Peace and conflict (N)

Question 1

Peace

Answer 1

Islam, origin: ‘salaam’ (peace), religion of peace. Definition, absence of oppression, tyranny, injustice, corruption. Links attaining justice. Allah created peaceful world. Jihad, struggle promoting peace. When justice attained, peace comes. Everyone of equal worth/value/support. Forgiveness important, restores peace after conflict.

Question 2

Conflict

Answer 2

Argument breaks relationship. Muslims, resolve conflict, reconcile groups, achieve peace, Allah is merciful (following example), war as last resort, situation ethics. Causes, politics, religion, history, culture, resources, power. Natures, violence (higher rates), war (weapons developing), terrorism (violent protests). Islam, peaceful religion, extremists distorting. Overcoming, informing/educating, peaceful marches, interfaith, communities.

Question 3

Pacifism

Answer 3

Pacifism, war/violence wrong. Islam, not pacifist. Promote peace, forgiveness, reconciliation, last resort permitted. Strive for justice, resist oppression, achieve peace. Non-violent preferred. Historic example, Muhammad defending himself.

Question 4

The ‘Just War’ theory

Answer 4

Just, fought rightly, set principles. Conditions, leader-declared, community-supported, defensive act, not greed, last resort, innocent lives considered. Importance, framework (for decisions), preventative, set conditions. Some, never justified. Shia/Sunni interpretations differ.

Question 5

Holy war

Answer 5

Arabic, ‘Harb al-Maqadis’. Fought religiously. Justified if, protects Muslims or their freedom, strengthens against threats. Conditions, defensive, leader-declared, innocents uninvolved, not greed, fair enemy treatment, stop if enemy surrenders.

Question 6

Weapons of mass destruction

Answer 6

Not in Qur’an. Nuclear, biological, chemical, cause death/depletion. For, minimal losses, deterrent, preventing future death. Against, ethics, innocents killed, unfair war, not ‘Just War’. Islam, against, harms innocent. Impacts Muslims, ummah.