Jehad

In A.D. 622 the Prophet Mohammad and his community of Muslims left the persecution of Mecca and established the world's first Islamic political system in Madina. From this new position they fought three wars with the Meccans and many other skirmishes. The revelations of the Quran that were give to Mohammad during this time delineate the criteria for a permissible, or "just," war. This first verse reflects the more violent period in which it was received: "Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them." Clearly, war is justified when it is a defensive war. Additionally, this next verse is explicitly against aggressive warfare: "And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits."

Some of the verses dealing with war and violence during this time period seem to be more lenient as to when violence would be permitted and condoned. They are referred to as the "sword verses":

so when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie i wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

At first glance this verse seems to advocate violence against unbelievers. But its context is a specific battle in Madina occurring at the time of its revelation, a battle against idol worshippers, not people of the Book, not believers in monotheism. It commands that violence cease if the offenders repent. The second sword verse is as follows:

Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgement of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.

Although this verse may appear superficially problematical, a close reading shows that it does not advocate violence against people of the Book, only those who reject God and his teachings outright. (let us always be sensitive to the fact that the word "Allah" is simply the Arabic translation of the English word "God" or the Hebrew word "Jehovah". And as a later verse shows, the offenders should be fought only until they cease hostilities toward Muslims, implying that those not initiating hostilities cannot be targeted. And last, if an enemy requests peace, it must be given: "And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing"

Courtesy: Reconciliation ISBN: 987-1-84737-273-4