Afuan Ya Wuld Ammi,
Ma Yero montesgue,
I have read the Ulamaa's reasonings and opinions and I must say our opinions
do converge. I will explain here how I mean. But first I want to impress
upon you that right off the bat, your friend has multiplied his quandry:
1. He seeks to enlist (voluntarily join) the US military.
2. He makes this decision for economic (selfish) reasons.
Yero, Islam, shariah, and Islamic fiqh addresses only muslims. If I were a
christian living in Saudi Arabia, or a citizen thereof, I may not be guided by
Fiqh or Shariah. Unlike the Saudi constitution which does not guarantee
inalienable rights of non-muslims, the US constitution attempts to accomodate
muslims of all walks of life. The latter is better in the eyes of Allah and God
and even the Quran supports such effort to accomodate people of other
religions by the mere statement "Lakum Deenikum Walya Deen".
Yero, if you read the Ulamaa's opinions carefully, you will find that they
do not address your friend's quandry, i.e. voluntary participation in the US
military. And it was with that background I asked you to find out why your
friend wishes to enlist in the US military. And I shared that if his intent was
to serve his fellow US muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Mormons, Jews, Hindus,
etc., there are a variety of ways to complete that desire other than through
enlistment in the military. So my opinion runs a parallel course to those of
the Ulamaa.
Next point is that the very nature of fiqh and its uniqueness of audience
(muslims), precludes the Ulamaa from considering the interests of non-muslims in
a plural society such as America. This is exactly why I suggested your
friend not rely on Fiqh, Islam, or the Quran to make his decision. At least not
until all the christians, Jews, Hindus, mormons, bahai of America decide to
convert to islam.
You must bear in mind that as a muslim who serves in the American military,
in whatever integral capacity, you are defending the freedom and interests of
American muslims also. The reason I brought this point up is because Islamic
fiqh advises Not to fight with or kill fellow muslims. Let us therefore
assume, though not likely, that America goes to war with Saudi Arabia. Those Saudi
muslims will be poised to fight with and kill American muslims. This then
brings us to the higher quandry of which muslim is better than the other; the
American muslim or the Saudi muslim. Fiqh does not address that simply because
the overarching goal of Dawah is to multiply adherents and therefore
considers all adherents as equals, new or old. Although you will find out to your
consternation that most Saudi muslims think of themselves better than American
muslims. That is subject of another discussion. In a case such as this,
Allah, subhaanahu wa Ta'Aala advises me that both the Saudi muslims and the
American muslims should exercise restraint and consider the conscientious objector
statute with their different governments. You tell me if the Saudi government
will accept that from her citizens in the military. We already know America
at least allows for that and has made good on that on some occasions. So who
are the better muslims, the Saudi government or the American government?? I
can't hear you.
Now then. The next point I want to share with you centers around harmonious
co-existence with your neighbours. This is very important to Allah and
Muhammad. You can consult the hadith and Quran for more detail. Remember it is not
terribly significant to Allah whether your neighbors are muslim, christian,
jew, hindu, mormon, or kafirs. It is an unqualified honour between neighbors.
Imagine being a muslim in America living likely among christians, jews,
hindus, buddhists, mormons, etc. and sharing a common constitution. That
constitution is now up for defense. The christians, jews, hindus, mormons, buddhists,
etc. enlist in the American military to safeguard the common constitution. How
do you think it would make those neighbors of yours feel when they learn
that you assert conscientious objector clause on account of your religion
Islam???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
??????
Do you think you deserve to be their
neighbor????????????????????????????????????????????????????
How does your recusal from service for commoner value affect your ability or
fortunes in Dawah which your fiqh safeguards? If they were to later embark on
a campaign to expel you from their neighborhood after such defense of your
common constitution, would they not be justified?
During the many badrs fought by Muhammad, Sallim Alaihi, there were muslims
or prospective muslims who fought on the other side of the divide. How did
fiqh and Dawah address those muslims and prospective muslims respectively?
In effect therefore, I part ways with the Ulamaa in the area of warranty of
war. It is extant to current considerations.
