BENEFIT 480: The Position of Ahlus-Sunnah on the Current Iran-Israel Conflict

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allāh alone, and may peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no prophet, and upon his family and companions. To proceed: Noble brothers from various lands have inquired about the Shar’i stance in the event of armed conflict between two states, both hostile to Islam and its followers: one of which outwardly claims Islam while inwardly harbouring disbelief and heresy—namely the Safavid-Rafiḍi Iranian regime—and the other being a clearly disbelieving, Zionist-Jewish state that openly displays enmity, such as Israel. Herein, we outline the Sunni legal position supported by evidence and foundational principles in the following order: First: The Fundamental Principle: Falsehood is not supported by falsehood, and disbelief is not sought as a means to counter another form of disbelief. It is not necessarily the case that one who fights a disbeliever is thereby better in the sight of Allāh, for it may be that one disbeliever is fighting another who is even more evil. The judgment upon conflicting parties is not based on their slogans or alliances, but on their beliefs and positions regarding true Islam. Second: Who is an Apostate? And how does his ruling compare to that of an original disbeliever? An apostate is more dangerous and harmful than an original disbeliever. Allāh the Most High says: {O you who have believed, whoever among you turns back from his religion – Allāh will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him...} [Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:54] This Āyah contains a warning to apostates and highlights that they are worse than disbelievers who never accepted Islam, for they recognised the truth and then rejected it. The scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah are agreed that apostates are worse than original disbelievers, as they undermine Islam from within and corrupt the faith of others—like termites within wood. Third: What is the ruling on one who fights an apostate? If an apostate fights an original disbeliever (or vice versa), this does not warrant supporting either side. Rather, the matter should be assessed based on Islamic interests. If two groups of disbelievers are fighting, and neither side’s defeat serves a legitimate Islamic benefit, then we must abstain from supporting either. However, if the weakening of one side would bring benefit to the Muslims, it is permissible to rejoice at their defeat—without allying with them or showing loyalty. Fourth: What if Iran (apostate regime) fights Israel (Jewish state)? The correct Sunni legal stance is as follows: 1. We do not support the Safavid, Rafidi Iranian regime, even if it fights Israel, because it: -> Spreads Shi'ism among Muslims and corrupts their beliefs. -> Kills Ahlus-Sunnah in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon. -> Pursues a sectarian Persian-Shi'ite project that has nothing to do with Islam. 2. We also do not support Israel, as it is an enemy of Allāh and His Messenger, an occupier of Palestine, and a source of great corruption in the land—even if it is fighting a Rafidi regime. 3. Rather, we rejoice in the destruction of both, and pray that Allāh destroys the oppressors by means of each other and brings Ahlus-Sunnah out safely, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “O Allāh, Revealer of the Book, Swift in Reckoning, defeat the confederates. O Allāh, defeat them and shake them.” So, O Sunni believer, when the oppressors fight each other, pray for the believers, and do not support either of the disbelieving factions. Rather, supplicate that Allāh annihilate both and grant safety and strength to the people of Islam and the Sunnah. Fifth: The stance of reputable Sunni scholars Great scholars such as Imam Ibn Baz and Imam Al-Albani stated: