Dr. Mohammed Hussein Aboud / College of Islamic Sciences – Department of Jurisprudence and Its Principles
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, who bestows His blessings upon the first and the last. May the best prayers and the most complete peace be upon Muhammad, his pure and righteous family, his loyal companions, and his successors from among the jurists and scholars.
And after…
The Holy Qur’an is the eternal book of humanity, free from any falsehood, neither from before it nor from behind it. It continues to illuminate the path for humanity across all times and places, transcending the boundaries of time and space, and surpassing the barriers of affiliation and lineage. It extends its laws and rulings to all of humanity.
From this perspective, its rulings possess a humanitarian dimension in addition to their religious foundation. Historical accounts reflect the humanitarian essence derived from the divine overflow represented in the Qur’an. This is embodied in the noble conduct of the Prophet of Mercy (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and his successor, the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), in their dealings with non-Muslims and Muslims alike, without distinction—whether in times of peace or war.
The biography of the Master of the Successors (peace be upon him) reveals those lofty humanitarian traits in his dealings with Islam’s enemies, marked by mercy, forgiveness, tolerance, and other virtues that established justice, spread compassion, and propagated humanity throughout the world. This was despite the existence of opponents such as the Kharijites, the transgressors, and the oppressors, who gained strength during his era due to the community’s failure to fulfill its role in supporting the truth and countering falsehood.
Nevertheless, these challenges did not prevent him (peace be upon him) from exercising justice and fairness with such individuals, treating them with exemplary humanity. History records these noble stances, even if they did not quell their tyranny and aggression. The scholars and jurists of the Imami tradition have drawn inspiration from these examples, embodying humanitarian principles and adopting a discourse of moderation and mercy even with the adversaries of the faith, particularly those who had been deceived.
The directives of Grand Ayatollah Sistani to fighters engaged in fierce battles against extremist and terrorist forces are a vivid example of this humanitarian inclination. These directives serve as a living and practical model of the compassionate spirit advocated by Islam and the greatness of its teachings.
These instructions reflect the Prophetic essence and the Alawi refinement, charting a path for the mujahideen (fighters) in the way of Allah. They demonstrate the magnanimity of Islam and the grandeur of its legislation in an era dominated by the logic of force and the law of the jungle.
The guidance of Ayatollah Sistani (may his shade endure) thwarted the plans of extremists who claim to represent Islam, aiming to hijack the faith and portray themselves as its sole defenders. His directions restored matters to their rightful context. One of the outcomes of these blessed efforts was the establishment of the popular mobilization forces (Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi), which halted the advance of extremist terrorism and began liberating Iraqi provinces from the grip of ISIS. These forces also presented remarkable humanitarian models to the world in their dealings with the adversaries of Islam and those misled into joining ISIS.
Indeed, the advice and instructions from the esteemed religious authority became a practical methodology and a clear path for the fighters defending the sanctity of Islam, the noble Sharia, the homeland’s borders, and human dignity.
