Taking Sides and the Socio-Cultural Environment

"How (can there be such a league), seeing that if they get an advantage over you, they respect not in you the ties either of kinship or of covenant? With (fair words from) their mouths they entice you, but their hearts are averse from you; and most of them are rebellious and wicked" (Al-Tauba, 8).

"In a believer they respect not the ties either of kinship or of covenant! It is they who have transgressed all bounds" (Al-Tauba, 10).

"There is for an excellent example to follow in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, ‘We are clear of you and whatever ye worship besides God: we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred forever, - unless you believe in God and in Him alone" : but not when Abraham said to his father: ‘I will pray for forgiveness for thee, though I have no power (to get) aught on thy behalf from God.' (They prayed): ‘Our Lord! In Thee do we trust, and to Thee we do turn in repentance: to Thee is our final goal" (Al-Mumtahana, 4).

It is only possible to correctly perceive and interpret an environment in which one is found - generally and specifically  - if one correctly defines the socio-cultural, socio-economic, socio-political and psycho-social aspects of those who live in that environment. In this case, people who share the same environment can establish and develop a dialogue with one another, and the distance between them can be comprehended while relations continue on a conscious basis in a civilized atmosphere.

Environments in which "the other" feels safe enable opposing parties to determine their positions in an open, clear and honest way. Individuals who are straightforward, urbane, self-confident and who have character thrive in such a fertile society. What people who are raised in such societies say is meaningful. Individuals who are unable to easily define or express themselves cannot develop their behavior in a realistic way, and the same is true for the behavior of others towards them. For it cannot be known to what degree such behavior demonstrated in the external world is a product of their own free will and their own choice or to what degree it has been imposed by the conditions of the environment.

Speaking in general terms, the fundamental part of Prophet Muhammad's message introduced a value system that rested on bringing forth an individual's essential personality by allowing the freedom to proclaim ideas, thoughts and belief via their free will. The content of the Prophet's first words and his final words and his first attitude and his final attitude is the same. In other words, Prophet Muhammad was sincere. While his first form of behavior was  the command to read,  resurrection and action were the background and the final form of behavior was death, transformation and giving account. While declaring the first verbal command, which is clearly stating one's own identity and not bowing to the pressure of others, the last command  advises trust in Allah, the Almighty Lord, and to avoid courting the favor of anyone other than He.

It cannot be expected that a leader of such concepts, beliefs and thoughts would desire that others bow down before him. Only tolerance and forbearance can be expected from such a leader, from one who emphasizes the individual's identity and personal dignity to this extent.

On this platform, war and peace are considered legitimate and lawful and even sacred. Opening the doors of broad mercy to all, the Prophet who brought peace and happiness was also a prophet of war. Not everyone accepts the advice that is given. Good words are not enough to make those who commit evil into good humans.

We should consider neither the noisy bravado of unnecessary war nor the hypocrisy of advising peace while destroying the world. The Prophet clearly indicated his attitude towards war: "Do not desire war or wish to encounter the enemy. But when conditions demand it and you must meet and fight like a man. Do not turn your back and run away."

It should not be forgotten that while the Prophet tried to embrace all of humanity, he was a partisan. He was a man with certain beliefs and thoughts and he was a partisan of justice. He always took the side of justice or the injured party. When the Creator gave him the duty to be on the side of right and justice, Allah said, "Every people has a prophet. When their prophet comes, they are ruled with justice and he never oppresses them" (Al-Yunus, 47). The Prophet made his position clear when he said: "A society in which the weak cannot attain their rights without bowing down or being pushed around will not/should not find peace".

