In the Name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful

VIOLENCE ACCORDING TO THE TEXTS OF THE SHARI'A

Violence hurts and harms, whether one's own self or others, and it is a sickness rejected by reason and by all laws. All divinely revealed religions reject violence for the following reasons:

1. It angers the Lord, for the Lord is all Compassionate, all Merciful;
2. It harms the individual himself physically and psychologically;
3. It transgresses on people's rights;
4. Violence causes violence, throwing the society into a whirlpool of struggle and corruption;
5. Violence ruins the family;
6. Violence ruins the economy (as in wars).

The most High has said, “O believers! Enter into complete peace” [1]

All divinely revealed religions oppose violence. In Islam, there are numerous texts, which oppose violence in its various forms: one's violence against his/her own self, against one's wife, against one's family, against a neighbor, against employees, against other countries, against subjects, even against the enemy. Add to this violence against animals, nature and the environment. Allah, the most High, says, “Enter into complete peace and do not follow the footsteps of the Satan's” [2]

In his book titled The Path to an Islamic Revival, the Imam Muhammad Shirazi, Allah's blessing be upon him, says, “Uphold peace always; peace in word, in every place, with all people.”

Islam even counts kindness among one's signs of faith and conviction (Iman).

The fifth infallible Imam, Muhammad al-Baqir [3] alayhis-salam [4] once said, “One who is allotted kindness is allotted conviction.”

The Sixth Imam alayhis-salam has said, “Forgiveness and overlooking are two of the Attributes of Allah, the most Exalted, the most Great, which Allah entrusts to those whom He chooses so that they may be adorned with the qualities of their Creator.”

The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih [5] has said, “Violence spoils faith just as vinegar spoils honey.”

Imam Ali alayhis-salam has said, “Beware of violence, for it starts with madness and ends with regret.”

The Holy Qur'an has made it quite clear that the philosophy behind sending the Messenger of Allah Muhammad salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih to all mankind is: “We have sent you only as a mercy to all of mankind.” [6]

FIRST: Violence against adults and youngsters:

Islam has demanded that people respect the grown-ups and be kind to the youngsters. The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih has said, “Venerate your elderly and have mercy on your youngsters.”

Imam Zain al-‘Abideen alayhis-salam has said, “... and the right of the youngster is that you have mercy on him while educating him, to forgive him, to be kind and to assist him.”

The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih has said, “Love the youngsters and have mercy on them, and if you promise them something, fulfill your promise.”

As regarding the orphans, the Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih has said the following: “Allah has urged us to look after our orphans; whoever protects them is protected by Allah, and whoever is kind to them, Allah is kind to him.”

SECOND: Violence against one's own self:

Violence against one's own self is prohibited. Nobody is permitted to cut off any of his limbs; suicide is prohibited and so is abortion.

THIRD: Violence against the neighbor:

Adopting a violent attitude against the neighbor is also prohibited. The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih has said, “Anyone who harms his neighbor harms me, and anyone who fights him fights me.”

Imam al-Sadiq alayhis-salam has said, “A believer is one whose neighbor feels secure from his oppression and deception.”

The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih has also said, “An apostate (non-Muslim) has the same right of any other neighbor.”

FOURTH: Violence against the enemy:

Islam rejects violence even against the enemy. The most Exalted One has said, “Respond (to violence) with that which is fairest” [7]

When the Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih conquered Mecca , he did not punish anyone at all. Rather, he forgave everyone although they fought him for 13 years, and had killed many of his followers including his beloved uncle Hamzah.

The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih used to say; “The very best of manners in the life of this world and in the Hereafter is to forgive one who wronged you.” Imam al-Sadiq alayhis-salam has said, “Maintain your ties with one who severed them; greet one who taunted you.”

History narrates many events for such moral ethics. Here are some of them:

Habbar once assaulted Zaynab, (adopted) daughter of the Prophet (AS), with a spear, killing her unborn child. Yet, when the Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih took control of Mecca , he forgave Habbar and did not harm him. Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al-Shirazi says that Imam Ali alayhis-salam, who, at the time ruled an empire stretching half the globe, found out about the individual who tried once to assassinate him, but he forgave him and even gave him a sum of money to help him with his daily life.

A man once went to prophet Abraham (Abraham) alayhis-salam and verbally abused him. Abraham only said to him, “May Allah grant you guidance!”

Prophet Jesus (‘Esa) alayhis-salam once said, “Anything which you wish not to be done to you, do not do it to anyone, and if someone slaps you on your right cheek, you should turn the left cheek to him.”

