Divisions of the world in Islam

In classical Islamic law, there are three major divisions of the world which are dar al-Islam (lit. territory of Islam), denoting regions where Islamic law prevails, dar al-sulh (lit. territory of treaty) denoting non-Islamic lands which are at peace or have an armistice with a Muslim government, and dar al-harb (lit. territory of war), denoting lands that share a border with dar al-Islam and have not concluded an armistice. Islam is a universal religion and is believed to be the rightful law for all humankind, therefore through proselytizing and overthrow of Taghut (tyrants or servants of evil) or oppressors or those who prosecute as per Quran 8:39 until they stop the prosecution Accordingly, the world in whole should be governed by Islam , although other religious groups can have their own courts of law under Islamic rule^[1], Islam seen in Islamic theology as the only rightful religion. Muslims are imposed to spread the rightful law and sovereignty through lesser jihad against dar al-harb , however they should first try talking by fighting against dar al-harb countries and transfering the regions of dar al-harb into dar al-Islam. Within these wars, Muslims are imposed to convert (with peaceful means without violence or forceful conversion as per Quran 2.256), subject, or eliminate the Rebellious and fighters until they surrender or stop the fight, muslims are also obliged to make peace with the enemy if they are seeking peace as per Quran 8:61, muslims also are prohbited to fight those who don't fight the as per Quran 2.190^[2]

The Arabic singular form dar (دار), translated literally, may mean "house", "abode", "structure", "place", "land", or "country". In Islamic jurisprudence it often refers to a part of the world. The notions of "houses" or "divisions" of the world in Islam such as dar al-Islam and dar al-harb does not appear in the Quran or the hadith.^[3] According to Abou El Fadl, the only dars the Quran speaks of are "the abode of the Hereafter and the abode of the earthly life, with the former described as clearly superior to the latter".^[4]

Early Islamic jurists devised these terms to denote legal rulings for ongoing Muslim conquests almost a century after Muhammad. The first use of the terms was in Iraq by Abu Hanifa and his disciples Abu Yusuf and Al-Shaybani. Among those in the Levant, Al-Awza'i was leading in this discipline and later Al-Shafi'i.

The concept of dar al-harb has been affected by historical changes such as the political fragmentation of the Muslim world.^[5] The theoretical distinction between dar al-Islam and dar al-harb is widely considered inapplicable, and many contemporary Islamic jurists regard the Western world as part of the former, since Muslims can freely practise and proselytize their faith in Western countries.^[6]

^ "Religious Minorities Under Muslim Rule". Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
^ Yazdani, Abbas (2020-12). "The culture of peace and religious tolerance from an Islamic perspective". Veritas (47): 151–168. doi:10.4067/S0718-92732020000300151. ISSN 0718-9273. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ Abdel-Haleem, Muhammad (8 Sep 2010). Understanding the Qur'ān: Themes and Style. I. B. Tauris & Co Ltd. p. 68. ISBN 978-1845117894.
^ Abou El Fadl, Khaled (January 23, 2007). The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists. HarperOne. p. 227. ISBN 978-0061189036.
^ "Dar al-Harb", The Oxford Dictionary of Islam
^ Hendrickson, Jocelyn (2009). "Law. Minority Jurisprudence". In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016.

[1] "Religious Minorities Under Muslim Rule". Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. Retrieved 2024-08-01.

[2] Yazdani, Abbas (2020-12). "The culture of peace and religious tolerance from an Islamic perspective". Veritas (47): 151–168. doi:10.4067/S0718-92732020000300151. ISSN 0718-9273. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[Abdel-Haleem2010-3] Abdel-Haleem, Muhammad (8 Sep 2010). Understanding the Qur'ān: Themes and Style. I. B. Tauris & Co Ltd. p. 68. ISBN 978-1845117894.

[kaef2007-4] Abou El Fadl, Khaled (January 23, 2007). The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists. HarperOne. p. 227. ISBN 978-0061189036.

[ODI-harb-5] "Dar al-Harb", The Oxford Dictionary of Islam

[6] Hendrickson, Jocelyn (2009). "Law. Minority Jurisprudence". In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016.

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