The Incompatibility of Quranic Doctrine with Genuine Peacebuilding

The Incompatibility of Quranic Doctrine with Genuine Peacebuilding

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

The recurring attempts by world leaders to broker peace accords between Islamic nations and Western or Judeo-Christian states raise critical theological and ideological questions. Despite their diplomatic enthusiasm, many seem to overlook a fundamental doctrinal obstacle embedded within Islamic scripture itself. The Qur’an, in Surah al-Ma’idah (5:51), explicitly warns Muslims:

“O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are allies of one another. And whoever among you turns to them for alliance is one of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”

This verse has profound implications for interfaith relations and international diplomacy. The prohibition is not merely historical or symbolic—it establishes a theological boundary that discourages genuine friendship, trust, and alliance with Jews and Christians. Consequently, any peace initiative that disregards this doctrinal command risks being superficial and unsustainable.

Diplomatic efforts that ignore the ideological foundations of Islamic thought often devolve into ceremonial gestures—symbolic treaties without transformative impact. Western leaders, in their pursuit of political harmony, frequently treat the Middle East as a psychological or humanitarian project rather than a region governed by deep theological convictions. By neglecting to address the religious imperatives that shape Islamic geopolitics, they inadvertently engage in diplomatic theater rather than realistic statecraft.

True peace requires not only political negotiation but also theological reconciliation. Until the core ideological tenets—such as the Quranic prohibition against befriending Jews and Christians—are critically examined and theologically reinterpreted within the Muslim world, the prospects for enduring peace remain fragile. The conflict, therefore, is not merely territorial or political but fundamentally doctrinal in nature.

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