Mudabbir Ahmad Tak, Srinagar, Indian-Administered Jammu & Kashmir
The title of this article might be misleading – the mask has already come off of those who have for years called Muslims barbarians and Islam a religion of violence and oppression. But what unfolded some time back during a debate between two Western commentators has snatched the mask off Islamophobes, shred it to pieces and scattered it to the winds.
Watching the “debate” between American journalist and commentator Tucker Carlson and the British journalist and talk show host Piers Morgan was like watching two birds sitting side by side on a branch, chirping and jumping around – one could not understand what the point of it was, but it was a strange kind of harmless fun. Until both started talking about wars, and civilian casualties in wars.
Both Carlson and Morgan have been hugely popular in their respective countries, with viewership in the millions. Although Carlson has been more popular, both had their own TV shows on famous networks (Carlson on Fox News and Morgan on ITV, CNN etc.) from where they were both fired. The labels might not mean much in today’s world, but many consider both Carlson and Morgan to be right-wing. Carlson’s Wikipedia page calls him a “conspiracy theorist”, which is one way of identifying someone as a non-conformist. Morgan has had somewhat of a resurgence of late among mainstream media circles, after his unabashed and forceful support of what Israel is doing in Palestine. He once said that Muslim women and women who accept Islam were “oppressed”.
The debate between the two was a stunning portrayal of how low the world has fallen when it comes to the ideas of justice, peace and the value of human life in general. On Tucker Carlson’s channel, the debate has 1.6 million views. On Morgan’s channel, the video has 2.2 million views at the time of writing. It is safe to assume that the debate was watched by millions around the world.
The debate began with the Russia-Ukraine war, with Mr Morgan presenting his usual defence of Ukraine and NATO, and Mr Carlson trying to make him understand that the war was nothing but the West’s way of trying to contain Russia and to get a hold of minerals and other resources in Ukraine. Nothing unusual so far.
But then, the debate quickly moved to the funding of Israel’s brutal campaign against Gaza by the United States. And while Carlson struggled to openly condemn Israel’s campaign (he did allude to the fact that the mainstream media in the West is afraid of openly criticising Israel, fearing backlash by the Israel lobby), Morgan went full-on ballistic. He heaped praise on Israel and the West’s action. And in the course of doing this, he said something terribly offensive and inhuman.
Morgan, discussing civilian casualties in modern wars, talked about how modern-day warfare is more advanced than primitive methods of waging war and therefore the weapons of modern wars caused more damage. The discussion moved to civilian killings, and while Carlson was saying that it was evil to purposefully kill civilians – especially women and children – in wars, Morgan asked a horrific question – “Is it evil though? Really?”
Ponder over that for a moment. Let those words sink in, if words as vile as that can. That comment alone should have been enough for this debate to be stopped, especially because it was (for some strange reason) being held in Saudi Arabia. Morgan asked that question with a straight face, and then went one step further. When Carlson asked him how it was not evil to kill women and children on purpose in a war, Morgan said that one had a “moral right [to kill civilians] if there was a world war.” Carlson answered by saying that it was disgusting. It is worse than disgusting.
We do not have to go into the intricacies of how disgraceful that comment is. That is self-evident. And sure, there must be many who might even support that, considering the comments on the video. But is such a statement, and the support for it, evidence of how biased some people are when it comes to Islam and Muslims? Is it a display of naked Islamophobia?
Piers Morgan’s words go to show how devious and selfish the world has become. While many raise allegations against Islam by saying that it is a violent religion that was spread by force, the same people now not only defend, but advocate the purposeful killing of civilians, especially women and children in their wars.
What does Islam say about war?
Let us now turn to what Islam says about wars and civilian casualties. The history of Islam is full of instances when Muslims had to go to war. Instead of understanding and contextualising the reasons for these wars, the opponents present these wars as proof of the supposed barbarity of Islam.
Wars have been allowed in Islam under certain conditions. The Holy Quran states:
- “Permission [to fight] is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged – and Allah indeed has power to help them.” (Surah al-Hajj, Ch. 22: V.40)
- “Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ — And if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah will surely help one who helps Him. Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty.” (Surah al-Hajj, Ch. 22: V.41)
- “And fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors. And kill them wherever you meet them and drive them out from where they have driven you out; for persecution is worse than killing. And fight them not [in], and near, the Sacred Mosque until they fight you therein. But if they fight you, then fight them: such is the requital for the disbelievers. But if they desist, then surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful. And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is [freely professed] for Allah. But if they desist, then [remember] that no hostility is allowed except against the aggressors.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch. 2: V. 191-194)
These verses clearly lay out that only defensive wars are allowed in Islam. Even then, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa listed some rules that were to be followed strictly during the waging of wars. For instance, it is mentioned in various narrations that:
- The elderly, children and women should not be harmed: “Do not kill a decrepit old man, or a young infant, or a child, or a woman; do not be dishonest about booty, but collect your spoils, do right and act well, for Allah loves those who do well.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 2614)
- Women and children should not be killed: “[…] a woman was found killed in one of these battles; so the Messenger of Allahsa forbade the killing of women and children.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1744b)
- Suitable clothing should be provided to prisoners of war: “When it was the day (of the battle) of Badr, prisoners of war were brought including Al-Abbas who was undressed. The Prophetsa looked for a shirt for him. It was found that the shirt of ‘Abdullah bin Ubai would do, so the Prophetsa let him wear it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3008)
- Cheating, breaking oaths and mutilating bodies is impermissible: “Make a holy war, do not embezzle the spoils; do not break your pledge; and do not mutilate (the dead) bodies; do not kill the children.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1731a)
- The face should not be targeted: “If somebody fights (or beats somebody) then he should avoid the face.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2559)
The Holy Prophetsa was so insistent on these rules for a fighting army that he declared that whoever did not observe these rules, would fight not for God but for his own self (Abu Dawud). There are numerous other verses and ahadith detailing the aspects of war, which Mr Morgan would do well to consult.
What becomes clear then is that even when Muslims are attacked and have to defend themselves, they are to show respect to the life, liberty and property of the enemies, particularly civilians.
Islam, therefore, advocates just and ethical means of fighting wars, which should only be fought for defensive aims. In his Friday Sermon on 13 October 2023, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“Over the past few days, the war between Hamas and Israel has been ongoing, due to which civilians on both sides, including women, children, and the elderly, are being killed or have already been killed without distinction.
“Even in times of war, Islam does not permit the killing of women, children, or anyone who is not engaged in the fighting. This is something that the Holy Prophetsa has given strict guidance on.”
Huzooraa states:
“Islam teaches that where retribution is required then it must be proportionate to the act of transgression. However, if forgiveness can lead to reformation, then the option to forgive should be taken. The true and overarching objectives should always be reformation, reconciliation and the development of long-lasting peace.” (World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace, p. 109)
“If a war is warranted, then it can be fought between armies, not with women, children or the innocent.”
Compare this with the so-called “civilised” journalist Piers Morgan, who not only advocates the killing of civilians in a war, but defends it. Wars are fought between armies. Wars cannot technically be “fought” against civilians, because civilians do not have any arms to fight with. This is especially true of modern wars, which are fought with a sophistication and savagery that are unmatched in history.
Islam prohibits wars that can lead to collateral damage to civilians. On the other hand, using massive bombs that kill blindly and precise weapons that kill unerringly, modern wars fought by supposedly civilised people have become a barbarous affair.
Using such weapons against civilians is not “fighting”. Armies that “fight” civilians, in truth, only massacre them. And that is what some people who, like Piers Morgan, profess to be civil and humane, support and advocate. The mask has indeed been torn to shreds.