Through Force or Faith? — Page 169
Chapter 3 — Holy Prophet and Wars 169 Knowledge of this historic background, by itself, removes all such objections. Besides, we shall present the pronouncements of the Holy Prophet s as that illustrate what he really preached. We shall make use of the authentic books on his biography, with the ability that Allah grants. What are the Teachings of Islam about Warfare? Does Islam prefer war? Does human blood have no value in Islam? An understanding of teachings of Islam pertaining to these issues shall illuminate the attitude of Islam and the Holy Prophet s as about warfare. It should be understood that the Holy Quran pre- sents the following fundamental precepts about war, pillage and plunder: ۤاَمَّنَاَكَف اَيْحَا َساَّنلا اًعْيِمَجْنَم َلَتَق اًۢسْفَن ِرْيَغِب ٍسْفَن ْوَا ٍداَسَف يِف ِضْرَاْلا اَمَّنَاَكَف َلَتَق َساَّنلا اًعْيِمَج َو ْنَم اَهاَيْحَا … whosoever killed a person—unless it be for killing a per- son or for creating disorder in the land—it shall be as if he killed all mankind… ( S u rah al-M a ’idah, 5:33) َبِتُك ُمُكْيَلَع ُلاَتِقْلا َو َوُه ٌهْرُك ْمُكَّل Fighting is ordained for you, though it is repugnant to you… ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:217) َو اَل اْوُلْوُقَت ْنَمِل ىٰۤقْلَا ُمُكْيَلِا َمٰلَّسلا َتْسَل اًنِمْؤُم … and say not to anyone who greets you with the greeting of peace, ‘Thou art not a believer’. … ( S u rah an-Nis a’ , 4:95)