Prophet Muhammad's Rules of War

As the threat of global war increases each day, a proven reminder of how to protect civilian lives and end war entirely

My intent was to start this series on the basics of Islam. But given the new war ignited by the United States against Iran, and the overall spike in threat of global war, I felt it prudent to ensure we discuss this critical topic.

The concept of collateral damage stretches back several millennia. The idea that there are unintended civilian fatalities when nations go to war. And while in modern times we are allegedly "more civilized," the genocide of Palestinians tells a different story. Now, as the volatility between the United States and Iran now escalates into war, the threat of "collateral damage” exponentially increases. Prophet Muhammad is history's first major figure to condemn collateral damage in word and deed. His advanced rules of war, established 1,400 years ago, present a yet unmatched humanitarian standard. And herein lies the solution to modern conflict, that we can only hope the United States, Iran, and Israel adopt for the sake of justice and global peace.

So far, the bombings conducted by Israel and the United States have killed an estimated 400 Iranian civilians, and injured an estimated 3000 more. Not one more person needs to die, and that is possible, if we uphold the justice based rules of war Prophet Muhammad established.

Prophet Muhammad’s advanced rules of war established 1,400 years ago is a yet unmatched humanitarian standard. And herein lies the solution to modern conflict. The Quran first describes when fighting is permitted:

Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged... Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, 'Our Lord is God' -- And if God did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down temples and churches and synagogues and mosques... (22:40-41).

Thus, the permission -- not commandment -- to fight is defensive. And that fighting protects temples, churches, synagogues, and mosques -- which is to say, universal religious freedom. (I’ll write about this in more detail in the coming weeks). Already we see the injustice of preemptive strikes, as they do nothing but lead to more war. But now that war has broken out, how should each nation engage? On this question, Prophet Muhammad commanded the following uncompromising rules of war. On the eve of battle he gathered his soldiers and commanded them the following:

O people! I charge you with ten rules; learn them well... for your guidance in the battlefield! Do not commit treachery, or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful. Slay not any of the enemy's flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them alone.

Thus, Muhammad's rules of war permit defensive fighting against active combatants while forbidding harm to anyone or anything else -- human, animal, or property. Contrast this with Israel’s indiscriminate attacks on every single hospital in Gaza and destruction of 95% of Gaza’s agricultural land. According to Muhammad's rules of war, no justification exists for any nation to attack civilians, property, animals, or anyone who is not an active combatant.

And while modern times tells a different story (more on this in future articles), history attests that Muslim armies lived valiantly by this example. Even against combatants, Muhammad put Muslims on notice. Once, a Muslim soldier named Usama bin Zaid overcame an enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat. The soldier implored Usama for amnesty just as Usama prepared to deliver the deathblow. Usama heard but ignored the plea and killed him anyway. Learning of this, Muhammad vociferously condemned Usama's act as repulsive to Islamic rules of war.

Mind you, this combatant persecuted Muslims, helped exile them from Mecca, pursued them to murder them, and even then Muhammad required Usama to accept his amnesty plea, even in the heat of battle, and while knowing full well the plea could be a lie. But Muhammad assumed this risk because he refused to forsake any opportunity for peace.

After Muhammad, the Khalifa Umar, and centuries later, the legendary Muslim General Salahuddin, again demonstrated these principles. Both insisted Jews return to Jerusalem -- as equals -- whereas they suffered immense persecution under Christian rule. I’ve written about that earlier here.

Even ardent critics of Islam such as Sir William Muir admit that Muslims treated prisoners of war with immense dignity. Captives were well fed and ransoms were according to their means. Indigent captives, meanwhile, "were allotted ten boys to be taught the art of writing" as a ransom. Imagine, a ransom of education to dismantle war and hate.

History demonstrates that Muhammad's rules of war -- when applied with justice -- lead to peace. If applied today, Muhammad's rules can end not only collateral damage, but war itself. We can only hope that the United States, Iran, and Israel abide by these noble and proven rules.