Today in modern warfare explosions, tanks, missiles etc are used. The mujahideen and Muslim countries use these weapons against the enemies of Allah. But the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, 'no one punishes with fire except the Lord of the fire.' Is using these weapons haram?


Firstly:

If the Muslims gain power over their enemy and defeat them, it is not permissible to burn them with fire, and there is no difference of scholarly opinion concerning this matter, because of the proven report from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), according to which he said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent us on a campaign and said: “If you find So and so, and So and so, then burn them with fire.” Then the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, when we wanted to set out: “I had instructed you to burn So and so, and So and so. But no one punishes with fire except Allah, so if you find them, then execute them.” Narrated by al-Bukhari (3016).

This applies so long as burning does not come under the heading of requiting and punishing like with like.

But in the event of combat when the enemy is holed up in fortifications and the like, then the Muslims may raid them and attack them with fire, and burn their fortifications around them, and do anything that may undermine their enemy and break their spirit. This was done by the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them), the Tabi‘een and those who came after them.

That is not included in the prohibition on punishing with fire, because the hadith was speaking about people who were not holed up in fortifications. But if they are holed up in fortifications, then there is nothing wrong with sending fire against them, so as to bring about their defeat and surrender, whether by means of fire or any other means.

Ibn Hajar said, commenting on a chapter title included by al-Bukhari, Do not punish with the punishment of Allah:

This applies when burning is not needed as a means to overcome the disbelievers in a war situation.

End quote from Fath al-Bari (6/149).

It was narrated that Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ said: We travelled by sea at the time of Mu‘awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) and we met the enemy in battle and launched burning material at them.

Thus we learn that there is nothing wrong with any of that so long as they are holed up in fortifications. It is only forbidden to burn with fire after taking prisoners, according to what was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent out a group on a campaign and said to them: “If you capture So and so, then burn him with fire.” (That person) had spooked the camel of Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), by poking it, which caused her to fall and suffer a miscarriage. Then he said: “If you capture him, then execute him and do not burn him, for only Allah, may He be exalted, punishes with fire.

When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent Mu‘adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) to Yemen, he said to him: “Look for So and so, and if Allah enables you to capture him, burn him with fire.” But when he turned to leave, he called him back and said: “I said that to you when I was angry. But no one has the right to punish anyone with the punishment of Allah, may He be exalted (i.e., fire). Rather if Allah enables you to capture him, then execute him.” Thus we know that it was forbidden to burn the mushrikeen after capturing them. But if the enemy is holed up in fortifications, there is nothing wrong with that.
Ibn Qudamah said in al-Mughni:

As for the enemy, if one is able to gain power over him, it is not permissible to burn him with fire, and there is no scholarly difference concerning that as far as we know.

As for attacking them with fire before capturing them, if it is possible to capture them without resorting to that, it is not permissible to attack them with fire, because they come under the same heading as those who are defeated and captured. But if it is not possible to defeat them by any other means, then it is permissible, according to most of the scholars…

‘Abdullah ibn Qays said: The Muslims are still following this view.

Ash-Shafi‘i (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Umm (4/258):

If the enemy is holed up in a mountain, fortress, ditch, or the like, then there is nothing wrong with attacking them with mangonels, catapults and fire...

If someone were to ask: How can it be permissible to launch an attack with mangonels and fire against a group of mushrikeen among whom are women and children, whom we are forbidden to kill?

The answer is: We allow that in the circumstances we described. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) launched a raid against Banu al-Mustaliq when they were off their guard, and ordered the fighters to attack them at night with fire, and it was known that among them were children and women. That was because that was the land of shirk and was not under protection; rather what is prohibited is to deliberately target and kill women and children. End quote.

It says in al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah (12/244):

It is prescribed to attack the enemy with fire, even if that will result in making them suffer its burning. This applies when it is not possible to defeat them without burning, because the Sahabah and Tabi‘een did that during their campaigns. As for punishing them with fire after having defeated them, that is not permissible, because of the report narrated by Hamzah al-Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him), according to which the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) appointed him in charge of a campaign and said to him: “If you find So and so, then burn him with fire.” I [Hamzah al-Aslami] turned to leave, then he called me, so I went back to him and he said: “If you find So and so, then execute him, and do not burn him, for no one punishes with fire except the Lord of fire.” End quote.

