Journal of Islamic Law Research

Journal of Islamic Law Research

Contemporary Human Rights and Offensive Jihad in Contemporary Islam

Type : Research Article

Authors
Abstract
Offensive Jihad, as one of the branches of the holy religion of Islam, is so significant that an entire chapter is devoted to this issue in jurisprudential sources. Offensive Jihad is a two-fold regulation raising questions in two ways. On the one hand, the question is whether offensive Jihad by the Islamic government during the time of occultation is permitted according to Shiite thought. This question can be addressed within the field of public law. On the other hand, from the perspective of human rights, the object of offensive Jihad—calling non-Muslims to Islam, according to a large number of jurisprudents—is controversial, since it appears to conflict with the freedom of thought and belief of human beings and is considered an imposition by many intellectual thinkers. The main hypothesis of the article is that offensive Jihad in contemporary times is permissible based on human rights requirements and religious proofs. Studying the goal and wisdom behind offensive Jihad in Islam, this article discusses the legitimacy of offensive Jihad under the rule of the fully qualified jurisprudent.
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  • Received 02 January 2011
  • Revise 24 February 2011
  • Accepted 22 April 2011