Through Force or Faith? — Page 134
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 134 Ordinances About the Wars in Self Defence After a detailed review of the background of jihad bis-saif (striv- ing with the sword), now we shall look at, in the light of the Holy Quran, what was the scope of this permission and what were its limits, as set by Islam. When we look at the Holy Quran from this angle, we learn that Islam did sanction defensive wars under the circumstances mentioned above, but it also imposed many strin- gent conditions concerning them. Many ordinances were promul- gated and much etiquette was taught. All these caveats prove that Islam sanctions defensive wars only as the last resort. The first consideration in this respect is that defensive war was permitted but only against those who initiated the hostilities and engaged in war. It was said: َو اْوُلِتاَق ْيِف ِلْيِبَس ِهّٰللا َنْيِذَّلا ْمُكَنْوُلِتاَقُي And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you… ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:191) How to treat the aggressor during the war and afterwards; in this regard too, Islam has given very reasonable guidance. Thus, when we study the Holy Quran, following issues are brought out clearly. 1. War is permitted but it is admonished at the same time that transgression in any form is not allowa- ble. The Holy Quran goes even further and warns the transgressor that he shall not receive Allah’s pleasure.