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Introduction
The concept of Just War has many definitions; however, both Islam and Christianity agree that just war is based on the duty not to harm others even though in some circumstances doing good to one group of people may involve doing harm to another group. Jihad is the war led for the sake of Islam and means the armed struggle against unbelievers. The conversion of Constantine has laid the foundation of revolutionary change in Christian attitudes towards war. Just war became the answer to the question of how to maintain the commandment against killing and at the same time defend believers from violence.
Jihad in Classical Islam
Jihad is based on the belief that there is one single state Islamic state and Muslims have the duty to expand the territory of the state and bring as many people under the rule of Islam as possible. Ideally, the classic Islam demands that every believer fights against unbelievers until the whole earth is under the rule of Islam. In addition, Jihad requires every free man to participate in armed fighting if the land is attacked by the enemy. Islam justifies fighting if the unbeliever rejected the offer to converse to Islam.
The most important function of Jihad is that it motivates (requires) the Muslims to participate in wars against followers of other religions (Christians and Jews, in particular). Fighting is referred to as the fulfillment of the religious duty by every Muslim. Notably, it was believed that those who died on the battlefield went directly to Paradise. Jihad also serves another function: to set the rules of governing relations with enemies. If the political unity was collapsed, the two Muslim states were allowed to be at war with each other. Thus, Jihad is not merely the war against the unbeliever, it is the war aimed at protecting Islam and the unity of Muslim states.
The interpretation of Classic Islamic Jihad in the modern world is changed. It involves the belief that fighting against unbelievers can be conditional based upon their aggression. Thus, living in peace with a non-Islamic state is encouraged until the need to defend the territory emerges. In addition to a description of Jihad in classic books of Islam, the radical opposition called Jihad evolved with the aim to spread Islam. Nevertheless, Islamic law does not recognize radical Jihad, and revolt is allowed only in rare circumstances.
Just War in Christianity
The concept of war in Christianity has a long history as well. From the times of Paul, Christians had a clear perception of war, moral and immoral behavior. Jesus, on the other side, has preached to live in justice and compassion, and treating all people equally. Paul called not to fight against the government, however, religious beliefs were regarded as of top priority. Christians were taught to separate themselves from the military operations and from the armed war. Constantine converted to Christianity and his beliefs were shaped by the writings of Paul.
Bainton has also addressed the origins of Christian just war and suggested that the armed fighting was justified by Christians when there was the need to protect religion. When Constantine accepted Christianity as the religion of his empire, the major change took place in the Christian community and its perception of war. There was the need to protect society and maintain the security of the empire as well as the security of Christians.
Later, St. Ambrose, the follower of Constantine, argued that the just war must be the one aimed at defense, that agreements must not be neglected, and that mercy must be shown upon defeated and unbelievers. In the third century, Tertullian did not allow Christians to become soldiers. One of the reasons was that in the case of war, Christians would be obligated to persecute other Christians who served in the army of an enemy state.
Alistair Kee argued that the conversion of Constantine to Christianity has destroyed the faith in God and the religion has been turned into the tool of the secular state. The definition of just war was developed: the war is just only when it is the last resort, is waged by the legitimate authority, and is aimed at helping the oppressed. According to Christianity, war is just when its goal is to renew peace, to improve the life of believers, and to minimize the sufferings of the harmed.
Comparing Jihad and Just War in Christianity
Christianity and Islam are historically related. The followers of both religions believe that Abraham was the father of faith in God. Nevertheless, Christians condemn Jews for killing Jesus and see Muslims as non-believers. At the same time, Muslims do not see Jesus as the son of God and fight against Jews. It is worth noting that for both religions war is neither traditional nor justifiable. The followers of both religions accept war as a religious right only when there is a direct threat to the believers.
According to John Kelsay, Jihad is not war; it is the struggle in the path of God. Therefore, the war is aimed at defeating the unbelievers and establishing Islam in the world. Notably, both Christianity and Islam have the same perception of just war, the same justification for armed fighting, and the same aim of preserving peace in the first place. Nevertheless, the fights of Christians have ended with the crusades in the early times of Christianity spread, while the armed struggles of Muslims are more intense today.
Jihad is aimed at increasing Muslim influence in the world; Christian just war is aimed at protecting believers from oppression. Classic Islam does not allow armed fighting except the cases when the war cannot be avoided; the same principle is held by the Christian world. Early Christians supported the view that murder was inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus. Jihad also does not allow killing and promotes peaceful co-existence. The key difference is that Christianity does not support the spread of religion through armed fighting, while Jihad justifies war for the sake of religion.
Conclusion
Jihad and Christian just war share the perception of armed fighting causes. Both religions reject war as the means to solve conflicts and support peaceful negotiations. Nevertheless, as the early history depicts, the Islamic view of war is more radical than Christianity and Muslims are justified in their fight against unbelievers who resist convergence to Islam. Constantine has changed the Christian view of just war, but this change was necessary because of the need to protect Christians against oppression. Islam, on the other side, views the protection of religion as the primary responsibility of every Muslim at all times.
Works Cited
- Esposito, John, ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, Vol. 2. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.
- Kee, AIistair. Constantine Versus Christ: The Triumph of Ideology. London: SCM Press, 1982.
- Kelsay, John. “Religion, Morality, and the Governance of War: The Case of Classical Islam.” The Journal of Religious Ethics 18 (1990): 123-139.
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