War and Peace in Islam

indirectly to war. This means that the verses dealing with war represent barely 0.6 percent of the entire text. This kind of difference can be found in the constitutions of every country as well as in all religious books. For instance, while the Bible enshrines many teachings on the subject of peace, it also includes this saying of Jesus Christ: “I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Similarly, while the Bhagvad Gita holds forth at length on wisdom and ethics, it also contains passages where Krishna insists that Arjun should go ahead and fight. Moreover, it is obvious that these injunctions in the Bible and the Gita are intended to cover only exceptional cases. One important aspect of Islam as regards its peace-loving policy is that it differentiates between the enemy and the aggressor. According to the teachings of Islam, if a group unilaterally attacks, thus opening hostilities, war can, as a matter of necessity, be waged in self-defence. The Quran states: “Permission to fight is given to those who are attacked.” (22:39) But so far as engaging in combat with the enemy is concerned, the Quran does not allow military action just on account of enmity. There is a verse in the Quran which gives clear guidance in this regard: “And good and evil are not alike. Requite evil with what is best. Then truly he, between whom and you there was enmity, will become your dearest friend.” (41:34) These verses teach us not to regard our enemies as objects of everlasting hostility, for a potential friend could be hiding in the guise of an enemy. Discover this friend and turn the potential into the actual. Then you will have no cause for complaint. There is a tradition which throws greater light on this. Aisha, the Prophet’s wife, speaking of the Prophet’s general