Answered by Shaykh Gibril F Haddad
Recently, I was in southern Italy and encountered so much sadness along the way. There is so much Mafia and prostitution is rampant These prostitutes are from Muslim countries such as my country of Albania or Morocco. They do this because they are low on money (the Moroccan ones), or because they are forced into it through fear of death or death of a little brother (such as the many Albanian ones). Being an Albanian myself, I want to know is it permissible to do anything about this? In my heart, it seems like had this occurred during the Prophet’s time, may peace and blessings be upon him, then the umma, or at least a part of it, would declare war and execute the perpetrators of this crime. I want to know if in such a case, is one allowed to declare a jihad on these people who perpetrate this crime, in order to liberate these poor women?
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
Not at all, only the rightful leader of the Muslims may declare jihad, otherwise killing such people is only a murderous crime, even if they are criminals. The jihad of the entire Muslim Community right now is to educate ourselves that the crime of others is no justification for indiscriminate violence, although we are supposed to know this basic moral already. But Allah Almighty reminds us: {O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do} (5:8).
Your own jihad is to teach yourself and your community, particularly secularists, to return to their traditional values by which a Muslim daughter knows that even poverty is preferable to a sordid living and that she has, in reality, a better choice than prostitution and crime. Liberation is achieved with the help of Allah through education, not mayhem.
Hajj Gibril