Islam and Violence in Political Reality by Ayatollah Muhammed Hussein Fadl Allah V Editor's Note: Ayatollah Muhammed Hussein Fad Allah is one of the most important figures in the Islamic political movement today. He studied in Iraq under Ayatollah Abu al-Qasim Khaw'i, and developed his own following in Beirut, where he has become a central figure in the Shi'a community. Though Fadl Allah is now considered the foremost Shi’i authority in the Arab world, his influence extends far beyond this sect. Among his many books, two of the most read are al-Islam wa-al-Muntiq al-Quwa (Islam and the Theory of Force), and al-Hiwar fi-al-Qur'an (Dialogue in the Qur'an), the latter stressing the importance of discussion with one's adversaries. This piece a translation from the original Arabic, is his first full-length article to appear in the West. Fadl Allah's first extensive interview with the Western press appeared in this magazine last year. Tiolence is not the natural means to other party, or for peaceful opposition with the resolve any problem in the beginning. other party, this creates a similar deacock. The Any problem can be the result of a same is true when interests differ and the means difference in intellectual outlook, or the of confrontation also grow more complicated. perception of reality, or in interests. Thus in all these types of differences, we feel that Violence as a Surgical Operation scientific, balanced, and calm study and WE BELIEVE THAT VIOLENCE COULD FREEZE discussion can produce desirable solutions far the problem where it is, but will not terminate from the negative results that would create it, nor solve it, but instead perhaps create new new problems. Calmness leads to understand- attitudes that will of necessity complicate it ing, and leads all the interested parties to the and exaggerate it. It rnay be that all of us resort solution sought. to violence in some circumstances. So when But when a problem is approached through differences occur over the question of fate, and coercion, for example by my coercion of those who confront you do not want to engage another with whom I differ intellectually, than in dialogue, or the situation is such that it will such an approach will turn a problem into a lead to a total loss without a prompt solution, complex, creating an interaction that is trapped and you feel in such a situation that you must within itself, or, from another angle, will create exert a degree of force or of violence, then, in a dilemma greater than the original problem. this case, you must exert this force or this Coercion thus will not solve the problem, but violence only in exceptional circumstances, will only complicate it and exaggerate it. So in using the most economical means available. It the beginning a problem that is one of intel- is possible that this approach could stabilize lectual outlook then becomes a problem for the the situation, solve soms of the problem intellect, and then the knot that itself envelopes pending and allow rocin for an atmosphere the intellect. leading to dialogue. Likewise, when there are differences in the We do not hold in our islamic belief that perception of reality, and in the perception violence is the solution to all types of problems; that I adopt without room for dialogue with the rather, that we always see violence as a kind of 4. MIDDLE EAST INSIGHT
