War and Peace in Quran
Imam Salih YUCEL
Muslim Chaplain at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Director of Boston Dialogue Foundation
Email: yucels@hotmail.com
syucel@partners.org
• The Arabic words for "war" is "harb"
or "qital" which are found in the
Qur'an and Hadith.
• War is repeated 36 times in
Quran, peace is repeated 67 times
Is Jihad War or Holy war?
"The holy war“ , "al-harbu al-muqaddasatu”
WE CHALLENGE any researcher or scholar
to find the meaning of "jihad" as holy war in
the Qur'an or authentic Hadith collections or
in early Islamic literature.
How war is mentioned in Quran?
a.Explains the history of prophets (Jesus,
Moses, David, Solomon etc.) 9 verses
b.Defines attributes of hypocrites and their
betrayals (12 verses)
c.Related to spoil of war (3 verses)
d.Rules of war (11 verses)
e.Defend the country (4 verses)
War is permitted for defense
Permission (to fight) is given to
those upon whom war is made
because they are oppressed, and
most surely Allah is well able to
assist them (22:39)
Don’t make war with who offers peace
• O you who believe! when you go to war in Allah's
way, make investigation, and do not say to any one
who offers you peace (4:94)
• Allah does not forbid you respecting those who
have not made war against you on account of (your)
religion, and have not driven you forth from your
homes, that you show them kindness and deal with
them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice.
(60.8)
Distorted verses
•But when the forbidden months are past,
then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye
find them, an seize them, beleaguer them,
and lie in wait for them in every stratagem
(of war); but if they repent, and establish
regular prayers and practice regular charity,
then open the way for them: for Allah is Oftforgiving, Most Merciful. (9:5)
Peace in Qur’an
Peace is repeated 67 times in various meanings
1.One of the name of God: Allah is He, the
Source of Peace (and Perfection) (59:23)
2.Salutation from Angels in the heaven
3.Harmony for inner soul :
Wherewith Allah guide all who seek His
good pleasure to ways of peace and safety
(5:16)
4.Greeting each other as Muslims
5.An invitation of God:
And Allah invites to the abode of peace and
guides whom He pleases into the right path.
(10:25)
6. Greeting of Jesus, Abraham, John the
Baptist etc.
7. Supplication of Abraham
Remember Abraham said: "O my Lord!
make this city one of peace and security
(14:35)
8. An agreement between two sides:
O you who believe! When you go to war
in Allah's way, make investigation, and do
not say to any one who offers you peace
(4:94)
The word
King James Bible
American Standard Bible
The Qur’an
1225
1111
36
Peace
356
400
67
Fighting
113
106
52
Destroy:
470
435
41
Slain:
168
114
23
Kill
512
361
29
Sword
404
407
2
Mercy
262
99
202
Merciful
37
11
126
Gracious
34
74
136
War
Peace is the best (4:128)
Recommended web sites :
www.islam-usa.net
www.pearls.org
www.islam101.com