Violence in Islam

There seems to be growing perception in the Western world that Islam is a violent religion and the Quran teaches violence. The misunderstanding may have arisen due to quotation without context of certain verses of the holy Quran.

The readers may be aware that the Muslims were brutally persecuted in Makkah in their early days and the Prophet and large numbers of his followers had to take refuge in Madinah where they were greeted with respect and affection and the Islamic state was formed. In 10 subsequent years there were three different battles and a peace treaty was signed between the Muslims of Madinah and the idolaters of Makkah. However, the piece treaty was frequently violated by the idolaters of Makkah and at one point a large number of Muslim travelers were mysteriously massacred. The following verses 190-193 of the second chapter Al-Baqarah (The Cow) were then revealed to Prophet Muhammad before he marched on Makkah with nearly a hundred thousand followers.

190. And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not

exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits.

191. And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers.

192. But if they desist, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

193. And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors.

It can be seen that the verses repeatedly warn against exceeding limits and prohibit violence against those who remain peaceful. In fact, the idolators of Makkah surrendered to the Muslims and when the Prophet re-entered Makkah along with his followers not a drop of blood was shed. The idolaters were given general amnesty and were allowed to keep the properties they possessed. The result was that most of them embraced Islam and became Muslims.

Unfortunately, in some translations and explanations of the Holy Quran, these verses have been used to propagate Jihad or armed struggle against the persecution of Muslims without any qualification or reservation.