In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and upon all his family and companions.
Dear brothers and sisters! Allah the Most High says:
“And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.” [Qur’an, 8:60]
Respected brothers and sisters! The Punch Newspaper and many online and conventional media outlets has reported the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, calling on Nigerians to acquire combat skills to protect themselves amid rising security concerns.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Christopher Musa compared learning martial arts like Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo to essential survival skills such as driving and swimming.
The CDS urged all Nigerians to take responsibility for their security by staying vigilant and identifying suspicious activities in their surroundings.
Fellow Nigerians! If you can remember, the Chief of Defence Staff has only re-echoed what the Director General DSS said at a conference in NISS about three months ago.
Beloved brothers and sisters! Islam permits and even requires self-defense against threats to one’s life, honour, property, family, and religion, with force used only as a last resort and with minimum necessary power. Defending oneself against aggression is a well-established principle, and if a person is killed while defending these “five essentials,” they are considered a martyr. The goal is to prevent harm and danger, and if fighting becomes unavoidable, one is permitted to use force, even lethal force, if the threat continues.
Islam places high importance on protecting the “five essentials” or “Maqasid al-shariah”: religion, life, intellect, lineage (family), and wealth.
The Qur’an permits the use of force against those who have been wronged and launched attacks against Muslims.
If a person is killed while defending themselves from an aggressor, they are considered a martyr (Shahid).
Force should only be used when absolutely necessary and as a last resort.
The amount of force used must be the minimum necessary to eliminate the harm or danger.
Jurists (Fuqaha) emphasise using the “lightest means” to deflect harm. If you can defend yourself by speaking or calling for help, that is preferred over physical action.
It is not permissible to use force against someone one suspects of being a threat; contacting police and security agents is the proper course of action in such cases.
If someone attacks you, you should first try to warn them to stay away.
If someone tries to take your property, you are allowed to fight back, not to give it to them.
If the aggressor continues to advance and poses a threat to your life, you are then allowed to use lethal force.
And one of the ways to encourage individual’s self-defense is to allow freedom of acquisition of arms and ammunition.
Protecting oneself, family, one’s honour, mind, wealth and religion is a well-established basic principle in Islam. These are the five essentials which are well known to Muslims. A person has to defend himself; it is not permissible for him to consume that which will harm him, and it is not permissible for him to allow anyone to harm him. If a person or a vicious animal etc attacks him, he has to defend himself, or his family or his property, and if he is killed he is counted as a shahid (martyr), and the killer will be in Hell.
If the harm that will result from this aggression is little and he gives up defending himself for the sake of Allah, then undoubtedly Allah will compensate him for that, so long as this does not cause any increase in the wrongdoing against him or anyone else.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“The strong believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak believer and in both of them there is some good.” [Muslim]
These Prophetic words inform us about the status of strength in Islam and how it’s something pleasing to Allah. This includes a strong physique with solid faith. When a Muslim fixes his internal faith to match his external appearance with actions, he can then protect the objectives of the Shari‘ah and invite others to follow suit through his accomplishments. The Shari’ah came to protect the religion, wealth, honour, intellect, and human life. The protection of these things make-up a perfect life in any society. They are the five necessities for safety and peace.
Today there are many people transgressing the rights of peace and safety found within the objectives of the Shari’ah. The legislation for certain penalties when these necessities are violated help maintain order in life and safeguard human’s rights. For instance, one who is an innovator is boycotted, by doing so we protect Islam. The thief who steals has his hand cut off; and by doing so we protect the wealth of the people. In fact, the threat of it alone is enough for a smart individual to not steal. What’s more, is the one who slanders a person is whipped publicly and this protects people’s honour. Moreover, the one drinks intoxicants is flogged, and this protects his intellect and the safety of others. Furthermore, the one who kills another unjustly is executed and this protects mankind from murder after murder from the killer; and the one who commits adultery is stoned to death.
The laws for these penalties can only be enforced in a Muslim state by the government there following the Shari’ah; as its regulation in their judicial system. Protecting the religion is the primary aim of the Shari’ah followed by the human-life. When it comes to a person’s life then there are times when he must defend and protect himself and if he is harmed in the way of doing so, then he will be rewarded. Above all he has the right to defend his faith, life and his wealth. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“He who dies while defending his property is a martyr; he who dies in defense of his own life is a martyr; and he who dies on defense of his faith is a martyr, he who dies in defense of his family is a martyr.” [Abu Dawud]
This Prophetic Hadith establishes the proof that learning self-defense plays a significant role in protecting the five necessities of life from the objectives of the Shari‘ah.
