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[60:8] GOD does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves the equitable.
[60:9] GOD enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors.
We can see very clearly that the underlying principle of war is to curb and eradicate oppression, whenever and wherever it arises in the cause and way of God. It is not confined to war only when one is personally subjected to oppression, but it is incumbent upon all believers to help smother oppression wherever it is perpetrated. There is so much emphasis on this command that one should ponder the strong words used in condemning oppressors.
[4:75] Why should you not fight in the cause of GOD when weak men, women, and children are imploring: "Our Lord, deliver us from this community whose people are oppressive, and be You our Lord and Master."
Believers could fight when they are forced out of the land.
[22:39] Permission is granted to those who are being persecuted, since injustice has befallen them, and GOD is certainly able to support them.
[22:40] They were evicted from their homes unjustly, for no reason other than saying, "Our Lord is GOD."
If it were not for GOD's supporting of some people against others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and masjids—where the name of GOD is commemorated frequently—would have been destroyed. Absolutely, GOD supports those who support Him. GOD is Powerful, Almighty.
Despotism and repression must be resisted with full force. Short of initiating aggression, believers are directed to eliminate oppression with everything under their command. This is because God does not love the oppressors. What is the meaning of the word oppression? It is the creation of disorder, the act of subjugating by cruelty, the state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority, to be repressed, subjugated, subdued, where there is coercion, cruelty, tyranny, intimidation, viciousness and brutality.
Killing is not permitted except in the course of justice for God has made life sacred.
[17:33] You shall not kill any person—for GOD has made life sacred—except in the course of justice. If one is killed unjustly, then we give his heir authority to enforce justice. Thus, he shall not exceed the limits in avenging the murder; he will be helped.
[5:32] Because of this, we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people. Our messengers went to them with clear proofs and revelations, but most of them, after all this, are still transgressing.
We are instructed in the Quran in explicit words that all acts of war must cease without delay if the enemies want peace and pledge to end all persecution and oppression and sincerely undertake to abide by their oaths and covenants.
[2:193] You may also fight them to eliminate oppression, and to worship GOD freely. If they refrain, you shall not aggress; aggression is permitted only against the aggressors.
[8:39] You shall fight them to ward off oppression, and to practice your religion devoted to GOD alone. If they refrain from aggression, then GOD is fully Seer of everything they do.
[8:61] If they resort to peace, so shall you, and put your trust in GOD. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
The issue of deterrence has also been discussed in the Quran. We are told that we must keep ourselves well prepared and avail ourselves of all sources of strength so that the enemy should, because of our preparedness, assume a peaceful attitude.
[8:60] You shall prepare for them all the power you can muster, and all the equipment you can mobilize, that you may frighten the enemies of GOD, your enemies, as well as others who are not known to you; GOD knows them. Whatever you spend in the cause of GOD will be repaid to you generously, without the least injustice.
From this verse it is clearly mentioned that we should be ready for hostility not for the sake of starting it but to keep the enemy from disturbing the peace.
War has not been mentioned even once in the Quran when it comes to the propagation of faith. Otherwise, Sura 109 - The Disbelievers (Al Kaaferoon) would never have been revealed. The Holy Quran strictly prohibited conversion by force by stating that there is no compulsion in religion
[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.
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