Ways of confrontation with enemies in Islam

Translator: Zahra. Kalaa
Source: Rasekhoon.net

Remaining within the framework of Islamic privacy:

It is seemly that Muslims behave enemies fairly. Quran states about this matter
''وَ لَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنََانُ قَوْمٍ عَلىَ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Al-Maaida/ 8
''Let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do''.
Indeed, we should have animosity with enemies as much as we are not hurt and should not escalate it. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) states about this matter
'' مَنْ بالَغَ في الخُصومَة أثِمَ، وَ مَنْ قصَّرَ فيها ظُلِمَ''
Quran has recommended over and over again that we should not go beyond boundary in order to obey an order and even in war, fairness and rights should be observed because tyranny eradicates affection of God. In fact, attendance of the front of war is not only way of approaching God, but we should also be fair at war and observe rights of enemies so that we can be satisfied by God;
''لا تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ '' 190 / Al-Baqarah

i. Patience and tolerance against enemies

Patience and tolerance against plights, failures and difficulties are considered as moral values that Islam has emphasized. In fact, importance and value of patience and tolerance can be understood in in Jihad and defense. However, success can be achieved if we try diligently and be tolerant against barriers and problems. Moreover, such a thing is more conspicuous in war and we can achieve victory if we be tolerant and patient.
The verses of Quran emphasize on this point that if only few persons be tolerant in war with polytheists and unbelievers, the troop will win because God is with patient persons and assists them for their tolerance and patience;
'' الْآنَ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَنْكُمْ وَ عَلِمَ أَنَّ فيكُمْ ضَعْفاً فَإِنْ يَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ مِائَةٌ صابِرَةٌ يَغْلِبُوا مِائَتَيْنِ وَ إِنْ يَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أَلْفٌ يَغْلِبُوا أَلْفَيْنِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرينَ / 66 '' Al-Anfaal
''For the present, Allah hath lightened your (task), for He knoweth that there is a weak spot in you: But (even so), if there are a hundred of you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred, and if a thousand, they will vanquish two thousand, with the leave of Allah: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere''.
Khamenei states about this matter
''Your remarks, manners, behavior and inner should be full of tolerance and authority. Imam Khomeini was representative of such features which freed Iran from chain of offender powers and we hope that constant growth and progress of the country will yield benefits and will lead to freedom of other countries influenced by the experiences of our country''.

k. increase of motivation for sacrifice and martyrdom

The word '' sacrifice'' means that we ignore ourselves and prefer needs of others to ours which is one of Islamic exalted values. If someone meets needs of others in spite of their need, prefer benefit of others to theirs and saves others in danger, they will sacrifice themselves. Sacrifice is sign of greatness and magnanimity of a selfless person; some persons ignore their properties in spite of their need and others sacrifice their life.
Khamenei states '' main point is that persons sacrifice themselves in guardian of the revolution and system. Sacrificing is an easy and impossible word. Some persons say '' we are ready to go to the battlefield, fight and to be killed. They believe that this is sacrifice, but it is not true. Firstly, sacrifice is much more difficult than it is imagined and secondly, it starts right now. Sacrifice is feeling that is in our mind and inner and then persons can sacrifice themselves in the battle field.

l. Assurance in confrontation with enemies

Historical experience of Islamic nation is that if enemies are not disappointed of their animosity, they will not stop fighting. Islamic holy system experienced such a thing in years before revolution. Imam Khomeini considers despair of enemies dependent on fulfilling obligations under any circumstances '' you should know that your enemy is disappointed today and you are powerful. Therefore, you should fulfill their obligations''.
Khamenei states about disappointment of enemies '' our dear nation should move forward and gain victory in a way that they get disappointed of dominating on the country. You should make them disappointed; therefore, the nation will get rid of their trouble''.
Hence, confrontation with enemies is a long-term program. If they fail today, they will not get disappointed and will plan conspiracies for ten, twenty and forty years later. You should be prepared.
Revolution formed in Iran so as to object to tyrant persons and their factors. Then it improved, gained power and challenged their logic. When they get disappointed, they will become impatient and weak. The nation of Iran, youths, radicals and event persons that believe in their country and soil for even non-Islamic reasons should do actions that enemies become disappointed.

Organization

Relationship with organization and office is a kind of relationship with others. Organization includes personnel and components. Components that have the most relationship include work and mission, colleagues, state property and Beitolmal.

Work and mission

One of aspects and components of life of each person is work and occupation. Islam emphasizes on daily bread of persons by exalted God and recommends Muslims to attempt and activity and prevents them from laxity and laziness;
''وَ أَنْ لَيسَ لِلْانسان إِلاَّ ما سَعَي''
''That man can have nothing but what he strives for''. An-Najm/ 39
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) states
''إِنْ يَكُنِ الشُّغُلُ مَجْهَدَةً فَاتِّصَالُ الْفَرَاغِ مَفْسَدَةٌ''
If work, mission and duties are supposed to be done properly in order to achieve purposes of an organization or an office, they will need observation of norms that a radical devout should follow.
Considering trains of Quran, immaculate Imams and Imam Khomeini, Khamenei states ''…we should not think about ourselves, should not consider ourselves as a pivot, should consider purpose of our life God, go beyond material life, fulfill our obligations, do not spend time for irrelevant affairs , constantly search in any stages, seek for satisfaction of God and act according to it. These are same rules that have been enacted so that persons can achieve happiness''.

