On Peace and Warfare

One of the most widely discussed issues that is often misunderstood is the Quranic perspective on peace and warfare. Although some of our previous publications have addressed certain aspects of these concepts — in particular Body Count (pdf), a quantatative study on all major wars and killings, and Jihad and the Islamic Law of War (pdf) which clarifies the classical positions on the conduct of war according to Islamic law — our other two new books deal with the higher discussions of what exactly is ‘peace’ and how the Quranic verses regarding warfare have been understood in the Islamic tradition.


Islam and Peace
Author: Dr Ibrahim Kalin
Language: English
Pages: 72
Summary: This book analyzes the ways in which the Islamic tradition can be said to advocate an active, positive concept of peace. Dr Kalin makes a clear case for analyzing the Islamic perspective on peace and violence from a wholistic approach of readings (i.e. the multitude of scholars, jurists, philosophers, mystics, political leaders, and various Muslim communities that have shaped the Islamic tradition). He ends with a challenge to Muslim societies to not only deal with the urgent issues of peace, religious diversity and social justice from this vast Islamic tradition but to also contribute to a global culture of peace.
Free PDF Download: is available here: English.


Warfare in the Qur’an
Author: Dr Joel Hayward
Language: English
Pages: 56
Summary: Dr Hayward analyses the Qur’anic verses pertaining to warfare and explains what it actually requires or permits Muslims to do in terms of the use of military force. The paper concludes that the Qur’an is quite unambiguous: Muslims are prohibited from undertaking offensive violence unless it becomes unavoidable and even then must behave within a code of ethical behaviour that is closely akin to, and compatible with, the Just War doctrine.
Free PDF Download: is available here: English.