Imam Al-Khattabi said:
“The person fighting to protect his wealth, defend his family, and religion desiring Allah’s reward, and thus is killed in the process earns the status of being a martyr (Shahid). Included in this Hadith is fighting a bandit, a terrorist, a thief, a renegade, those who spread corruption on the earth, and a highway robber. i.e kidnapper, car jacker and purse snatcher.” [Ma’alimus-Sunan, of Imam Al-Khattabi, volume 4, page 336]
Imam Ibn Battal said that:
“The above Hadith is evidence for self-defense and if the attacker is the one killed in the incident, then there is no penalty for person defending himself, nor has committed a crime.” [Explanation of Sahih Al-Bukhari, by Ibn Battal, volume 6, page 607]
Imam Ash-Shafi’i and Imam Ahmad both held the view that when a person is attacked by someone trying to rob him, kidnap him, or kill him then he must defend himself in the best way possible. Other scholars were on the opinion that if a person felt the danger of being assaulted then he is within his right to attack first. Once a burglar entered Umar’s home and he stood with sword ready to strike a blow; however, there was something between him and the thief that blocked him. Hasan Al-Basri was asked about an intruder entering one’s house carrying a weapon. Hasan replied, “Kill him with anything you can get your hands on.” [Jami’ul Ulum Wal Hikam, by Ibn Rajab, volume 1, page 124]
The era we live in today plagued with violence and chaos makes it essential for the person to be prepared for any unexpected encounter regardless of where they are.
Allah the Most High said:
“…and do not throw yourselves into destruction and do good. Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” [Qur’an, 2:195]
Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik held that this verse is proof of self-defense in general according to Islamic law. This includes an attacker, or an intruder regardless of; age, religion, sanity, human or animal. A person must protect himself. A person surrendering helplessly to his attacker falls under the meaning of the Qur’anic verse, “Throw yourselves into destruction…”
Imam Ash-Shafi’i held the opinion that self-defense against the attacker was a must; since giving in to him is dishonouring the religion. Conversely, if the one transgressing against you was a Muslim or non-Muslim, then it’s not permissible for you to surrender to him. This makes no difference of his age or sanity. It’s said that it is Sunnah not to surrender to someone in this situation. Similarly, it is obligatory to defend yourself against any attacker.”
These three Imams agree that self defense has a place in Islam. Imam Ibn Qudamah from Hanabilah Jurists said in Al-Mugni’, that a person must defend himself in the best way possible that he knows against any attacker trying to kill him, or a burglar attempting to rob him. If he kills the attacker then be it, and if he is killed, thus he is a martyr.” [Al-Mugni of Ibn Qudamah]
Islam allows the right to self-defense depending on the threat. This includes verbal threats when you feel an imminent danger to harm. At the same time a Muslim isn’t allowed to provoke a person to attack him. Rather, the approach to avoiding all types of conflict is better if possible; however, in the event this is not possible and your life, your family’s life, your property and your wealth are the target then you have to survive. Surviving a street confrontation, a home invasion, or any other attack might not require deadly force all the time. Islam’s allowance of self-defense does not mean deadly force in all instances as mentioned by the Hadith, the four Imams and the Salaf. Plainly put when you are in a confrontation does your self-defense match the threat, so the aggressor(s) ends up dead when you didn’t have to kill him!
Finally, in Islam, self-defense is permitted to protect one’s life, family, property, and others from aggression, with the condition of using the least amount of force necessary to stop the threat. The Qur’an allows this defense when fighting against those who have wronged you (Qur’an, 22:39). If an aggressor cannot be stopped without killing them, it becomes permissible, and the victim is considered a martyr (Shahid) if they die in the process, while the aggressor faces divine judgment.
You are permitted to defend yourself, your family, and your property from unjust aggression.
Self-defense is allowed only when you are attacked or face an imminent threat.
You should use the least amount of force possible to repel the attack.
The response should be proportional to the threat.
The Islamic legal term for self-defense, encompassing warding off unlawful aggression.
Allah Almighty says:
“Permission [to fight] is given to those against whom fighting is launched, because they have been wronged.” [Qur’an, 22:39]
This Qur’anic verse marked the initial permission for Muslims to use force for defense after facing persecution in Makkah.
Allah the Most High says:
“You may fight in the cause of Allah against those who attack you, but do not aggress. Allah does not love the aggressors.” [Qur’an, 2:190]
This Qur’anic verse emphasises that aggression is only permitted when initiated by others.
If you successfully defend yourself and the aggressor dies, you are not subject to legal retaliation (Qisas) or blood money (Diyyah).
If you are killed while defending yourself, you are considered a martyr (Shahid).
The aggressor who is killed in an act of self-defense is considered to have incurred a threat of Hell.
If the aggressor ceases their attack or offers peace, you are obligated to stop fighting. You must avoid excessive force.
The principle extends to defending others who are oppressed and unable to defend themselves.
Verse 5:32 states:
“Whoever saves the life of a person is as if he has saved the life of the whole of humankind.”
Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa bara ka tuh
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761.
