ISLAMIC VIEWS ON STATE DEFENSE IN NON-MUSLIM COUNTRIES

Abstract

Muslims who are citizens of a non-Muslim country have the same rights and obligations as citizens. One of them is in state defense. State defense is a concept that is compiled by legislation and officials of a country about the patriotism of a person, a group or all components of a country in the interest of maintaining the existence of the country. However, a Muslim must try to refuse to do state defense if ordered to fight against a Muslim country because fellow Muslims are brothers and their brotherhood is above the interests of the state. Refusal to perform national defense must also be in accordance with procedures and in compliance as a citizen. In this paper, the author uses a qualitative Semiotic Analysis approach influenced by the naturalistic-interpretative paradigm and Content analysis initially developed in the field of quantitative newspapers. In relation to a Muslim, however, a Muslim should try to refuse to do national defense if ordered to fight against a Muslim country because fellow Muslims are brothers (innamalmu`minunal ikhwah) and their brotherhood is above the interests of the state. Refusal to do national defense must also be in accordance with procedures and in compliance as a citizen.