Sublime

Islam traditionally has divided the world into two realms: “the abode of Islam/peace” (dar al-Islam/salam), where Islam dominates, and “the abode of war” (dar al-harb), where the rule of Islam should be extended—by war, if necessary.

According to the precept of badal, any injustice—no matter how slight—must be avenged. If a man suffers even the relatively minor insult of a personal taunt, for example, the insulted party must shed the taunter’s blood; if the taunter flees before justice can be carried out, the blood of his closest male relative must be shed in his stead. Endeavo

In Islam prophecy reaches its perfection in discovering the need of its own abolition.4 This involves the keen perception that life cannot for ever be kept in leading strings; that, in order to achieve full self-consciousness, man must finally be thrown back on his own resources.

The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.