The New World Order of Islam — Page 84
New World Order 84 upon the aggressor as a punishment for starting hostilities, nor should there be any attempt on the part of the intervening States to seek benefits for themselves. The settlement should be confined to the original dispute. This verse is really in the nature of a prophecy. At the time when this verse was revealed, there were no Muslim parties which were likely to go to war with each other. The verse only makes provision for the future. The words fighting and transgressing indicate clearly that the principles laid down in this verse have reference to States. The principles which it lays down are as follows: (1) If two or more States should fall out among each other, the other states should intervene and try to compel the States between whom a dispute has arisen to submit their dispute to arbitration. (2) If any of them should embark upon aggression, all the others should combine to resist the aggressor. (3) When the aggressor is defeated, all the States should settle the terms of peace, and in this settlement there should be no element of revenge or punishment. (4) The matter in dispute is to be settled equitably. It may be that the aggressor State was actually in the right. The mere fact of aggression should not operate to deprive it of its right. (5) The word 'equitably' indicates that the intervening States should not seek any benefit for