.... Hamza Yusuf stated at the very end of his talk that Islam is a peaceful faith, and that Muhammad disdained war. No doubt he has thought-through responses on how this fits with the rapid spread of Islam through conquest in the hundred years after the death of Muhammad.
It just would have been good to hear them. Likewise Tariq Ramadan mentioned that the word "jihad" has nothing to do with holy war. So what are we to do with the more military interpretations of jihad, both classical and modern? Were they always a mistake, or have they just been overtaken by changing circumstances, and become irrelevant?
.... As the Oxford don might say, in summary of one of those essays to which those eager-eyed students will now be returning: "Some interesting ideas, but more examples and explanation needed." [Guardian Cif] Read more
