War In Islam & the Holy Quran – Apostasy and Apostates war

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Hi all,
Here I made a study on War in The Holy Quran.. I divided it into two parts, part of the war between Muslims and non-Muslims, and the other part of the war in-between Muslims and apostasy and apostates war explained and the views of scholars.


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.

First I would like to convey to you a very important concept when reading and understanding the holy Quran:This well-known concept among senior Scholars and interpreters of them the Scholar Mohamed Metwally El Shaarawy May Allah's mercy be upon him: The Concept is:

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 wholeIn All the Holy Quran. This is a very important concept to understand any subject in the Holy Quran.

In a simplified phrase: the holy Qur’an is one integrated sentence.

From exemplified, for example, if you read in Sura 71 Noah:

26. And Nuh (Noah) said: "My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers on the earth!

27. "If You leave them, they will mislead Your slaves, and they will beget none but wicked disbelievers."

If taken earlier verses you might think that they encourages Muslims to pray to God for the extinction of non-Muslims, but the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not pray to God for the extinction of infidels of Mecca ever,
Thus in order to understand why Noah called on his people’s annihilation you must read all the verses which speak of Prophet Noah and his people in All the Holy Quran.
If you do this, you'll find a clear answer to the question in Surat 11 Hood:

36. And it was inspired to Nuh (Noah): "None of your people will believe except those who have believed already. So be not sad because of what they used to do.

37. "And construct the ship under Our Eyes and with Our Inspiration, and address Me not on behalf of those who did wrong; they are surely to be drowned."

Here is quite clear why the Prophet Noah called to his people with extinction, because it was inspired that none of his people would believe in the God except those who had a previously believed.


On the other hand The Messenger Muhammad peace be upon him hoped that God Almighty would bring out of the children of infidels of Mecca good Muslims, and it has been, So came Khaled Ibn Al-Walid, and Ikrima ibn Abi Jahl, and Amr Ibn El-Aas and other companions who were the sons of the enemies of Prophet peace be upon him.


Now we begin the first part: It speaks about the war between Muslims and non-Muslims:


First we state the rules: these rules are derived from the Holy Quran Clear verses And the life of the prophet (PBUH) also as illustrated by respected scholars:

1- There are only 2 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 severely oppresses Muslims and prevent them from praying.
B- The country that attacks the Muslim country first.

2- 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 that some scholars added, 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, Only an organized army with this goal can do this.

3- 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 is actually a crime.


Very important: Muslims are not allowed to go to war or hurt any non Muslim who insult verbally or by any media the prophet or even insult Allah, words are refuted by words, not by arms, The holy Qur’an Cleary states that Muslims will hear insults, and the only instructions is to have patience and refute peacefully.

Holy Quran chapter 3 verse 186:

(You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination.)


Holy Quran chapter 29:

And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner, inviting them to Islâmic Monotheism with His Verses), except with such of them as do wrong, and say (to them): "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you; our Ilâh (God) and your Ilâh (God) is One (i.e. Allâh), and to Him we have submitted (as Muslims).


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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 in the holy Quran 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"; which 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;" has a number of meanings, In Arabic, it can mean “Test, torture, purification by putting in fire for Gold, etc”So here it means practically to torture or kill anyone who wants to be a Muslim or anyone who preaches Islam; it also includes attacking the Muslim country.

Also in the verse " and [until] worship is [acknowledged to be] for Allah " means that there should be freedom for anyone to choose to be a Muslim if he wants to, and thus worship is [acknowledged to be] for Allah truly. Note here that it can Not be understood the verse in the sense that all the people must become Muslims, because this is against verses of the Holy Quran, and the biography of the Prophet and the Companions who did not force anyone to enter Islam, and of these verses in the same Sura 2:


256. There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.


Also inSurah10:

99. And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together. So, will you (O Muhammad) then compel mankind, until they become believers.



