do the ends justify the means?

salaam,

I believe that this is one of the subtle differences between
Sunni and Shi'i Islam.

The classic lesson of this is the comparison of Saqifah and
Karbala.

'Umar (ra) felt that his actions at Saqifa were justified
because he had a noble goal.

Imam Husayn (as) was not willing to comprimise his noble
means even if he had to lose his life.

some examples:

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/082.sbt.html#008.082.817

(O people!) I have been informed that a speaker amongst you
says, 'By Allah, if 'Umar should die, I will give the pledge
of allegiance to such-and-such person.' One should not
deceive oneself by saying that the pledge of allegiance
given to Abu Bakr was given suddenly and it was successful.
No doubt, it WAS like that, but Allah saved (the people)
from its Evil, and there is none among you who has the
qualities of Abu Bakr. Remember that whoever gives the
pledge of allegiance to anybody among you without consulting
the other Muslims, neither that person, nor the person to
whom the pledge of allegiance was given, are to be
supported, lest they both should be KILLED.

Notice, that this is like saying, "Do as I say and not as I do."

'Umar felt that Abu Bakr was the best candidate for
rulership. That was his opinion. Muslims were not
unanimous on this belief.
'Umar also felt that Allah saved the Muslims from the evil
consequences of their unfair means but the colapse of the
Khilafah Rashidah and the murder of the Prophet's family at
Karbala is a gleaming proof that was not so.

The hadeeth continues:

' Umar added, "By Allah, apart from the great tragedy that
had happened to us (i.e. the death of the Prophet), there
was no greater PROBLEM than the allegiance pledged to Abu
Bakr because we were afraid that if we left the people, they
might give the Pledge of allegiance after us to one of their
men, in which case we would have given them our consent for
something against our real wish, or would have opposed them
and caused GREAT TROUBLE. So if any person gives the Pledge
of allegiance to somebody (to become a Caliph) without
consulting the other Muslims, then the one he has selected
should not be granted allegiance, lest both of them should
be KILLED."
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/082.sbt.html#008.082.817

That Home of the Hereafter We shall give to those who intend
not high- handedness or mischief on earth: and the end is
(best) for the righteous. 28:83

Abu Muhammad

.

Relevant Pages