Explosive News: Muslims can only serve in the Military, In Treaty with Islam or to Undermine a Kuffaar Enemy
Have you ever wondered whether a Muslim could serve in the military of a non-Muslim country (like Australia, Britain or USA)?
Well, now we know the answer to that. Yes, they can, but only if it is of benefit to Islam, such as allowing Muslims to learn military secrets. This is the ruling issued on this very question by the website ‘Islam Question and Answer’.
What is the ruling on Muslims serving in the military of non muslim country ? What is the evidence for its permissibility or prohibition?
And lastly, what is the status of a Muslim working to help those in the military to fulfill their obligations to Allaah while serving in the Army, Navy, or whatever?
Praise be to Allaah.
We put this question to Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, may Allaah preserve him, who answered as follows:
“Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. Military matters are problematic, because they involve helping these kuffaar to wage war against the Muslims or those who have entered into a treaty with the Muslims.
If no such thing is involved, it may be advantageous for Muslims to work in these armies so as to learn their secrets and be aware of their potential evil. In other words, if working in these armies could be of benefit, it may be permissible, otherwise it is not allowed.”
On this basis, if a person works as a preacher or daa’iyah or imaam or muezzin, serving the Muslims and calling non-Muslims to Islam, then there is nothing wrong with this.
Those who understand Islam will not be surprised at this answer.
What they may be surprised about is how this answer came to light. It was found by following the links included in the Guide to Religion and Belief in the Australian Defence Force.
I must give credit at this point to Michael Smith who uncovered this debacle in January and lifted the lid on yet another embarrassing failure of the hierarchy of the Australian Defence Force to understand Islam.
Before I get into that, however, I would just like to let the Chief of Navy speak about theGuide to Religion and Belief in the Australian Defence Force.
This is what he had to say at the Australian War Memorial last year. At a Ramadan Dinner. Right after he announced that he had fasted in solidarity with the Islamic community.
Guide to religion and belief in the ADF
Last year the then Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley, released a document, entitled: Guide to Religion and Belief in the ADF. It brings together in one place a clear guide for all ADF commanding officers on the implications of faith as it is practised by permanent serving members and reservists when in uniform.
This guide makes clear what a supervisor or unit commander’s duties and obligations are when attending to the religious needs of those in his or her chain of command.
It provides a great deal of information on the beliefs and practices of all the religions represented in the ADF. It provides clear guidance on the following matters:
– Religious observances at work, the facilitation of prayer and leave for religious festivals.
– Bereavement leave
– Uniform regulations and permissible variations in dress
– Medical Treatment
– Dietary needs and fasting
– Worship and in the worst case Death in service.
In the section of this ADF guide dealing specifically with Islam the five pillars of the faith, the daily rituals of the practicing Muslim and the significance of Friday prayers are all respectfully and carefully explained.
Religious and service obligations are compatable (sic) in the ADF
I have spoken about this Guide at some length to underline the point that ADF and Navy has acknowledged its multi-faith future.
The Service Chiefs and the Secretary of Defence and the Government are hoping that the leaders of faith communities will now encourage members to see the ADF for what it has become and will continue to be; not what it once was.
The Navy I lead is a work place where men and women of all faiths should be able to offer service to Australia and meet their religious duties, without compromising either obligation.
Please take that message with you and pass it on to those in your community who may want to know more about a career in the ADF. We welcome and need their talent and their commitment to serve.
I guess the first thing to note is that the Chief of Navy’s speechwriter can’t spell ‘compatible’, which is less of a problem than the fact that no one in the military’s hierarchy appears to have any idea what the word means anyway.
In this world of hazy logic and words without meaning, it can be difficult working out what’s going on.
As best I can make out, the Australian Defence Force is hoping to increase recruitment from the Islamic community by promoting a website in its glossy feel-good brochure about Islam that encourages Muslims to steal classified military information.
And, at the same time, it is at war with those who fight on the basis of their Islamic beliefs.
It’s the kind of thing you’d expect to see in a Monty Python skit. It’s not the kind of thing you’d expect from an organisation charged with protecting our nation.
And it’s certainly not what you’d expect from any organisation that understood the concept of compatibility, or that had the slightest clue about the implications of faith as practised by those who adhere to Islamic ideology.
This ‘guide’ really is nothing more than a bad joke. The Chief of Navy reckons it ‘contains a great deal of information’ about Islam. That’s a very charitable way for the Chief of Navy to describe this military document. After all, it is strangely silent on Mohammad’s military expeditions.
None of them get a mention, even though I’m even prepared to admit that they were brilliant tactical accomplishments. One can only wonder why the Australian Defence Force is not prepared to admit that Mohammad commanded an army.
Anyway, here’s the proof of this latest bungle.
This is the front cover of the Guide to Religion and Belief in the Australian Defence Force.
