Islam and the question of violence
by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Despite the presence of violence in many regions of the wold ranging
from Ireland to Lebanon to the Pacific Basin and involving many
religions from Christianity to Hinduism, the Western world associates
Islam more than any other religion with violence.
The Muslim conquest of Spain, the Crusades - which were not begun by
Muslims - and the Ottoman domination of eastern Europe have provided a
historical memory of Islam as being related to force and power.
Moreover, the upheavals of the past few decades in the Middle East and
especially movements using the name of Islam and seeking to solve
problems of the Muslim world created by conditions and causes beyond the
control of Muslims have only reinforced the idea prevalent in the West
that in some special way Islam is related to violence.
To understand the nature of Islam and the truth about the assertion
often of Islam's espousal of violence, it is important to analyse this
question clearly remembering that the world islam itself means peace and
that the history of Islam has certainly not been witness to any more
violence than one finds in other civilisations, particularly that of the
West. In what follows, however, it is the Islamic religion in its
principles and ideals with which we are especially concerned and not
particular events or facts relating to the domain of historical
contingency belonging to the unfolding of Islam in the plane of human
history.
First of all, it is necessary to define what we mean by violence.
There are several dictionary definitions that can be taken into account
such as 'swift and intense force', 'rough or injurious physical force or
action', 'unjust or unwarranted exertion of force especially against the
rights of others'. 'rough or immediate vehemence' and finally 'injury
resulting from the distortion of meaning or fact'.
If these definitions are accepted for violence, then the question can
be asked as to how Islam is related to these definitions. As far as
'force' is concerned, Islam is not completely opposed to its use but
rather seeks to control it in the light of the divine Law (al-shari'a).
This world is one in which force is to be found everywhere, in nature as
well as in human society, among men as well as within the human soul.
The goal of Islam is to establish equilibrium amidst this field of
tension of various forces. The Islamic concept of justice itself is
related to equilibrium, the world for justice (al-'adl) in Arabic being
related in its etymology to the world for equilibrium (ta'adul).
All force used under the guidance of the divine law with the aim of
re-establishing an equilibrium that is destroyed is accepted and in fact
necessary, for it means to carry out and establish justice.
Moreover, not to use force in such a way is to fall prey to other
forces which cannot but increase disequilibrium and disorder and result
in greater injustice. Whether the use of force in this manner is swift
and intense or gentle and mild depends upon the circumstances, but in
all cases force can only be used with the aim of establishing
equilibrium and harmony and not for personal or sectarian reasons
identified with the interests of a person or a particular group and not
the whole.
By embracing the 'world' and not shunning the 'kingdom of Caesar',
Islam took upon itself responsibility for the world in which force is
present. But by virtue of the same fact it limited the use of force and
despite all the wars, invasions, and attacks which it experienced. It
was able to create an ambience of peace and tranquillity which can still
be felt whenever something of the traditional Islamic world survives.
The peace that dominates the countryard of a mosque or a garden
whether it be in Marrakesh or Lahore is not accidental but the result of
the control of force with the aim of establishing that harmony which
results from equilibrium of forces, whether those forces be natural,
social or psychological.
As for the meaning of violence as 'rough or injurious physical force
or action', Islamic Law opposes all uses of force in this sense except
in the case of war or for punishment of criminals in accordance with the
shari'a.
Even in war, however, the inflicting or any injury to women and
children is forbidden as is the use of force against civilians. Only
fighters in the field of battle must be confronted with force and it is
only against them that injurious physical force can be used. Inflicting
injuries outside of this context or in the punishment of criminals
according to the dictum of the shari'a and the view of a judge is
completely forbidden by Islamic Law.
As far as violence in the sense of the use of unjust force against
the rights of others and laws is concerned, Islam stands totally opposed
to it. Rights of human beings are defined by Islamic Law and are
protected by this Law which embraces not only Muslims but also followers
of other religions who are considered as 'People of the Book (ahl al-kitab)'.
If there is nevertheless violation in Islamic society, it is due not
to the teachings of Islam but the imperfection of the human recipients
of the Divine Message. Man is man wherever he might be and no religion
can neutralise completely he imperfections inherent in the nature of
fallen man.
What is remarkable, however, is not that some violence in this sense
of the word does exist in Muslim societies, but that despite so many
negative social and economic factors aggravated by the advent of
colonialism, overpopulation, industrialisation, modernisation resulting
in cultural dislocation, and so many other elements, there is less
violence as unjust exertion of force against others in most Islamic
countries than in the industrialised West.
If one understands by violence 'rough or immoderate vehemence'. Then
Islam is totally opposed to it. The perspective of Islam is based upon
moderation and its morality is grounded upon the principle of avoiding
extremes and keeping to the golden mean. Nothing is more alien to the
Islamic perspective than vehemence, not to say immoderate vehemence.
Even if force is to be used, it must be on the basis of moderation.
Finally, if by violence is meant 'distortion of meaning or fact
resulting in injury to others', Islam is completely opposed to it. Islam
is based on the Truth which saves and which finds its supreme expression
in the testimony of the faith, la ilaha illa 'Llah (there is no divinity
but the Divine). Any distortion of truth is against the basic teachings
of the religion even if no one were to be affected by it.
How much more would distortion resulting in injury be against the
teachings of the Qur'an and the tradition of the Prophet!
In conclusion it must be emphasized that since Islam embraces the
whole of life and does not distinguish between the sacred and the
secular, it concerns itself with force and power which characterize this
world as such. But Islam, in controlling the use of force in the
direction of creating equilibrium and harmony, limits it and opposes
violence as aggression to the rights of both God and His creatures as
defined by the divine Law.
The goal of Islam is the attainment of peace but this peace can only
be experienced through that exertion (jihad) and the use of force which
begins with the disciplining of ourselves and leads to living in the
world in accordance with the dicta of the shar'ia. Islam seeks to enable
man to live according to his theomorphic nature and not to violate that
nature. Islam condones the use of force only to the extent of opposing
that centripetal tendency which turns man against what he is in his
inner reality.
The use of force can only be condoned in the sense of undoing the
violation of our own nature and the chaos which has resulted from the
loss of equilibrium. But such a use of force is not in reality violence
as usually understood.
It is the exertion of human will and effort in the direction of
conforming to the Will of God and in surrendering the human will to the
divine Will. From this surrender (taslim) comes peace (salam) hence
islam, and only through this islam can the violence inbred within the
nature of fallen man be controlled and the beast within subdued so that
man lives at peace with himself and the world because he lives at peace
with God. |