Is it permissible to declare war against a non-Muslim country without any reason?

- Is it permissible for a Muslim state to declare war against a non-Muslim state though its leader is not an oppressor and its people are happy?

Dear Brother / Sister,

- War is not essential in Islam. There are two important reasons for war:

First: To defend the country against an attack. Most of the wars in the Era of Bliss were like that.

Second: War can be made against those who prevent the duty of proclamation (conveying the divine message to people). For, it is a great duty in Islam to convey Allah’s message to people. The attitude of those who prevent this duty means an implied attack against Islam and Muslims though it is indirect.

- Today, if there are people who object to people’s learning about the realities of Islam and who violate their rights of learning, necessary things are done to eliminate this obstacle – if the circumstances are suitable.  

However, the means of communication have exceeded the formal permissions of states today. Modern means of communication have virtually eliminated the borders. Therefore, the second reason seems to have ended virtually.   

To sum up, we think it is contrary to the spirit of Islam to make war against the states that do not oppress their people and that do not violate their rights of learning including learning Islam.

- The following statements of Badiuzzaman Said Nursi shed light on the issue:  

“...The regulation of this union is the Sunnah of the Prophet and the constitution of it is the divine commands and prohibitions. And its swords are clear evidences. For, defeating civilized people is through persuasion, not through force. The truth is searched through love. Enmity was against savagery and bigotry. The aim of them was the exaltation of Allah’s word. Ninety-nine percent of shari’ah is related to ethics, worship, the hereafter and virtues.” (Divan-ı Harb-i Örfi, p. 20)

“Every believer is responsible for the exaltation of Allah’s word. The most important way of it today is through material advancement. For, foreigners crush us with their spiritual tranny through their weapons of science and industry. We will make jihad with the weapon of science and art against ignorance, poverty and disagreement of opinions, which are the terrible enemy of the exaltation of Allah’s word. However, we will refer the external jihad to the diamond swords of the clear evidences of the luminous shari’ah.” (Divan-ı Harb-i Örfi , p. 57)

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