The Quranic Concept of War

Army War College Journal Parameters ^ | 10 January 2006 | Joseph C. Myers

[MaximusRules]

The Quranic Concept of War, by Brigadier General S. K. Malik of the Pakistani Army provides readers with unequalled insight. Originally published in Pakistan in 1979, most available copies are found in India, or in small non-descript Muslim bookstores. One major point to ponder, when thinking about The Quranic Concept of War, is the title itself. The Quran is presumed to be the revealed word of God as spoken through his chosen prophet, Mohammed. According to Malik, the Quran places warfighting doctrine and its theory in a much different category than western thinkers are accustomed to, because it is not a theory of war derived by man, but of God. This is God’s warfighting principles and commandments revealed. ... The Quranic approach to war is “infinitely supreme and effective . . . [and] points towards the realization of universal peace and justice . . .

...Malik uses examples to demonstrate that Allah will strike “terror into the hearts of Unbelievers.” At this point he begins to develop his most controversial and conjectural Quranic theory related to warfare—the role of terror. Readers need to understand that the author is thinking and writing in strategic terms, not in the vernacular of battles or engagements. Malik continues, “when God wishes to impose His will on his enemies, He chooses to do so by casting terror into their hearts.” . . . . Malik’s strategic synthesis is specific: “the Quranic military strategy thus enjoins us to prepare ourselves for war to the utmost in order to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies, known or hidden, while guarding ourselves from being terror-stricken by the enemy.” Terror is an effect; the end-state.

[MaximusRules]

This is must reading, academic but informative...the author takes apart the work for what it is, a jihad treatise that more people need to digest and understand for its implications...The Pakistani general makes clear that the Quran is a warfighting document.

[Red Badger]

I like the Bible Concept of War.......

# Revelation 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

[betsyross1776]

Somebody please, send a copy of the Koran to Joy babar, the elephant, so she can read what the enemy thinks thinks of her and her view period.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Thanks for posting this. I had no idea that this book even existed, but apparently copies can be found at the U.S. Military History Institute In Carlisle, Pennsylvania, at the Library of Congress, and at many other major academic libraries. I'll be sure to take a look at it, and if possible, add it to my own military history library for future reference, and for arguing with all the Liberals I am condemned to deal with everyday at work.

[CarrotAndStick]

Take a look at any Pakistan-based military fora on the internet...almost all of them are about the Koran supposedly predicting Moslem "warriors" always reign supreme over "Hindu" India's military. Most of them cite Koranic verses for the same.


Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia are going to be the biggest collective headaches for many-a-nations soon, if not already.

[navyguy]

ping for later

[FastCoyote]

Wow Maximus, this IS must reading:

“Terror is not a means of imposing decision upon the enemy; it is the decision we wish to impose . . . .” Malik’s divine principal of Islamic warfare may be restated as “strike terror; never feel terror.” The ultimate objective of this form of warfare “revolves around the human heart, [the enemies] soul, spirit, and Faith.”56 Terror “can be instilled only if the opponent’s Faith is destroyed . . . . It is essential in the ultimate analysis, to dislocate [the enemies] Faith.” Those who are firm in their religious conviction are immune to terror, “a weak Faith offers inroads to terror.” Therefore, as part of preparations for jihad, actions will be oriented on weakening the non-Islamic’s “Faith,” while strengthening the Islamic’s. What that weakening or “dislocation” entails in practice remains ambiguous. Malik concludes, “Psychological dislocation is temporary; spiritual dislocation is permanent.” The soul of man can only be touched by terror.57

[PGalt]

Thanks very much for posting. Bump for later read.

[BuffaloJack]

save for later

[Valin]

Bump for later

[Lorianne]

Very useful. Thanks for posting this.

[adorno]

“when God wishes to impose His will on his enemies, He chooses to do so by casting terror into their hearts.”

Isn't that the classic description of how the devil works?

[tarheelswamprat]

“Terror is not a means of imposing decision upon the enemy; it is the decision we wish to impose . . . .”

All totalitarian ideologies share similarities of method and goals. Here's the socialist version of Malik's dictum:

"Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power." - George Orwell [Eric Blair] (1903-1950) "1984"

[Rurudyne]

Dr. Antulio Echevarria recently argued the US military does not have a doctrine for war as much as it has a doctrine for operations and battles.5 The military has a deficit of strategic, and, one could add, philosophic thinking.

This is likely the result of the idiotic decision to change the name of the centralized military authority from "The War Department" to "The Department of Defense."

The whole expectation of our current political system is that a military exist to do what the politicians demand of it except actually win wars. It is almost as if the Roman Legions were disarmed yet retained to construct public works.

No, wait ... that is actually a better description of all of the unconstitutional things our federal government does. My bad!

[weegee]

Won't do any good. The Imam will just say that you must learn arabic to TRULY understand those passages in the Koran. Seems I can see how those who DO read arabic interpret and act on those passages just fine.

[PGalt]

Outstanding. Valuable. One of the greatest articles ever posted on FreeRepublic. Thanks.

MUST READ.

[Gondring]

I like the Bible Concept of War.......

# Revelation 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Deuteronomy 2:33-35:
"³³And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.
³⁴And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, every city, we left none to remain:
³⁵Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took."

[jan in Colorado]

Allah will strike “terror into the hearts of Unbelievers.”

Thanks for posting this article.

Must read ping!

[Fred Nerks]

“The universalism of Islam, in its all-embracing creed, is imposed on the believers as a continuous process of warfare, psychological and political, if not strictly military. . . . The Jihad, accordingly, may be stated as a doctrine of a permanent state of war, not continuous fighting.”2

— Majid Khadduri

Unlike your quote from the Original Testament, Gondring, which is the history of a people in the past-tense. There are no Jews taking cattle as prey for themselves or smoting, pillaging, looting, destroying cities...that I know of. Only islam relives it's own violent 7th century - every day of the week...as if there's no tomorrow, and that's why islam has no future, IMO.

[backtothestreets]

Thanks for the Ping Jan!

I've contended for quite some time that there may never be another 9-11 scale attack on our nation because it laid the seeds of terror so that our government now employs restrictions on our own citizens whenever a threat is issued.

FDR spoke across social-political divides when he said "There is nothing to fear, but fear itself". Fear must be conquered, not appeased, not left unchallenged, and never bowed too.

Every threat made against our nation must be recognized as being an equal of the 9-11 attacks from an Islamic perspective, and thus treated, and addressed as an act of war. And we must always remember those that employ fear, know its power because they live in fear themselves. We must learn what they fear most and deliver it upon them. Most often their greatest fear is being physically discovered and receiving due punishment.