Traditionalist View Of War Essay

Historic Muslim judgments on Jihad in regards to armed struggle rely on five distinct principles sought to preserve order. These principles reside on the idea of: right intention, right authority, proportionality, just cause, and “soldiers fighting soldiers.” The Muslim presumption to war is that it be conducted in honor of the Lord, therefore; it is important that Muslim society maintain such societal norms in regard to armed struggle. Though the historic Muslim ideal of war sought to preserve has shifted to a revolutionary viewpoint of war sought to transform, debate still arises over the statement on the World Islamic Front. In the article “Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders”, three inconsistent claims emerge regarding the traditionalist view on armed force. Inconsistency arises over the idea of right authority, right intention, and soldiers fighting soldiers. Armed force is to be ascribed by the Lord’s command and by His command only. …show more content…
Traditionalists maintain the norms of honor in that the direct targeting of civilians is forbidden. Soldiers are not to kill women, children, the elderly, or priests; soldiers are to only kill other soldiers. Through the declaration, the revolutionary perspective introduces a change to the historic ideal. The declaration issues; “The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies – civilians and military – is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it.” Traditionalists question the proposition of allowing soldiers to fight innocent civilians in that it does not comply with the ruling of the Lord or that of historic war criteria. Revolutionaries also challenged the traditional perspective in leading “lone wolf” attacks, or attacks directed intentionally at individual persons. The declaration of the World Islamic Front allows for wrongful actions among military according to historic criteria creating conflict with