Allah Almighty commanded Muslims not to fight except those who wrong them and attack them, and that they should make peace with those who make peace with them and do not attack them. Allah says: “O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 208). Islam dislikes war and discourages it, as Allah says: “Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 216).
Fighting is something that Islam abhors, except in one case: self-defense and repelling aggression. Fighting was not permitted during the early years of Islam, spanning 15 years, and it was only sanctioned to defend against oppression inflicted upon Muslims. Allah says: “Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to grant them victory” (Surah Al-Hajj: 39).
Those who were fought, wronged, and expelled from their homes had the right to defend themselves and their property against the aggressors, to repel the injustice. Allah says: “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors. And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at Al-Masjid Al-Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers. But if they cease, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] worship is [acknowledged to be] for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors. [Fighting in] the sacred month is for [aggression committed in] the sacred month, and for [all] violations is legal retribution. So whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is with those who fear Him. And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 190-195).
Muslims are not permitted to initiate fighting. Dr. Muhammad Emara, in his book " Al-Islām wa-al-Ākhar" (Islam and the Other), states: "Muslims are not allowed to fight anyone suddenly or preemptively. Fighting in Islam is defensive and is meant to repel aggression. It should not exceed the aim of repelling attacks on Muslims, their lands, or their religion."
He adds: "All the verses in the Qur'an that permitted, ordered, or encouraged fighting limited its legitimacy to repelling aggression from those who fight us for our religion, expel us from our lands, or support this expulsion. The scope and means of fighting are confined to defending against aggression—it is, in essence, a fight of retribution."
Muslims must prioritize peace over war if they find their enemies inclined towards it. Allah says: “So if they remove themselves from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not made for you a cause [for fighting] against them” (Surah An-Nisa: 90).
However, the Qur'an also warns Muslims: “You will find others who wish to obtain security from you and [to] obtain security from their people. Every time they are returned to [the influence of] fitnah, they fall back into it. So if they do not withdraw from you or offer you peace or restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you overtake them. And those—We have made for you against them a clear authorization” (Surah An-Nisa: 91).
Is Disbelief a Reason for Fighting?
Can Muslims fight others because they are disbelievers, until they embrace Islam? Absolutely not. Fighting disbelievers merely for their disbelief is not allowed. Allah says: “Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes—from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly” (Surah Al-Mumtahanah: 8).
Islam even permits Muslims to grant safety and protection to disbelievers so they may reach their place of security. Allah says: “And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah. Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know” (Surah At-Tawbah: 6).
Protection of Disbelievers and Defending Them
In Islam, non-Muslims who live under the Islamic state are considered citizens who must be protected and defended against any threat.
It is also permissible to ally with non-Muslims against enemies, as the Prophet ﷺ allied with the disbelieving tribe of Khuza’ah and decided to send an army when the allied tribe of Banu Bakr, supported by Quraysh, attacked them, leading to the conquest of Mecca.
Protecting a Disbeliever from an Attacking Muslim
Furthermore, Islamic law defends non-Muslims if a Muslim wrongfully attacks them, even if it means killing the aggressor Muslim. This is established by Muslim scholars in their ruling that it is obligatory to defend a dhimmi (non-Muslim under Muslim protection) against a Muslim attacker. This is mentioned in “Ḥāshiyat al-Shirwānī 'alā Tuhfat al-Muḥtāj Sharḥ al-Minhāj fī al-Fiqh al-Shāfiʿī”: "It is obligatory to defend both the Muslim and the dhimmi from an attacker," and this was also supported by Al-Juwayni in his “Nihayat Al-Matlab” and Al-Ghazali in his “Al-Wajiz”.
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