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In the last three days the Lebanese authorities raided camps of the displaced Syrians in the town of Arsal and other places, and arrested more than a thousand men in these camps, and tied them up severely, with their faces shoved to the ground, the soldiers kicked them their faces and heads with shoes, and also humiliated many women. They burned down their tents and baggage, and accused them of helping the militants who reside in the mountains.
It was revealed by some of the media that this is a plot to take a number of the displaced Syrians as hostages in exchange for their military hostages kidnapped by the militants. After non-transparent investigations, some of the detained have been released; the remaining over eighty detainees were kept in custody. If this plot is true, then the one who plotted it and the one who ordered its execution would have committed a foolish mistake with dangerous consequences, instead of solving the problem of the kidnapped, it will aggravate it.
We do not defend the operations of kidnapping military personnel in Arsal, as we do not defend the assassinations of the army or security forces or others. And we do not acknowledge in any way the execution of any one of those abducted; since the Shariah ruling that we understand and adopt is that it is not permissible to kill the prisoner even if he was taken from the enemy’s army in a fighting battle, Allah (swt) says:
((فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَثْخَنْتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا الْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً حَتَّى تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا))
“So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds” [Muhammad: 4]
This noble verse confirms that it is prohibited to the kill the one who is captured, but should be released either with or without a ransom, this is in the case of the prisoner of war of the enemy, therefore what if he was kidnapped and is not an enemy and not in a state of war?
The authorities are now raiding the camps of the displaced people and have ordered a media blackout regarding what they are perpetrating, and they publish news that blurs the truth, but it will surface despite their attempts to obscure the truth.
We address the people, especially the Muslims: these displaced people are your brothers and sisters, they were afflicted with the calamity of forced displacement and they sought refuge in you, you are not Islamically permitted to reject them or to be negligent in looking after them, but you must help them with a cheerful disposition. If you find anyone who abuses and assaults them then you have to stand up to stop him, and you will be their protector, supporter, and assistant. Even if they were assaulted or harassed by the official authorities, Allah (swt) said:
((إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ))
“The believers are but brothers” [Al-Hujurat: 10]
And the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
المُسْلِمُ أَخُو المُسْلِمِ لاَ يَظْلِمُهُ وَلاَ يُسْلِمُهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ فِي حَاجَةِ أَخِيهِ كَانَ اللَّهُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ، وَمَنْ فَرَّجَ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ كُرْبَةً، فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرُبَاتِ يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ
“The Muslim is a brother of a Muslim, he does not oppress him nor betray him, and whosoever wanted to meet the need of his brother, Allah will meet his need, and whosoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship, Allah will remove one of his hardships on the Day of Resurrection, and whosoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection” [Bukhari and Muslim]
And he (saw) said:
مَا مِنَ امْرِئٍ يَخْذُلُ امْرَأً مُسْلِمًا فِي مَوْضِعٍ تُنْتَهَكُ فِيهِ حُرْمَتُهُ وَيُنْتَقَصُ فِيهِ مِنْ عِرْضِهِ، إِلاَّ خَذَلَهُ اللَّهُ فِي مَوْطِنٍ يُحِبُّ فِيهِ نُصْرَتَهُ، وَمَا مِنَ امْرِئٍ يَنْصُرُ مُسْلِمًا فِي مَوْضِعٍ يُنْتَقَصُ فِيهِ مِنْ عِرْضِهِ وَيُنْتَهَكُ فِيهِ مِنْ حُرْمَتِهِ، إِلاَّ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي مَوْطِنٍ يُحِبُّ نُصْرَتَهُ
“Whosoever betrays a Muslim in a position where his sanctity and honour are violated but Allah (swt) will betray him where he loves to be supported, and whosoever supports a Muslim where his sanctity and honour are violated, Allah (swt) will support him where he loves to be supported.” [Sunan Abi Da’oud, Tabarani, and Baihaqi]
Remember, when Muslims of Mecca migrated to Medina, how the Muhajiroon (immigrants) were greeted by the Ansar (supporters).
Note that the state receives aid from many different sources because of the displaced, the state has no right to even imply that it is doing them a favor, how then does it allow itself to treat them with this cruelty and torture, and repeat their displacement.
O Lebanese authority, this injustice shows the ignorance in governance and not only hatred and prejudice, it demonstrates ignorance because the authority by this is building the basis for a dire consequences.
We ask Allah (swt) to enlighten the minds of those in power and guide them to know how to govern.
قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُبِينٌ * يَهْدِي بِهِ اللَّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلاَمِ وَيُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
“There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path” [Al-Ma’ida: 15-16]
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