Also, it is not significant who is President of the United States when one
enlists in the Military or indeed when one considers philanthropy or
volunteering for the United States. The United states connotes the muslims,
christians, jews, hindus, buddhists, mormons, jalangbatulaal, etc. Therefore, it will
be the height of treason and dishonesty to oneself, to serve or NOT, in the US
military, on considerations of who is President of the US. That is addressed
by the ballot box. Not by the military. That is why the US is the greatest
nation on earth at this time and precisely because of the diversities in
religion and industry
I am getting long here. I am confident you can expand on the thoughts I
share. Some are only limited treatment of more profound fiqh and Islam. Thank you
for your audience and I still encourage your friend to look for alternate
ways of accomplishing his economic goals. I would further advise the US
military not to accept him in the military, in any capacity. He is better placed in
social work or service to the more indigent of his fellow citizens. That will
please Allah more.
Masoud. MQJGDT. Darbo. Al mutawakkil.
In a message dated 7/24/2008 10:41:47 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Big bro Haruna,
Are you still there?
Heck of a busy life you know, but thanks for your reply. I will catch you
active soon again.
Your mention resembles the advise I collected for him from the mosque
yester-evening.
Be rest assured, I will print out yours for him.
Thank you for your replies. Thanks to the private mails too -the many that
did.
His reasons for joining the military are strictly 'economical,' according to
him, and some degree
to serve his country men.
He is a life-long friend. With all these wars everywhere, I just didn't know
what to tell him, though the
position he is offered is 'public relation.' Military is military, and that
much I can ascertain.
I will print out these replies for him.
Waa' salam
YJ
> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:58:52 -0400> From: [log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Question: US Military enlistment> To: [log in to unmask]> > >
Ma Yero,> > Where do I start?????? I thought this was a no brainer but I
reflected. I do > not want to come off as condescending. So here's me taking a
crack at this:> > I presume your friend is an American citizen and or
qualifies for enlistment > in the Armed forces of the United States. My first query
would be to find > out from your fiend why he wished to join the United States
Armed forces. This > is because there are various ways to serve the United
States different from > joining the military. However, if your friend
contemplates joining the military > but wished Islamic or Quranic advice, your friend
has his priorities messed > up. If your friend really does have such
potential decision conflicts, I > advise that he NOT enlist in the military but
consider philanthropy or volunteer > work in his immediate American community.
Because he/she will not do well in > the military and may be tempted to become
an agent provocateur.> > Joining the US military would mean promising to
safeguard the United States > and her interests, the honour of serving God and
country, and to assist in > upholding the constitution of the USA.> > Being a
muslim means to believe in the five pillars that identify a muslim, > and
serving Allah and self.> > In the USA, there are christians and muslims in
addition to Jews, Hindus, > buddhists, Jehovah's witnesses, etcetera. Therefore, a
muslim serving the United > states serves him/herself, other muslims,
christians, Jews, hindus, > mormons, and buddhists. Islam has enlisted many a man
to serve alongside Muhammad. > The badr of Hudaybiyya comes to mind. All the
while serving self and Allah. > Where a muslim finds that a particular
engagement runs contrary to his or her > religion, The US constitution makes room
for conscientious or religious > objectors. Muhammed Ali comes to mind.> >
Yero, it is not a good idea to consider religious edicts when desiring to > serve
God and country. The separation of state and religion would advise >
estoppel. It is good that your friend shares his quandry with you prior to >
enlisting. We all thank him/her for that. I would not want him serving in my >
military. I will be for ever jittery.> > Where have you been for the last year or
so??? I missed your bazula > galagawangas. Oh yeah, and your poems. Yero
montesgue. Haruna.> > In a message dated 7/23/2008 5:17:40 P.M. Mountain Daylight
Time, > [log in to unmask] writes:> > Brothers & Sisters,> > A Gambian
friend of mine notified me of his decision to enlist in the US > army soon. He
have fears that he might fight unjustly (as is under the clown > Bush
administration) or get trapped in fighting Muslim nations. > > I want to offer the
best of advise to him. The closest I could gather on a > research is Quranic
chapters 4: 135 (Al-nisa) and 5:8 (Al-maidah) > > (I) Under what conditions
can he join the U.S army?> (II) Is this ok under Islamic law -Quran & Sunnah?>
(III) How should he behave?> > > Please share your advise sincerely knowing
this is a life-long matter for > him, with emphasis on Quranic verses, sunnah,
rulings from schools of thought, > et cetera... You can post any answers
here or e-mail them privately to my > e-mail [log in to unmask] I will
compose all the answers for him > -inshallahu.> > Thanks for any well-researched
information.> > God bless!> > YJ> > > >
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