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Islam's jihad is a struggle against idolatry, sexual deviations, plunder, repression, and cruelty. The war waged by [non-Muslim] conquerors, however, aims at promoting lust and animal pleasures. They care not if whole countries are wiped out and many families left homeless. But those who study jihad will understand why Islam wants to conquer the whole world. All the countries conquered by Islam or to be conquered in the future will be marked for everlasting salvation. For they shall live under [God's law].[1]}}

Ruhollah Khomeini#7

IslamMoralityWar

About this quote

What does it mean?
Khomeini contrasts Islamic jihad as moral struggle with conqueror wars driven by lust.
In plain terms
Islamic conquest is for salvation; others conquer for pleasure.
What can you take from it?
Intent defines the morality of war.

Where it applies

  • warfare ethics
  • religious extremism
  • historical conquest

Putting it to work

  • critique conquest motives
  • study religious warfare

Questions to consider

  • Does intent justify violent expansion?

Another view

It justifies conquest as moral duty.

More from Ruhollah Khomeini

  1. This regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time.

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  2. We do not worship Iran, we worship Allah. For patriotism is another name for paganism. I say let this land [Iran] burn. I say let this land go up in smoke, pro…

    Permalink to quote #8
  3. All those against the revolution must disappear and quickly be executed.

    Permalink to quote #5

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