Through Force or Faith? — Page 137
Chapter 2 — Islamic Teachings about Jihad 137 abomination, persecution and oppression. But the Holy Quran strictly prohibits such behaviour and enjoins equity even in the face of extreme enmity. It says: اْوُلِدْعَت١ؕ اْوُلِدْعِا١۫ َوُه ُبَرْقَا ىٰوْقَّتلِل ١ٞ َو اوُقَّتا َهّٰللا١ؕ َّنِا َهّٰللا ٌۢرْيِبَخ اَمِب َنْوُلَمْعَتاَهُّيَاٰۤي َنْيِذَّلا اْوُنَمٰا اْوُنْوُك َنْيِمّٰوَق ِهّٰلِل َءٓاَدَهُش ِطْسِقْلاِب١ٞ َو اَل ْمُكَّنَمِرْجَي ُنٰاَنَش ٍمْوَق ىٰۤلَع اَّلَا O ye who believe! be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bear- ing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just. That is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is Aware of what you do. ( S u rah al-M a ’idah, 5:9) That is, the hostility of your enemies should not interfere with jus- tice. Adhere to justice as righteousness lies in it. Just imagine how hard it would be to be equitable in dealing with those who have persecuted unjustifiably and have caused grief and bloodshed and had hounded and killed children and women, like the infidels of Makkah had done; and, moreover, they did not desist from wars! The Quranic precept does not abandon the rights of even such lethal enemies; and has enjoined equity and justice even for them. It is quite obvious that it is easier to treat the enemy with hospital- ity but it is very difficult to safeguard the rights of the enemy and not to abandon equity and justice in litigation with them while having gained control over them. Discussion of the Verses Pertaining to Warfare Opponents of Islam criticize the Holy Quran that it contains