Injustice and the Ideology of Cruelty (6)

The preparation to always be ready is an injunction upon Muslims, as in Allah SWT’s decree in Surah Al Anfal, verse 60, which reads:

 

"و أعدوا لهم مااستطعتم من قوة و من رباط الخيل ترهبون به عدو الله و عدوكم و ءاخرين من دونهم لا تعلمونهم الله يعلمهم و ما تنفقوا من شيء فى سبيل الله يوف إليكم و أنتم لا تظلمون"

Which means: ` Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into ( the hearts of ) the enemies, and others besides whom God doth know, whatever ye shall spend in the cause of God, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.’

Likewise in a true` hadith’ of the Prophet SAW, that prohibits Muslims from all kinds of cruel acts amongst mankind, Allah said `

وعن أبي ذر الغفاري -رضي الله عنه- قال عن رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فيما يرويه عن ربه -عز وجل-: يا عبادي، إني حرمت الظلم على نفسي وجعلته بينكم محرما فلا تظالموا

Which means:` Oh  My servants! I (Allah) have prohibited the act of cruelty against My Being and also prohibit cruelty amongst yourselves, so desist from being cruel to each other.’

Islam encourages compassion between mankind, that is respect, empathy and love between Allah’s creatures and if a firm action needs to be taken, it will only be done based on allowed principles founded upon noble Islamic laws, not based on temptations or retaliation of revenge and hatred. This then is the measurement in Islam to differentiate between a permissible and a prohibited act.

Islam prohibits its followers from all forms of cruelty and encourages truth and compassion in line with Allah SWT’s decree specifically for the believers, in Surah Ali Imran, which said:`

كنتم خير أمة أخرجت للناس تأمرون بالمعروف وتنهون عن المنكر وتؤمنون بالله  

`Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God.’

Also with the Prophet SAW’s saying  as reported by Abu Said Al Khudri, as follows :

من رأى منكم منكراً فليغيره بيده. فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه. فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه وذلك أضعف الإيمان

 

²⁰Maqaasid Syariah:Syariah’s purpose to protect 5 things; religion, life,mind,honour and property

²¹Asy Syuraa, verse 39

²²Asy Syuraa verse 41

 

Which means:` From Abu Said Al Khudri, he said,` I heard Rasulullah said,` Whomsoever amongst you see a wrongful deed ( prohibited by the religion) he should change it with his hand, if he is unable, he should then change it with his speech. If he is unable, then he should change it with his heart, and that is faith (iman) of the weakest degree.’

Allah SWT’s decree and the above `hadith’ clearly shows that Islam forbids its believers from cruel actions, because this characteristic is against the teachings of Islam and has no relevance whatsoever with the religion.  Islam on the other hand commands its followers to prohibit cruel acts with whatever strength they have and subsequently encourages good deeds amongst mankind.

Factors of Cruel Characteristics

There are various reasons why an individual may be influenced and trapped into acting cruelly, many factors can influence an individual to perform radical or extreme acts resulting in cruelty although initially he may only be an ordinary good, law abiding citizen of the state but changes in character and attitude by suddenly becoming aggressive, to the point of doing something against his personality and nature. This can all happen due to the following factors:

1)      Influence of the Mass media and the Internet Technology.

2)      Influenced by certain ideological concepts and thoughts until he feels that his actions are permissible by law.

3)      Sympathy towards abused groups makes him  act against Islamic law.

4)      Anger and hatred that exists towards groups that do all kinds of cruel acts with impunity.

5)      Doubts and suspicious feelings towards groups with specific agendas, who are one-sided and unjust in their actions.

6)      They were forced to act according to directives and in certain situations where there is pressure.

7)      Where there are confrontations and acts of provocation done to anger a certain group.

8)      Driven by emotion as a result of what is viewed as an injustice.

9)      May have good intentions when performing these cruel acts , without , however sufficient knowledge that these acts are strongly prohibited and are against basic principles.

10)  Influenced by events that happened in the country where a person had been , subsequently feeling that the act can be carried out where he currently lives.

11)  Influenced or used by certain factions to perpetrate cruel acts.

12)  Framed or punished before a trial is held to proof his guilt, or sentenced for a crime that was not committed.

13)  Driven by feelings of revenge, anger or hatred that exists as a result of  a cruel action that was done to him or upon a related person in his life.

14)  As a result of a divergent political form or ideology.

15)  Accusations of these groups thrown at each other, that the other group is the perpetrator of these acts of violence.

These factors above are some of the reasons why there are certain factions within Islam that do these cruel acts and justifying them with Islamic teachings, that  they have a right to carry out these acts, a matter of which arises from uncertainty and vagueness in determining the law for an act about to be done, whether the action agrees with or contradicts Islamic teachings, especially in facing the issue of an event.

In many cases, the above factors play an important role in influencing the perpetrator of these acts of violence who acted while in a state conscious or unconscious, or as a result of certain agendas, which culminates in these acts, causing more harm than good.  Although the action done is guided by thought, it sometimes contravenes with noble principles of a man’s life because it is driven by the element of temptation.

This corresponds with the reminder in Allah’s decree to mankind in Surah Ar Rum, verse 14, which said:

ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Which means:` Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of (the need) that the hands of men have earned, that (God) may give them a taste of some of their deeds; in order that they may turn back  (from evil).’