Mahatma Gandhi stated, "I believe in the doctrine of nonviolence as a weapon of the weak. I believe in the doctrine of nonviolence as a weapon of the strongest. I believe that a man is the strongest soldier for daring to die unarmed. "
Allah, on the other hand, had this to say: "O Prophet! urge the believers to war..." (Quran 8:65), "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness" (Quran 9:123), and "Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute (the jizya) readily, being brought low." (Quran 9:29).
Following commands such as these, Muhammad & his merry men did wage war, including once traveling 150 kilometers from Medina to fight the unsuspecting disbelievers of Khaibar, an event described in this Sahih Muslim hadith: "The people of the town had just come out from (their houses) to go about their jobs. They said (in surprise): Muhammad has come. We captured Khaibar by force." (Sahih Muslim, 4437). After all, Allah ordained fighting for the Muslims: "Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not." (Quran 2:216). Though leaving their homes to travel far away to fight others may have been "hateful" to the Muslims, the residents of Khaibar had not yet been brought low, they had not yet paid any tribute, and Allah & Muhammad wanted this payment made.
Debate Questions: Has there been too much fighting between Muslims and nonMuslims throughout history, or too little fighting?
In the future, which path will lead to greater harmony and prosperity in society: God-ordained fighting or nonviolence?
Allah, on the other hand, had this to say: "O Prophet! urge the believers to war..." (Quran 8:65), "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness" (Quran 9:123), and "Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute (the jizya) readily, being brought low." (Quran 9:29).
Following commands such as these, Muhammad & his merry men did wage war, including once traveling 150 kilometers from Medina to fight the unsuspecting disbelievers of Khaibar, an event described in this Sahih Muslim hadith: "The people of the town had just come out from (their houses) to go about their jobs. They said (in surprise): Muhammad has come. We captured Khaibar by force." (Sahih Muslim, 4437). After all, Allah ordained fighting for the Muslims: "Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not." (Quran 2:216). Though leaving their homes to travel far away to fight others may have been "hateful" to the Muslims, the residents of Khaibar had not yet been brought low, they had not yet paid any tribute, and Allah & Muhammad wanted this payment made.
Debate Questions: Has there been too much fighting between Muslims and nonMuslims throughout history, or too little fighting?
In the future, which path will lead to greater harmony and prosperity in society: God-ordained fighting or nonviolence?
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