Page:Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din - Ethics of War.djvu/9

 feared their depredations. They adopted Buddhism for their faith, but the names of Halakoo and Changez still cause terror among the Caspian races. Afterwards they came under the influence of various religions. As the Tartars were Buddhists, the Aryans followed the Vedic persuasion while the Huns and Goths became Christians, but no religious dispensation mitigated their ferocity or reformed their bloodthirsty nature.

Thus, the question of war has always remained a most difficult and intricate problem. War could neither be dispensed with in the interest of peace nor could it be pursued on the lines laid down in bygone days. The world had urgent need of a true reform in this respect, and it has come in the form of Islam.

Without making any introductory remarks, I approach the subject directly and give the essentials of Islamic teachings in this matter.

Fighting, to satisfy the hankering after land or property belonging to others, has been repeatedly condemned in the Qur-án. But these motives have always induced fighting