9/11 and Being Muslim

A question that commonly arises in the minds of Muslims and non-Muslims alike is whether Muslims can participate in military campaigns against Muslim nations. The points that I will be presenting in my writing will be taken from the address, “True Loyalty to One's Nation” delivered in Koblenz, Germany by His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 2012.

I found one particular passage from this speech that neatly sums up the stance of our community which is that the “underlying principle of Islam is that no person should assist in acts of cruelty. This key command must always remain at the forefront of any Muslim’s mind. Where a Muslim country is attacked, because it has itself acted in a cruel and unjust manner and took the first step of aggression, then in such circumstances the Qur’an has instructed Muslim governments that they should stop the hand of the oppressor.

This means they should stop the cruelty and endeavor to establish peace. Thus, in such circumstances to take action as a means to end cruelty is permissible. However, when the nation which transgresses reforms itself and adopts peace, then that country and its people should not be taken advantage of or be subjugated on the basis of false pretenses or excuses. They should instead be granted normal state freedom and independence once again. The military ambition should thus be to establish peace, rather than to fulfill any vested interests. In the same way, Islam permits all countries, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, the right to stop cruelty and oppression. Thus, if necessary, non-Muslim countries can attack Muslim countries to achieve these genuine aims. Muslims in those non-Muslim countries are allowed to join the armies of those non-Muslim countries and prevent the other country from cruelty. Where such circumstances truly exist then Muslim soldiers, whichever Western army they may be part of, must follow orders and fight if required in order to establish peace.

If, however, a military makes a decision to attack another nation unjustly, and thus becomes the oppressor, then a Muslim has the option to leave the army, because then he would be assisting cruelty. By taking this decision it would not mean that he is being disloyal to his country. In fact, in such circumstances, loyalty to his country would demand that he should take such a step and counsel his own government that they should not allow themselves to fall to the same depths as those unjust governments and nations that act in a cruel way. If however, joining the army is compulsory and there is no way to leave, but his conscience is not clear, then the Muslim should leave the country, but cannot raise a voice against the law of the land. He should leave because a Muslim is not permitted to live in a country as a citizen, whilst at the same time, acting against the nation or siding with the opposition.”

I could not find better words or a more concise way to cover such a complex idea than was done by the Head of our Community during this somber time of remembrance and reflection. As a community that is subject to regular persecution, the final reminder by our Spiritual Leader has been to avoid creating social unrest and disorder at all costs whether they live in a Muslim or non-Muslim community and to leave such matters in God's hands.