The Varying Scope of the Concept of  Wage War amidst the Social and Economic Security

The verse 33 of al-Ma’idah in the Holy Qur’an is considered to be one of the most important verses that deals with a certain criminal act, muÎÁribah. This verse describes in detail the judgement against those who wage war against Allah and His Apostle. Numerous questions have been raised as to the meaning of the term ‘muhÁrib’ and a person or persons to which the term can be applied. In answering the above question, there have been serious disagreements among the Twelver ShiÝi scholars in the two realms of economic and social security. The present research seeks to examine the differences of opinion among the early and late faqihs and Qur’anic exegetes, trying to make clear the root meaning of the word muhÁribah, the occasion of revelation of the verse in which the mentioned term finds its expression and the traditions received from the Ahl al-bayt (the Prophet Muhammad’s progeny) which serve as interpretations of the verse in question. Basing the arguments on ample evidence in this regard, the article comes to this conclusion that the term ‘muharibah’ ,as used in the verse, can be taken to mean ‘endangering the security of the Muslim society with the intention of taking possessions of the things belonging to others’. This definition, in addition to being in line with the ‘occasion of revelation’ of the verse, is consistent with the root meaning of war or ‘Îarb’, and the interpretations offered based on the views of the infallible Imams.