THE COMMAND OF WAR IN ISLAM

~ 21 ~ coercive system, that had already been put to an end by them. (Fathul Bari, 8/60) From this we learn that the war against fitna was a war of limited duration, temporary in nature, meant to be engaged in only until its specific purpose had been served. Invoking the Quranic exhortation to do battle against fitna in order to validate acts of war which had quite other aims is highly improper. This verse could be cited only if the same state of affairs as existed at the time of its revelation, were to prevail once again. The biographers of Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, have put the number of ghazwa (battle) at more than 80. This gives the impression that Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, in his 23-year prophetic career waged about four battles in a year. But this impression is entirely baseless. The truth is that Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, in his entire prophetic life, engaged in war only on three occasions. All the other incidents described as ghazwa were in actual fact examples of