Killing is Forbidden in Islam

Could the pious warriors of Islam kindly take some time off from the spree of slitting the throats of their brethren and contemplate this paradox of Muslims killing Muslims? __Also could the devotees of Prophet Muhammad awaken from their Allah-intoxicated bliss of reciting the Quran and denounce these apostles of zeal turned heathens, all murderers and cutthroats. _There were no Shias or Sunnis during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad and he could never tire of telling Muslims that Islam does not allow killing any Muslim or non-Muslim, only in self-defense. Currently, this sectarian violence has nothing to do with self-defense, but with the deep-rooted vice of malice, hatred, bigotry and intolerance. _Waves upon waves of violence have spread like wildfire of global enmity and ignorance from Syria to Turkey to Pakistan, just to name a few of the Shia-Sunni factions on this arena of a battleground. _‘Whosoever slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is hell forever. Allah is wroth against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom.’ Quran 4:93 _‘And when We made you a covenant, saying, shed not blood of your people, nor turn a party of your people out of your dwellings. Then you ratified Our covenant and ye were witnesses thereto.’ Quran 2:84 _‘Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo, Allah loveth not aggressors.’ Quran 2:193 _‘Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Lo, He loveth not aggressors.’ Quran 7:55 _‘And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it.’ Quran 8:61 _Prophet Muhammad forever was a gentle guide to his followers since the inception of Islam. Shortly after the Hijra to Medina, Prophet Muhammad had secured peace between the tribes of Aus and Khazraj. One day as these tribes were making merry, one man by the name of Shas ibn Qays reminded them about the battle of Baath, taunting, that how they could make merry together after what happened at Baath when so many men were slaughtered from both sides. Soon, the men from both tribes began challenging each other to fair fights. Fortunately, Prophet Muhammad was informed swiftly before the fight could break out, and he reached the scene, appealing. _‘O Muslims, why you are behaving like you used to in the days of ignorance, even though I am with you and Allah has guided you to Islam? He has honored you with the light of wisdom and He has helped you abandon that spirit of enmity and vengeance, so that you can be united together as friends and brothers. Sheathe your swords and weep for your folly for even thinking that you could shed the blood of any man who is bound to you by the holy oath of brotherhood.’ The men had stood there shamed, humbled and repentant. _The political upheaval only twenty-four years after the death of Prophet Muhammad which split the silken fabric of Islam into the rags of Sunni and Shia, still carried the breath of Prophet through the virtue of at least of one Chieftain from the clan of Beni Saad. Even before the armies of Ali and Aisha confronted each other near Basra, the Chieftain of Beni Saad in the true spirit of Islam lead six thousand of his warriors back into the neutrality of the desert, declaring: ‘I would neither fight against the Mother of the Faithful, nor against the cousin of the Prophet.’ _After the army of Aisha was defeated, Ali forgave Aisha unconditionally, giving orders that she be escorted safely by her young half-brother to a house in Basra. Ali’s heralds proclaiming: ‘No one turning his back shall be pursued. No one wounded shall be killed. Whoever throws away his arms is safe.’ _‘O ye who believe! Be steadfast witness for Allah in equity and let not hatred of any people seduce you that you deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty of Allah. Lo Allah is informed of what you do.’ Quran 5:8 _‘For that cause we decreed for the children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption on earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he has saved the life of mankind. Our messengers came to them of old with clear proofs of Allah’s sovereignty, but afterwards, lo, many of them became prodigals in the earth.’ Quran 5:32 __‘Yet whoso doeth evil, or wrongeth his own soul, then seeketh pardon of Allah, will find Allah forgiving, merciful.’ Quran 4:110 ‘Keep to forgiveness, O Muhammad, and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant.’ Quran 7:199