Kerbela - Cilt - Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi

208
• Abbas Yazdani
violence. Thus, war only, is the secondary principle in Islam. However, this
doctrine may be misunderstood in some Islamic societies due to the poor
knowledge of Islamic teachings and wrong education. In such situations, the
responsibility is on intellectuals to enlighten people to have better
understanding of their faith in social aspects.
The Qur’an prohibited aggression and all but strictly defensive wars.
The Qur’an teaches “do not begin hostilities; God does not like the
aggressor.” 10 Killing is permitted only in response to murder or in the case of
“villainy in the land.” Permission to fight is given only to those who are
oppressed or who have been driven from their homes. 11
Fight in the path of God (fi sabil Allah) those who fight you, but do not
transgress limits; for God does not love transgressors. 12 This verse advocates
defensive fighting, but the importance of this verse lies in the understanding
of the term transgression. The Qur’an places limits on the use of force. The
Qur’an acknowledges the right of retribution but states “those who forgive
the injury and make reconciliation will be rewarded by God.” 13 Qur'an states
that if your enemies inclined to peace you should incline to it too.
"And if they incline to peace, then incline to it also and rely upon Allah.
Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing." 14
It should be noted that peace is more than the absence of war. It is also
“the maintenance of an orderly and just society,” wrote Howard – orderly in
being protected against the violence or extortion of aggressors, and just in
being defended against exploitation and abuse by the more powerful. 15 From
an Islamic point of view, peace is not merely the absence of war or organized
violence. It is also the presence of justice and the creation of conditions in
which humans can realize their full potentials. 16 Human beings' nature
inclined to peace, and the violence comes because of how we were educated,
not because of our nature. Faulty education gets us disconnected from our
compassionate nature. Wrong education describes humans as basically evil
and selfish. That is the core of violence.
10 Qur’an, 2:190
11 Qur’an, 22:39.
12 Qur'an, 2:190
13 Qur’an, 42:40.
14 Qur'an, 10: 61
15 Michael Howard, “Problems of a Disarmed World,” in Studies in War and Peace, p. 226.
16 Abdul Aziz Said, Nathan C. Funk, and Ayse S. Kadayifci, “Introduction: Islamic Approaches
to Peace and Conflict Resolution,” in Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam: Precept and
Practice, p. 7.