Sep 15, 2008

Jihad & peace in the Qur'an



  3 months ago, exactly in 28 June, I've been asked by an American friend to tell how to find references in the Qur'an about offensive and defensive Jihad. So I decided to make a research, a research in the Qur'an. I aimed at collecting all the verses that mentioned Jihad, whether by the meaning of 'fighting' or 'struggling'. I aimed also at finding the verses which invite to peace with non-Muslims and even the verses which only mentioned the word 'peace'. Another goal was finding out how Qur'an focused on mind speech instead of clashing with non-Muslims. 
I believed that all these subjects are related very strongly, when Jihad is connected to war in the minds of some non-Muslims, so it's important to show how Islam invited to peace. On the other hand, when war is clashing with others, so it's necessary to clarify how Qur'an invited to mind speech, logical arguing, love, respect and cooperation with non-Muslims.

First of all; it's important to have a look on this website which I created to review the verses.

Second; I'd like to tell some numbers related to the research..
6236 is the number of all the verses in the Qur'an
25    is the number of the verses that mentioned Jihad
29    is the number of the verses that invited to peace with non-Muslims or mentioned the word 'peace'
38    is the number of the verses that invited to tolerance and mind-speech with non-Muslims
 
  A first thing that is noticed in Qur'an is that there is a fundamental rule that must be followed to apply Qur'an, without following this rule acts of the applier of Qur'an are suspected of its legality. This rule is that Islam must be applied as one unit, i.e. no Muslim can choose one verse of the Qur'an to apply without applying all other verses that talked about the same subject. Instead a Muslim must read every religious text related to a subject, after reading all of these texts he must understand them very well, if he couldn't he must ask a Muslim scholar, after all that he is presumed to have the complete image of the Islamic system about that subject, and he must then follow this complete image not only one part of it.
An example for that is the one who read a verse inviting to fight, and then he goes to kill a civilian in his work place(!!!) He completely ignored other verses that show who to fight against whether soldiers or civilians, how to fight, what are the limits of fighting, when to fight, etc. He took only one part of the image. Another example is the one who read these verses; "So woe to the worshippers * Who are neglectful of their prayers,* Those who (want but) to be seen (of men), * But refuse (to supply) (even) neighbourly needs." 107: (4:7) If he stopped on reading the first verse which talks about ".. woe to worshippers .." he would say: 'Then I won't worship', but if he completed the verses he will see the whole image, and will instead better his worshiping. 
This rule is taken from more than one verse; one of them is;  "... Then is it only a part of the Book that ye believe in, and do ye reject the rest? but what is the reward for those among you who behave like this but disgrace in this life?- and on the Day of Judgment they shall be consigned to the most grievous penalty. For Allah is not unmindful of what ye do." 2:85  So such a Muslim that kill and destroy civilian targets justifying his acts by some verses of the Qur'an is doing something against Shari'a and Qur'an.

  The first verse I met which was talking about fighting was the following; "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors." 2:190  I noticed that there are 2 conditions for fighting in this verse. The first is; ".. those who fight you ..', the second is; ".. but do not transgress limits ..".  The second condition has been clarified by prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he was saying to his followers every time they go in a battle that they shouldn't kill a woman or a child or a monastic or priest, and that they shouldn't cut a palm tree or burn a tree or demolish a house or a temple.

  When I continued reading Qur'an and extracted some of the verses I realized that however Islam orders to fight against those who fight Muslims, and to punish severely those who kill innocents and terrify safe people, and to be always prepared by strength, but I understood that all these things come from the fact that Islam isn't just a system for personal life but instead is a system for both the individual and the state. It aims at organizing the daily life of a human, and in the same time to establish the Islamic state. So it's understood that 'self-defense' and 'punishing those who break the state law' and 'being a powerful and respected state' are only the normal rights of every state. These rights are applied and recognized by all members of international society nowadays.
So, when we read verses like;  "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, .." or  "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, ..." or   "Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, .." We musn't be amazed or offended from them.

  Another fact I realized is that Islam isn't a religion of clashing with others, is NOT a religion that believes in; "To be a friend of mine you have to follow my belief", but instead it respects others and invites to deal kindly and with love with them. It says about current enemies; "It may be that Allah will grant love (and friendship) between you and those whom ye (now) hold as enemies" It invites to peaceful social relations with non-Muslims; "The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book ..
From those two examples of verses that clarify the image about the relations which must be between both Muslims and non-Muslims we can find out how Islam is building a society that is built on cooperation and love NOT clashing and hatred.

