The Authorization of Honor Killing in Islam

 Honor Killing is Islamic! It is, therefore, absolutely vital to expose the lie propagated by Muslims that Honor Killing is not Islamic. Honor Killing is not only Islamic but it is also deeply entrenched in the teachings of the Qur’an. Islamic sources themselves provide abundant evidences to substantiate the fact that Honor Killing is sanctioned in its theology. We will provide irrefutable evidences to prove how the Qur’an nurtures and grooms the Muslim mind to murder in the name of Honor.

Honor Killing is the shocking murder committed by Muslim family members. The perpetrators in every case are related to the victim. Honor Killing is a family collaboration. And the victim is either the sister or daughter or other closely related woman. The crime is usually carried out by the fathers, brothers or uncles of the victims. However, mothers have also participated in Honor Killing. The victim is often killed in a cold-blooded manner. These barbaric killings are executed for the single purpose of saving the honor of the family. Honor Killing is a manifestation of a global phenomenon among Muslims.

The term Honor Killing is an insult to the victims. There is no honor in murder. We use this term simply for the purpose of identifying the Islamic origin of this crime. The primary purpose of this article is to alert those who are ignorant of Islam. Many are unaware of the fact that Honor Killing is based on the teachings of Allah in the Qur’an. Many are also unaware that Islam sanctions murder to maintain the family’s honor. This is as evil as it can get. Please read this article carefully. Share it with those you know. Use it to educate your family and friends. It may save a life. Silence in the face of evil is evil itself.

Provided below is a list of actions or behavior that could lead to Honor Killing in Islam:

• Speaking with an unrelated male.
• Engaging in extra-marital affairs.
• Not submitting to a forced marriage arrangement.
• Making personal choice in marriage.
• Becoming an unfortunate victim of rape.
• Pre-marital loss of virginity. Or even rumors regarding such behavior.
• Wife who wants to leave her abusive husband.
• Engaging socially with other communities.
• Adopting a Western lifestyle

All these acts are supposed to stain the honor of the family. Therefore, family members protect the family’s honor by eliminating the cause of the stain permanently. The mere suspicion that a woman has behaved in a way that dishonors her family is sufficient to warrant an attack on her life. Of course, the above given reasons for Honor Killing are only a partial list. They are by no means exhaustive. Some conservative Muslims even consider very trivial acts as dishonorable behavior.

Killers are often given light sentences, sometimes with little or no jail term at all. In fact, in Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Kuwait, Yemen, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Gaza Strip, Tunisia, Pakistan, Nigeria and Somalia, little or no action is taken against the criminals. Since the justification for the cold-blooded murder is based on the teachings of the Qur’an and the Hadith, Islamic courts cannot prosecute the killers without taking a prior stand against Islam. Family members will defend their action by saying that they are merely following the directions provided in the ethical teachings of Islam.

Additionally, committing homicides in the name of honor is legally recognized and enshrined in the Islamic Sharia Law. As a result, Muslims are sanctioned to murder their loved ones legally in the name of honor. Article 340 of the Jordanian Penal Code states:

“He who catches his wife, or one of his female un-lawfully committing adultery with another, and he kills, wounds, or injures both of them, is excused and benefits from an exemption from penalty.”

Provisions such as Article 340 exist in the Penal Code of many Arab countries. Therefore, women are unable to access justice from the legal system of many Arab nations since killing in the name of honor is articulated in the Penal Code as a valid defense for murder. Thus, Honor Killing stands as a serious barrier for justice in the Muslim world. This Islamic verdict completely ignores every one of the provisions established for the safeguard of women in Article 2 (c) of the United Nations Declaration on the “Elimination of Violence against Women.”

As usual, Muslim apologists argue that Honor Killing is a cultural vice and, therefore, it is not Islamic. This claim is a blatant lie. Muslims lie to cover the shame of this evil practice that is clearly sanctioned in Islam. If the phenomenon of Honor Killing is just a continuance of a pre-Islamic cultural practice of the Arabs, then Honor Killing would be confined only amongst the Arab Muslims. However, Honor Killing is practiced extensively by Muslims who are not Arabs culturally. For example, Honor Killing is a common occurrence in countries like Pakistan which is a non-Arabic country. It has been reported that in Pakistan and Jordan several hundreds of Honor Killings occur every year. How is it possible for non-Arabic countries to adopt this evil practice if it is truly cultural? And why is this practice confined only among the Muslims of these non-Arabic countries? If the cultural argument is true, then why is Islam unable to stop the influence of this pre-Islamic evil practice among its worshippers?

