Islam as a peacemaking religion

This chapter investigates the interplay between the medieval Muslim view of jihad as total confrontation and Muslim willingness to enter into armistice negotiations (muhadana) with the non-Muslim enemy. Following a brief account of the popular remembrance of early Islamic history (mnemohistory), this chapter focuses on Muslim peace accords and truces with the Franks and their underlying juridical basis. It analyzes two terms systematically used to endorse and legitimate these agreements: hudna (the instrument of truce) and maṣlaḥa (the common good).