Pacifism and Just War Theory
Is it ever right to fight? Muslims range from pacifists who oppose all violence to those who accept a just war under strict conditions. Weigh up both views, and a non-religious one too.
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Is it ever right to fight?
Is it ever right to go to war? Muslims hold a range of views. Some are pacifists, opposing all violence. Others accept a just war, but only if strict conditions are met. This module explores both views, and how Islam and others weigh them up.
Just war words
Four ideas run through this topic:
What is pacifism?
What does a pacifist believe?
- Violence is always wrong and disputes should be settled peacefully
- War should be fought whenever possible
- Fighting is good for gaining land
- Conflict should always be ignored
Two views on war
Muslims and others weigh up war in different ways.
Just war rules
- A just cause
- Proper authority
- A last resort
- Right intention
- There must be a genuinely good reason, such as self-defence
- A war must be declared by a proper leader, not one person
- Fighting only after all peaceful options have failed
- The aim must be to restore peace, not revenge or gain
Pacifism in Islam
Some Muslims are pacifists. In Surah 5, when one of the two sons of Adam is threatened by his brother, he says he will not raise his hand in return, because he fears Allah. Pacifists read this as support for non-violence, and some point to peaceful protest, such as parts of the Arab Spring, as a way to seek change without war.
When is war just?
Which THREE are conditions for a just war?
- There is a just cause, such as self-defence
- It is a last resort
- The response is proportionate, not excessive
- It is fought to gain land and wealth
- A leader may start it at any time
Whose view?
- A pacifist
- A just-war supporter
- The lesser jihad
- A non-religious view
- Opposes all violence and uses peaceful resistance
- Accepts war only if strict conditions are met
- An outward struggle in defence, kept within strict limits
- Judges each war by its causes and its harm, not by religion
Is this war just?
Put the checks for a just war in a sensible order.
- Check there is a just cause
- Check a proper authority has declared it
- Check that war is a last resort
- Check the response is proportionate
- Check the aim is to restore peace
Complete the idea
A _____ believes that violence is always wrong and that disputes should be settled peacefully. Others accept a just war, but only if strict _____ are met, such as fighting as a _____ resort. Islam allows the lesser jihad, an outward struggle in _____ kept within strict limits. Because people disagree about whether a truly just war is possible today, views _____.
True or not?
Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE about pacifism and just war.
- A pacifist opposes all violence and prefers peaceful means.
- A just war must be a last resort with a good reason.
- A just war can be started for any reason at all.
- All Muslims believe war is always forbidden.
- The lesser jihad has no limits or conditions.
Last resort?
What does it mean that a just war must be a last resort?
- It is fought only after all peaceful options have failed
- It should be the first response to any dispute
- It should be started as quickly as possible
- It can never be fought under any circumstances
Just or not?
Use just war and pacifism to answer each question.
- A country is attacked without warning and defends itself. Which just-war condition does this meet?
- A Muslim pacifist is asked how to respond to a conflict. What might they suggest?
- Someone argues that modern weapons cause too much harm for any war to be just. What is this?
War and peace
Explain Muslim views on pacifism and just war, and give one non-religious view on war.
- Explain what a pacifist believes
- Give two conditions for a just war
- Explain how the lesser jihad is limited
- Give one non-religious view on war