ABSTRACT
Islam is a system of moral obligations derived from divine revelation and based on the belief that human knowledge can never be adequate. It follows that believers must act on the basis of Allah's knowledge, which is the exclusive source of truth for Muslims. Ethics in Islam, though concerned with man's actions, always relates these actions to the word of God as revealed to the Prophet, Muhammad, and as collected in the Qur'an. Most debate among Muslims about the Islamic ethics of war and peace is based on literal readings of the Qur'anic verses pertaining to early Medina. Qur'anic traditions of war are based on verses related to particular events. The establishment of the new Islamic polity at Medina and the spread of the new religion were accomplished by waging war. Islam understands itself as a mission of peace for all humanity, although this call (da'wa) can sometimes be pursued by war.
