Islam, like other major religious traditions, recognizes that warfare is an extreme and undesirable human activity, but it also lays down conditions under which the use of force can be considered legitimate. Islamic teachings on war are primarily derived from the Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, and they were later interpreted by classical jurists into a framework that resembles many modern principles of international humanitarian law. Within this framework, warfare is not viewed as an unrestricted right of the state or ruler, but as a measure that can only be justified in clearly defined circumstances. The first circumstance that legitimizes warfare in Islam is self-defense. The Qur’an permits Muslims to fight when they are attacked or when their lives, property, and community are threatened by external aggression. This principle establishes that war cannot be initiated merely for conquest, expansion, or revenge. Fighting is allowed only to repel an actual attack or to prevent an imminent one.