Peace and the Limits of War: Transcending the Classical Conception of Jihad - Louay M. Safi

Islam is a religion of peace. This fact is borne by both Islamic teachings and the very name of "Islam." Islam, on the other hand, permits its followers to resort to armed struggle to repel military aggression, and indeed urge them to fight oppression, brutality, and injustice. The Qur'anic term for such a struggle is jihad. Yet for many in the West, jihad is nothing less or more than a holy war, i.e. a war to enforce one's religious beliefs on others. Is Islam a religion of peace, moderation, and tolerance, or is it one that directs its followers to kill infidels, encourages forced conversion, and intimidates the followers of other faiths? This monograph addresses this question.