A system of human merit and virtue, the Quran provided the following knowledge and commands regarding the taking of sides and the socio-cultural environment to Prophet Muhammad:

• This book, which you were not expecting to receive, is a mercy from your Lord. Take care not to stand by and support the non-believers!
• If you fear betrayal and opposition to a peace agreement you have signed with a group, tell them you have cancelled the agreement. Allah does not like traitors.
• If your enemies want peace, you too advocate peace!
• With a few exceptions, you will always see betrayal from the Jews. But do not swerve from justice!
• We sent you the Book so you would rule among people with justice. Do not side with traitors! Also, do not defend them!
• When you see non-believers and hypocrites, their appearance will be likeable. You will think they are real men; when they speak, you will listen. They are like boards without souls. Their hearts are full of fear, and they think every sound is against them. They are truly enemies. Protect yourself from them. May Allah take their lives. How can they be so merciless and cowardly?
• Struggle against the unbelievers and hypocrites who find every kind of intrigue against you to be acceptable; fight them as hard as they fight you! Their place is in Hell.
• O, Prophet! When war is inevitable, encourage the believers to fight. Do not allow them to run away or to hang back. Know that twenty determined and patient men are equal to two hundred of them while one hundred is equal to one thousand of them; the righteous will be victorious.
• Fight in Allah's way so that the strength and enthusiasm of the unbelievers will be defeated. Never bow down before them. Ignore their persecution.
• Toss aside those who make a game or toy of religion and beliefs.
• Unless you conform to their religions, you cannot please Jews or Christians. The true path is the one Allah has revealed to you. If after all this you conform to their desires, no friend or assistance will remain.
• With Allah's permission, Gabriel has brought you this book as a guide to salvation. Let whoever is an enemy of Allah, the angels, the prophets, Gabriel or Michael know that Allah is the enemy of unbelievers.
• Say to the Jews and Christians, "Since Allah is your Lord and ours, why are you arguing with us? We are responsible for what we do, and you are responsible for what you do."
• O, believers! Do not make close friends with the "others". For they will not hesitate to commit evil against you, and they always want to get you into trouble. In fact, their antagonism and enmity are obvious from their words. The enmity they hide in their hearts is even greater.
• You are such a people that even though they do not like you, you like them. You believe in all the books. They, however, bite their fingernails because of their animosity towards you. Let them be devastated by their hatred!
• O, believers! Let whoever turns back from their religion know that Allah will bring a society of believers whom He loves and who love Him, who are humble and compassionate before believers, who make jihad in Allah's way, and who ignore any reproach. Your friends are only Allah, His Prophet, and the believers. Let whoever makes Allah, the Prophet and the believers their friends know that they will prevail.
• O, believers! Do not make friends with those from the People of the Book who ridicule your religion nor be friends with the unbelievers! They also make fun of your being called to prayer. This stems from their lack of thoughtfulness.
• Ask the People of the Book: Do you not like us because we only believe in Allah, this revelation and the revelations before now?
• A warning and ultimatum from Allah and the Prophet to the idolaters who made an agreement with him before! O, idolaters! Know well that Allah will make the unbelievers miserable and abject. "Allah and His Prophet have no ties with the idolaters."
• O, Muhammad! Give tidings to the unbelievers of a torture full of sorrow! Only those idolaters with whom you make an agreement and who keep the agreement, not supporting anyone at your expense, are exempt from this judgment. Fulfill the term of their agreements. Allah loves those who avoid injustice. When the sacred months are over, kill the idolaters where you find them. Catch them, imprison them and wait for them from every observation point. If they repent, pray in the correct manner and pay charitable alms, then set them free.
• If someone from the idolaters asks for your mercy, do not give it until they hear and listen to Allah's word; then, if they still do not become Muslim, take them to a place where they will be safe. This tolerance is due to their being from a tribe that does not know.
• What makes an oath valid for Allah and the Prophet? As long as they behave truthfully towards you, then you shall act truthfully, too. For Allah loves those who are true to their oaths. If they are victorious, they will observe neither their oath nor their agreements with you. Their exterior is different and their interior is different.
• They recognize neither oaths nor agreements with believers, because they are aggressors. If they repent, pray and give charitable alms, they are your brothers. If they go back on their word after an agreement and attack your religion, fight their leaders. For they are men without oaths. If you fight against them, maybe they will end their disbelief.
• O, believers! Will you not fight against a tribe that has broken their word, tried to remove the Prophet from his homeland, and started a war against you first? Or are you afraid of them? If you are true believers, know that Allah is more worthy of being feared.