1) Young Muslims - The Message

conditions. It can be waged only to defend freedom, which includesfreedom of faith. The Glorious Qur'an says:“To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight),because they are wronged;- and verily, Allah is most powerful fortheir aid;-(They are) those who have been expelled from their homes indefiance of right- (for no cause) except that they say, "our Lord isAllah". Had Allah check one set of people by means of another, therewould surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches,synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah iscommemorated in abundant measure…” [Sura Al-Hajj 22:39-40]Moreover, the Qur'an says: “And why should ye not fight in thecause of God and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (andoppressed)? - Men, women and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord!Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raisefor us from Thee one who will protect; and raise for us from Theeone who will help!” [Sura An-Nisa 4:75] Thus the conditions ofphysical Jihad are clearly defined in the Qur'an.Rules of Engagement: Although Islam permits Jihad on thebattlefield under the conditions mentioned above, the rules ofengagement reflect Islam's inherent inclination towards peace:No aggression towards civilians: Military conflict is to bedirected only against fighting troops and not against civilians, as theGlorious Qur'an says: “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fightyou, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors”[Sura Al-Baqara 2:190]As far as the non-combatant population is concerned such aswomen, children, the old and the infirm, etc., the instructions of theProphet (peace be upon him) are as follows: "Do not kill any oldperson, any child or any woman" (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim) "DoYoung Muslims, What they should know about Islam Page - 117