War in Islam

War in Islam inner nature. This is the method of reform of human beings, or what can be called a ‘reformist movement’. War always aims at removing external obstacles, not at producing an inner state of higher consciousness within individuals. For the latter purpose, the appropriate method is advice, exhortation and guidance. It has nothing to do with war. In Islam, only one sort of war is allowed—and that is defensive war. If a group commits aggression against the followers of Islam, the latter can oppose this to the extent that it is capable of doing so. This response can take different forms, such as open war, or other forms, too. But in ordinary circumstances, Islam’s method is that of peace and dawah. A Study After the Hudaybiya Treaty, when conditions were stabilised, the Prophet sent out missionary groups to various places outside Madinah. One of these groups was sent to a region along the Syrian border, to the north of Madinah. This area was inhabited by Christian tribesmen who were under Byzantine rule. There were 15 people in this missionary group, which was led by Ka‘ab Ibn Umair al-Ghifari. When they reached Zat-e Itla, near Syria, they saw that quite a few people had gathered together. The Muslims presented these people with the message of Islam. However, they did not accept this offer, and, instead, started raining arrows on the Muslims. In this one-sided attack, 12 Muslims were martyred. Ka‘ab ibn Umair al-Ghifari was injured, but managed to return to Madinah. This assault on the Muslims by the Christian tribe on the Syrian frontier was, indirectly, an attack by Byzantine, because these Christians were under Byzantine rule. In this way, Byzantine initiated aggression against Islam. The Prophet sent Al-Harith bin Umair Al-Azdi to the ruler of Basra along with a letter of invitation to Islam. When alHarith reached a certain place in Syria, he met with a man called