Quranic Verses on the Conditions and Ethics of War in Islam

There are several verses in the Quran that discuss the importance of preparation for war and self-defense, such as:

وَأَعِدُّوا۟ لَهُم مَّا ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِۦ عَدُوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ 

And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged. [8:60]

  This could imply that Muslims should be ready for any potential threat or challenge that may arise in the future. The verse is part of a larger context that discusses the rules and ethics of warfare in Islam, such as not transgressing the limits set by Allah, not harming innocent civilians or property, and showing mercy and restraint. The verse also reflects the historical situation of the early Muslims who faced persecution and hostility from their enemies in Mecca and elsewhere.

وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ

Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors. [2:190]

The verse is one of the first verses that permits Muslims to fight in self-defense against their enemies who attack them. The verse also sets a limit for fighting, which is not to transgress or exceed the bounds of justice and morality. 

أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ

Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory. [22:39]

These verses highlight the importance of being prepared for war but also emphasize the need for restraint and not exceeding the limits set by Allah.

In addition to the Quran, there are several sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that discuss the ethics of warfare, such as:

- "Do not kill a child, an old man, or a woman." 

- "Do not destroy the villages and towns, do not spoil the cultivated fields, and do not kill the cattle."

- "Whoever kills a person who has a truce with the Muslims will never smell the fragrance of Paradise." 

These sayings emphasize the importance of showing mercy and restraint during warfare and avoiding harm to innocent civilians and property.

Islam encourages Muslims to maintain peace and security in their societies and respect the sovereignty of other nations. Islam also prohibits aggression and violence against innocent people. Therefore, any military action or use of force must be carried out only in self-defense or in defense of oppressed people.

The Quranic verse emphasizes the importance of peace and reconciliation -

وَإِن جَنَحُوا۟ لِلسَّلۡمِ فَٱجۡنَحۡ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِیعُ ٱلۡعَلِیمُ

"And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing" (8:61) 

It is also important to note that Islam allows for the use of force in certain circumstances, such as defending oneself against aggression or protecting the oppressed. However, this should be done in accordance with Islamic teachings, including the principle of proportionality and the avoidance of harm to innocent people.