Violence in Islamic Thought from the Qur'an to the Mongols

This volume brings together some of the leading researchers on early Islamic history and thought to study the legitimacy of violence. How was violence justified in early Islam? What role did violent actions play in the formation and maintenance of the Muslim political order? How did Muslim thinkers view the origins and acceptability of violence? These questions are explored through both general accounts of types of violence and detailed case studies of violent acts drawn from the early Islamic sources. Violence is understood widely, to include jihad, state repressions and rebellions, and also more personally directed violence against victims (women, animals, children, slaves) and criminals. From these, the diverse interpretations of violence and its role in Muslim society can be delineated and we can understand better the origins of legitimate and illegitimate violence in Islamic thought