The True Jihad
Peace in the Quran
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gives a clear injunction on this subject: “And good
and evil deeds are not alike. Repel evil with good.
And he who is your enemy will become your
dearest friend.” (41:33-34) That is to say, Islam
believes in turning one’s enemy into a friend
through peaceful means, instead of declaring him
an enemy and then waging war against him.
Islam does give permission to do battle. But such
permission is given only in the case of an attack by
opponents in spite of the policy of avoidance being
followed by the Muslims, thus creating a situation
where self-defence is required. The Quran has this
to say: “Permission to take up arms is hereby given
to those who are attacked because they have been
wronged” (22:38). At another place the Quran gives
a valid reason for fighting: “They were the first to
attack you” (9:13).
This shows that according to the teachings of Islam,
war is to be waged not against the enemy but
against the aggressor. If Muslims hold someone to
be their enemy, that does not give them the right to
attack him. The one and only right given to them is
to convey the peaceful message of Islam. Islam
