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"Allah Does Not Love the Aggressors"

This Rock Volume 19, Number 4   April 2008     Reasons for Hope By Cherie Peacock   Letters   Christians in Islamic Lands:Part One By Matthew E. Bunson   "Allah Does Not Love the Aggressors"   Sura 9:29   In Islam, No Distinction Between Church and State   Restrictions on Dhimmis in Islamic Countries   Further Reading   Does the Church Have too Many Secrets? By Russell Shaw   Not Just a Catholic Problem   Further Reading   Don’t You Want More (Not Just Mere) Christianity? By Fr. Dwight Longenecker   Determined to Deny Your Freedom By Peter A. Kwasniewski   Theological Determinism   Further Reading   Man Needs Hope to Live By Christopher Kaczor   The Slave Who Said "My Life Is Good"   Damascus Road The Narrow Gate Beckons By Jill Sebastian   By the Book Every Word That Comes from the Mouth of God By Jim Blackburn   Eyes to See The Still Approach of Eternity By Michael Schrauzer   Truth be Told The Pope Who Outlasted a Tyrant By Matthew E. Bunson   Quick Questions   Last Writes By Karl Keating    Subscribe    Permissions

Muslim apologists stress that jihad has long been misunderstood and misrepresented. First, they argue that jihad means chiefly the inner struggle, an ascetical undertaking advocated by the Prophet Mohammed. This, they term the Greater Jihad. Second, they argue that jihad is used only defensively, to protect Islam, safeguard the da’wah (following Mohammed’s own example in the proclamation of the faith), or to resist attacks by unbelievers and infidels. This Lesser Jihad is cited as defensive on the basis of sura 2:190-191: "Fight for the sake of Allah those that fight you, but do not attack them first. Allah does not love the aggressors. Slay them wherever you find them. Drive them out of the places from which they drove you."

The major Sunni legal schools of Hanafi, Malaki, and Hanbali all decree that such a jihad should be waged only in defense and to prevent an attack. However, the Shafi’i school of jurisprudence disagrees and calls for an offensive jihad that must continue until there are no more unbelievers. Equally, there is the aspect of interpreting what constitutes a defensive war.