Mason, I would like to add that if you do choose to study and explore Islam on your own that you consider the time period, context, and the reason FOR the ruling which was sent down. Alot of times people misconstrue the reason for a certain ruling based on what they take out of context.
For example alot of people say Islam was spread by the sword. In truth when you examine things in context, oppressed nations would call upon the Muslims to help them get rid of a tyrannous ruler. They would fight battles on behalf of the oppressed citizens of the land. Through that, many people became Muslims. In the Quran it states:
"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error; Whoever rejects Evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that never breaks. And God hears and knows all things." (Al-Baqarah: 256)"
I got this online:
The Prophet used to instruct his followers during battles and tell them not to be embittered or inclined to commit treachery. He asked them to spare non-combatants, particularly children and hermits. Caliph Abu Bakr gave the following instructions to the commander who led the campaign to Syria:
“Do not betray, be treacherous or vindictive. Do not mutilate. Do not kill children, the aged or women. Do not cut or burn palm trees or fruit trees. Do not slay a sheep, a cow, or camel except for your food. And you will come across people who stay in hermitages for worship; leave them alone to what they devote themselves to.”
Justice is highly valued in Islam and no Muslim is allowed to violate it even in times of war against their bitterest enemies. From the early days of Islam, medical assistance was available to all irrespective of religion or creed and was even given to the enemies. The medical profession itself was specially honored in Islam, and it was the duty of the Muslims to offer help in this regard to all.
A well-known example is that of Salahuddin Ayyubi (Saladin) [Kingdom of Heaven leader of Muslim army] , who gave medical help to his opponent Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, who was seriously ill during the Crusades. He sent his own doctor and personally supervised Richard's treatment until he became well. This is in contrast with the behavior of the invading crusaders. When they entered Jerusalem on July 15, 1099, they slaughtered seventy thousand Muslims, including women, children, and the elderly: “They broke children's skulls by knocking them against the wall, threw babies from roof tops, roasted men over fires and cut open women's bellies to see if they had swallowed any gold.”
This description was given by Edward Gibbon, the famous historian; and in modern warfare, this example is paralleled by the atrocious behavior of the Serb army in Bosnia, to quote just one instance.
For the first time in the history of warfare, it was Islam that adopted an attitude of mercy and caring for the captured enemy. Unprecedented by previous legal systems, and long before the Geneva Convention, Islam set the rule that the captive is to be sheltered by his captivity and the wounded by his injury. Islam made it obligatory to feed prisoners.
Ibn Umayr, one of the captives of Muslims in the Battle of Badr recalled: “Whenever I sat with my captors for lunch or dinner, they would offer me bread and themselves [eat] the dates, in view of the Prophet's recommendation in our favor.” Please note that in that desert situation, bread was a more luxurious item of food than dates.
Islam clearly prohibits subjecting captives to ill treatment by denying them food, drink, or clothing. According to Islamic law, the captive belongs to the state and not to his captor. The ruler has the ultimate option, as he sees fit, to grant him freedom immediately or at a later time, as he sees fit.
Sometimes enemy prisoners were exchanged for Muslim prisoners held in enemy hands. An acceptable ransom for release was for the prisoner to teach ten Muslim children to read and write. Combatants were set free upon their word of honor not to fight again; and if they broke their promise and were caught again, they might be severely dealt with.
Islam never fought civilian populations, but only fought despotic rulers. Islamic war was one of liberation and not one of coercion. The liberated people had the freedom to choose their religion, and Muslims often fought to ensure this freedom.
The process of active intervention to stop or remove aggression is a development that modem international law has recognized. And fourteen centuries before the establishment of the League of Nations and later the United Nations, Islam decreed such responsibility. This principle is based on the Qur’anic saying, which means:
*{If two parties among the believers fall into a quarrel, make you peace between them: but if one of them transgresses; the believers are but a single brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two [contending] brothers; and fear God, that you may receive mercy.}* (Al-Hujurat 49:9-10)
I got this from this website
I know these posts are really long and I do apologize but really I don't know what to cut out... I don't want you to miss something because taht would be unfair to you. I apologize if these posts are long and tiring to read
(<-- thats supposed to mean "embarressed" but its funny looking
) . Anyways, the website I posted is really good. You can click on Discover Islam on the left column to read more and come back here for questions
. You can post your questions on there also if you want.
Can you believe it, the only reason I was going to post this was to advise you to beware of anti-Islamic websites and articles yet it became this long post....
Anyways, do take care!
