jihad and the islamic law of war - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...
jihad and the islamic law of war - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...
jihad and the islamic law of war - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...
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question 6<br />
<strong>The</strong> principles surrounding treaties is also seen in this<br />
verse:<br />
Tell those who disbelieve that if <strong>the</strong>y cease (from persecution<br />
<strong>of</strong> believers) that which is past will be forgiven <strong>the</strong>m; but if<br />
<strong>the</strong>y return (<strong>the</strong>reto) <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> example <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> men <strong>of</strong> old hath<br />
already gone (before <strong>the</strong>m, for a <strong>war</strong>ning). /And fight <strong>the</strong>m<br />
until persecution is no more, <strong>and</strong> religion is all for God. But<br />
if <strong>the</strong>y cease, <strong>the</strong>n lo! God is Seer <strong>of</strong> what <strong>the</strong>y do. (Al-Anfal<br />
8:38-39)<br />
To comm<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> state <strong>of</strong> non-violence through <strong>the</strong><br />
observance <strong>of</strong> an established treaty with non-Muslim poly<strong>the</strong>ists<br />
shows that <strong>the</strong> Muslim community was willing,<br />
<strong>and</strong> indeed comm<strong>and</strong>ed, to live in a state <strong>of</strong> peace with<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir neighbors even if those neighbors practiced a<br />
religion o<strong>the</strong>r than Islam.When <strong>the</strong> Muslims are comm<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
to fight those who break <strong>the</strong>ir treaties, it is <strong>the</strong><br />
breaking <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> treaty that invites <strong>war</strong>fare, not <strong>the</strong> fact<br />
that <strong>the</strong> treaty-breakers are poly<strong>the</strong>ists.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Prophet made several important treaties with <strong>the</strong><br />
non-Muslim communities around Medina, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>se were<br />
<strong>of</strong> more than one kind. Perhaps <strong>the</strong> best known is <strong>the</strong> treaty<br />
<strong>of</strong> Hudaybiyah, where <strong>the</strong> Muslim community made a<br />
truce with <strong>the</strong> Quraysh tribe allowing <strong>the</strong> Muslim community<br />
to make a pilgrimage to Mecca <strong>the</strong> following year.This<br />
treaty was noteworthy for its pragmatism: <strong>the</strong> Prophet<br />
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