War and Armed Conflict Ethics in Islamic Scholarship: Historical Insights and Modern Challenges

26-27 May 2025

The Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE)

College of Islamic Studies

Hamad Bin Khalifa University

Introduction

The ethical dimensions of war and armed conflict remain crucial areas of inquiry, particularly given ongoing geopolitical tensions and the legacies of past conflicts. While some wars may have subsided, new ethical dilemmas persist, especially regarding humanitarian law, technological advancements in warfare, and the role of international institutions. The Middle East, with its rich historical and contemporary experiences of armed conflict, offers a vital context for exploring these issues within an Islamic ethical framework. This seminar seeks to critically engage with both modern ethical challenges and the long-standing tradition of Islamic scholarship on war ethics. The discussion will focus on two main themes: (A) modern ethical challenges as addressed by contemporary interdisciplinary scholarship, and (B) insights from historical Islamic scholarship that remain relevant to these discussions today.

(A) Modern Ethical Questions and Challenges

The ethical dimensions of war and armed conflict intersect with multiple fields, each offering distinct frameworks for analysis. These include war ethics (military ethics), political science, international relations, human rights, international law, humanitarian studies, philosophy, theology, bioethics, and peace studies. War ethics focuses on the moral principles governing warfare and the justification for conflict, while political science and international relations analyze power dynamics and the global impact of armed conflicts. Geopolitics examines territorial disputes and strategic conflicts, while human rights studies investigate the protection of vulnerable populations during wartime. International law and humanitarian studies highlight legal and ethical obligations to protect civilians and ensure accountability for violations, and philosophy and theology offer normative frameworks to understand the moral justifications of war and peace. Bioethics explores the health implications of warfare, and peace studies address post-conflict reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts.

The intersection of these fields reflects the complexity of modern warfare and the multifaceted nature of human and state actions in such contexts. As states, non-state actors, and individuals engage in conflict, moral challenges become more intricate, influenced by technological advancements, shifting power dynamics, and global interdependence. These developments complicate traditional concepts of just war and peace, raising nuanced moral dilemmas that demand a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. Furthermore, the expansion of warfare and its far-reaching consequences have prompted scholars and policymakers to confront these complexities, often generating more questions than answers about morality in wartime.

Key moral questions arising in this framework include the justification for using force or the legitimacy of war itself, the ethical conduct of military operations, the protection of human rights in conflict zones, and the moral responsibilities of states and individuals in preventing and responding to war crimes. Central to these concerns is proportionality—whether the means of warfare are morally justified in relation to the ends sought—and the challenge of maintaining moral integrity while addressing geopolitical and strategic goals. Additionally, questions of post-conflict justice and reconciliation highlight the ethical tension between punishment and forgiveness, as well as the moral duties of states and the international community in rebuilding war-torn societies. These questions challenge not only the ethics of war but also broader concerns regarding justice, human dignity, and the role of state and non-state actors in shaping global peace and stability.

(B) Towards an Islamic Ethical Framework

To develop an ethical framework grounded in the Islamic tradition, researchers must engage with key historical Islamic scholarly disciplines that have shaped the discourse on war and armed conflict. These include Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), political thought and governance (siyāsa sharʿiyya), historiography, military history, theology, and ethical philosophy.

Islamic jurisprudence offers critical insights through classical legal texts that address various aspects of warfare, including jihād, peace treaties, and the treatment of combatants and non-combatants. Political thought, particularly the works of scholars such as al-Māwardī, Ibn Taymiyya, and others delves into the ethical governance of states during conflict. Historiographical sources, including the chronicles of historians like al-Ṭabarī and others, provide empirical data on how Islamic principles were implemented in practice. Islamic theology engages with questions of divine justice, human agency, and the legitimacy of violence, while ethical philosophers like al-Fārābī and Miskawayh offer complementary frameworks. Comparative legal studies also reveal how Islamic war ethics have interacted with and adapted to external legal traditions over time.

The interdisciplinary engagement of these fields highlights the complexity of war ethics in Islamic thought, illustrating how both human and state actions have evolved in response to internal and external pressures. The relationship between warfare, state authority, and governance in Islamic tradition has become more complex as societies face new challenges, especially in modern conflicts that often involve asymmetrical warfare, non-state actors, and advanced military technologies. These developments raise significant moral challenges regarding the justification of violence, the protection of civilians, and the legitimacy of non-traditional actors. The impact of technological advancements, such as drones, cyber warfare, and artificial intelligence, has created moral ambiguities that call for a re-examination of traditional Islamic ethical frameworks.

The key moral questions emerging from these disciplines include the ethical justification for using force, the treatment of non-combatants, and the legitimacy of modern military technologies. Another major issue is the role of political authority and governance in justifying warfare and maintaining ethical standards during conflict. The increasing involvement of non-state actors in asymmetrical warfare further challenges traditional Islamic views on state authority and military ethics. Additionally, the ethical implications of war crimes, accountability, and post-conflict reconciliation intersect with Islamic teachings on justice and human dignity. By engaging with both historical Islamic sources and contemporary challenges, this seminar aims to deepen understanding of war ethics in Islamic thought and its relevance to modern global concerns, such as the role of international institutions, accountability for war crimes, and the pursuit of justice in post-conflict societies

Deadlines and Submission Information

The seminar will be held in Doha on May 26–27, 2025, at the Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE). Accepted papers will be published either as a thematic issue in the Journal of Islamic Ethics or as an edited volume in the Studies in Islamic Ethics series, both published by Brill.

Abstracts and papers will be evaluated by a scientific committee based on academic criteria, with consideration given to their relevance to the seminar’s theme. A limited number of successful submissions will be selected, and their authors will be invited to participate in the seminar in Doha.

Important Dates

• March 30, 2025: Extended abstract submission deadline (1,000 words), detailing the research question, the existing gap, the approach, and key contribution. The focus will be on Islamic ethics, but comparative approaches are welcome.
• April 15, 2025: Notification of accepted abstracts and invitation to submit full papers.
• December 31, 2025: Full paper submission deadline

Financial Support

• Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by CILE.
• Open-access publication fees in the specified refereed venue will also be covered by CILE

Submission Guidelines

• Extended abstracts should be 1,000 words.
• A short biography (max. 500 words) detailing academic background, research interests, and key publications.
• Submissions must be original and unpublished.
• Scholars with successful submissions will be invited to submit their full papers (7,000–10,000 words) according to the timeline above.

Contact details

• Submissions are to be sent by email to info@cilecenter.org
• For inquiries relevant to this call, please contact Dr. Mutaz al-Khatib malkhatib@hbku.edu.qa
• For inquiries relevant to Journal of Islamic Ethics and Studies in Islamic Ethics book series, please contact jie@brill.com