Divisions of the world in Islam

src: open.lib.umn.edu

The Arabic singular form dar (???), translated literally, may mean "house", "abode", "structure", "place", "land", or "country". In Islamic jurisprudence it often refers to a part of the world.

The notions of "houses" or "divisions" of the world in Islam such as Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Harb does not appear in the Quran or the Hadith. According to Abou El Fadl, the only dar the Qur'an speaks of are "the abode of the Hereafter and the abode of the earthly life, with the former described as clearly superior to the latter".

In classical Islamic law, the major division are dar al-islam (lit. territory of Islam), denoting regions where Islamic law prevails, dar al-sulh (lit. territory of treaty) denoting non-Islamic lands which have concluded an armistice with a Muslim government, and dar al-harb (lit. territory of war), denoting adjoining non-Islamic lands whose rulers are called upon to accept Islam.

Early Islamic jurists devised these terms to denote legal rulings for ongoing Muslim conquests almost a century after Muhammad. The first use of the terms was in Iraq by Abu Hanifa and his disciples Abu Yusuf and Al-Shaybani. Among those in the Levant, Al-Awza'i was leading in this discipline and later Shafi'i.

The concept of dar al-harb has been affected by the political fragmentation of the Muslim world and has little significance today.

Video Divisions of the world in Islam

Major religious divisions

Dar al-Islam

Dar al-Islam (Arabic: ??? ???????? literally house/abode of Islam; or Dar as-Salam, house/abode of Peace; or Dar al-Tawhid, house/abode of monotheism) is a term used by Muslim scholars to refer to those countries where Muslims can practice their religion as the ruling sect. It is the area of the world under the rule of Islam, literally, "the home of Islam." These are usually Islamic cultures wherein Muslims represent the majority of the population, and so the government promises them a privileged status. Most Dar al-Islam areas are surrounded by other Islamic societies to ensure public protection.

Some modern Muslim scholars believe that the labeling of a country or place as being a part of Dar al-Islam revolves around the question of religious security. This means that if a Muslim practices Islam freely in his place of abode, even though that place happens to be secular or un-Islamic, then he will be considered as living in the Dar al-Islam. Yet, the majority opinion, which relies on tradition, claims that only countries ruled by Sharia can be considered true "abodes of peace."

Dar al-Islam, or house/abode of Submission, is also known and referred to as Dar al-Salam, or house/abode of Peace. The term appears in the Quran in 10.25 and 6.127 as a name of Paradise.

According to Abu Hanifa, considered to be the originator of the concept, the requirements for a country to be part of Dar al-Islam are:

Muslims must be able to enjoy peace and security with and within this country.
The country should be ruled by a Muslim government.
It has common frontiers with some Muslim countries.

Dar al-Harb

Dar al-Harb (Arabic: ??? ?????? "house of war"; also referred to as Dar al-Gharb "house of the West" in later Ottoman sources), aka Dar al-Kufr ( ??? ????? ), literally "Realm of the Heathens" i.e. where the Islamic law is not implemented; an individual from "Dar al-harb" is a "harbi" (Arabic: ?????). Dar al-harb is a term classically referring to those countries where the Muslim law is not in force, in the matter of worship and the protection of the faithful and dhimmis.

According to Majid Khadduri, the fundamental distinction between Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Harb was introduced after the defeat of the Umayyad Caliphate at Battle of Tours in 732 which prevented the expansion of Islam to the north, while at the same time the expansion of the caliphate to the east had been halted.

Wahbah al-Zuhayli argues that the concept of Dar al-Harb in mostly historical: "The existence of D?r al-Isl?m and D?r al-?arb in contemporary times is rare or extremely limited. This is because Islamic countries have joined the United Nations covenant that stipulates relationship between nations is peace and not war. Therefore non-Muslim countries are D?r al-'Ahd ..."

Maps Divisions of the world in Islam

Other ideological perceptions and international relations

Dar al-Hudna

Dar al Hudna (Arabic: ??? ??????? "house of calm"): The land of non-believers currently under a truce, which is a respite between wars. A truce is bought by tribute or agreement. If either the harbis break the conditions for the truce, or after ten years (whichever comes first), hostilities are resumed. Furthermore, only treaties that conform to Islamic prescriptions are valid; if these conditions are not fulfilled, the treaty is worthless.

Dar al-'Ahd, Dar al-Sulh

Dar al-'Ahd (Arabic: ??? ?????? "house of truce") or Dar al-Sulh (Arabic: ??? ?????? "house of conciliation/treaty") are terms used for territories that do have a treaty of non-aggression or peace with Muslims. These terms were used to refer to the Ottoman Empire's relationship with its Christian tributary states.