What the Quran says.
Why Quran?
Translation of Surah Al-Mulk (Dominion)
Also,
Taking the Qur'an as a Guide by Harun Yahya.
Quran : The word of God by Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.
When does war become necessary?
Islam teaches its follower to always maintain peace between every being. Only under certain condition that war becomes necessary. It is well known that God creates the human race in different color, races and communities so that everyone to know each other and live in peace.
13. O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Quran 49 :13)
Satan wishes to sow enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling. (Quran 5:91)
Allah also state in the Quran that those who belief in His religion and maintain peace shall gain His reward. Never did He encourage waging war when the condition doesn't make it necessary to wage one.
55. Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: 'They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me. 'If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked. (Quran 24:55)
Justifications for War.
Valid justifications and strict conditions must exist before a war can be justified. The desire to change others' religion is never a cause to wage a war. Nowhere in the Quran is changing people's religion given as a cause for waging war.
Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.(Quran 2:256).
It can be seen that during the Prophet's lifetime, war was waged only for self-defense or to pre-empt an imminent attack. The people were told to restrain themselves from fighting and endure with patience.
77. Hast thou not turned Thy vision to those who were told to hold back their hands (from fight) but establish regular prayers and spend in regular charity? When (at length) the order for fighting was issued to them, behold! a section of them feared men as - or even more than - they should have feared Allah. They said: "Our Lord! Why hast Thou ordered us to fight? Wouldst Thou not Grant us respite to our (natural) term, near (enough)?" Say: "Short is the enjoyment of this world: the Hereafter is the best for those who do right: Never will ye be dealt with unjustly in the very least! (Quran 2:77)
Obligation for Jihad.
With a
righteous intention and a just cause, jihad becomes an obligation. When
religious freedom is abused or when oppression is taking place, it
becomes a duty to help the people abused and oppressed.However, even
after was becomes an obligations, one should not misuse it to take
advantage and show bad conduct to the enemy. Rewards in the afterlife
and maintaining justice should be the goals.
Permission is given to those who fight because they have been wronged, and God is indeed able to give them victory; those who have been driven from their homes unjustly only because they said, "Our Lord is God"-for had it not been for God's repelling some men by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, in which the name of God is much mentioned, would certainly have been destroyed. Verily God helps those that help Him - lo! God is Strong, Almighty - those who, if they are given power in the land, establish worship and pay the poor-due and enjoin what is good and forbid iniquity.Quran (Quran 22:39-41)
190. Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors. (Quran 2:190)
72. Those who believed, and adopted exile, and fought for the Faith, with their property and their persons, in the cause of Allah, as well as those who gave (them) asylum and aid,- these are (all) friends and protectors, one of another. As to those who believed but came not into exile, ye owe no duty of protection to them until they come into exile; but if they seek your aid in religion, it is your duty to help them, except against a people with whom ye have a treaty of mutual alliance. And (remember) Allah seeth all that ye do. (Quran 8:72)
The Sword Verse.
There is a famous verse called the "Sword Verse" that is widely talk about and misinterpreted out of its context.
Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolators wherever you find them, take them and besiege them and prepare for them every ambush. (Quran 9:5)
The main clause of the sentence "slay the idolators" is taken out on its own out of its context by some Western scholars to represent the Islamic attitude to war. In 9:1-15, the full story and context are given which provide many reasons for the order to fight such polytheists : They continuously broke their agreements and help others to go against the Muslims, they started hostilities against the Muslims, stopped others from becoming Muslims, expelled Muslims from the Holy Mosque and even from their own homes.
1. A (declaration) of immunity from Allah and His Messenger, to those of the Pagans with whom ye have contracted mutual alliances:-
2. Go ye, then, for four months, backwards and forwards, (as ye will), throughout the land, but know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah (by your falsehood) but that Allah will cover with shame those who reject Him.
3. And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger, to the people (assembled) on the day of the Great Pilgrimage,- that Allah and His Messenger dissolve (treaty) obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye repent, it were best for you; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah. And proclaim a grievous penalty to those who reject Faith.
4. (But the treaties are) not dissolved with those Pagans with whom ye have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided any one against you. So fulfil your engagements with them to the end of their term: for Allah loveth the righteous.
5. But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
6. If one amongst the Pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah. and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge.
7. How can there be a league, before Allah and His Messenger, with the Pagans, except those with whom ye made a treaty near the sacred Mosque? As long as these stand true to you, stand ye true to them: for Allah doth love the righteous.
8. How (can there be such a league), seeing that if they get an advantage over you, they respect not in you the ties either of kinship or of covenant? With (fair words from) their mouths they entice you, but their hearts are averse from you; and most of them are rebellious and wicked.
9. The Signs of Allah have they sold for a miserable price, and (many) have they hindered from His way: evil indeed are the deeds they have done.
10. In a Believer they respect not the ties either of kinship or of covenant! It is they who have transgressed all bounds.
11. But (even so), if they repent, establish regular prayers, and practise regular charity,- they are your brethren in Faith: (thus) do We explain the Signs in detail, for those who understand.
12. But if they violate their oaths after their covenant, and taunt you for your Faith,- fight ye the chiefs of Unfaith: for their oaths are nothing to them: that thus they may be restrained.
13. Will ye not fight people who violated their oaths, plotted to expel the Messenger, and took the aggressive by being the first (to assault) you? Do ye fear them? Nay, it is Allah Whom ye should more justly fear, if ye believe!
14. Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of Believers,
15. And still the indignation of their hearts. For Allah will turn (in mercy) to whom He will; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
(Quran 2: 9-15)
Jihad in the Quran.
The verses of the Quran dealing with Jihad :
78. And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive, (with sincerity and under discipline (Quran, Surah 22 : 78)
20. Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with might and main, in Allah.s cause, with their goods and their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah. they are the people who will achieve (salvation). (Quran 9 : 20)
A famous translator of the Quran, Yusuf Ali stated that the verse serve as a good description of Jihad. He stated that "may require fighting in God's cause, as a form of self-sacrifice. But its essence consists in a true and sincere faith, which so fixes its gaze on God, that all selfish and worldly motives seem paltry and fade away, and an earnest and ceaseless activity, involving the sacrifice (if need be) of life, person, or property, in the service of God, is manifest. Mere brutal fighting is opposed to the whole spirit of Jihad, while the sincere scholar's pen or preacher's voice or wealthy man's contribution may be the most valuable form of Jihad."
Another verses tha explicitly state to fight only when fought.
190. Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.
191. And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.
192. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
193. And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah. but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.
194. The prohibited month for the prohibited month,- and so for all things prohibited,- there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, Transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.
195. And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good.
(Al-Baqarah; 190-195)
And also:
52. Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness, with the (Qur'an). (Quran 25 :52)
20. Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with might and main, in Allah.s cause, with their goods and their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah. they are the people who will achieve (salvation). (Quran 9 : 20)