Islam Chapter 4: Peace and Conflict - 4.3 Conflict

Question 1

Conflict

Answer 1

A serious disagreement that may lead to disunity and war

Question 2

What factors can cause conflict on a larger scale?

Answer 2

-Politics and ideology - holding different views about what set of policies or ideas a country should follow or be governed by, E.g the Korean War

• Nationalism and ethnicity - believing that one particular ethnic group or culture is superior to another, E.g the Kosovo War
• Religion - defending adherents of a particular faith from an attack, or when religious beliefs clash, for example Sunni and Shi’a Muslims fighting in Iraq.

-Economics: wanting resources that another country has, such as water or oil - often plays a role in aggravating conflicts.

Question 3

There is no _____ in most of their _____ talk, only in commanding _____, or good, or _____ between people. To anyone who does these things, seeking to please ____, We shall give a rich reward (Qur’an, Surah 4: 114)

What does this teach about meetings and conferences that seek to achieve peace and avoid conflict?

Answer 3

There is no good in most of their secret talk, only in commanding charity, or good, or reconciliation between people. To anyone who does these things, seeking to please God, We shall give a rich reward (Qur’an, Surah 4: 114)

They are blessed by Allah

Question 4

‘Remember God’s _____ to you: you were _____ and then He brought your _____ together’ Surah 3:103

What does this teach muslims?

Answer 4

‘Remember God’s favour to you: you were enemies and then He brought your hearts together’ Surah 3:103

This teaches Muslims that if people are pure of heart and strive to put their differences aside, God will unite them.

Question 5

When is war permissible?

Include relevant quotes

Link to situation ethics?

Answer 5

If all efforts to reach peace have failed, then war is permissible - but only under very strict conditions.

‘Fight in God’s cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits: God does not love those who overstep the limits’ Surah 2: 190-194)

‘If you [believers] have to respond to an attack, make your response proportionate’
(Qur’an, Surah 16: 126)

Situation ethics do not have an absolute rule on whether conflicts are acceptable. They would consider what is the most loving and useful thing to do in each situation, and whether going to war would serve the interests of society as a whole

Question 6

What are non-religious attitudes about religion as a cause of conflict?

Answer 6

Many non-religious people say that wars based on religion cannot be justified.

This is because no conflict can ever be ‘holy’ or be fought on the basis of a belief in a supernatural being who instructs believers to kill others.

It also challenges the idea of a loving and all-powerful God:

Question 7

What are Muslims responses to non-religious attitudes about religion as a cause of conflict?

Answer 7

• Most Muslims believe that the wars fought by the Prophet Muhammad were in self-defence, and to achieve peace.
• They also say it is unfair to blame genocides and bloodshed on God, when these are the result of misusing free will (al-Qadr) bad choices by humans or misguided interpretations of some teachings.

-Muslims argue that most of the wars that have occurred throughout history have had nothing to do with religious beliefs