targhib” (3007)
A Muslim, having entered a country of non-Muslims and having received a visa, thereby enters into an agreement with that country that he is provided with a guarantee of safety in it and he himself undertakes not to sow damage in it and not to encroach on the life and property of its inhabitants.
If a non-believer enters a Muslim country having received a visa from the government, then it is also a guarantee of safety that all residents of that country must observe. No one has the right to encroach on such a person, either on his life or on his property.
Even if a non-Muslim entering a Muslim land was given a guarantee of safety by the most ordinary of the Muslims, who does not have a high position, then no one dares to encroach on the one who entered. For in Islam, a guarantee of safety given by one Muslim obliges all others to fulfill it, as is stated in the famous hadith.
As for the misguided Khawarij, they do not keep agreements and do not fulfill promises. They kill those people who entered a Muslim country with a guarantee of safety (mu’ahad). Moreover, having entered a land and received a guarantee of safety from its inhabitants, they themselves begin to kill them and encroach on their property.
Visits for entry into a country are a contract that must be observed and cannot be violated. Because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
مَا نَقَضَ قَوْمٌ الْعَهْدَ قَطُّ، إِلَّا كَانَ الْقَتْلُ بَيْنَهُمْ
“No people break a covenant except that killing spreads among them.” al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak, al-Albani confirmed its authenticity.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
مَا نَقَضَ قَوْمٌ الْعَهْدَ قَطُّ إِلَّا سَلَّطَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوَّهُمْ
A people do not betray the pledge but that Allah gives their enemies power over them
See Sahih al-Jami’ 3240
This is exactly what happens to the Khawarij, to all their groups: they constantly break treaties, they commit treachery and betrayal, first of all, against the Muslims, and then against the non-Muslims; they blow up innocent people and destroy innocent souls. What happens then? Then they start fighting each other and killing each other. Moreover, Allah sends people from all directions against them, who kill and destroy them, as is mentioned in the hadith quoted above.
It is reported that one day Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) made a treaty with the Romans. And when there was very little time left before the expiration of the treaty, Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) began to move with his troops to the border with the Romans in order to attack them after the end of the treaty. At that moment, a man (Amr ibn Abasa, one of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)) rode up on a mount and began to shout: “Keep the treaty! Do not commit treason! I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:
مَنْ كَانَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ قَوْمٍ عَهْدٌ؛ فَلَا يَحِلَّ عُقْدَةً، وَلَا يَشُدَّهَا حَتَّى يَمْضِيَ أَمَدُهَا أَوْ يَنْبِذَ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ
‘There was a treaty between Mu’awiyah and the people of Rome. He was making an expedition into their lands so that when the period of the treaty was expires he would attack them. So when a man upon an animal’ – or – ‘upon a horse said: “Allahu Akbar! Fulfillment not betrayal!” – and it turned out to be ‘Amr bin ‘Abasah – Mu’awiyah asked him about that. He said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever has a treaty between himself and a people, then let him not violate the treaty nor try to change it until its time has passed, or , in retribution for a similar offense.'” He said: “So Mu’awiyah returned with the people.”
Abu Dawud (2759), at-Tirmidhi (1580) and Ahmad (17015)
And Muawiyah, hearing these words, abandoned his intentions.
Think about this story! After all, Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) only wanted to prepare for an attack on the Romans, not intending to break the peace treaty with them before the end of its term. And he did not even have the thought of attacking them. The Companions (Sahaba) were far from breaking the treaty and acting treacherously. However, when another famous Companion, ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasa, reminded him that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade even preparations for war before the end of the peace treaty, Muawiyah immediately submitted and corrected his intentions.
And what about such treacherous people as today’s Kharijites, who shed the blood of innocent people? May Allah correct them! How they defame the image of Islam, what harm they bring to the people of Islam!
Strict adherence to treaties is a principle of Islam. Treaties must be observed even when there is a war. All the more so, one cannot act treacherously when you enter another country, showing yourself to be peaceful, reliable and not posing a threat.
Remember Huzaifa ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) and the circumstance due to which he did not participate in the Battle of Badr. Huzaifa narrated the following:
ما مَنَعَنِي أَنْ أَشْهَدَ بَدْرًا إلَّا أَنِّي خَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَأَبِي حُسَيْلٌ، قالَ: فأخَذَنَا كُفَّارُ قُرَيْشٍ، قالوا: إنَّكُمْ تُرِيدُونَ مُحَمَّدًا، فَقُلْنَا: ما نُرِيدُهُ، ما نُرِيدُ إلَّا المَدِينَةَ، فأخَذُوا مِنَّا عَهْدَ اللهِ وَمِيثَاقَهُ لَنَنْصَرِفَنَّ إلى المَدِينَةِ، وَلَا نُقَاتِلُ معهُ، فأتَيْنَا رَسولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلَّمَ، فأخْبَرْنَاهُ الخَبَرَ، فَقالَ:
Nothing prevented me from being present at! he Battle of Badr except this incident. I came out with my father Husail (to participate in the Battle), but we were caught by the disbelievers of Quraish. They said: (Do) you intend to go to Muhammad? We said: We do not intend to go to him, but we wish to go (back) to Medina. So they took from us a covenant in the name of God that we would turn back to Medina and would not fight on the side of Muhammad (ﷺ). So, we came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and related the incident to him. He said: Both, of you proceed (to Medina) ; we will fulfil the covenant made with them and seek God’s help against them.
What a valuable lesson this is! Do not be afraid that if you fulfill agreements with unbelievers, it will harm you! On the contrary, do what Allah commands and put your trust in Him! After all, Allah will certainly help those who adhere to His decrees.
Today, there are agreements between Muslim and non-Muslim states, and there are also agreements between individuals from among Muslims and non-Muslim states.
Agreements at the state level are the existence of diplomatic relations and active embassies, consulates, etc. Embassies are already an agreement between two states, meaning that citizens of one of them do not have the right to encroach on the residents of the other, on their lives and property.
A visa is, in essence, an agreement between an individual and a state. Obtaining visas to enter a non-Muslim state is an agreement that a person has no right to violate, otherwise he will show treachery and commit treason.
Obtaining a residence permit in a country is also a contract!
Obtaining citizenship is also a contract! A person has no right, having received a residence permit or citizenship, to encroach on the life and property of the inhabitants of that country, and he is prohibited from sowing damage there.
When the eminent scholar Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked whether it is permissible to encroach on the property of the Mu’ahad (those disbelievers with whom there are treaties), he replied: “It is not permissible to encroach on the property or the life of the Mu’ahad, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever kills a Mu’ahad will not smell the scent of Paradise.” Based on this, it is understood what kind of crime and injustice they commit and what kind of error they fall into when they encroach on the property of the disbelievers with whom there is a treaty, regardless of whether they are non-Muslims who are in your country with a treaty, or non-Muslims in whose country you are. We hear from some young people who are in the countries of the disbelievers such words: “There is nothing wrong with damaging the property of these disbelievers!” And you can see how they damage street lamps, attack shops or cars. This is forbidden (haram)! Holy is Allah! These people gave you shelter and you are now under their protection! It was not you who provided them with protection, but they did so to you! And after this you show treachery?! This is the strongest defamation of the image of Islam! “ Although, in fact, this does not defame Islam, but defame these people who consider themselves to be Muslims!
Thus, we must firmly know that the property of non-Muslim mu’ahads is inviolable, and we should not pay attention to the various fatwas of the ignorant and misguided who permit such things!