The truth of the matter is that Islam incorporated many inhumane and uncivilized practices of the ancient pagan society into its religious framework. These practices are now recognized as the laws of Allah. Allah legalized these practices in the Qur’an and became instrumental in spreading these barbaric practices globally in the name of Islam. Also, if it is cultural, why is this barbaric act not practiced by the Arab Christians? Why is this heinous act confined only to the Arab Muslims? Only Muslims practice Honor Killing because it gets its support and encouragement from the teachings of Islam.

QUR’ANIC VERSES THAT SANCTION HONOR KILLING

Let us now consider how the teachings of the Qur’an incite Honor Killing:

Surah 4:15: “If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, take the evidence of four reliable witness from amongst you against them; if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them. Or God ordain for them some other way.” (Yusuf Ali)

In the above Qur’anic verse, Allah gives the family head the authority to imprison for life the women of his household whom he believes to be “guilty of lewdness.” Therefore, the Qur’an authorizes Muslims to take the law into their own hands and punish those whom they believe to be “guilty of lewdness.” The life-long house arrest enforced on those who are judged as being “guilty of lewdness” is actually a form of capital punishment. The authorization of Allah to imprison a woman until she dies is in reality Honor Killing on the installment. The enforcement of these punishments is usually carried out by the father, thus elevating him to the position of the law. Failure to do so will bring shame upon him in the eyes of the Muslim community. Therefore, he is compelled to act to remove that shame. However, the authorization for Muslims to act as executioners of punishment is not limited to imprisonment only.

Surah 4:89: They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing as they: But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah from what is forbidden. But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever you find them.” (Yusuf Ali)

According to the Qur’an, those who renegade after becoming Muslims should be seized and killed. It is a must by the divine laws of Allah. The following Hadith substantiates this ruling of Allah:

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 52, Number 260:

Narrated Ikrima: Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn ‘Abbas, who said, “Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, ‘Do not punish anybody with Allah’s Punishment.’ No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, ‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.’

The killing of apostates is sanctioned in Islam. The greatest threat to apostates in the Muslim world comes not from the ruling authorities but from private individuals. It is the duty of all faithful Muslims to execute apostates. Once again, we can see that Allah has given individual Muslims the right to act as executioners. They are given the right to carry out the penalty of death. A good Muslim is one who acts as Judge, Jury and Executioner for the cause of Allah. In Islam, not only Muslims who leave their religion are considered as apostates but also those whose behavior goes contrary to the teachings of the Qur’an. Muhammad even had a man executed for merely consuming alcohol. And he established the following Islamic law.

Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 38, Number 4467:

Narrated Mu’awiyah ibn AbuSufyan: The Prophet said: If they (the people) drink wine, flog them, again if they drink it, flog them. Again if they drink it, kill them.

Thus, Muslims who act contrary to the teachings of Islam are endangering themselves of being viewed as apostates. In some cases, even very minor infractions such as a young woman’s refusal to wear the Islamic headscarf or desiring to wear makeup may result in Honor Killing. Therefore, even discarding the Islamic dress code can be dangerous for some. Many young women were killed just for wanting to conform to a Western lifestyle. (Chester, Phyllis: “Worldwide Trends in Honor Killings.” p. 6.)

Muslim perpetrators of Honor Killing do not recognize a woman’s right to autonomy over her own body. Islam does not consider a woman’s body as her personal possession but the property of her father, husband or other male relatives. In spite of overwhelming evidences, most people fail to recognize that Islam has much to do with the practice of Honor Killing. We cannot find a single verse in the Qur’an prohibiting this evil practice?

There is an interesting account in the Qur’an which lays the theological groundwork for Honor Killing in Islam. It narrates about the encounter of Moses with a mysterious servant of Allah who is gifted with special knowledge and with the ability to foresee the future. As such, he does things which do not seem to make sense initially, but are then justified by the explanation he provides later. One such action by the servant of Allah is the murdering of a youth for no apparent reason. However, he justified the murder by later explaining to Moses that it was feared that the boy would grow up to “grieve” his parents through “disobedience and ingratitude.” Therefore, the youth was killed so that Allah could replace the parents with a “better son.” Let us read this account directly from the Qur’an. Only the relevant quote from the Qur’an is cited here in the following verses:

Surah 18:65-81: “Then they found one from among Our servants whom We had granted mercy from Us and whom We had taught knowledge from Ourselves. Moses said to him: Shall I follow you on condition that you should teach me right knowledge of what you have been taught? He said: Surely you cannot have patience with me and how can you have patience in that of which you have not got a comprehensive knowledge? Moses said: If Allah pleases, you will find me patient and I shall not disobey you in any matter. He said: If you would follow me, then do not question me about anything until I myself speak to you about it.”

