Must keep Andrew Fox and associates focused on the key points of the discussion
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah, The Exalted, said:
وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا * يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا * إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
And those who invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [Al-Furqan. 68-70]
In the above article from the Jerusalem Post, Andrew conveys his strong disagreement with what he perceives as an exaggerated death toll of Palestinians and raise concerns about the transparency of Gaza’s health authorities in differentiating between combatants and non-combatants. Nevertheless, even if the statistics provided by various international organizations and Gaza officials contain mistakes, it does not lessen the tragedy of a single innocent life lost. Moreover, it does not change the fact that for more than 70 years, Palestinians have endured violence and oppression at the hands of Zionists, culminating in recent experiences of displacement, starvation, and death. Therefore, while it is crucial to report accurate information—especially in an age rife with misinformation, ideological conflicts, and propaganda—the primary concern for anyone with a sense of justice should be the urgent need to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Taking the life of an innocent person or engaging in excessive retaliation is not condoned by any of the teachings of the Prophets. Such actions have profoundly harmful and destructive impacts on society and carry severe repercussions in the afterlife. This principle applies universally to anyone who takes the life of an innocent individual, regardless of their faith. The loss of any innocent life is a heartbreaking tragedy, whether the person is Muslim or non-Muslim. However, it is crucial to recognise that, in the last seventy years, no group has caused more suffering to the Palestinians than the Zionists. The insights shared by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, may Allah preserve him, are worthy of great respect, as he expresses this issue with exceptional clarity. [Refer to Footnote a]
Allah said:
مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا
If anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land – it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. [Al-Ma’idah. 32]
Imam As-Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
If a person is bold enough to kill someone who does not deserve to be killed, this implies that he does make a distinction between the one he killed and other than him; rather he would commit this act whenever his evil calls him to that. Therefore, his bold attitude that led him to kill is as if he has killed all humankind. On the other hand, if a person saves a life and does not kill – whilst his soul calls him to do so – due to fear of Allah, this is as if he has saved the lives of all humankind because the fear of Allah he possesses stops him killing one who does not deserve to be killed. [1]
Abdullah Bin Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “The first (thing) that will be decided among people on the Day of Judgment will pertain to bloodshed”. [2]
Imam An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
This hadith shows the severity of bloodshed and that it will be the first thing that will be judged between people on the Day of Resurrection because of its greatness and extreme danger. This hadith does not contradict the well-known hadith in the Sunan that the first thing a person will be questioned about is the prayer because this hadith is about a matter between Allah and the person, whereas the first hadith (i.e. judgement in matters related to bloodshed) is an affair between the people. [3]
The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: The termination of the world means less to Allah than the killing of a Muslim (i.e. without right). [4]
Amr Ibn Al-Hamiq, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: Whenever a man promises safety for another man’s life and then kills him, I disavow myself from him even if the victim was an unbeliever.[5]
Abdullah Bin Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: Whoever killed a Mu’ahid (a non-Muslim granted the pledge of protection by the Muslim ruler) shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its fragrance can be smelt at a distance of forty years (of traveling). [6]
Uqbah Ibn Aamir, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said: Whoever meets Allah whilst neither associating anything with Him nor spilling sacred blood will enter Paradise. [7]
The people said to Jundub, may Allah be pleased with him, “Advise us”. He said, “The first thing of the human body to putrefy is the abdomen, so he who can eat nothing but good food [halaal and earned lawfully] should do so, and he who does as much as he can that nothing intervenes between him and paradise by not shedding even a handful of blood [i.e. unlawful killing], should do so”. [8]
A man wrote to Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, and asked him to write down all knowledge for him; he replied to him, saying, “Indeed, knowledge is plentiful, but if you are able to meet Allah whilst not shedding people’s blood, not taking their wealth (unlawfully) and violating their honour, then do so”. [9]
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Footnote a: No heroes in Hamas-Israel conflict, only victims: Former Saudi intelligence chief:
https://www.abuiyaad.com/w/hamas-israeli-right
https://abuiyaad.com/a/amalekite-genocide-doctrine-gaza
https://abuiyaad.com/a/slaughtering-children-holy-war/print
https://www.abuiyaad.com/a/pharoah-slaughtering-babies
(1) Tafsir As-Sadi
(2) Sahih Muslim 1678
(3) Sharh Sahih Muslim 11/139
(4) Sahih Al-Jami 9208
(5) Sahih Al-Jami 6103
(6) Al-Bukhari 6914
(7) Silsilah As-Sahih ah 2923
(8) Al-Bukhari 7152
(9) Siyar A’lam An-Nubulaa 3/222