KORAN

KORAN
The following are passages from the Koran, the holiest book in Islam, on war and peace. The numbers listed represent the sura, or chapter, and verse of each passage.
On war: "Permission [to fight] is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah [God] is well able to assist them." (22.39)
"The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His apostle and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement" (5.33)
"O you who believe! When you go to war in Allah's way, make investigation, and do not say to any one who offers you peace: You are not a believer." (4.94)
On peace: "And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in Allah;
surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing." (8.61)
"Except those who reach a people between whom and you there is an alliance, or who come to you, their hearts shrinking from fighting you or fighting their own people; and if Allah had pleased, He would have given them power over you, so that they should have certainly fought you; therefore if they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not given you a way against them." (4.90)
"Peace: a word from a Merciful Lord." (36.58)
Taken from "The Holy Qur'an," translated by M.H. Shakir, published by Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an Inc., in 1983, and posted on the University of Michigan's Humanities Text Initiative Internet site. (www.hti.umich.edu/k/koran/)