FIFTH: Violence against other religions, nationalities and countries:

The Holy Qur'an calls upon us to get to know each other, to love and to make peace with each other. It states the following: “Enter into complete peace”. There is in Islam the “principle of obligation” which means that according to Islam, all religions should be respected. Every Christian or Jew or anyone else who acts according to the rules of his own religious legislative system and in all his dealings has the right to do so, and the Islamic countries are obligated to defend this right. Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi has said, “Islam wants what is good for everyone, both for its adherents and for its opponents as well.”

SIXTH: Violence against animals:

In his written authorization to Malik al-Ashtar, his appointed governor over Egypt , Imam Ali alayhis-salam prohibited Malik from even scaring an animal. Imam Ali alayhis-salam also said to him, “Do not curse any animal.”

The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih has said, “If you beat your neighbor's dog, you harm your neighbor himself.” The holy prophet of Islam then said, “Whoever harms his neighbor, harms me.” The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih, thus regards harming a neighbor's dog like harming him personally. The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him also said, “An animal has rights on its owner including feeding it as soon as he alights (before he himself eats).”

SEVENTH: Violence against one's wife and family:

Islam has prohibited violence against one's wife, mother, father or children. It regards one who treats his family best as the very best of all. The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih has said, “The best of you is one who treats his family best.”

The Holy Qur'an has stated that women have their rights and they should be treated with kindness. Just as the man has rights, so does the woman, and the man has to give her what belongs to her.

Imam al-Baqir alayhis-salam has said, “Moses son of ‘Emran (Amram) said, ‘Lord! Admonish me!' He said, ‘I admonish you regarding Me. ' Moses repeated his plea, and three times the Almighty repeated His same response. Then Moses said, ‘O Lord! Admonish me!' The Almighty said, ‘I admonish you with regard to your mother.' Moses repeated his plea again, whereupon the Almighty said, ‘I admonish you with regard to your father.'”

EIGHTH: Violence against the citizens:

A ruler has no right to oppress his people, or to rob them of their views, wealth or rights.

The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih has said, “Be informed that your salvation and rescue is dependent on your kindness to your subjects and on your beautiful friendship.”

The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali alayhis-salam said the following to Malik al-Ashtar when appointing him as the governor of Egypt : “Let your heart be filled with kindness towards the subjects and with love for them. Grant them of your forgiveness and overlooking as much as you love Allah to grant you of His forgiveness and overlooking..., and never regret having pardoned someone.” The late Imam Muhammad Shirazi has presented detailed discussion on this subject in his book; Shura in Islam [8].

NINTH: Violence against nature and the environment:

Islam has objected to the polluting of the environment even with making disturbing sounds. The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih banned the harming of live palm trees, fruit trees or other vegetation by burning, over-watering or cutting off, not even during wartime.

In his book entitled al-Fiqh al-Bee'a (Islamic philosophy with regard to the environment) the late Imam Muhammad Shirazi details the teachings of Islam with respect to the environment in various domains.

Finally, Islam opposes violence even through the use of the tongue. It opposes violence against one's beliefs. The Almighty has said, “Do not revile those whom they call upon besides Allah lest, out of spite, they may revile Allah in their ignorance” [9] .

History records that Samma‘ah verbally abused a porter, whereupon Imam al-Sadiq alayhis-salam remonstrated with him saying, “Beware of committing excesses even with someone who wrongs you.”

Imam al-Sadiq alayhis-salam has also said, “It is not right for, nor does it befit, a Muslim to throw dirt [taunt] at a Jew or a Christian or a Zoroastrian.” One hadith says, “Love for others what you love for yourself.”

In conclusion, Islam has put in place many principles that guarantee the eradication of violence from its very roots. Among them are the following:

1. Shura (mutual consultation): The Almighty has said, “They manage their affairs by mutual consultation” [10] . The late Imam Shirazi used to say “Shura is general; it encompasses men and women. The Messenger of Allah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih consulted with women many times.”

2. Justice and Kindness: The Almighty has said, “Allah enjoins justice and kindness” [11] . Justice is obligatory and is general, encompassing one's family, neighbors, friends and even enemies.

3. Freedom of Worship: The Almighty has said, “For you is your creed, and for me is mine,” [12] “Remind, for you are only to remind; you cannot control them.” [13]

So let us all cooperate with each other in order to reach a world of justice, freedom and peace. 

Peace and the blessings of Allah be upon you.

Ayatollah Sayyid Mortadha Shirazi