Why Does Islam Glorify Military Expansion?
A Deep, Hard-Hitting, Fully Detailed Analysis
Introduction
Islam is often presented by its adherents as a religion of peace. Yet, central texts of the Qur’an and the authoritative hadiths openly glorify and mandate military expansion — not just in defense, but as a divine mission to dominate and impose the faith worldwide. This expansionism is not an incidental or occasional feature but embedded in the core legal-theological framework of Islam.
This post dissects the Qur’anic injunctions, prophetic traditions, classical legal doctrines, and historical realities to expose the systematic glorification of conquest and subjugation within Islam.
1. Qur’anic Foundations for Expansion: 9:5 and 9:29
Qur’an 9:5 — The “Sword Verse”
“And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them, capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakat, let them go their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
This is a command to kill non-Muslim polytheists wherever they remain, except if they convert and fulfill Islamic duties.
The verse is unconditional in tone, unlike earlier Qur’anic verses urging patience or peace.
Classical Islamic scholars view this verse as abrogating previous leniencies (e.g., Qur’an 2:256, “there is no compulsion in religion”).
Qur’an 9:29 — Jizya and Subjugation of “People of the Book”
“Fight those who do not believe in Allah or the Last Day and do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden and do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture—until they pay the jizya willingly while they are humbled.”
The target here is Jews and Christians—who receive a second-class “dhimmi” status.
The verse commands offensive warfare until these groups are subjugated and pay tribute.
The condition to cease fighting is not peaceful coexistence, but submission and humiliation.
2. Context: Sūrat al-Tawbah’s Unique Status
Sūrat al-Tawbah (Chapter 9) is one of the last major revelations, delivered when Muhammad was militarily dominant.
It is the only surah without the opening “Bismillah”, indicating severity and divine wrath.
It declares the abrogation of previous treaties with non-Muslims.
This chapter marks a shift from defensive to offensive warfare in Islamic policy.
3. Theological Imperative: Islam as a Political Religion
Islam is not solely a private spiritual path but a comprehensive divine political order demanding universal submission to Allah’s law (sharīʿa).
The Qur’an states:
“It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religion, even if the polytheists dislike it.” (Q 9:33)Disbelief is a political and theological rebellion, justifying warfare.
The world is divided into:
Dār al-Islām (House of Islam): lands ruled by Islamic law.
Dār al-Ḥarb (House of War): lands not under Islam, to be conquered.
4. Classical Islamic Jurisprudence: Codifying Expansion
Classical Sunni legal schools developed detailed doctrines of perpetual military expansion:
Jihād is an obligatory communal duty (farḍ kifāyah), aimed at expanding Islam’s political domain.
Al-Māwardī (d. 1058): The ruler must send a jihād expedition annually.
Ibn Rushd (Averroes) and Ibn Taymiyyah emphasized offensive jihād as a permanent duty.
Conquest was seen as fulfilling a divine mandate, not merely defending Muslim lands.
5. Prophetic Traditions Glorifying War
The hadith literature explicitly praises warfare in God’s cause:
“I have been commanded to fight the people until they say: ‘There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger.’” — Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
“Paradise is beneath the shade of swords.” — Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
“Jihād is the pinnacle of Islam.” — Musnad Ahmad
These narrations elevate war to a religious virtue.
6. Historical Reality: Rapid Islamic Conquests
From 622 to 750 CE, Islamic armies:
Conquered vast territories: Arabian Peninsula, Persian Empire, Byzantine Syria, Egypt, North Africa, parts of Europe and Central Asia.
These conquests were largely offensive, not defensive.
Conquered peoples were forced to convert, pay jizya, or face continued warfare.
The expansionist policy was consistent with Qur’anic commands and legal doctrines.
7. Modern Reinterpretations vs. Classical Reality
Today, many Muslims claim jihād means only “spiritual struggle” or that the violent verses were context-specific.
Classical scholars and centuries of Muslim rulers understood these verses as general commands for offensive expansion.
Modern “peaceful Islam” is often a post-colonial, apologetic rebranding.
8. Implications: Islam’s Political-Military Ethos
Islam’s glorification of military expansion is not incidental but foundational.
It creates an imperative to impose Islam politically by force if necessary.
This clashes fundamentally with modern secular ethics, democracy, and human rights.
It explains persistent conflicts in Islamic-majority regions where political Islam remains influential.
Conclusion
Islam’s core texts, jurisprudence, prophetic traditions, and history glorify military expansion as a sacred duty. The faith is designed not merely for private belief but for political dominance through jihād — offensive warfare against unbelievers until Islam prevails everywhere.
To call Islam simply “a religion of peace” is to ignore the systematic glorification of conquest, subjugation, and coercion encoded at its core.
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