Now Back to Chapter 2

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 by some scholars:
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, Note here that the verse specifies (Assault Him) which confines the assault to the army attacking the Muslim country. Only an organized army with this goal can do this. And the verse orders the Muslim army to fear God, and from God fear is to not transgress limits and do not begin hostilities as declared in the former verse.




B- The second group of verses is 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" means to make them afraid of you so 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 to 1 to 10.

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; 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.


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C- The Third group of warfare instruction in the holy Quran 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 rule 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 prevented anyone who wants to be a Muslim or preaches Islam. Also they prepared an army to attack Medina and Destroy the Muslims state. So the prophet (PBUH) prepared an army of 30 thousands Muslims to confront them in what was known as “Tabok” battle.

The jizyah is a tax which is an amount of money paid, it’s taken from the non-Muslims in the Muslim controlled territory in compensation of defense, because non-Muslims are not required to join the Muslim army, This payment is taken only from grown men able to join the army, not from women or children.

Note that Muslims on the other hand Pay Zakat which is the obligatory payment.

So basically the verse orders Muslim to fight back the armies of the roman Byzantine Empire and its allies from Gassasenna who began the attack first, and after winning to take the related taxes.

This Exact verse is ignorantly taken by Muslims terrorists groups who claim the holy Quran orders Muslims to fight all non-Muslims Jews and Christians, and other nations.
They stupidly take this verse only and separate it from all its previous and after verses, and all the verses of the holy Quran. 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.

4-Verse 9/36: Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred, (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein, and fight against the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) collectively, as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allah is with those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V.2:2).


This verse talks about the necessity of Muslims’ unity in fighting the infidels who unite in their fight, note that it says “as they fight against you collectively" which limits the fighting on who fights from non-Muslims as clarified also by the rest of the verses.

5- Verse 9/123

O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who are the Al-Muttaqun (the pious).

This verse talks about the war priority; it states that the enemies who are closer should be fought first. Again it should Not be separated from the other verses in the same chapter as illustrated before in conjunction with all the warfare verses in the whole Holy Qur’an.

Remember:The Holy Quran is one integrated sentence.



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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- Finally, remember the verse that defines the rule of treating peaceful non-Muslims: verse in Sura 60 Mumtahinah:

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 that Muslims should treat any peaceful non-Muslim & Non-Muslim state with peace, righteous and just.


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Part II: The war in-between Muslims and apostasy and apostates war:

This topic has different opinionsfrom scholars and Muslim thinkers since ancient times, hence I put first the topic which they initially agreed upon and then illustrate all opinions.


1. Fighting the Islamic group or state that attacked and trespassed on another Islamic group or state until the establishment of peace between them.


Here spoke Quran in Sura 49, verse 9:

9- And if two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both, but if one of them rebels against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which rebels till it complies with the Command of Allah; then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves those who are equitable.

Clear instructions in verse, reform first then fight the Muslim group that transgressed on the other Muslim group until it returns to peace


2. Apostasy:


Apostasy is the bold announced leaving of any Muslim the religion of Islam. By clearly saying that (I am no longer a Muslim), or denying the Clear Verses in the holy Quran, or by claiming that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him is not the messenger. Note that the announcement must be explicit and clear to consider a person as an apostate.


There are Different opinions of the of the punishment of the apostate, this difference stems from the difference in the understanding of the Traditions (Hadiths) and the war being waged by the first Khalifa Abu Bakr Siddiq on apostates.


I divided the opinions of the scholars and Muslim thinkers into two main categories:


(A) Any apostate should be repented (ie, asking him to repent) by the Muslim ruler for three days, after this if the apostate insisted then the Muslim ruler should perform death sentence on him. Note that the Muslim ruler is the only one allowed to implement this penalty. If he does not implement it it is Not in the right of any Muslim to implement it, but only advise the Muslim ruler, this rule (that the performing of punishment is only allowed to Muslim Ruler) is comprehensive to all kinds of punishments in Islam such as adultery, libel, and theft etc.


