Revealing the Propaganda of Muslim Armies

During the recent years terrorist groups (TGs) have been using a weaponized religious vocabulary to misinform youth of Muslim community. Thereby, supporting violence and invalidation of Muslim states. Taghut is one of the most affected terminologies; TGs have been using to refer to the armed forces of the Muslim nations as corrupt, misguided or even apostate. This malicious calumny is totally contradictory to the Islamic doctrines and history.

Taghut in Islam Context

The word Taghut is used in the Quran to refer to tyrants and the people who defy the commandments of Allah and go astray leading other human beings into the same path. It refers to utter disobedience and denial of the authority of God (Quran 2:256; 4:60). TGs, however, stretch this definition. Instead of theological truth they relate Muslim armies with Taghut based on political motive.

Such misapplications are highly criticized by the Islamic scholars. Widely recognized among the scholars nowadays, Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah emphasizes that one of the main characteristics of extremist ideologies is the distortion of such concepts as Taghut, which is often applied to justify unrest and terror. In his opinion, the extremists are ignorant of the comprehensive use of Shari’ah; take the verses out of context and apply them in isolation. This strategy distorts Islamic ideas into deadly pieces of propaganda.

Muslim Armies: Saviors and not Tyrants

Muslim armies are answerable to state bodies that are legitimate. Their main task is to protect their citizens and maintain law and order. All these roles are well within the Islamic teachings. In contrast to TGs, Muslim armies are operating under national constitutions which, in most cases, are driven by Islam values.

As an example, the Constitution of Pakistan says that Allah is the only sovereign; and authority of the state is a trust. Pakistan Armed Forces even swear to defend the country and to fulfill such trust. Correspondingly, the armed forces in Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey have their constitutions that respect the Islamic moral precepts. Calling such institutions Taghut is not only deceptive, but also an assault on Islam itself.

Islamic Founded Codes of Conduct

New Muslim Armed forces embrace Islamic ethics in their code of armed forces. They also educate the staff on proper rules of engagements that do not flout the lives of civilians, their property and religious places. TGs, on the contrary, are known to kill indiscriminately and purposely pick on noncombatants, and that is a complete no, no in Islam.

Clear rules of war were established by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) according to which it is forbidden to kill women, children, and elderly people, destroy crops, and harm those who do not participate in the battle (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1731). The principles are observed by Muslim armies. TGs openly ignore them.

Manipulation of Taghut: Tool of Politics

Taghut is a strategic narrative of the TGs. It is not religion, it is politics. Denouncing the permanence of state authorities as the non-Islamic, TGs aim at undermining the moral authority of governments and triggering rebellion. The greatest harm of this story is that it destroys the solidarity of Muslims: something that the Quran greatly urges (Qur’an 3:103).

Classical Islamic jurists such as Imam Al-Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyyah advised against the rebellion unless there is unequivocal and conclusive proof of disbelief on the part of rulers, and agreement on the scholars. TGs disregard this. Instead of doing so they react to their own interpretations and lies.

Real Traitors of Islam

Not only are terrorist organizations against the Islamic teachings, but they go against them. They encourage takfir (turning other Muslims into disbelievers), which the Prophet (peace be upon him) cautioned many times. Sahih Bukhari (Volume 8, Book 73, Hadith 125) says: If a man says to his brother, you are a disbeliever then certainly one of them is a disbeliever.

In addition, the TGs participate in bloodshed among fellow Muslims. They attack mosques, markets and schools. They divide families, workplace, and communities all in the name of Islam whose presence in the world is preached to be a religion of peace. This is not jihad; this is fasad (corruption and mischief) that Allah has condemned in strongest word in Quran (Quran 5:33).

Military Alliances: It Is Not a Betrayal and It is a Strategy

Among the big charges TGs make is that Muslim armies are serving western interests. It is not a profound and real statement. The fact that countries align themselves with international coalitions either in counterterrorism or regional security has nothing to do with the disappearance of the Islamic identity. It is a question of diplomacy and strategy.

The Muslim nations do what is in the interest of their nationals. As a case in point, the alliance between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to fight the Al Qaeda has saved the lives of thousands of the Muslim. Likewise, Turkey is also in the NATO that does not render it un-Islamic. This is not a subservient relationship but sharing of interests.

According to Dr. Mohammed Abu Rumman, political analyst at the University of Jordan, the declaration that alliances constitute an act of apostasy is a short cut method adopted by extremists to fuel anti state feeling. Similarly, protection of the nation is an obligation and not treason.

The True Usage of Muslim Armies

The protection that TGs also pose is through the help of Muslim armies. They guard borders, combat insurgencies and religious freedom. They do not allow expansion of extremism, which is why they fight to protect the lives of Muslims in the Sahel region of Africa or to the Southeast of Asia.

Consider the case of Pakistan operation Zarb-e-azb. The operation was able to break the key terror bases and under it, peace prevailed in the tribal regions. These endeavors are no other than in accordance with Islamic principles of fairness and preservation of life (Quran 5:32).

The Defense of Truth and Unity

The designation of Taghut to the Muslim armies is no mere lie: this is a lethal ideological weapon. The goal of TGs is to bring division, legitimize revolt, and get susceptible minds. Yet the reality prevails that the national sovereignty, Islamic values and social stability are ensured by the Muslims armies. They do not propagate tyranny; they do resist it in fact.

Muslim thinkers, leaders and citizens must stand firm against the falsities of TGs. We must make our young people educated, the voices of moderation should be amplified, and bridging the gap between Ummah is important. Islam is not a title of rebellion it is a way of peace, self-control and justice.

In protecting our armies, it’s about protecting our faith, our families and our future. Stand together against corrupting of our Deen.