Declaration of war Quote by Robert Spencer
““But even if that were true, the key phrase “begin not hostilities” doesn’t necessarily mean what many Westerners assume or hope it means. The command to fight until “there prevail justice and faith in Allah” suggests there is an aspect to the warfare that is not purely defensive: Muslims must continue the war until Allah’s law prevails over the world, which implies a conflict without end. The passage concludes, “And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah” (2:193). Ibn Ishaq explains that this means that Muslims must fight against unbelievers “until God alone is worshipped.”11 Ibn Kathir also contends that the verse instructs Muslims to fight “so that the religion of Allah becomes dominant above all other religions.”12 Bulandshahri puts it in starker terms: “The worst of sins are Infidelity (Kufr) and Polytheism (shirk) which constitute rebellion against Allah, The Creator. To eradicate these, Muslims are required to wage war until there exists none of it in the world, and the only religion is that of Allah.”13 That bears repeating. “The worst of sins are Infidelity (Kufr) and Polytheism (shirk) which constitute rebellion against Allah, The Creator. To eradicate these, Muslims are required to wage war until there exists none of it in the world, and the only religion is that of Allah.” That’s an open-ended declaration of war against every non-Muslim, in all times and in all places.””
About This Quote
The passage interprets a religious verse as mandating perpetual war until only one faith dominates, suggesting an endless conflict against non‑believers.
In simple terms: It claims a scripture calls for endless war to enforce a single religion.
Recognize how interpretations can fuel extremist ideologies.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- interfaith dialogue
- policy making
- academic research
- peacebuilding
- counter‑radicalization
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this interpretation affect Muslim‑non‑Muslim relations?
- What alternative readings exist within the tradition?
Such readings ignore historical context and diverse scholarly views that emphasize peace and coexistence.