The Quran promotes peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue
and negotiation. In Surah Al-Anfal, it states:
"And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing" [8:61].
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) signed several peace treaties with non-Muslims during his lifetime.
The Treaty of Medina, also known as the Constitution of Medina, was a historic document signed in the year 622 CE between Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Muslims of Medina, and several Jewish tribes and their allies. It was signed just after the Hijra, the migration of Muslims from Makkah to Medina.
The treaty established a new society in Medina based on principles of justice, cooperation, and mutual respect. It recognized Muslims as a separate community with their own rights and responsibilities and provided for the protection of both Muslims and Jews living in Medina. The treaty also established rules for resolving disputes and protecting the community from outside threats.
The Treaty of Medina is considered a groundbreaking document in the history of Islam, as it established a new model of governance based on cooperation and tolerance between different religious communities. It also paved the way for the expansion of Islam beyond Medina and the Arabian Peninsula.
The treaty demonstrates the importance of building strong relationships between different communities based on mutual respect and cooperation. It also highlights the importance of upholding principles of justice and fairness in all interactions, even between communities with different beliefs and practices.
One of the most well-known of peace treaties was the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, which was signed between the Muslims of Medina and the pagans of Makkah in 628 CE. The treaty was negotiated after the Muslims had attempted to perform the Umrah pilgrimage to Makkah but were prevented from doing so by the nonbelievers. The treaty included provisions for a 10-year ceasefire, during which time both sides agreed not to engage in hostilities, and also provided for peaceful relations between the two communities.
The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was a
significant turning point in the early history of Islam, as it helped to
establish a framework for peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims.
It also allowed the Muslims to focus on building their community and spreading
the message of Islam without the constant threat of attack from their enemies.
While the treaty was initially seen as a victory for the pagans, who had prevented the Muslims from performing the Umrah, it ultimately proved to be a significant boon for the Muslims. The treaty allowed the Muslims to focus on consolidating their power in Medina and building their community, without having to worry about the constant threat of attack from the pagans.
In addition to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah,
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) signed several other peace treaties with
non-Muslims during his lifetime. These included the Treaty of Aqaba, which was
signed with the people of Yathrib (later known as Medina) before the Hijra, and
the Treaty of Khaybar, which was signed with the Jewish tribe of Khaybar after
the Muslims had conquered their territory.
These peace
treaties demonstrate the importance that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
placed on peaceful coexistence and the resolution of conflicts through
negotiation and diplomacy, even in the midst of war and conflict.
When the nonbelievers of Makkah violated the Treaty of Hudaybiyayh, the
following verses were revealed:
This is a discharge from all obligations, by Allah and His Messenger, to the polytheists you ˹believers˺ have entered into treaties with: “You
˹polytheists˺ may travel freely through the land for four months, but know that
you will have no escape from Allah and that Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.” A declaration from Allah and His Messenger is made to all people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that Allah and His Messenger are free of polytheists. So if you ˹pagans˺ repent, it will be better for you. But if you
turn away, then know that you will have no escape from Allah. And give good
news ˹O Prophet˺ to the disbelievers of a painful punishment. As for the
polytheists who have honoured every term of their treaty with you and have not
supported an enemy against you, honour your treaty with them until the end of
its term. Surely Allah loves those who are mindful ˹of Him˺. But once
the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists ˹who violated their
treaties˺ wherever you find them, capture them, besiege them, and
lie in wait for them on every way. But if they repent, perform prayers, and pay
Zakat, then set them free. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Al-Tawbah, 1-5]
This is the Quranic narrative that is
often criticized by the opponents of Islam. They take this narrative out of
context and claim that the Quran commands Muslims to kill non-Muslims wherever
they are. Based on this narrative they claim that the Quran teaches violence
against nonbelievers.
During the time of
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Muslims
were engaged in a series of
conflicts with the pagan tribes of Arabia. The pagans were often hostile
towards the Muslims and had broken their treaties with them on several
occasions. The verse we mentioned is one of several verses in the Quran that
were revealed to address the situation at that time.
The last verse
mentions a number of options regarding the polytheists who oppressed the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions, expelled them from
their houses at Makkah, and left them no way except to migrate to a safe place.
Further, they launched a war against the Prophet (peace be upon him) and broke
the covenant.
Moreover, these
verses were revealed in the last month of the 9th year of Hijrah, after the Conquest of Makkah, just 14 months before Prophet’s death, while the majority of
people had accepted Islam in response to Prophet’s Dawah. Actually, this
declaration merely aimed to threaten the rest of the pagans who rebelled and challenged
the writ of the Muslim state. Still killing these rebellions was not the only
option, rather capturing, besieging, or letting them accept Islam voluntarily,
were other options. So the opponents of Islam misinterpret these verses to
raise allegations against Muslims.
Hence, claiming that
these verses forced non-Muslims to accept Islam on the point of a sword is nothing but denying the sound
facts. Even these verses don’t support this misleading propaganda literally.
Everyone who knows the context and has the ability to understand a text would
deny this false propaganda
It is important
to understand that some of the Quranic narrative like many religious texts, is a complex and
nuanced document that cannot be reduced to simple black-and-white
interpretations. While there are certain verses in the Quran that speak about
the use of force in certain situations, it is important to understand these
verses in their historical and cultural context.
Many scholars of Islam believe that
the imperatives to fight and kill mentioned in the Quran were specific to the
historical context in which they were revealed, namely the early battles that
the Muslims fought against the pagan tribes of Arabia. These battles were often
fought in self-defense, and the Muslims were facing persecution and oppression
at the hands of the pagans. Quran relates several accounts of the battles
between Muslims and Arab pagans, but it is surprising that Quran did not use
the word ‘sword’ even a single time.
At the same time, it is important to
note that the Quran also emphasizes the importance of peace, justice, and
mercy, and encourages Muslims to seek peaceful solutions to conflicts whenever
possible. The Quran teaches that killing a single innocent person is equivalent
to killing all of humanity and that Muslims should always strive to be just
and compassionate.
Overall, it is
important to approach the Quran with a nuanced and balanced perspective, taking
into account both the historical context in which it was revealed and the
timeless principles of justice, mercy, and compassion that it espouses. While
there are certain verses in the Quran that speak about the use of force in
certain situations, these verses should be understood within the larger context
of the Quranic message of peace, justice, and compassion.
