Islamic military jurisprudence

Islamic military jurisprudence is a set of rules from Islamic law. It tells Muslims how to behave during war. These rules come from Islamic scholars who decided what is right.

Many Muslim leaders talk about armed struggle that follows Islamic teachings. They call this the lesser jihad, meaning effort to do good and be fair, even when things are hard. This idea helps Muslims know their duties when there are conflicts.

Development of rulings

See also: Jihad, List of battles of Muhammad, and Muhammad as a diplomat

The first rules about fighting began soon after Muhammad established an Islamic state in Medina. These rules came from the Qur'an and Hadith, important books for Muslims. The main ideas were about when fighting is right and the idea of jihad, meaning "struggle."

Jihad was seen as fighting for what is right, especially when Muslims were treated badly. It was thought to be a duty for all Muslims together. Whether to fight depended on if the whole community was under attack. The rules also changed between places ruled by Muslims and places not ruled by Muslims, whether they were friendly or not.

Some experts say these old rules are similar to today’s international laws. They note that many Islamic countries also agree to follow both Islamic law and United Nations rules.

Ethics of warfare

See also: Islamic ethics

Fighting is allowed to protect oneself, help other believers, or when a treaty has been broken. But it must stop when these reasons no longer exist. Wars should be fair, protecting people who are not fighting and using only the force that is needed.

Muhammad shared important rules for fighting. His follower Abu Bakr gave ten key rules for soldiers. These rules included not being unfair, not harming dead bodies, and protecting children, women, and older people. The rules also said not to damage trees or kill animals unless for food. Even in big battles, leaders like Saladin showed kindness by helping their enemies. Early Islamic writings talked about fair treatment of people during war, including diplomats, prisoners, and civilians.

Criteria for soldiering

Muslim scholars agree that soldiers in Islamic armed forces should be grown-ups who are not in debt. They need to be in good mental and physical health. They should choose to join the army with the support of their families, not because they are forced to serve.

Legitimacy of war

See also: Jihad and Hirabah

Muslims think carefully about what makes a war right or wrong. Fighting to protect yourself and others is seen as a duty, according to the Qur'an. But if the other side stops being harmful, there is no reason to keep fighting.

Fighting to defend against attacks or unfair treatment of Muslims is widely accepted. Many scholars say that war should only be fought against those who attack Muslims, and not against people just because of their beliefs. They teach that only soldiers should be fought, and that people like women, children, and others who are not fighting should be kept safe.

Some scholars have also talked about fighting to spread or protect the influence of Islam, but this idea is debated. Some modern scholars believe that fighting should only be to stop attacks or unfair treatment of Muslims, and that peace is very important in relations with others.

International conflict

International conflicts are fights between different countries. In the past, some Islamic scholars divided lands into groups like "abode of Islam" and "abode of war." These ideas are not found in the Qur'an.

Before starting a fight, Muslims are told to give a clear warning. Surprising enemies without warning is not allowed, unless the enemy has already begun fighting. Trying to stop people from practicing their religion is seen as a reason for war.

When fighting, there are rules. For example, hurting dead bodies is not allowed, and showing off in battle is discouraged. Civilians like women, children, and those who cannot fight should generally be safe. Fighting in places where people live, or taking things from them, is not allowed without their agreement.

Both sides should always try to make peace. If one side attacks, the response should match what was done. There are rules about stopping fights at certain times.

People captured in war can be treated in different ways, such as being freed, exchanged, or kept safe. Women and children captured in war cannot be hurt.

Internal conflict

Internal conflicts include battles between groups, such as civil wars and efforts to stop bandits.

During an early battle called the Battle of Bassorah, a leader named Ali set rules for fighting other Muslims. These rules said that wounded or captured enemies should not be hurt. Those who drop their weapons or run away should not be chased. Only weapons and animals used in the fight could be taken, and no prisoners, women, or children should be forced into servitude. The property of enemies who were killed should go to their Muslim families.

Different ideas about fighting rebels have existed throughout history. In the early years of Islam, leaders believed that rebels should not be killed or have their property taken away.