Page 82 - Islam Denounces Terrorism

80 Islam Denounces Terrorism

Verses about War and
the Interpretation Thereof

After seeing the definition of war in the Qur'an, let us now exam-
ine the verses about war that are misused by some radicals and used
for criticism of Islam by some opponents of Islam:

Examination of Verse 191 of Surat al-Baqara:

Kill them wherever you come across them and expel them from where
they expelled you. Fitna [sedition, strife] is worse than killing. Do not
fight them in the Masjid al-Haram [the Sacred Mosque] until they
fight you there. But if they do fight you, then you also fight them.
That is how the unbelievers should be repaid. (Qur'an, 2:191)

This verse is one that was sent down after Muslims were subject-
ed to severe pressure and violence and were forced to migrate from
Mecca to Medina. The conditions we discussed in detail above
came about and Muslims received the command to defend them-
selves against direct attacks. They used the methods of that com-
munity, which never stopped oppressing them, that refused to
heed pleasant words and that turned a deaf ear against all calls
to peace or negotiation, against it.

However, the verse also contains a reminder of the
rules of war: "Do not fight them in the Masjid al-Haram

until they fight you there. But if they do fight you, then
you also fight them." As we have seen, the only condi-
tion for fighting is for the other side to have attacked
first. If they do not wage war, if they do not attack, then
it is absolutely unlawful for Muslims to fight idolaters.