Muslims represent a minority in the army of the Zionist entity. Arabs make up about 21% of the population in the occupying state. The occupation imposes conscription on the Druze and Circassians but exempts other Arabs who hold the nationality of the occupying state from mandatory military service. However, some of them choose to join the occupation army voluntarily. Most of these volunteers are Bedouins living in the Galilee and Negev, numbering around 1,500 people.
One of the main reasons for the Bedouin Muslims to join the occupation army is economic hardship and the discrimination against members of Arab minorities. They seek to secure basic life necessities such as housing, jobs, and educational opportunities that are not attainable without military service. The Zionist entity aims to incorporate Muslims and Christians into its army to portray to the world that its military represents all segments of the population. Hence, the Prime Minister of the Zionist entity took Ashraf Al-Buhairi, a soldier from the 'Israel Bedouin' from the town of Rahat in the Negev, with him and proudly displayed him before the Congress, boasting that he had killed many of Hamas’s fighters on October 7, 2023!
Ruling on Joining the Occupation Army
For a Muslim to join the army of the Zionist entity is forbidden (haram) in Islam and is considered one of the gravest sins before Allah Almighty. It is a betrayal of Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. Allah says: "O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence]" (Surah Al-Anfal: 27). What greater betrayal is there than for someone who affiliates with Islam to join its enemies, fighting against the Ummah and the believers, intending to support the disbelievers against the believers, willingly, for the sake of money, a position, or worldly gains that will vanish?
Joining the Army of the Zionist Entity is Forbidden in Islam and is One of the Gravest Sins, a Betrayal of Allah, His Messenger, and the Believers
Belonging to Islam is not just about uttering the Shahada (declaration of faith) or performing outward rituals. There are obligations and requirements for uttering the Shahada, one of the most important being loyalty to the believers and enmity towards the disbelievers. Allah has clearly exposed this treacherous and rebellious group who rush to the disbelievers, fearing the defeat of the Muslims, so they seek to secure their safety by allying with them. This is a form of malice and vileness in intention. How do they know that Allah may grant victory to the believers, and they would then regret their betrayal? Allah says: "O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people. So you see those in whose hearts is disease hastening into [association with] them, saying, “We are afraid a misfortune may strike us.” But perhaps Allah will bring conquest or a decision from Him, and they will become, over what they have been concealing within themselves, regretful." (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 51-52).
Allah has promised these people disgrace in this world and eternal punishment in the Hereafter as a consequence of their betrayal and treachery. Allah says: "You see many of them becoming allies of those who disbelieved. How wretched is that which they have put forth for themselves in that Allah has become angry with them, and in the punishment they will abide eternally. And if they had believed in Allah and the Prophet and in what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them as allies; but many of them are defiantly disobedient." (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 80-81).
Those who participate in the army of the Zionist entity and claim to be Muslims are apostates from Islam due to their participation in fighting against Muslims and killing them. The Imams of Islam have stated this. In "Tafsir Al-Tabari" (10/400), it is mentioned: "Abu Ja'far said: Allah Almighty means by His saying: “And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them.”– whoever allies with the Jews and Christians over the believers, he is one of them. That is because whoever allies with them and supports them against the believers is of their religion and creed. He does not ally with anyone unless he is pleased with them and their religion. And if he is pleased with it and their religion, then he has opposed what contradicts it and is displeased with it, and his ruling is like their ruling."
Ibn Hazm, in "Al-Muhalla" (11/138), said: "It is established that the saying of Allah, “And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them,” is taken literally, that he is a disbeliever among the disbelievers, and this is a truth that no two Muslims differ on."
Ibn Taymiyyah, in his book "Al-Iman" (p. 18), said: "His saying, 'Do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies; they are allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them,' He has informed in these verses that the one who allies with them cannot be a believer, and He informed here that the one who allies with them is one of them."
Those Who Claim to Be Muslims and Participate in the Army of the Zionist Entity Are Apostates from Islam for Fighting and Killing Muslims
Sheikh Ibn Baz said: "The scholars of Islam have unanimously agreed that whoever supports the disbelievers against Muslims and helps them in any way is a disbeliever like them" ("Majmu' Al-Fatawa wal-Maqalat," 1/274).
Ibn Al-Jawzi, in "Zad Al-Masir fi 'Ilm Al-Tafsir" (1/558), said: "His saying “And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them,” has two interpretations; the first is that whoever allies with them in religion is one of them in disbelief. The second is that whoever allies with them in covenant is one of them in opposing the command."
Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab listed ten nullifiers of Islam, including the eighth nullifier: "Supporting the disbelievers against the believers." He said: "Assisting the polytheists and helping them against the Muslims, and the evidence is the saying of Allah: 'And whoever among you allies with them, then indeed, he is one of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.'"
This is what Sheikh Al-Sa'di referred to as "complete loyalty," saying in his interpretation of Allah's saying: “And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them,” that complete loyalty necessitates a transition to their religion, and even partial loyalty leads to more, gradually, until one becomes one of them.
However, it is stipulated that this loyalty involves love for their religion over Islam, satisfaction with their corrupt beliefs, which constitutes disbelief by consensus of scholars. As for assisting them without love for their religion, it is a matter of dispute whether this is considered disbelief, though there is unanimous agreement that it is one of the gravest major sins.
If it is established that if a Muslim joins the enemy disbelievers and fights Muslims, killing them, he is to be executed because he killed a Muslim without justification. If a Muslim is executed for killing his Muslim brother in ordinary circumstances, then killing him in war is even more serious.
If it is established that a Muslim joined the disbelieving enemy, fought against Muslims, and killed any of them, he is to be executed because he killed a Muslim without any justification
However, spying by some Muslims on behalf of the disbelievers does not necessitate declaring them disbelievers or executing them, but rather it requires disciplinary punishment (ta'zir).
Abu Yusuf, the judge and student of Abu Hanifa, answered a question from Harun al-Rashid regarding the ruling on spies, saying: "You asked, O Commander of the Faithful, about spies who are found, whether they are from the People of the Covenant (dhimmis) or from the people at war or from Muslims. If they are from the people at war or from the dhimmis who pay the jizya (tax), such as Jews, Christians, or Magians, then strike their necks. If they are known Muslims, then severely punish them and keep them imprisoned until they repent" ("Al-Kharaj" by Abu Yusuf, p. 205-206). Ta'zir involves punishment less than execution, such as imprisonment, beating, or other forms of harm, but they are not to be killed, as their repentance is more beloved to Allah, and it is better for them to die in a state of obedience rather than in a state of disobedience.
A Muslim's participation in the army of disbelievers is one of the prohibitions about which there should be no disagreement. It is a crime that necessitates punishment. It is universally acknowledged that when a person joins the enemies of his country and fights against his own people and nation, it is considered a grave betrayal, which the law severely punishes. How much more so if the person is a traitor to Allah, His Messenger, and his religion before being a traitor to his land and honor!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Read this Article in Arabic
