Divisions of the world in Islam

In classical Islamic law, there are two major divisions of the world which are dar al-Islam (lit. 'territory of Islam'), denoting regions where Islamic law prevails, and dar al-harb (lit. territory of war), denoting lands which have not concluded an armistice with dar al-Islam and lands that were once a part of the dar al-Islam, but no longer are. Muslims regard Islam as a universal religion and believe it to be the rightful law for all humankind. Muslims are imposed to spread Sharia law and sovereignty through lesser jihad against dar al-harb. According to Islam, this should first be attempted peacefully through Dawah^{[citation needed]}. In the case of war, Muslims are imposed to eliminate fighters until they surrender or seek peace and pay the Jizya if subdued.

The Arabic singular form dar (دار), 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 dars the Quran 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".

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 Al-Shafi'i.

The concept of dar al-harb has been affected by historical changes such as the political fragmentation of the Muslim world. The theoretical distinction between dar al-Islam and dar al-harb is widely considered inapplicable, and many contemporary Islamic jurists regard the Western world as part of the former, since Muslims can freely practise and proselytize their faith in Western countries. The Qur’an directs Muslims to spread the message of Islam worldwide declaring it to be a religion for all humankind.

Early Islamic legal theory divided the world into two divisions: "abode of Islam" and "abode of war". The first, called dar al-Islam, sometimes Pax Islamica, consisted of Muslims and non-Muslims living under Islamic sovereignty. The second was dar al-harb, ruled by non-Muslims and specifically infidels. Another secondary division of Dar al-'Ahd was assigned for territories ruled by non-Muslims that have a treaty of non-aggression or peace with Muslims, effectively an intermediate status between the two major divisions.

Dar al-Islam (Arabic: دار الإسلام lit. 'house/abode of Islam'; or dar at-Tawhid lit. 'house/abode of monotheism') was a term used by Ulama (Muslim legal scholars) to refer to those countries under Muslim sovereignty, sometimes considered "the home of Islam" or Pax Islamica. Dar al-Islam meaning "house/abode of Islam" is also referred to as dar al-salam or "house/abode of peace". In the Quran (10.25 and 6.127) this term refers to Paradise in Heaven.

Dar al-Islam consisted of Muslims and non-Muslims, with the latter living as dhimmis (protected persons). The non-Muslims had the right to their own law and religion in exchange for paying the jizya. While Muslims enjoyed full civil rights, non-Muslims were given partial civil rights. However, both Muslims and non-Muslims were equal in their claim to security and being protected from attack. For example, if an enemy seized dar al-Islam's citizens, the state was obliged to free them, whether they were Muslim or non-Muslim.

Likewise, in foreign affairs, the Muslim government represented both its Muslim and non-Muslim citizens. Relations between Muslims and non-Muslims were regulated by "constitutional charters" (special agreements issued by the authorities), and these agreements recognized the personal law of each non-Muslim community (the Jewish community, Christian community etc). Non-Muslims could access Islamic courts if they wished.