Muslim writers who are apologists for jihad seem to be motivated to accomplish two goals. The good and laudable goal is that of dissuading those Muslims who are inclined to use violence for the sake of Islam, Allah, and Muhammad, his Prophet. The second, less commendable goal, is to whitewash the image of Islam in a public relations ploy that tries to make it appear that violence done in the name of Islam has no justification from within the teachings of Islam. We applaud the first goal, but this second effort is disingenuous and deluding.
Somewhat analogous to the Christian idea of Just War theory, the Islamic doctrine of jihad places rules, regulations and restrictions on the use of violence. And as was often the case in Christendom, those rules were ignored in the heat of battle. So often, in the context of battle, the restrictions against indiscriminate violence in jihad often fall apart, and the grossest barbarism breaks out. But let us evaluate whether Islamic doctrine as found in the Qur’an and the example of Muhammad, his closest companions, and followers are, in fact, the basis for the justification of violence done by some Muslims around the world today.
In this short article, I examine some passages of the Qur’an that are viewed as sacred divine revelation by all traditional Muslims, and that are used as justification for violence by jihadi Muslims. Jihadis identify their acts of violence as being truly motivated by these passages, which include 109 verses of the Qur’an. Their use of these passages is meant to demonstrate their religious bona fides to other Muslims.
Since there are many Quranic passages calling for Muslims to use violence for the sake of Islam, their god and Muhammad, Muslims who are trying to mitigate the negative impact of such passages, for either of the above two mentioned purposes, often stridently assert that jihadis who use the Qur’an to justify violence are taking those passages out of context.
In most cases, this context argument is fallacious. First, literary context is not of primary importance in interpreting the Qur’an; instead, Muslim exegetes use what is called the reasons for revelations (asbab an -nazul). Those are ostensibly the historical circumstances in the life of Muhammad that caused Allah to send down the relevant passages of the Qur’an to the his prophet. In a strict sense, no Muslim community in any society faces exactly the circumstances that Muhammad and the first Muslims did. So in order to follow the example of Muhammad and the earliest Muslims, Muslims today extrapolate from something they see as analogous in the circumstances of the Prophet and his earliest followers, and then apply that example to present circumstances. This is an almost infinitely flexible process, and one that all violent jihadis use to justify their violent actions against others.
In this sense, the propaganda of GainPeace, an Islamic non-profit organization based in the Chicago area that works on converting people to Islam, is duplicitous. We will look at two of its premises.
GainPeace states, “Muslims may not begin hostilities. They must strive for peace as much as possible.” It adds, “Hostilities should be ended as soon as the other party is inclined to peace.”
One problem with this is that jihadis are paranoiac, and consider whatever they wish to be as aggression against them. In their schema, Muslims are by definition always becoming the victims of aggression from non-Muslims, unless the Muslims are in political control. Many, if not most, Muslims believe that unless they are ruled by the divine law of Allah (Sharia), they are being subjugated unfairly. The Quran assures their supremacy over all humankind:
“You are indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for [the good of] mankind (…)” (Quran 3:110)
Also, the Quran orders Muslims, “Fight them so that idolatry will not exist anymore and God’s religion will stand supreme. If they give up the idols), God will be Well Aware of what they do.” (8:39)
Likewise, Muhammad said: “’I have been commanded to fight against people until they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and fulfill the obligation of prayer, and pay the zakat; and if they do it, their lives and property are guaranteed my protection on condition that [they conduct themselves] according to the law of Islam.” (Sahih Muslim 22)
While pagans and idol worshipers are given two options, convert or die, Christian and Jews are given a third option by the Quran: “Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.” (Qur’an 9:29)
GainPeace also states, “Hostilities should be ended as soon as the other party is inclined to peace,” but jihadis will remember the words of their holy book:
“Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (is the ordinance).” (47:4) “(…) So do not falter, and [do not] call for peace when you have the upper hand, and God is with you, and He will not stint you in [the reward for] your works.” (47:35)
This last passage, in addition to the biography of Muhammad, have established for Islam’s jihadi warriors the principle that they should cynically call for peace when they are weak, but not call for peace when they are in a position of strength. GainPeace’s article is actually an example of this.
For generations before Muhammad took up his prophetic mantle, Jewish and Christian tribes lived in peace among pagan Arabs in the Arabian Peninsula. By the time of his death, Muhammad had killed or driven out all those Jews and subjugated the Christians under the rule of Sharia. Jihad is sometimes violence, sometimes subterfuge. GainPeace’s article serves the jihadi goal by means of the latter technique.
In order to achieve any progress in our human relations with American Muslims, and duplicitous Islamist organizations such as GainPeace, an honest and transparent discussion of our differences as well as of our common values should take place. Exchanging lies would lead us nowhere but to swamps of blood and tears, as in the so many failing states of the Middle East and North Africa.
The Rev. Darrell Pack is an Arabist who spent more than 15 years in North Africa, and a board member of Islamic Reform Forum, Illinois.