How Was The Qur'anic Doctrine Announced To the World? (5)

HOW WAS THE QUR’ANIC DOCTRINE

ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD? (5)

Now that the pagans’ fury had been generalized and transformed into a combative and decided war:

“They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months (i.e. 1^st, 7^th, 11^th and 12^th month of the Islamic calendar). Say “Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) with Allâh is to prevent mankind from following the Way of Allâh, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid Al-Harâm (at Makkah), and to drive out its inhabitants, and Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion (Islamic Monotheism) if they can. And whosoever of you turns back from his religion and dies as a disbeliever then his deeds will be lost in this life and in the Hereafter and they will be the dwellers of the Fire. They will abide therein forever.”  (II, 217), the believers were, at last, after more than ten years of patience, authorized and then committed:

“Permission to fight (against disbelievers) is given to those (believers) who are fought against because they have been wronged, and surely, Allâh is Able to give them (believers) victory.” (XXII, 39) to defend themselves collectively [1]

“Jihâd (holy fighting in Allâh’s cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you.” (II, 216) and relieve those among them who were left without any protection:

“And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the cause of Allâh, and for those weak, ill-treated and oppressed among men, women, and children whose cry is: “Our Lord ! Rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who will protect, and raise for us from You one who will help”. (IV, 75).

On the whole, we cannot objectively make any reproach to such an absolutely defensive and highly devoted attitude.

These have been the circumstances in which the first spark of the armed war started. However, the question is whether the Qur’anic legislation has evolved later and has enlarged this right of legitimate defence to include any operations of offensive initiatives?

The Western World seems to be badly informed about this point. They generally believe that the Muslims have the right and even the duty according to their sacred book, to resort to arms whether for imposing their doctrine or for annihilating those who do not adopt it. To this concept, they give the name of “Holy War”, which they make it corresponding to the Qur’anic word, “Jihad”.

The truth is that this generic term which means “effort” has specifically nothing to do with the military meaning because we find it in the Mekkan surahs for designating either an edifying effort of preaching and of peaceful persuasion:

“So obey not the disbelievers, but strive against them (by preaching) with the utmost endeavour with it (the Qur’an).” (XXV, 52) -or a purely personal moral effort

“As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our paths (i.e. Allâh's religion - Islâmic Monotheism). And verily, Allâh is with the Muhsinûn (good doers).” (XXIX, end). As for the term which properly signifies the combat, it is that of “Qital” قتال .