Peace and Conflict Flashcards
(37 cards)
why is peace important to Muslims?
- Islam teaches that accepting Islam brings inner peace through submitting to the will of Allah.
- the Qur’an teaches Muslims that “an amicable settlement .. is best”
- the hadith says that whenever the Prophet had an option between course of action he always chose the non-confrontational one.
SOW for Muslim attitudes towards peace?
The Qur’an says that God guides good people ‘to ways of peace and safety’
‘war is a deception’
what is the definition for Dar as Salaam?
the house of peace
Muslims believe justice is important part of peacemaking because if a society and its laws are unjust:
- people will campaign against them, which will lead to trouble in society
-people may start a civil war ( e.g in Syria where the Sunni Muslims began a civil war because they thought the Alawi Assad laws were treating them unfairly)
What is the definition for Alawi?
A Twelver Shi’a group which is part of the ruling group in Syria
Why do Muslims believe forgiveness and reconciliation are important in peacemaking?
- God is compassionate and merciful to sinners, and so Muslims should be merciful and forgiving to those who cause them offence
-Muslims cannot ask for God’s forgiveness on the Day of Judgement if they are not prepared to forgive
-The Qur’an says that Muslims should forgive other people’s sins against them
What is Ahmadiyya?
a Muslim sect founded in Pakistan that is against war
What is reconciliation
bringing together people who were opposed to each other
How do the Ahmadiyya work for peace?
- having the motto ‘love for all, hatred for none’ on all their publications
-holding an annual peace symposium about how Islam could come together with other religions and tackle the causes of war and terrorism
what is prophetic jihad?
jihad as understood and practiced by the Prophet Muhammad
SOW for the role of Muslims in peacemaking
- The Qur’an says that Muslims are a single brotherhood who should make peace and reconciliation whenever there are quarrels
What problems do War and conflict cause?
- death and injury - example: there have been 400,000 deaths in Syrian civil war.
- refugees the UNHCR is currently looking after more than 16 million refugees
- economic problems - wars disrupt the economy of the countries
what are common reasons for wars to occur?
- religion - differences in religion often lead to war.
- Nationalism/ethnicity - one form of nationalism is when different ethnic groups think they should have their own country because they have a different culture.
- resources - conflict can occur when one country has resources another country want or needs such as water or oil.
Muslim responses to the causes of war:
most Muslims believe that if a war is just the a Muslim must fight in it.
However, Muslims should not fight in wars because:
- where they could be classed as the aggressor
- where resources are being taken from someone else
- that are forcing another country or people to become Muslim
Atheist and Humanists responses to the causes of war:
Most humanists believe that w good way to end wars is to get rid of religion. They believe that challenging religious leaders and believers can help to bring peace.
Many Humanists are pacifists as would not fight in wars.
SOW for attitudes to conflict
The Qur’an says that Muslims must fight in self-defence, but should keep to God’s rules for fighting wars.
- there is a hadith which says that Muhammad said . ‘War is deception’
What is pacifism?
Pacifism is opposition to war, militarism and violence.
what is passive resistance?
non-violent opposition to authority.
why would most Muslims would not agree with passive resistance?
- the Qur’an encourages all Muslims to ‘struggle in the way of Islam’ and the Arabic word for struggle is jihad, which is often translated as ‘fight’
- there is no idea of pacificism or turning the other cheek in Islam
-the Qur’an says that if Muslims are attacked, they must fight back
where is there examples of passive resistance in Islam?
- Moses and Aaron refused to fight the Israelites who had rebelled against God and instead separated themselves from them.
- Surah 23 says that Muslims should fight evil with good
- the democratic movements in the Middle East in 2011 were based on pacifism and passive resistance
Non-religious attitudes to pacifism:
- Humanists are opposed to war; may are pacifists and have been conscientious objectors during times of war. Humanists also helped to set up the United Nations.
SOW for pacifism
- The Qur’an says that Muslims should repel evil with good.
- Ghaffar Khan claimed that peace and righteousness are the Prophet’s weapons.
What in Islam counts as a Just War?
- is fought for a just cause ( either Islam is being attacked, or people are suffering a great injustice or in self-defence)
- it is a last resort - all possible non-violent methods of solving the problem must have been tried.
-is authorised and led by a Muslim authority
-is fought in such a way as to cause the minimum amount of suffering - ensures that innocent civilians, especially the old, the young and women, are not deliberately attacked
If a war is just then a Muslim must fight in it because:
- the Qur’an says that Muslims must fight if they are attacked
-Muhammad is the great example for Muslims in how to live and he fought in wars - Muhammad made many statements about war which say that Muslims must fight in Just Wars
- The Qur’an says that anyone who dies fighting in a Just War will go straight to heaven
