This is an extract taken from PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE By : Sayyid Sadru d-Din Baldghi
The message of Islam encompasses every aspect of human life. Islam cautions its followers from being over-zealous and restricts use of force in converting other people. Islam has laid down a set of regulations on the manner in which Islam was to be preached and spread.
Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in a way that is best ... (Qur'-an, 16:125)
There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong. . . (Qur'an, 2:256)
And argue not with the People of the Book except with what is best ... (Qur'an, 29:46)
Islam does not like anyone to be forced to believe in its message. The holy Qur'an says: . . . will thou, then, force men to become believers? (Qur'an, 10:99)
It is crystal clear from these verses that Islam aimed at spreading its message through peaceful means - by patient persuation and logical reasoning and not through use of force.
Islam insists upon its followers to maintain good and amicable relations with non-Muslims. This statement is emphasized by the following
verse of the holy Qur'an:
Allah forbids you not, respecting those who have not fought against you on account of religion, and who have not driven you
forth from your homes, that you be kind to them and act equitably towards them: surely Allah loves those who are equitable.
(Qur'an, 60:8)
No wars would have been fought had the non-Muslims communities let Islam spread its message without interference and hindrance or
if they did not resort to wanton persecution of the Muslims.
WARS - ISLAMIC VIEW
Islam, being a practical religion has three elements, namely intelligence, will and realism. Islam has always sought to unify all domains of people under the banners of Islam.
Therefore, it faced the problem of coming across hard core enemies and the inevitability of war. Islam has never initiated wars but only fought back in defence of their basic rights when there was a threat to peace and order had to be restored. In this case, a police action would be launched to clear the society from trouble shooters and rebels.
. . . and if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is often commemorated. . . (Qur'An, 22:40)
It is obvious from this verse that but for the resistance put up by the Muslims, there would not have remained places of worship. This is one of the examples when it was obligatory for Muslims to fight to defend places of worships and their right to worship Allah.
. . . and had it not been for Allah's repelling men some of them by the others, the earth would have become filled with disorder . . . (Qur'an, 2:251)
It was sacrosanct to uphold the primary value of religion and maintain discipline in the society. This required the Muslims to be harsh on traitors and prevent them from causing chaos and disorder. Islam by legislating war limited it. Use of force was permitted only in self-defence. Hereunder are situations where it was obligatory for Muslims to fight.
i) To wipe out oppression and injustices
ii) To defend the right to freedom of
worship; and
iii) To defend the state.
There are many verses (in the holy Qur'an) to support the above theory and here are some
of them
And fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors. (Qur'An, 2:190)
. . . and fight the idolaters all together as they fight you all together: and know that Allah is with the righteous. (Qur'an, 9:36)
Permission (to fight) is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been oppressed - and Allah indeed has power to help them. Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, `Our Lord is Allah' . . . (Qur'an, 22:39-40)
These verses prove that Muslims were only allowed to fight in self-defence against oppression and tyranny. A summary of this theory is given in the following verse
Allah only forbids you, respecting those who have fought against you on account of (your) religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and have helped (others) in driving you out, that you make friends of them, and whomsoever makes friends of them - it is these that are the transgressors.
( Qur'an, 60:9)
I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts about this.
The message of Islam encompasses every aspect of human life. Islam cautions its followers from being over-zealous and restricts use of force in converting other people. Islam has laid down a set of regulations on the manner in which Islam was to be preached and spread.
Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in a way that is best ... (Qur'-an, 16:125)
There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong. . . (Qur'an, 2:256)
And argue not with the People of the Book except with what is best ... (Qur'an, 29:46)
Islam does not like anyone to be forced to believe in its message. The holy Qur'an says: . . . will thou, then, force men to become believers? (Qur'an, 10:99)
It is crystal clear from these verses that Islam aimed at spreading its message through peaceful means - by patient persuation and logical reasoning and not through use of force.
Islam insists upon its followers to maintain good and amicable relations with non-Muslims. This statement is emphasized by the following
verse of the holy Qur'an:
Allah forbids you not, respecting those who have not fought against you on account of religion, and who have not driven you
forth from your homes, that you be kind to them and act equitably towards them: surely Allah loves those who are equitable.
(Qur'an, 60:8)
No wars would have been fought had the non-Muslims communities let Islam spread its message without interference and hindrance or
if they did not resort to wanton persecution of the Muslims.
WARS - ISLAMIC VIEW
Islam, being a practical religion has three elements, namely intelligence, will and realism. Islam has always sought to unify all domains of people under the banners of Islam.
Therefore, it faced the problem of coming across hard core enemies and the inevitability of war. Islam has never initiated wars but only fought back in defence of their basic rights when there was a threat to peace and order had to be restored. In this case, a police action would be launched to clear the society from trouble shooters and rebels.
. . . and if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is often commemorated. . . (Qur'An, 22:40)
It is obvious from this verse that but for the resistance put up by the Muslims, there would not have remained places of worship. This is one of the examples when it was obligatory for Muslims to fight to defend places of worships and their right to worship Allah.
. . . and had it not been for Allah's repelling men some of them by the others, the earth would have become filled with disorder . . . (Qur'an, 2:251)
It was sacrosanct to uphold the primary value of religion and maintain discipline in the society. This required the Muslims to be harsh on traitors and prevent them from causing chaos and disorder. Islam by legislating war limited it. Use of force was permitted only in self-defence. Hereunder are situations where it was obligatory for Muslims to fight.
i) To wipe out oppression and injustices
ii) To defend the right to freedom of
worship; and
iii) To defend the state.
There are many verses (in the holy Qur'an) to support the above theory and here are some
of them
And fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors. (Qur'An, 2:190)
. . . and fight the idolaters all together as they fight you all together: and know that Allah is with the righteous. (Qur'an, 9:36)
Permission (to fight) is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been oppressed - and Allah indeed has power to help them. Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, `Our Lord is Allah' . . . (Qur'an, 22:39-40)
These verses prove that Muslims were only allowed to fight in self-defence against oppression and tyranny. A summary of this theory is given in the following verse
Allah only forbids you, respecting those who have fought against you on account of (your) religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and have helped (others) in driving you out, that you make friends of them, and whomsoever makes friends of them - it is these that are the transgressors.
( Qur'an, 60:9)
I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts about this.
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