Quotes from the Quran Often Cited to Justify Killing Infidels and Waging Jihad. Peaceful Interpretations of Islam
Quotes from the Quran Often Cited to Justify Killing Infidels and Waging Jihad
Certain verses from the Quran are frequently cited in discussions about violence and conquest, though their interpretation can vary widely among scholars and contexts. Here are some examples:
- Quran 9:5 (The Verse of the Sword):
- Arabic: "فَإِذَا انْسَلَخَ الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ"
- Translation: "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."
- Context: This verse is part of a larger passage (Surah At-Tawbah) dealing with the termination of treaties with certain polytheistic tribes who had broken their agreements with Muslims. It is often interpreted within the historical context of defensive warfare against those who initiated hostilities.
- Quran 9:29:
- Arabic: "قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حَتَّى يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَنْ يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ"
- Translation: "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."
- Context: This verse is often cited in discussions about the historical practice of jihad against certain non-Muslim communities, particularly those who were seen as aggressors or who refused to pay the jizyah (a tax levied on non-Muslims in an Islamic state). It is part of a broader discussion on the relations between Muslims and People of the Book (Jews and Christians).
- Quran 2:191:
- Arabic: "وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ وَلَا تُقَاتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ حَتَّى يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِنْ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ كَذَٰلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ"
- Translation: "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."
- Context: This verse is part of a discussion on self-defense and retaliation against aggression, emphasizing that fighting is permissible in response to persecution and expulsion.
Peaceful Interpretations of Islam
Despite these verses, there are numerous peaceful interpretations of Islam that emphasize non-violence, tolerance, and coexistence. Here are some key points:
- Quran 2:256:
- Arabic: "لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ"
- Translation: "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing."
- Interpretation: This verse is often cited to argue that Islam does not force conversion, promoting freedom of belief.
- Quran 5:32:
- Arabic: "مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنْهُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ"
- Translation: "Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors."
- Interpretation: This verse emphasizes the sanctity of life and is often used to argue against violence except in cases of self-defense or justice.
- Quran 60:8:
- Arabic: "لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ"
- Translation: "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."
- Interpretation: This verse promotes peaceful coexistence and justice towards those who are not hostile.
Peaceful Interpretations and Non-Conquest Views
- Jihad as Inner Struggle: The concept of "greater jihad" (jihad al-nafs) refers to the internal struggle against sin and temptation, which is considered more significant than physical warfare. This interpretation is supported by hadiths and is emphasized by many modern scholars.
- Defensive Jihad: Many Islamic scholars argue that jihad, when it involves warfare, is primarily defensive. Historical contexts of Quranic verses often relate to specific conflicts where Muslims were under attack.
- Modernist and Reformist Views: Scholars like Muhammad Iqbal and Muhammad Abduh have advocated for a reinterpretation of Islamic texts in light of modern values, emphasizing peace, tolerance, and human rights. They argue that the aggressive interpretations of jihad are outdated and not reflective of Islam's core teachings.
- Interfaith Dialogue: Movements within Islam promote dialogue and coexistence with other religions, citing verses like Quran 49:13 ("O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.") to foster mutual respect.
Conclusion
The interpretation of the Quran and Islamic teachings on violence, conquest, and peace is highly contextual and varies significantly among different schools of thought and historical periods. While some verses can be interpreted to justify aggressive actions, there are also numerous passages and traditions that promote peace, tolerance, and non-violence. The debate continues within Islamic scholarship and broader society about how these texts should be understood and applied in contemporary contexts.
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