“So they went on until, when they met a boy, he slew him. Moses said: Have you slain an innocent person otherwise than for manslaughter? Certainly you have done an evil thing. He said: Did I not say to you that you will not be able to have patience with me? Moses said: If I ask you about anything after this, keep me not in your company; indeed you shall have then found an excuse in my case.”

“He said: This shall be separation between me and you; now I will inform you of the significance of that with which you could not have patience.”

“And as for the boy, his parents were believers and we feared lest he should make disobedience and ingratitude to come upon them: So we desired that their Lord might give them in his place one better than him in purity and nearer to having compassion.” (Shakir)

These Qur’anic verses lay the foundation for Honor Killing. They show explicitly that the mere perception that the child would grow up to commit disobedience and ingratitude in the future is sufficient enough to justify the killing of an innocent child. The Qur’anic verses go even further by saying that Allah would provide the parents with a better son than the one killed. The Qur’an reveals that it is of no consequence to Allah if a child is murdered for fear of becoming un-Islamic. Parents who lose such a child through murder will be rewarded. This is the basis for the justification of Honor Killing in Islam.

Let us analyze this account a little further. The servant of Allah feared that the boy would grow up to bring dishonor and shame on his family, hence the preemptive murder. Just think! This servant of Allah did not even wait for the actual act of dishonor to be carried out before killing the boy. There is no such thing as “innocent until proven guilty” in Islam. And Moses had to learn “right knowledge” from this preemptive murderer. Islam’s values are warped!

Since the servant of Allah was gifted with special knowledge to look into the future, he killed the boy before he could actually dishonor his parents. However, since ordinary Muslims do not possess special gifts of any kind, they would not know how a child would turn out in the future. Hence, they have to wait until they perceive some kind of misconduct that they could judge as bringing dishonor to the family. And then they have the divine right to eliminate the child. The above Qur’anic verses authorize parents that if they have sufficient reasons to believe that their child is deviating from the religion of Allah, they can murder that child with Allah’s blessing. Like Moses, they too have to learn “right knowledge” from Allah’s pre-emptive murderer.

So, when Muslims tells you that Honor Killing is not authorized in Islam it means either they do not know their own religion or they are lying. The above Qur’anic verses show that the very thought of bringing shame in the future is enough to issue the death warrant on a child. The following is another Qur’anic verse that contributes to Honor Killing in Islam.

Surah 4:34: Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and as to those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great. (Shakir)

This Qur’anic verse states that men are in charge of women, being their protectors and maintainers. What happens if a man fails in his duty to keep his women (wife/wives, daughters or sisters) within the domination of Islam? What if the women in his household are simply unwilling to comply? The pressure is then turned on him by the Muslim community to subdue the women entrusted to him. Sometimes the pressure to maintain honor in an “unruly family” can become so intense that murder seems to be the only solution. Moreover, if wife-beating is permitted in Islam, can Honor Killing be far behind? If a Muslim husband is authorized by Allah to beat his disobedient wife in order to chastise her, just think what would a Muslim father do to chastise his rebellious daughter? To understand the Islamic rationale behind Honor Killing, we need to look no further than the following Qur’anic verses:

Surah 33:60-62: If the Hypocrites and those in whose hearts there is a sickness, and the scandal mongers in Madinah do not desist from their vile acts, We shall urge you to take action against them, and then they will hardly be able to stay in the city with you. They shall be cursed from all around and they shall be ruthlessly killed wherever they are seized. This has been Allah´s Way with those who have gone before, and you shall find no change in Allah´s Way. (Maududi)

Hypocrisy (Arabic: Nifaaq) means “Double-Facedness.” It means a contradiction between one’s apparent and hidden self. Apparently the person is a believer but the inner self of the person is in disbelief. Hypocrisy is categorized as:

(1) Hypocrisy against Allah regarding actual faith. (2) Hypocrisy against Allah regarding the necessities of faith.