  One of the things that made me feel the greatness of this holy book (The Qur'an) is that it always invites non-Muslims to real discussion and logic arguments. I always read verses like; ".. Produce your proof if ye are truthful" and even in the most things that Islam refuse which is the belief in the son of god it invited non-Muslims to logically argue it; " They say: "(Allah) hath begotten a son!" .... No warrant have ye for this! ..".  Also Qur'an always clarifies that converting to Islam isn't be enforcement or compulsion, but instead it must come after a complete convincing, if not so it's a useless faith. It says; ".. shall we compel you to accept it when ye are averse to it? "
It may be called as Democracy or Freedom of speech or Freedom of belief or Logic argumentations. But whatever, it's showing the good face of Islamic religion, and the real tolerance of this great religion.

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I've finished my words. Waiting for comments..
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8 comments:

SNAKE HUNTERS said...

To: Mohamed Fadly, an Egyptian Law Student with his unshakable Faith & Loyalty to Sharia Law, and the Holy Quran.

In response, I offer our precious First Amendment to The U.S. Constitution. (Please research it!)

I'm delighted to hear from you again; my questions re Offensive & Defensive Jihad (with the chapter/verse notations) is something well worth the long wait.
I am eager to see them.

Your response is encouraging, and I am grateful to you. May this early effort lead us to that bridge over the muddy waters of violence and greed for power, and eventually to a more peaceful and productive commonality among all nations on this earth.

Your friend, reb

SNAKE HUNTERS said...

Mohamed, so far very good; a beginning. Now if we can have the Suras (or is it Hadiths) of the 25 verses mentioning Jihad? I'll be happy to accept your English traslation; let us begin there! reb

>>

P.S. I printed 'Understanding Islam' (3 pages) with the sub-title "Jihad & peace in the Qur'an" so please use this format for the verses. (This is exciting
for me; I am grateful to you.)

I cannot print the "Comment Section"...forgive my computer ignorance). reb
_________________________________
www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com

Mohamed said...

Mr.reb,

I expected that you'll ask me for a copy of the verses to print. I attached a Word file of the verses on the website, you can click on the link on the post, or here you're the link;
http://sites.google.com/site/versesfromthequran/
Just copy & paste it in your browser. You'll see in the attachments section a word file called; "Verses about peace" Just click on it to download. Then you can easily print it.

About the comment section you can copy and past them in a word document, then you know how to print it.

Awaiting your response,

Your friend,
Mohamed

SNAKE HUNTERS said...

Mohamed, I thank you for your effort. I've also tried other sources, and have found one that you may have missed.

"164 Jihad Verses in the Koran", compiled by Yoel Natan, with IV Excerpts. I printed these 24 reference pages, and it appears that I have much study ahead of me.

As you must know, we are into the wildest political season in my lifetime, the issues are complex, and the Tv Political Ads are Intense!

Ahmadinejad at the U.N. I hope he has Zero Credibility in the Muslim World!

Your friend, reb

Mohamed said...

Mr.reb,

That's nice that you're trying various sources and not depending on only one. But please choose your sources.
I guess that this page is the one you have reached;
http://www.yoel.info/koranwarpassages.htm
Actually when I read these verses I found that they either don't have any relation to Jihad like 2:178-179 or talking about fighting not Jihad.

I'll suggest some thing that may be somehow hard to you. If you have an Arabic version of the Qur'an on your computer, search for these four words; "يجاهد" "مجاهد"
"جاهد" "جهاد" and you can count then how many times they were mentioned.

Any way; I'd like that in your research in other resources that you choose an Islamic trusted resource. I recommend IslamOnLine.net
That's because I believe that if I want to understand somebody I HAVE to listen to him not hear about him.

Hope to hear from you very soon,

Your friend,
Mohamed

SNAKE HUNTERS said...

Mohamed,

I've just now read this quote:

"Produce your proof if ye are truthful..."

Chapter & Verse,...on my weblog, for all to see? I would appreciate that so much! reb

SNAKE HUNTERS said...

Hello Again Mohamed,

We are waiting for your response on Snake Hunters weblog...

We would have a better picture of your views, your (brief) opinions, about these four prominent names:

a) Nasser
b) Sadat
c) Mubarak
d) Yasser Arafat, in Palestine.

Thank you. Your friend, reb
_________________________________
www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Akhi, I don't know it's u or not, I've friend in there, and I think is really u.....
Saya salut dengan tulisan2mu di blog, semoga membawa manfaat dan bernilai amal.......Insya Allah...Allahu Akbar!
Jolie18- Indonesia