Voices of Islam

Considered the leading Shi’ite Muslim Intellectual in Lebanon, Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah is a controversial figure known primarily for his support of the armed Shi’ite resistance movement, Hezbollah and for his uncompromising stance against the State of Israel. This is his statement on what Islam really says about violence, human rights and other religions:

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Answer (1)

Jihad in Islam (The violent confrontation of the enemy) is the fighting movement that aims at preventing the enemy from forcing its hegemony over the land and the people by means of violence that confiscates freedom, kills the people, usurps the wealth and prevents the people's rights in self-determination and running their own affairs. Therefore, Jihad is confronting violence by means of violence and force by force, which makes it of a defensive nature at times and a preventive one at others. And this is what the Glorious Qur'an has maintained in the following verses. Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loves not aggressors. (02:190 ) ; Sanction is given unto those who fight because they have been wronged; and Allah is indeed Able to give them victory(22:39 ) and “If thou fears treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms”(08:58)

In the light of this, Jihad is no different than any human and civilized concept of self-defense.
It expresses the innate human nature of self-defense, or preventing the others from building the ability for a sudden aggression. Islam meets in this with all human values of all civilizations.

There is also the case of defending the downtrodden who are prosecuted by the arrogant and who have no means of defending themselves. Muslims have to defend these people if they ask them to. The humanitarian content of Islam makes it responsible for facing the injustice the downtrodden are subjected to by freeing them of this injustice.

Obviously, such a defense of the downtrodden is not arbitrary. It is carefully studied, and starts by peaceful means, in coordination with the nations and organizations that defend the rights of the downtrodden. Force is only turned to as a last resort, following the failure of all other means. The Qur'an describes this situation as such: And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper. (04:75)

Using force against the others in any other case is an illegal aggression, even it they are of different religion, race or other such differences. The Holy Qur'an repeats several times that but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loves not aggressors. (02:190), thus emphasizing the rejection of Islam of any aggression that is represented by terrorizing persecuting, and killing people unjustly.

Continued here.