Therefore, the term “Hypocrites” in the Qur’an refers not only to those who renegade from Islam but also to those who fail to conform to the teachings/rulings of Islam while claiming to be Muslims. In the minds of the victim’s family, the “rebellious” daughter who refuses to conform to the dictates of Islam such as opting to follow a Western lifestyle or refusing an arranged marriage or running away from an abusive home is now viewed the same as an apostate. Tragically, she has to pay with her life for her disobedience to the Islamic laws of Allah. For Muslims, the law is absolute and comprehensive, and it leaves no room for individual freedom. Family relationship has no meaning under such circumstances and it is not allowed to stand in the way of Allah:

Surah 58:22: “You shall not find a people who believe in Allah and the latter day befriending those who act in opposition to Allah and His Messenger, even though they were their own fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kinsfolk.” (Shakir)

And to the above list we can add “wives, daughters and sisters.” As it can be seen, the claim that Honor Killing is not Islamic because it is not mentioned directly in the Qur’an is a preposterous lie. Additionally, the fact that there are many other things which Muslims practice that are not mentioned in the Qur’an further invalidates this Muslim argument. For example, stoning to death for adultery is not mentioned in the Qur’an, yet the practice of stoning to death by the verdict of the Islamic court can be found in strict Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, the birth place of Islam. The same goes for circumcision.

The truth is that the perpetrators in Honor Killing find support for their crime in the principles and commandments laid out in the Qur’an and the Hadiths. It is because of these Islamic elements of support, we find that the perpetrators of this crime are exempted from punishment by strict Islamic governments. And because Honor Killing finds its support in the moral principles of Islam, many Islamic governments are unable to take the necessary steps to enact laws to criminalize the barbaric slaughtering of innocent women/girls by their family members.

Although the evil act of Honor Killing is associated with the word “Honor,” the crimes are anything but honorable. There is a pattern of gender hierarchy in Islam that culminates in violence against women. These cruel killings to save family honor have happened in the past, is still happening today and will continue to happen in the Muslim community. Honor Killing will exist as long as Islam exists. While there may be isolated incidences of others who commit such murders, the great majority of the perpetrators worldwide are Muslims. While others act on their own, the murderous actions of the Muslims are religiously sanctioned.

In spite of all the evidences proving to the contrary, Muslims still deny that Honor Killing has anything to do with Islam. This is just the same as when they deny that the acts of terrorism by Muslim terrorists have anything to do with Islam. Honor Killing can be stopped only when Muslims come to terms with the truth that it is a practice that is sanctioned in Islam. To stop a disease, you must first identify the virus. Honor Killing is merely the symptom of deadly virus. The virus is Islam.

Even if Muslims falsely claim that Islam is not responsible for Honor Killing, then it only proves that Islam is a failed system. It proves the ineffectiveness of Islam. It shows that even after more than fourteen centuries since its beginning, Islam could not prevent the evil influence of a backward culture on the mentality of the Muslims. The fact that the killings are carried out mainly by the more faithful adherents, proves that Islam is not strong enough to prevail over this cultural gender backwardness that calls for the killing of women. Does not this prove beyond doubt that Islam is a failed system?

Additionally, if it is true that it is cultural, we must then ask who is promoting and influencing this cultural practice on every succeeding generation of Muslims? None. The peoples, tribes and nationalities who lived by the rule of this culture do not exist today. Without the existence of this evil culture to influence Muslims today, can Muslims honestly put the blame on culture? Even if such culture exists today, why are non-Muslims not affected by it? The absolute truth is that the only people who promote this backward barbaric practice of Honor Killing are Muslims themselves. Muslims are the only people in the world who believe in saving the honor of their family by destroying the family. They are taught to do so by their religion.

Honor Killing has much to do with the religious influence of Islam than Muslims are willing to admit. Even if Honor Killing originated in pre-Islamic Arab tribalism, it has long since been incorporated into the religious framework of Islam. As such, it has become an acceptable practice throughout the Muslim world. The refusal of Islamic authorities to strongly denounce Honor Killing proves that this practice does not contradict the spirit of Islam.

Evidences demonstrate that the prevailing dominating spirit within Islam condones the practice of Honor Killing. Muslims do not openly acknowledge Honor Killing as Islamic for fear of a backlash by the civilized world. One of the most outstanding Islamic sources to substantiate the fact that Honor Killing is truly Islamic is the Umdat Al-Salik (Reliance of the Sojourner). Originally written in Arabic, Umdat Al-Salik is an ancient manual on Islamic law which is certified as an authentic guide to Sunni orthodoxy by Al-Azhar University. It must be noted that Al-Azhar University is the most prominent and most authoritative institute of Islamic jurisprudence in the Islamic world.

Umdat al-Salik 01.1-2 states:

“Retaliation is obligatory against anyone who kills a human being purely intentionally and without right.”

The Islamic manual then continues on to state the following:

“(However) not subject to retaliation (is) a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers) for killing their offspring, or offspring’s offspring.”

Thus, according to this Islamic teaching, parents who murder their daughters to save the family honor, whether owing to issues of chastity, apostasy and the like, incurs no penalty under Sharia.

