Strategies of the Islamic Government in International Relations and of War and Peace

JihÁd, a holy war for the cause of Allah, as being one of the jurisprudential ramifications, has been subject to debates among Muslim scholars. Muslim jurisprudents have divided this type of jihÁd in into two types: defensive jihÁd and initiative jihÁd (al jihÁd al 'ibtidÁi (a case when fighting is initiated by Muslims). From the perspective of strategy and foreign policy of the Islamic government, this article studies the Qur’Ánic foundations of initiative war in the light of transmitted life-story of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) and the QurÞÁnic teachings. The findings show that according to the arguments based on the Holy Qur’an and the life-style of the Prophet Muhammad, the Islamic strategy in the field of international relations is grounded on peace not on war and accordingly the Holy Qur’an orders Muslim to immediately make peace if the enemy ceases its hostility.