War In Islam & the Holy Qur’an

[mahmoud mrt]

Hi all,
Here I made a study on War in The Holy Qur’an.

I hope this study benefit Muslims and non-Muslims here, thanks are due to God, may He forgive any mistake, and bless the right in it.

I’d like to convey to you a very important concept when reading and understanding the holy Qur’an:

The holy Quran must be understood as whole, meaning for instance in the instructions of war you will not find a chapter named, (War Instructions) but you will find some instruction in the beginning of the holy Quran, other additional in the middle ,and some other near the end. So if you want to understand warfare in the holy Quran you should first at least read or listen to it as a whole.

First we state the rules:

1- There is only two reasons why a Muslim country fight a non-Muslim country:
A- If the Non-Muslim country is preventing or killing anyone who preaches Islam or wants to be a Muslim, also oppresses Muslims and prevent them from praying.
B- The country that attacks the Muslim country first.

2- Fighting the Muslim group that attacked and transgressed on another Muslim group till peace is established between them.

3- Only fighters and warriors are the only ones who are fought and killed, any civilian is protected and not to be harmed, except for only one exception, which is when the enemy army is currently attacking Muslim civilians and the only way to make him stop this is to attack his civilians once in a few number till he stops. This is the only Exception, and should be done with extreme caution and delicate measure.

4- War prisoners should be treated well; they either should be set free, or ransom payment. Note that killing any prisoner is not even an option, it’s actually a crime.


Now we get to the verses, there are approximately a number of groups of verses in five chapters, I organized them as A-B-C-D-and E:

A- The first group of Verses concerning warfare, in chapter 2:

1- Verse 2/190: Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors.

Here the word “do not transgress” is the translation for the Arabic Word “La Taatado” when means both: Do not transgress, and do not begin hostilities.

2- Verse 2/191: And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al- Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
Verse 2/192:And if they cease, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Verse 2/193: Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] worship is [acknowledged to be] for Allah . But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors.

Here the Arabic Word “Fitnah” means practically to torture or kill anyone who wants to be a Muslim or any one who preaches Islam; it also includes attacking the Muslim country.

3- Verse 2/194: [Fighting in] the sacred month is for [aggression committed in] the sacred month, and for [all] violations is legal retribution. So whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.

Here is a very accurate military rule derived from this verse:
This rule gives the Muslim army fighting an enemy who intentionally kill muslim civilians the option to do the same only to stop the enemy for hurting more civilians. This is the only Exception, and should be done with extreme caution and delicate measure.



B- The second group of verses are in chapter 8:

1- Verse 8/60: And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.

Here the word terrify “Torhebon” means to make them afraid of you that they will not attack you. It actually gives the law of Mutual deterrence, to prevent war from the first place.

2- Verse 8/61: And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah . Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.
Verse 8/62: But if they intend to deceive you - then sufficient for you is Allah . It is He who supported you with His help and with the believers.

Here the verses clearly states that if the enemy inclines to peace , then the Muslim country is ordered to make peace, even if there is a possibility of the enemy deceiving and using this peace to prepare for a war again.

3- Verse 8/65: O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.

Verse 8/66: Now, Allah has lightened [the hardship] for you, and He knows that among you is weakness. So if there are from you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you a thousand, they will overcome two thousand by permission of Allah . And Allah is with the steadfast.

Here is another rule. It states the ratio in numbers between the Muslim army and the enemy army; it can be 1 to 2.

4- Verse 8/67: It is not for a prophet to have captives [of war] until he inflicts a massacre [upon Allah 's enemies] in the land. Some Muslims desire the commodities of this world, but Allah desires [for you] the Hereafter. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Verse 8/68: If not for a decree from Allah that preceded, you would have been touched for what you took by a great punishment.
Verse 8/69: So consume what you have taken of war booty [as being] lawful and good, and fear Allah . Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Verse 8/70: O Prophet, say to whoever is in your hands of the captives, "If Allah knows [any] good in your hearts, He will give you [something] better than what was taken from you, and He will forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

Here another rule that specifies that the army in “Badr Battle” which was the first battle between Muslims and Quraish. It states that the Prophet (pbuh) and the Muslims made a wrong deed by taking prisoners, it means that they should not have taken them in the first place, they should had let them run away not follow and capture them, this is a specialty for any army where the prophet is the leader in the first battles. Afterwards the prisoners’ rules were mentioned in other verses as I will display.

******** continued

 

[mahmoud mrt]

******Continued

C- The Third group of warefare instruction in the holy Qura’n in chapter 9:

1- Verse 9/3: And [it is] an announcement from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that Allah is disassociated from the disbelievers, and [so is] His Messenger. So if you repent, that is best for you; but if you turn away - then know that you will not cause failure to Allah . And give tidings to those who disbelieve of a painful punishment.
Verse 9/4: Excepted are those with whom you made a treaty among the polytheists and then they have not been deficient toward you in anything or supported anyone against you; so complete for them their treaty until their term [has ended]. Indeed, Allah loves the righteous [who fear Him].
Verse 9/5: And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Verse 9/6: And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah . Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.
Verse 9/7: How can there be for the polytheists a treaty in the sight of Allah and with His Messenger, except for those with whom you made a treaty at al-Masjid al-Haram? So as long as they are upright toward you, be upright toward them. Indeed, Allah loves the righteous [who fear Him].
Verse 9/8: How [can there be a treaty] while, if they gain dominance over you, they do not observe concerning you any pact of kinship or covenant of protection? They satisfy you with their mouths, but their hearts refuse [compliance], and most of them are defiantly disobedient.
Verse 9/9: They have exchanged the signs of Allah for a small price and averted [people] from His way. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.
Verse 9/10: They do not observe toward a believer any pact of kinship or covenant of protection. And it is they who are the transgressors.
Verse 9/11: But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, then they are your brothers in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.
Verse 9/12: And if they break their oaths after their treaty and defame your religion, then fight the leaders of disbelief, for indeed, there are no oaths [sacred] to them; [fight them that] they might cease.
Verse 9/13: Would you not fight a people who broke their oaths and determined to expel the Messenger, and they had begun [the attack upon] you the first time? Do you fear them? But Allah has more right that you should fear Him, if you are [truly] believers.
Verse 9/14: Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them and give you victory over them and satisfy the breasts of a believing people.

