Divisions of the world in Islam
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[edit] Dar al-Islam
For the Tanzanian city, see Dar es Salaam.
Dar al-Islam (Arabic: دار الإسلام literally house/abode of Islam; a.k.a. Dar as-Salam , house/abode of Peace) is an islamic term used by Muslim scholars to refer to those countries where Muslims can practice their religion freely.[1][2] In the orthodox tradition of Islam, the world is divided into two components: dar al-Islam, the house of Islam and dar al-Harb, the house of war.
This term neither appears in the Koran, nor the Hadith.[1][2]
The two requirements for a country to be part of the Dar al-Islam are according to the founder of this concept, Abu Hanifa, the following two:[2]
- Muslims must be able to enjoy peace and security with and within this country.
- It has common frontiers with some Muslim countries.
If the former does not apply then physical means can be used to correct the situation (Jihad) and in the latter case, individuals are required to do hijra to where they can practice their religion.
Muslim scholars maintain that the labeling of a country or place as being a part of Dar al-Islam revolves around the question of religious security. This means that if a Muslim practices Islam freely in his place of abode despite that the place happens to be secular or un-Islamic, then he will be considered as living in the Dar al-Islam.
[edit] Dar al-Salam
Dar al-Islam is also known and referred to as Dar al-Salam, or house/abode of Peace.
[edit] Dar al-Harb
Dar al-Harb (Arabic: دار الحرب "house of war") is an islamic term used by Muslim scholars to refer to those areas where Muslims are not able to practice their religion freely. The inhabitants of the Dar al-Harb are called harbi (Arabic: حربي), as opposed to dhimmi. If a harbi wants to enter the territory of Islam (dar al-islam) he needs a safe-conduct pass called an aman.[citation needed]
The London-based Arabic language daily Asharq Al-Awsat interviewed Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi on July 19, 2003, where he said:
- "It has been determined by Islamic law that the blood and property of people of Dar Al-Harb [the Domain of Disbelief where the battle for the domination of Islam should be waged] is not protected."[3]
Also, in an interview conducted in July 2003 by the Egyptian newspaper Al-Haqiqa, Dr. Sheikh Ali Gomaa said:
- "...it is permitted to kill him, because he is a Harbi and the Harbi spreads corruption throughout the face of the earth."[4]
Dar al-Harb and its associated terms are not found in the two most basic works of Islam, the Qur'an and the Hadith.
In Reliance of the Traveller, point w43.2, a hadith is referred to containing the exact word Dar al-Harb. Scholars have, nevertheless, disagreed on its reliability as is commented in Reliance of the Traveller.
[edit] Dar al-Kufr
Dar al-Kufr (Arabic: دار الكفر, "house of infidels" or "domain of disbelief") is a term used by Muhammad to refer to the Quraish-dominated society of Mecca between his flight to Medina (the Hijra) and his triumphant return.
For much of Islamic history, the preferred term used to describe non-Islamic societies has been dar al-Harb, emphasizing various Islamic countries' aspirations to conquer such territories and render them part of dar al-Islam.
A traditional Arabic saying attributed to Muhammad goes: "Unbelief is one community", or in other words, "infidels are of one nation", expressing the view that distinctions between different types of non-Muslims are insignificant in relation to the overriding distinction between Muslim and non-Muslim.
[edit] Dar al-Hudna
Dar al Hudna (Arabic: "house of calm"): The land of non-believers currently under a truce, which is a respite between wars. A truce is bought by tribute by harbis. If the harbis refuse to pay tribute in exchange for the truce, hostilities are resumed. Furthermore, only treaties that conform to Islamic prescriptions are valid; if these conditions are not fulfilled, the treaty is worthless.
[edit] Dar al-'Ahd
Dar al-'Ahd (Arabic: دار العهد "house of truce" or Dar al-Sulh "house of treaty") was invented to describe the Ottoman Empire's relationship with its Christian tributary states. The invention Dar al-Ahd was necessary, as the worldview prevalent at the time did not allow for a protracted peace with non-Muslim states, even those under Muslim domination.
Today, the term refers to those non-Muslim governments which have armistice or peace agreements with Muslim governments. The actual status of the non-Muslim country in question may vary from acknowledged equality to tributary states.
[edit] Dar al-Dawa
Dar al-Dawa (Arabic: دار الدعوة "house of invitation") is a term used to describe a region where the religion of Islam has recently been introduced. Since the population had not been exposed to Islam before, they may not fit into the traditional definition of dar al-Harb. On the other hand, as the region is not yet Muslim, it cannot be dar al-Islam either. The most frequent use of the term dar al-Dawa is to describe Arabia before and during the life of Muhammad.
More recently, the term dar al-Dawa has been proposed by Western Muslim philosophers to describe the status of Muslims in the West.
The term dar al-Dawa may be used in conjunction with, or in opposition to, the older terms dar al-Islam and dar al-Harb, from which it is derived, or simply be seen as just another sub-category of dar al-harb.
[edit] Dar al-Amn
Dar al-Amn (Arabic: دار الأمن "house of safety") is a term proposed by Western Muslim philosophers to describe the status of Muslims in the West.
The term dar al-Amn may be used in conjunction with, or in opposition to, the older terms dar al-Islam and dar al-Harb, from which it is derived.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Fatwa by Sheikh `Atiya Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, about the concept of Dar al-Harb and Dar al-Islam
- ^ a b c Ahmed Khalil: "Dar Al-Islam And Dar Al-Harb: Its Definition and Significance"
- ^ Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), July 19, 2003. Cited here.
- ^ Al-Haqiqa interview retrieved from Egypt Facts on July 8, 2003, cited here.
[edit] Additional reading
- Western Muslims and the Future of Islam, by Tariq Ramadan
[edit] See also
- Christendom
- Dar Abu Laban