THE CHRISTIAN WAY TO DEAL WITH WILLFUL REBELLION

But, how does one handle willful wrongdoers who persistently sin within a religious community? What do the teachings of Christianity say on this issue? During the first century, the Christian congregation in Corinth encountered a situation where an unrepentant man practiced fornication willfully. His conduct not only threatened the purity of the Christian congregation but it also brought shame to the Christian community. Hence, Jehovah God wisely directed that the man be removed from the congregation. This act of removing an unrepentant sinner is known as “Disfellowshipping” in Christian terminology. The person is not killed, but is removed from the Christian congregation. As such, he is no longer viewed as a fellow-believer. No Christian is permitted to associate with a disfellowshipped person.

1 Corinthians 5:11-13: But now I am writing you to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those inside, while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”

This disciplinary action had a good effect. The congregation was protected from the corrupting influence of the sinner. And in the case of the willful sinner who was disfellowshipped from the Corinth congregation, it also benefited him. How so? Since the wrongdoer had to now choose between pursuing his sinful course and losing the loving association of the Christian congregation, the sinner was brought to his senses. He was moved to repent sincerely. On the basis of unmistakable evidences proving that the sinner had truly repented, he was later reinstated into the Christian congregation:

2 Corinthians 2:6-8: This rebuke given by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary now, you should kindly forgive and comfort him that somehow such a man may not be swallowed up by his being overly sad. Therefore I exhort you to confirm your love for him.

Till today, this Bible-based practice of Disfellowshipping unrepentant wrongdoers has served to keep God’s holy name clear of reproach. It also protected the fine reputation of his people. It served to keep God’s congregation spiritually clean. However, the loving purpose behind the act of Disfellowshipping an individual is to move the sinner to repent and leave his sinful course. As for those who continue to remain unrepented even after having been disfellowshipped, they are considered as no part of the Christian congregation as long as they continue in their sinful course.

It must also be remembered that this form of discipline is administered only to those who willfully disregard the laws of God and deliberately persist in their sinful course. Many commit sin–sometimes even serious ones–which they regret deeply and beg for God’s forgiveness. And they strive hard to resist their sinful tendency. Such ones are not removed from the Christian congregation but rather they are helped to overcome their sinful course. So it does mean that each time a Christian commits a sinful act, he is automatically disfellowshipped. We worship a forgiving God.

Christians are never commanded by their God to murder their fellow Christians who turn aside from the Christian faith. And this is especially true when they are members of the Christians own family. Unlike Islam, there is absolutely no justification for Honor Killing in Christianity. The Holy Bible does not allow for this act of murder. The true Creator is aware of the fact that sinners can repent and change their ways.

Ezekiel 18:21-22: “Now as regards someone wicked, in case he should turn back from all his sins that he has committed and he should actually keep all my statutes and execute justice and righteousness, he will positively keep living. He will not die. All his transgressions that he has committed—they will not be remembered against him. For his righteousness that he has done he will keep living.”

By prematurely ending a sinner’s life, the Muslim murderers in Honor Killing are arrogantly assuming that the victim would never regret her sinful course or change her sinful ways in the future. And they are also making the bold assumption that she would not be forgiven by God. This is a clear violation of God’s mercy and forgiveness. To think that one has the right to play God and kill someone is one of the gravest sins that a human being can commit. And Islam sanctions these evil crimes of these cold-blooded murderers. Muslims are able to commit murder with an untroubled conscience because Honor Killing is directly motivated and influenced by the teachings of Allah in the Qur’an. Honor Killing is the ultimate betrayal. The reason why Muslims desperately try to shift the blame on culture and deny the approval of Honor Killing in Islam is because deep inside they know that no decent religion will authorize Murder in the name of Honor.

The prevalence of the practice of Honor Killing among Muslims shows that Islam lacks the moral fortitude to stop this barbaric practice from happening among its faithful followers. It lacks the moral fortitude of a true religion Thus, Islam is false. It is a failed religious system. Ironically, Muslims are taught to believe that they are the “best of the nations.” And they murder to maintain this religious pride.

Surah 3:110: “You are the best of the nations raised up for the benefit of men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah.” (Shakir)

Yes, to maintain the image of Islam, Muslims willingly kill their loved ones. Islam cannot be the religion of the true God because its fruitage is rotten to the core. It produces dangerous fruits. It creates murderers out of those who are supposed to love and protect. It bloodies the hands that once rocked the cradle. The Holy Bible identifies the true source behind Honor Killings in Islam:

John 8:44: “You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer when he began.”