I have made bold and underlined some key sentences that clarify that the verses are speaking about the situation of war and peace treaties. And how the Muslim should grant the non-Muslim protection if he asks for it peacefully.

2- Verse 9/25: Allah has already given you victory in many regions and [even] on the day of Hunayn, when your great number pleased you, but it did not avail you at all, and the earth was confining for you with its vastness; then you turned back, fleeing.
Verse 9/26: Then Allah sent down His tranquillity upon His Messenger and upon the believers and sent down soldiers angels whom you did not see and punished those who disbelieved. And that is the recompense of the disbelievers.

Here the verse talks about the rules that states that Muslims should not be proud of their numbers in battle, but they must depend only on Allah, After they do their best.

3- Verse 9/29: Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.

This verse is talking about the war between Muslims and the roman Byzantine Empire, where the Roman Empire and its allies from Gassasenna killed the Prophet’s messenger who was sent with a letter to the Gassassenna leader, they also then made a law the states execution to anyone who wants to be a Muslim or preaches Islam.

This Exact verse is ignorantly taken by Muslims terrorists groups who claim the holy Qur’an orders Muslims to fight all non-Muslims Jews and Christians,
They stupidly take this verse only and separate it form all its previous and after verses, and all the verses of the holy Qur’an. That’s the way any terrorists group think, not academically or scientifically, they only take what they want and leave what they don’t want to accomplish their evil goal to reach power and to enslave ignorant Muslim youth.




D- The Verse in chapter 47:

1- Verse 47/4: So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds.

Here the verse states the way the war prisoners should be treated, they either should be set free, or ransom payment. Note that killing any prisoner is not even an option, it’s actually a crime.

E- The verses in chapter 60:

Verse 60/8: Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.
Verse 60/9: Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion - [forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

These verses clearly state Muslims should treat any peaceful non-Muslim with righteous and just.

I hope this study benefit Muslims and non-Muslims here, thanks are due to God, may He forgive any mistake, and bless the right in it.

Regards
Mahmoud

 

[ametist]

thank you. it is better that you indicate the number of surah- ayah next to the rules you have extracted and can you tell about the context of the surah-ayah? when and where it was sent, upon which incident? also can we have more sources about the meaning of fıtnah?
i asked too much even from the first part but it is some task what you attempted.
i am glad you underlined the first paragraph now."holy quran must be understood as a whole..

 

[mahmoud mrt]

thank you. it is better that you indicate the number of surah- ayah next to the rules you have extracted and can you tell about the context of the surah-ayah? when and where it was sent, upon which incident? also can we have more sources about the meaning of fıtnah?
i asked too much even from the first part but it is some task what you attempted.
i am glad you underlined the first paragraph now."holy quran must be understood as a whole..

Hi, ametist

Thanks for the appreciation you showed

Well in that study I used all I know from the Arabic Quran, the lectures I listened to the respected scholars. so your questions can be divided into:

A- tell about the context of the surah-ayah? when and where it was sent, upon which incident?

Well this question needs a lot of work, but keep in mind that there is a rule; it states:
The verses in the holy Qur’an stating instructions should be understood and applied in regard to all other verses concerning the topic or issue, and regardless of the circumstances it was reviled upon.

That is to say, if you managed to listen to the whole holy Quran like I did thanks God, and collected all the verses concerning a certain topic, listened to the scholars interpretation, and hence reached a good understating, this can be enough for you, because the holy Qur’an is an instruction book regardless of the circumstances and events it was revealed within.

Note that sometimes a verse with the circumstances and events it was revealed within can benefit, but it’s an additional knowledge.

Why am I telling you that?, because simply I’m an educated Arabic Muslim, but I’m not a scholar, so despite that I know many of the circumstances that the verses where revealed within as I mentioned some already, I’ll will not elaborate on them, simply because it needs much research and specialized tools,

So, God says in the holy Quran chapter 54 verse 32: And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?

So if you understand the whole verses that are enough

B- for the word “fitnah”

“fitnah” is an Arabic word it has three categories of meanings:

1- to try to force the Muslim to be a non-Muslim using any tools possible, including, oppression, execution, torture, poverty, money, sex, etc.

2- to test the person (Muslim or non-Muslim) so as to reveal his true nature, any way of test possible, this test is done by God,

For example, to test the faith and content of the believer by poverty or illness, so as he will be rewarded on his continues trust in God and his patience. Or on the other hand to test another person by making him rich so as to see how he will thank God and pay charity to the poor.

3- “fitnah” also can be a heart and sin purification process in this life and the hereafter. In this life by enduring hardships that will purify the Muslim or non-Muslim from his sins and earn him by God mercy a rank in heaven. Or in the hereafter in hell to purify the persons from their sins so that they will eventually go to heaven after this long period in hell depending on their sins and heart. (This meaning for the word “fitnah” comes from Arabic meaning of putting gold in fire so as for all the rubbish and unwanted materials to come out of it and leave it pure gold).

Hope that clears this up more ametist, thank you again.

Regards
Mahmoud