Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Muslim scholar: in Islam no distinction between civilian and military targets

Just another tidbit about Islam--just enough to make your hair stand on end. Normally in time of war, the countries of the West--rooted in a Judeo-Christian sensibility--try to carefully distinguish between civilians and enemy combatants in accordance with just war theory. But, as this interview with an Islamic scholar on the Arab news channel al-Jazeera shows--Islamic theology makes no such distinction between civilians and military targets.

This points out starkly one more divide between the worldview of the West and the worldview of Islam. Inheriting a warlike theology from the middle ages, Islam only delineates between two "houses," the Dar Al-Islam (the House of Islam) and the Dar Al-Harb (the House of War). Thus, according to this Islamic scholar, waging war against civilians in the Dar Al-Harb--or those outside the House of Islam--is perfectly justifiable. In response all I can say is, "God help us."

Muslim scholar: Killing civilians OK
Head of Islamic center in London responds to attack

Posted: July 12, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

Responding to questions about the terrorist attack on London, a Muslim scholar in the British capital asserted Islam makes no distinction between civilians and military targets.

"The term 'civilians' does not exist in Islamic religious law," said Hani Al-Siba'i, head of the Al-Maqreze Centre for Historical Studies in London.

Al-Siba'i, in an interview with the Arab news channel al-Jazeera, elaborated, "There is no such term as 'civilians' in the modern Western sense. People are either of Dar Al-Harb or not."

Dar Al-Harb refers to the Muslim concept of the world being divided into two "houses," the House of Islam and the remaining territories, the House of War, or Dar Al-Harb.

Al-Siba'i speculated that a Western nation could have been responsible for the attack, but he acknowledged it could have been carried out by Osama bin Laden's terrorist organization, according to a transcript provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute, or MEMRI.

"If al-Qaida indeed carried out this act, it is a great victory for it," he said. "It rubbed the noses of the world's eight most powerful countries in the mud."

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posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 5:09 PM