The True Jihad
Peace in the Quran
~ 34 ~
Quranic
commands to do
battle were
always specific
to particular
sets of
circumstances,
and were not
meant to be
indiscriminately
applied at the
will of
individuals.
Islam, while violent circumstances inevitably result
in antagonism towards Islam.
WAR: A STATE ACTION
In Islam, war is not the
prerogative of the individual but
of an established government.
Only an established government
can declare war. In other words,
individuals can pray on their
own, but they cannot wage wars
of their own accord. Only when
a war is declared by the ruling
government, can the public join
in and support it, and not before
that. Islam does not sanction
individual actions on this issue.
As a general principle, the
Quran tells us that, even where
an external attack is feared, the
common man should not act independently, but
should take the matter to the ruler, then under his
guidance take proper counter measures. (4:83).
