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.
