Chapter One

of non-violence from the Gita. This was possible because in the Gita, war is an exception, to be resorted to purely in exceptional circumstances. On the other hand, in ordinary or general life, it is the Gita’s peaceful teachings that apply, and it was these which Mahatma Gandhi drew on to develop his philosophy of non-violence. In the same way, in the New Testament (Matthew 10:34), Jesus is said to have declared, ‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I haven’t come to bring peace but a sword.’ It would be wrong to assume from these words that the religion of the Messiah was one of war and bloodshed. This is because words of this sort are simply an exception in Jesus’ teachings and are linked to a particular situation. As far as general life is concerned, the Messiah always stressed love and peace. The same thing likewise, holds true of the Quran. When the Prophet Muhammad migrated from Makkah to Madinah, the polytheists launched aggressive attacks on him. But he repeatedly staved off these attacks through patient steadfastness and avoidance of fighting. However, there were occasions when there was no option left but to reply to these attacks. That is why, on such occasions the Prophet responded in the form of defensive fighting. It was in these circumstances that the exceptional Quranic commandments about fighting were revealed. These commandments were related to a temporary situation, and were not meant to be universally applied. Indeed, in the Quran (21:107) the Prophet is referred to as a ‘mercy to the worlds’, or rahmatul-lil-alameen. No Terrorism in Islam According to Islam, terrorism is not permissible or legitimate under any circumstances. Terrorism is a form of violence undertaken by non-state actors. Using violence to attaining a certain objective, if the need so arises, is the prerogative only of a duly established government.