Arguing the Just War in Islam

November 1, 2007
How has the concept of jihad been understood over the course of Islam's history? Do Islamic militants have any justification in defending their actions as necessary elements of jihad? These are the kinds of questions Kelsay (religion, Florida State Univ.; coauthor, "Just War and Jihad") here addresses. One section of the book examines the historical understanding of religious reasoning (particularly regarding war), while the other deals with recent applications of that reasoning. Kelsay notes that, historically, authoritative religious reasoning was done primarily by religious scholars and jihad was understood in terms of Islamic just-war criteria. In the last two centuries, however, individuals have claimed the right to do religious reasoning apart from scholars and to justify jihad in nonwar situations. Thus, the Taliban and Osama bin Laden today advocate violence against civilians, and this is contrary to how jihad was once understood. Kelsay describes a battle between democratic Islam and militant Islam for the minds and hearts of the Islamic people. A thought-provoking work; a valuable addition to all libraries.John Jaeger, Dallas Baptist Univ. Lib.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2007
The title suggests a dry rehearsal of legal and diplomatic documents, but this is actually an engrossing review of the relationship of religion and state power in Islamic history, from the founding of the faith to todays radicals. Crucial to the books enterprise and to understanding Islam and war is the realization that Islamic jurisprudence, the administration of sharia, is evolutionary and situation-bound. There are bellicose passages in the Quran, but they are understood by the predominance of current Islamic jurisprudence to refer only to circumstances during the period when armed opposition threatened the early, undefended faithful; indeed, many think that the only time in Islamic history when political and religious authority were correctly merged was during the Prophets personal leadership. Far more enduring than any incitements to violence are Quranic enjoinders to protect children, women, old men, and the disabled and to practice mercy and justice. The rigidity of Islamic radicals is very much out of the mainstream of what Kelsay calls sharia reasoning. Must reading for serious study of Islam.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)