Abstract :
The legal foundation of foreign relations in Islam is based on Sharīy’ah. The original sources of
Sharīy’ah are the Quran and the Prophetic traditions (Sunnah). Derived from Sharīy’ah is the
Fiqh or Islamic jurisprudence which covers the myriad of problems and issues that arise in the
course of man’s life. (al-Mawdūdī, 2002) Among the main issues which the contemporary
Islamic jurisprudence attempt to deal with are foreign relations in Islam. Muslim jurists have
developed different opinions about the organizing principle of foreign relations in Islam. Some
(hereafter referred to as traditionalists) who were influenced by the realistic tendency of Islamic
state, particularly during the periods of Conquest, believe that foreign relations in Islam
originally depend on the attitude of non-Muslim groups or states toward Islam and Muslims.
Therefore, the basis of foreign relations of Islamic state is fight, but under certain conditions. In
contrast, other jurists (hereafter referred to as pacifists or non-traditionalists) believe that the
origin of foreign relations in Islam is peace, because the Quran unambiguously states “there is
no compulsion in religion.”(2: 256) Accordingly, the principle of war advocated by
traditionalists is, non-traditionalists believe, not compatible with this unrelenting Quranic rule.