This has to do the basic principle concerning this matter, when attacking with fire is not the main method of war. But in the modern era, the Muslims are required to fight their enemies in the same manner as they fight them, or even with something better than that if they are able to do so. And they must develop these weapons and surpass their enemies in doing so, for this comes under the heading of necessary strength that the Muslims are commanded to prepare in order to confront their enemies. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy”

[al-Anfal 8:60].

Ash-Shaykh as-Sa‘di said:

This includes all kinds of skills that are required to produce various kinds of weapons and equipment such as artillery, automatic weapons, rifles, warplanes, land vehicles, ships, forts and strongholds, trenches and defensive equipment, as well as wisdom and diplomacy, by means of which the Muslims may become advanced in these fields and ward off the evil of their enemies.

End quote from his Tafseer (p. 324).

Secondly:

Attacking the enemy with modern weapons is of various types:

Some of these weapons cause burning. They come under the ruling mentioned above, that is discussed in detail. They are more akin to mangonels and other weapons that involve burning, that are discussed above, so it is permissible to use them in the case of fighting the enemy or when the enemy is holed up in fortifications and the like.

Ss-San‘ani said: It is permissible to kill combatant disbelievers if they are holed up in fortifications, using mangonels and, by analogy, by using other weapons such as artillery and the like.

End quote from Subul as-Salam (2/478).

Some of the weapons do not cause burning, such as rifles and revolvers. Even though the bullets in them are launched by the power of fire, killing results from the penetration of bullets which pass through the body. So there is no problem with them using such weapons in their fight, and the Muslims have been using such weapons for a long time without any objections.

And Allah knows best.

princeade86:
islam is peaceful, buh av many bad leaders dat mislead their followers.

j1mmy:

Islam is not a peaceful religion and I think literate people know that, if you have been brainwashed that is your problem!
There are over 100 verses in the Koran and Hadith where Mohammed spelt it clearly that islam is not at peace with anyone!

j1mmy:

Islam is not a peaceful religion and I think literate people know that, if you have been brainwashed that is your problem!
There are over 100 verses in the Koran and Hadith where Mohammed spelt it clearly that islam is not at peace with anyone!

j1mmy:

Islam is not a peaceful religion and I think literate people know that, if you have been brainwashed that is your problem!
There are over 100 verses in the Koran and Hadith where Mohammed spelt it clearly that islam is not at peace with anyone!

j1mmy:
No other religion in the world matched islam in terrorism in the name of allah. The most dangerous Muslims are those who interpret the Quran correctly. They are the fundamentalists, they follow Muhammad’s mandate to spread Islamic rule by violence and conquer. In the absence of infidels, they even turn on each other.

Quran (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve.

Quran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help."

Quran (2:191-193) - "And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing.

Quran (3:151) - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority".

Quran (8:39) - "And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief)

sholaball:
OP Islam is violent. Y'all are a product of a brainwash system by ur stupid calipahte in the Middle East if not for Christian missionaries who brought education ur ass would surely have an easy tool in the hands of terrorists. Ain't y'all ashamed of dis religion dat preaches death, disrespects women l.

UmarIbnShittu:
the bolded made knw dat u r sick up stairs
Is d xtain dat are known to turn their wive into punching bags,s*x machines,slaves etc

mallamabdul25:
BS , WHICH RELIGION OPPRESSES WOMEN IN THE WHOLE WORLD LIKE MUSLIMS, THIS WORLD WOULD A BETTER PLACE WITHOUT ISLAM .

sholaball:
OP Islam is violent. Y'all are a product of a brainwash system by ur stupid calipahte in the Middle East if not for Christian missionaries who brought education ur ass would surely have an easy tool in the hands of terrorists. Ain't y'all ashamed of dis religion dat preaches death, disrespects women l.

NOETHNICITY:
disrespect women like this?