Jihad as Reflected in Biḥār al-Anwār

Different views of Muslim scholars concerning jihad arises from, and is grounded in, the Quran and hadiths transmitted from the Prophet or Imams. In this paper, we study and analyze hadiths related to jihad as collected in Biḥār al-anwār. We do so in order to explain the legal logic governing these hadiths, the principles on which war is based according to these hadiths, and the place of human beings in them. This article shows that the spirit of these hadiths is pacifist, and, in case war takes place, there are restrictive rules governing the war. There are conflicting hadiths, of course. But they do not confirm a warmongering attitude towards war in Islam.

Keywords:

Hadiths of jihad , Biḥār al-anwār , Legal foundations , Priority of peace , Human dignity , morality