@Alphadoti feel free to chip in. Make it brief if you may.

First, I must say Islam is a tolerant religion. It has laid down rules for engagement, there are rules that govern jihad for the sake of righteousness (you can see my reponse about jihad here if you I can). Rules are to protect the rights of others and to protect innocent lives. However, whenever the people try to take advantage of these rules and harm the Muslims, these rules are suspended. So if the people try to take advantage of Muslims by using these restrictions against them, then the Muslims are allowed to put those rules aside.

To sum it up, Islam will not allow its followers to be used against the same rules that govern how to fight.

So sometimes you see situations where war takes place where rules are not followed because the enemy is planning a siege. So they deserve the punishment because of their betrayal. And because of their plotting to assassinate the innocent Muslims. So the rules of jihad are not used.

@Mtu Biz, you are right in the former, but you are wrong in the later. You missed about the children and women. The Quran states limit, "fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors." (Quran 2:190)

When the level of persecution reaches its break point, permission is granted for a person to defend themselves. This applies to the Muslims too. It is well known concept of just war theory, which is emphasized in Islam.

This principle is re-echoed by many international peace keeping missions. United Nations has stated the same terming it as just war theorists using international lawyers who have argued that war is sometimes necessary. They say that the hope for peace lies in finding conventional limits to war.

So similarly, God has asked Muslims to fight back as a last resort. This applies to the time when the those fighting Muslims have violated the treaties they signed.

"Those of them with whom thou madest a treaty, and then at every opportunity they break their treaty, and they keep not duty [to God]" (Quran 8:56).

"To those against whom war is made, permission is given [to fight], because they are wronged;- and verily, Allah is most powerful for their aid;- [They are] those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- [for no cause] except that they say, “our Lord is Allah." (Quran 22:39).

DEL.

Which bible is that?