Indicators

1. Tendency to obligations

It means that we fulfill our obligations which is done through three stages: recognition of obligations, divine motivation in them and acting to them. A radical devout recognizes his obligations in doing their duties and tries to do their duties without considering others.

References

a. Divine obligations of a work

A radical devout considers his work or mission as an obligation. To explain this topic for soldiers of Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini states
''Our obligation is to preserve Islam; we are soldiers of Islam and when different groups commit corruption among people and want to stop our movement or degrade it, our obligation is to promote it seriously . God willing, Islam is implemented as it should be and all weak points are removed through Islam''.

b. Defense of religious and revolutionary values

Defense of religious and revolutionary values is one of obligations that is left to all of persons in the society. Khamenei states about loyalty to Islamic and revolutionary values '' if there are these features '' power, greatness and mercy'' in military forces, Islamic society can rely on it as acceptable and efficient military forces. A point that is framework of all of them is defense of Islamic values. A system that appears with power and greatness among people wants to defend Islamic values. Among military forces, Islamic values should be considered as norms. Such a thing is true about all systems. If it is supposed that some persons are devout, pious, trustworthy, chaste and believer of revolution and consider themselves soldier and defender of values of revolution in military forces or non-military system and feel that they are alone and stranger, you should discover that such Islamic values are not established into inner atmosphere of this system. In contrast, if some persons are against Islamic and radical values and do not pay attention to piety, chastity, preservation of Islamic rules, religion, devotion, prayer and other religious norms and indicators and feel that they are alone and stranger in this system, such a condition will represent that Islamic and divine values are established into inner atmosphere of system. In fact, such a thing is a norm and it should be established in all of state systems and areas of the community.

c. Recognition of obligations and sense of responsibility

Sense of responsibility means that you should do an affair that is assigned to you well and if you do not do it, you will be reprimanded. Such duties are defined within '' mission''.
Hence, purpose from recognition of obligations and sense of responsibility in each office and organization is preparation of acceptance of important and critical responsibilities, duties and missions and recognition of duties and responsibility of the office and organization.
Imam Khomeini refers to the following prophet Hadith and states to scientists and clergymen
''كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَ كُلُّكُمْ مَسْؤُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ''
''Sense of responsibility in scientists is more for the religion of Islam. If we are killed in great numbers, responsibility of the religion will left to next ones. We should all sacrifice ourselves for the religion. Islam is the greatest thing that is promise of God for human''.
Khamenei states '' we should accept responsibility of an affair that is assigned to us. We should have sense of responsibility for interior positions. There is a defined responsibility for each point and it should be accepted''.

d. Leaving others free in fulfilling obligations

Since a radical devout is obliged for affairs and duties, after they recognize their obligations they do not wait for order of others. Khamenei states about this matter
''Revolution and Imam has taught such a thing to us. They have taught us that we should not wait for order of others in fulfilling obligations''.
لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ
If ye follow (right) guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who stray. the goal of you all is to Allah: it is He that will show you the truth of all that ye do''. Maaida/ 105
''You should be dutiful to our nation not to other nations. The government and nation of Iran should be pioneer in doing all of kinds of duties with mercy of God''.

e. Preference of fulfilling obligations to their results

Important point is to fulfill obligations and their result has minor importance. Quran states
''وَ مَا آتَاکمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ مَا نَهَاکمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُواAl-Hashr/7 ''
''Deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah; for Allah is strict in Punishment''.
Hence, when obligations are fulfilled, failure will have no role. In fact, doing religious and radical obligations is a religious duty without considering their desired result.
Khomeini states about this matter
''All of us are supposed to fulfill our obligations and duties and their results are not important. All of divine obligations are blessings from God that we consider as obligations. Moreover, these are all favors of God; personal obligations are for training and perfection of persons since there are no more ways for promotion and there are ranks that we can achieve only through this way. There are social duties in the society which we should act so that the community can become organized''.

2. Spirit of Jihad and revolutionary action

''One of norms of a radical devout is to have spirit of Jihad. The expression culture of Jihad'' has its own synonymous phrases such as '' spirit of Jihad'', Jihad action'' and '' Jihad management'' that Khamenei has presented as comprehensive statement in the community for the first time. He states about the definition of Jihad spirit '' we believe that we can do constant activities permanently and use all of abilities of our body and mind and trust of youths''.
According to this definition, spirit of Jihad observes beliefs, actions and behaviors. Imam Baqer considers neglect of Jihad as a great deviation in a letter to caliphs of Bani Omaye in relation to importance of spirit of Jihad and emphasizes '' who can return Jihad and its values permanently?'' this emphasis demonstrates that spirit and culture of Jihad and government of values of Jihad are valuable in the society and if such spirit weakens, it should be revitalized''.
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) mentions improvement of spirit of his troops, reveals reality and states about Jihad spirit of the devotees in the early Islam
'' أينَ الْقَوْمُ الَّذينَ... هِيجُوا الَي الْجَهادِ فَوَلِهُوا وَ لَهَ اللِّقاحِ الَي أوْلادِها ''