Muslim Beliefs about Peace and Conflict » Just War and Weapons of Mass Destruction: Muslim Views

Just War theory: a quick recall

Just War Theory, Holy War and Passive Resistance explained that Just War theory is a set of tests for deciding when a war is right and how it must be fought. It grew from the ideas of Christian thinkers such as Augustine and Thomas Aquinas and is now used by religious and non-religious people. Its importance is that it tries to limit war, so that fighting is the exception and the innocent are protected. Muslim scholars do not use the name "Just War theory" in the same way, but Islam has its own teachings that match its conditions closely.

Key terms:

• Non-combatant: a person who is not fighting, such as a child, an older person or a worshipper.
• Deterrent (recap from Punishment: Aims and Types): a weapon kept to put others off attacking, not to be used.

Muslim rules for the lesser jihad

Muslim Attitudes to Conflict, Jihad and Holy War taught that the lesser jihad is armed struggle in defence, under strict rules, and that Qur'an 2:190 tells believers not to go beyond the limits. Put the rules next to the Just War conditions and the match is clear.

• Proper leader: a person cannot declare armed jihad alone. Sunni scholars have traditionally looked to a legitimate ruler, and Shi'a scholars have traditionally looked to the Imams, the leaders Shi'a Muslims follow after the Prophet. Both agree that people may defend themselves when attacked.
• Just cause: defence against attack, or helping people who are being wronged. Qur'an 2:256 means that spreading Islam by force is never a cause.
• Last resort: war is allowed when peaceful means have failed, because Qur'an 5:32 teaches that every life is precious.
• Right conduct: early leaders are reported to have told armies not to harm women, children, older people or worshippers, and not to destroy crops, trees or animals.
• Stopping: Qur'an 8:61 says that if the enemy inclines to peace, believers should incline to it too.

Is a Just War possible?

Muslims who say yes argue that Islam does not ask believers to stand by while people are attacked, so a war that meets these rules is justified. They add that the rules are a safeguard: if a war does not follow them, it is not a lesser jihad.

Others are more cautious. Modern war is fast and uses powerful weapons, so it is very hard to protect civilians or to keep to proportionate force. Both sides usually say that they are defending themselves, so deciding who has the just cause is not simple. A few Muslims, and many non-religious people, are pacifists who say that talking is always better. Most Muslims reply that Islam teaches peace as the aim, but allows defence as a last resort.

Weapons of mass destruction

Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism described nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, which can kill huge numbers of people at once. Think about them against the rules above.

Muslim attitudes to the use of WMD

Most Muslim scholars say that using WMD cannot keep the rule of protecting the innocent. Such weapons kill non-combatants, destroy crops and land, and go "beyond the limits" of Qur'an 2:190. They are also against Qur'an 5:32, which says that killing one innocent person is like killing all humankind. For these reasons many Muslims say that using them can never be a lesser jihad.

Not all Muslims think alike about owning them. Some accept WMD as a deterrent only, never to be used, and point to Qur'an 8:60, which speaks of preparing strength so that enemies are put off from attacking. Others say that even holding them threatens the innocent and that Muslims should work for disarmament instead.

Atheist and Humanist attitudes

Atheists do not believe in God, so they have no scripture to follow. Humanists base their views on reason, human welfare and the idea that this life is the only one. Most Humanists and many atheists oppose using WMD because of the huge suffering and the damage to the planet. Some accept a deterrent as a practical argument, but they judge it by its results for people, not by a holy text.

Exam-style question

Paper 1 style. Choose one religion and answer for Islam.

(a) Identify three conditions that Muslims say must be met for a war to be a lesser jihad. [3 marks, AO1]

(b) Choose one religion. Outline two Muslim attitudes to the use of weapons of mass destruction. [4 marks, AO1]

(c) Choose one religion. Explain why Muslims believe that a war must be fought within limits. [6 marks, AO1, AO2]

(d) "Weapons of mass destruction can never be justified." Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks, AO1, AO2]