(B) Apostasy punishment is a political punishment not a religious punishment, that is any apostate if he Destabilize the Muslim State and attempt to politically or economically divide it he should be repented for three days by the Muslim ruler, then if he insisted then the Muslim ruler should perform death sentence on him. But if he left Islam in a personal issue and has not tried destabilization (Irgaf) in the Muslim state then his punishment is on God Almighty, and there is no death penalty or any other penalty on him in this life.

To understand why the two views differed we must understand the concept of each view:


Opinion (A) Takes the tradition (Hadith) (Whoever changes his religion, kill him) and the tradition meaning (No permission to the blood of a Muslim who testifies that there is no god but Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah, unless one of three: adulterer who is married, and the killer, and the Leaver of the religion, the leaver of the group). They take them Literary and adopt them for any kind of apostate with the conditions and constrains already mentioned.

Opinion (B) understands the two traditions in context that they speak about the political situation, because They consider the holy Quran as the supreme ruler, and so any tradition (Hadith) can Not be in contrary to the holy Quran, and the holy Quran clearly stated that there is no compulsion in religion: in Surat Al-Baqarah 2:

256. There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.


Also inSurah10:

99. And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together. So, will you (O Muhammad) then compel mankind, until they become believers.

And the only verse that spoke about the killing of hypocrites talked about the destabilization (Irgaf), and its meaning is the Arabic language of the earthquake and intimidation, that is a political judgment.

Surah 33:

60- If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease (evil desire for adultery, etc.), and those who spread false news among the people in Al-Madinah (AlMorgefoon, form Irgaf), cease not, We shall certainly let you overpower them, then they will not be able to stay in it as your neighbours but a little while.

61. Accursed, wherever found, they shall be seized and killed with a (terrible) slaughter.

Note that the verse talks about the hypocrites who are (AlMorgefoon, from Irgaf),it means who do destabilization in the state, and despite this the Prophet (pbuh) did not kill them and said meaning (So as people do not talk that Muhammad kills his companions), because if the Prophet, peace be upon him, applied this command literary and killed them it would be confusing among those who have not entered Islam yet, who may think that the prophet peace be upon him kills his companions and thus they would be discouraged from converting to Islam.

Hence this opinion understands the apostasy wars led by the first Caliph Abu Bakr, as they were political wars, because the apostates tried to undermine the country politically and economically by dividing it and by the prevention of Zakat which was the economical resource for the Muslim country.

Note: There is a team of Muslim thinkers who did not confess for the 2 traditions (Hadiths) previously mentioned: (Whoever changes his religion, kill him) and the tradition meaning (No permission to the blood of a Muslim who testifies that there is no god but Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah, unless one of three: adulterer who is married, and the killer, and the Leaver of the religion, the leaver of the group). ). That is because they see that these traditions contradict the holy Quran, in the rule of apostasy, we explained verses of the holy Quran, and in other punishment of the adulterer who is married (i.e., a married man or a married woman who commits adultery with someone else: the punishment of stoning by being thrown by stones to death) because this is contrary to the rule of the holy Qur'an:

Sura 24 Verse 2:

2. The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment.

And the holy Quran emphasized that the penalty is not to kill but only torment:

Sura 4 verse 25:

25. And whoever of you have not the means wherewith to wed free, believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those (captives and slaves) whom your right hands possess, and Allah has full knowledge about your Faith, you are one from another. Wed them with the permission of their own folk (guardians, Auliya' or masters) and give them their Mahr according to what is reasonable; they (the above said captive and slave-girls) should be chaste, not adulterous, nor taking boy-friends. And after they have been taken in wedlock, if they commit illegal sexual intercourse, their punishment is half that for free (unmarried) women.This is for him among you who is afraid of being harmed in his religion or in his body; but it is better for you that you practise self-restraint, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.


Finished Thanks to Allah

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.