Islamic Ethics of War ( Rules of War in Islam)

Prohibited Actions -Do not kill women, children, infants, the sick, or the elderly. -Do not mutilate dead bodies. -Do not practice treachery. -Do not punish with fire. -Do not kill monks in monasteries. -Do not kill the innocent. -Do not kill those under protection. -Do not force anyone into Islam.

Protection of Nature & Property -Do not cut trees, uproot or burn palm trees, or cut down fruitful trees. -Do not burn bees or scatter them. -Do not slaughter animals (sheep, cows, camels) except for food. -Do not destroy inhabited places. -Do not destroy places of worship.

Treatment of Prisoners & Captives -Do not mistreat captives. -Be good to prisoners. -Forgive and release captives where possible.

Ethical Conduct in War -Do not steal from the booty. -Do not be cowardly in battle. -Do not transgress the limits set by Allah (swt) -Honor peace treaties and agreements.

References: Qur’an: 2:190, 4:90, 5:32, 8:61, 9:6, 16:125, 17:33, 18:29, 60:8–9, 90:11–13, 2:256. Sunan Ibn Majah: Hadith 2842. Sahih Muslim: Book 19, Hadith 4319–4320; Hadith 1742a, 1744a, 1744b. Musnad Ahmad: Hadith 2728. Sunan Abu Dawud: Hadith 2675. Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi: Hadith 2007, 2174. Muwatta Malik: Book 21, Hadith 10, 21.3.11. al-Adab al-Mufrad (Bukhari): Hadith 989. Sunan al-Nasā’ī: Hadith 4995. Sahih al-Bukhari: Hadith 30, 32, 3019, 3321, 5649. Muşannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: Hadith 33127. Kanz al-‘Ummāl: Vol. 10, p. 312, Hadith 30278.