Many people believe that the Quran cannot possibly be sent from God due to the numerous verses advocating violence. But does the Quran really advocate violence, or have the verses just been misinterpreted? 

 

With careful study, we learn the only criterion in which fighting is allowed is in self-defense: 

 

And fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not aggress. God does not like the aggressors.

~ Quran 2:190

And kill them wherever you encounter them and expel them from where they expelled you. Oppression is indeed worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Masjid Al-Haram unless they fight you therein. If they fight you, then kill them; such is the penalty of the disbelievers. If they cease, then indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
~ Quran 2:191-192

 

Verses 2:190-192 are specific to the time of Muhammad. He was only to fight the disbelievers if they attacked first.  If the disbelievers refrain from fighting and offer peace then the believers must not fight them: 

 

except for those who join people with whom you have a treaty or those who come to you with reluctance in their chests to fight you or fight their own people. Had God willed, He could have charged them against you, and then they would have fought you. Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then God gives you no claim against them.

~ Quran 4:90

 

If they should incline to peace, so shall you be inclined, and put your trust in God. He is the Hearer, the Knowledgeable.

~ Quran 8:61

 

Verse 4:91 details the principles in which the believers are allowed to fight:

 

You will find others who wish to be safe from you and safe from their own people. Every time they are returned to the test, they plunge into it, causing their condemnation. So if they do not leave you alone, nor offer you peace, nor withdraw their hands, take them and kill them where you encounter them. Over these, We have given you clear authority.

~ Quran 4:91

 

Further, verse 9:6 explains that fighting is not decreed if an idol worshipper seeks protection:

If any of the mushrikeen seeks your protection, you shall protect him so that he would hear the Words of God, then escort him to his place of safety. This is because they are a people who do not know.

~ Quran 9:6

 

Verse 8:12 is also used to advocate violence in Islam:  

 

Your Lord inspired the angels: "I am with you, so make resolute those who believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved. So strike them above the necks, and strike off all their fingertips."

~ Quran 8:12

 

It’s interesting God says to “strike them above the necks, and strike off all their fingertips” since striking off every fingertip would prevent the disbeliever from using their weapon, while striking above the neck would kill the disbeliever quickly with the least amount of suffering. 

 

When we collect all the verses on war and study them together, it becomes clear the believers must only fight if the disbelievers fight them first! 

 

It is also noteworthy to mention the Quran always demonstrates equivalence: 

 

The Haram month for the Haram month, and equivalence applies to prohibitions. Then whoever attacks you, attack him in the same manner he attacked you and reverence God, and know that God is with the reverent.

~ Quran 2:194

 

And We decreed for them in it that a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and equivalence regarding wounds,,

~ Quran 5:45

 

It would certainly not be possible to think about inflicting an equivalent injury if the believers are too busy advocating violence and going on a killing rampage! 

 

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Can men beat their wives?

 

Another commonly misinterpreted verse is 4:34, where men believe God gives them permission to beat their wives if they are behaving irrationally. 

 

..As for the women from whom you fear irrational behaviour, you shall first advise them, then desert them in bed, then you may strike them out. If they obey you, you are not to seek further action against them. Indeed, God is Most High, Great.

~ Quran 4:34

 

The Arabic word 'adribuhhunna' is from the root word 'daraba'. This word has been used in the Quran in multiple meanings and not just physical beating.

 

To determine the correct meaning of this word in 4:34, we need to remind ourselves with the command in 4:19 for men to treat their wives kindly, “live with them in kindness.”

 

It would be contradictory for God to say “live with them in kindness” yet at the same time allow men to physically beat their wives!

 

Physical beating is also in violation of 30:21 in which God stresses the love and mercy between husband and wife:

 

And from among His signs is that He created for you spouses from yourselves that you may find tranquility in them. And He placed love and mercy between you. Indeed, in that are signs for people who reflect.

~ Quran 30:21

 

Any unjustified aggression is prohibited in Islam:

 

Say, "My Lord has only prohibited immoralities, what is apparent of them and what is concealed, and the sins, and unjustified aggression, and that you associate with God that for which He has not brought down any authorisation, and to say about God what you know not."

~ Quran 7:33

 

One of the Quranic uses of the word 'daraba' is to travel, as in 4:101. The word 'daraba' is also used in the Quran to mean to strike out, remove or withhold.

 

Such as in 43:5 where we read: “Should We 'nadrib' (withhold) the Reminder from you, disregarding you because you are an excessive people?"

 

In harmony with the command in 4:19, the correct meaning of 4:34 is that, if the first 2 options do not yield the required result, the man is to strike his wife out (separate from her).

 

Those who promote Islam as a violent religion have distorted these words out of context, without understanding the correct context in which they were written in. God warns us against those who do this. 

 

Among them are a group who twist the Scripture with their tongues so you would think that it is from the Scripture when it is not from the Scripture. And they say it is from God when it is not from God. And they say lies about God, knowingly.

~ Quran 3:78

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Peace & God Bless

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