Critique of the Orientalists’ Objection Regarding Violence in the Qur’anic Verses on Jihad
Document Type : Original Article
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Abstract
Jihad is one of the subsidiary rulings (furūʿ) of Islam, which was made obligatory in Medina, and the Qur’an strongly emphasized it. Orientalists have accused the Qur’an of being a book of violence, ignoring its true philosophy and spiritual context. The aim of this research is to respond to the Orientalists’ misconception that violence is inherent in jihad. The research method is analytical, descriptive, and critical. It seeks to present a response in the light of the objectives of Islam and Qur’anic concepts. The findings indicate that the fundamental objectives of Islam are based on peace and security. Historical examples such as the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and the Conquest of Mecca testify that jihad in Islam possesses a defensive dimension. Moreover, the temporal and spatial circumstances (zamān wa makān) reflected in the injunctions of jihad further affirm the peace-oriented nature of Islam.
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