By: Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Sadeq Desai
Source: reliablefatwas.com
The Commander-in-Chief of the Muslim army in Syria, Our master, the beloved Companion, Abu Ubaidah (Allah be pleased with him) observed that some soldiers from his army were bringing stems and branches of olive, pomegranate and other fruit trees as well as of flower trees to the camp. Greatly annoyed, he questioned those who had brought these trees. He commented: “Why are you committing these acts of strife and corruption (fitnah and fasaad)?”
The explanation given was the unavailability of firewood within proximity of the camp. Trees for firewood were to be found at a great distance from the camp whereas the fruit and flower trees were
nearby.
Our master Abu Ubaidah (Allah be pleased with him) warned: “I henceforth forbid you from cutting any fruit or flower tree. Whoever repeats this offence will be dealt with severely.”
Our master Abu Ubaidah (Allah be pleased with him) was giving expression to the Sharia’s prohibition of unnecessarily destroying crops and trees of even the enemy.
In the light of this episode and prohibition of the Shariah, the injustice and villainy of burning buildings, damaging property, injuring and killing people the way perpetrated by Muslim mobs expressing their frenzy under a deceptive façade of religiosity, can be understood.
Islam does not condone such injustice and anarchy.
