From September 2^nd through 4^th, Dialogue Across Borders cosponsored a third round of the “Journey of Learning” interfaith program with the Centre for Christian-Muslim Understanding and Partnership (Anglican/Episcopal) in Cairo. The conference offered Christians and Muslims an opportunity to listen and learn from one another about their respective faiths. Two lectures were devoted to the question of war in the Bible and the Qurʾān. The following lecture was delivered by Professor Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Mālik Muṣṭafā, a vice president  and lecturer in Qurʾānic studies at al-Azhar University.

Lecture Excerpt:

In the name of Allah, praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon all of Allah’s messengers. I am extremely pleased to meet these kind, bright, and blessed faces for the second time. Before I begin my presentation, I must first greet those in charge of organizing these seminars. I would especially like to thank His Excellency Archbishop Sāmī Fawzī, who despite his many preoccupations and commitments was determined to be present. Therefore, I thank His Eminence, may Allah bless him. Then, of course, His Excellency Bishop Dr. Mūnīr Hannā, whose introduction made me very happy and in which he pointed out important matters that we must realize, namely that differences exist.

The differences between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are natural. I would even add that differences exist within one religion. In Islam, we have nine well-known and famous sects, and each sect has its own orientations. But all of these differences are certainly in the branches only and not in the trunk of the religion. You also find this in Christianity and Judaism, as the difference between one religion and another, and even within one religion, are a natural thing: “Had your Lord so willed, He would have certainly made humanity one single community” (Qurʾān 11:118). But God Almighty left freedom of choice for all people. That is why I commend this introduction from Archbishop Mouneer to clarify to those present, who are certainly intellectuals and scholars, that there are common denominators that we must work to strengthen, so that we can eliminate the spirit of fanaticism among us so that Egyptians can live in this homeland as a loving family.

My lecture is about “Fighting (qitāl) in the Text of the Qurʾān.”  Some people hear this phrase and think that the Qurʾān calls or advocates for fighting, as if this contradicts the nature of what religions should be. I must first clarify that the Holy Qurʾān is a comprehensive book covering all aspects of life: belief, worship, dealings, ethics, military matters, economics, women’s affairs, and modern science that the Holy Qurʾān spoke about in the past and that modern science and experimental laboratories have revealed these days. So the Holy Qurʾān is a comprehensive book that organizes all aspects of life.

 But also, fighting in the Qurʾān is not a rule, but rather an exception. The fighting mentioned in the verses of the Qurʾān was legislated for self-defense and to repel aggression, or in response to the breach of covenants and agreements by others, or to repel injustice and help the oppressed and the weak. This is what the verses of the Holy Qurʾān stated (Qurʾān 4:75): “And what is it with you? You do not fight in the cause of Allah and for oppressed men, women, and children.”