Hudna - the Islamic Tactical Pause

[FlyersFan]

To the West, a 'Ceasefire' is something that happens when both sides want to stop fighting and want to work towards peace.   In Islam there is a concept known as 'Hudna' which is their version of a ceasefire but no peace is worked for.  It's a tactical pause.   A chance to rebuild and reload, then go back for more war at a later time.

The people of Gaza use this all the time.  A tactical pause with no intention of making peace.  Just a chance to gather up the dead bodies, reload, and engage again after getting a few nights of sleep.

The West (and Israel) probably have a different view of what a ceasefire is than Iran.  Iran is probably just taking a pause to regroup and reload.   Trump might want to tone down the 'we have an end to the war and we have peace' talk.   It's way too early for that language and it's almost certainly not true.

Do the Iranians View this Ceasefire as a Temporary Tactical Pause Known as Hudna in Islam?

There are many people out there that seem to think that the Iranians have essentially surrendered by agreeing to this ceasefire, but that is not the case at all.  The Iranians still hate the United States, they still hate Israel, and they still plan to move forward with their nuclear program.  Ultimately, their long-term goals have not changed at all.  But a ceasefire is certainly strategically advantageous for the Iranians at this moment, and so they eagerly embraced President Trump’s proposal.  Unfortunately, those that believe that this ceasefire is the end of the story are way off base.
 
In the western world, we tend to view a ceasefire as a complete cessation of hostilities that leads to permanent peace.  But in Islam, a ceasefire is viewed very differently.  Islamic law allows for a temporary “tactical pause” in hostilities known as a “Hudna”, and it is considered to be a time to rearm and regroup in order to continue the fight later.  A “Hudna” is not a permanent commitment, and it does not require Muslims to abandon their long-term goals.

More on HUDNA at the link with historical examples

And something that wasn't shown on American TV ... tells you what Iranian leadership is really thinking ... from just two days ago ...

General Ebrahim Jabbari, senior advisor to the IRGC commander-in-chief and former commander of Supreme Leader Khamenei’s security unit, appeared on Channel 3 (Iran) on June 23, 2025. He suggested that the U.S. may have joined the conflict because Iran was on the verge of annihilating Israel. Jabbari stated that Iranians must “chop off President Trump’s hand” and “slit Netanyahu’s throat.” He also claimed that American military bases and warships in the region could be eliminated “in the blink of an eye,” and that Israel itself must be annihilated.

[quintessentone]

Let the mutual demonization begin.

[FlyersFan]

Let the mutual demonization begin.

Stating that there is a 'tactical pause concept' in Islam, and showing the historical references for it, and showing that Iran has stated that they aren't going to stop, isn't 'demonization'.  It's just historical fact.   Truth is truth.   Trump stating that 'the war is over' and that there is 'peace' ... most likely isn't true.

[quintessentone]

Stating that there is a 'tactical pause concept' in Islam, and showing the historical references for it, and showing that Iran has stated that they aren't going to stop, isn't 'demonization'.  It's just historical fact.   Truth is truth.   Trump stating that 'the war is over' and that there is 'peace' ... most likely isn't true.

Do you want to hear the other side? I will assume you do.

[FlyersFan]

Do you want to hear the other side? I will assume you do.

Your post has nothing to do with the topic.  

The topic is Hudna and that the two different cultures involved with the Iran/Israel conflict have two different ideas as to what a cease fire actually is for.   Trump is saying that the war is over.   But it most likely is not.

[UltraBudgie]

linguistically, "ھُدْنَة" (hudna) represents:

• calm(ness), quietness, peace, tranquility, stillness‎
• pause, intermission, cessation‎
• truce, armistice

https://www.arabicstudentsdictionary.com/search?q=hudna

the word you're looking for that is a direct translation of "cease-fire" is "وقف إطلاق النار" (waqf 'iitlaq alnaar), for example as used in this bbc headline:

Highlights of the Iran-Israel ceasefire
أبرز النقاط حول وقف إطلاق النار بين إيران وإسرائيل
('abraz alniqat hawl waqf 'iitlaq alnaar bayn 'iiran wa'iisrayiyl)

https://www.bbc.com/arabic/articles/c93kl31vvvko

but as to the political dimension, wikipedia has this:

Hudna in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

In English, the term is most frequently used in reference to a ceasefire agreement in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, particularly one that would involve organizations such as Hamas. The concept was also proposed to reduce violence in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians by a Queen's University Belfast Professor in the period of 1999–2003 as a result of protracted negotiations with the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and abroad in countries like Lebanon and Syria. Some others claim that Israeli businessman Eyal Erlich in 2001, after seeing a hudna being declared in order to calm a feud in Jordan (cf. Haaretz, January 2, 2002); introduced the idea, unsuccessfully, that Israel should suggest a mutual hudna as a prelude to a more lasting peace.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudna

note the bit about "a more lasting peace"; if the intention is to indicate a permanent cease-fire, hudna is not the word to use. militarily, it more indicates a state of armistice, such as what exists between the usa and north korea.

[quintessentone]

Your post has nothing to do with the topic.  

The topic is Hudna and that the two different cultures involved with the Iran/Israel conflict have two different ideas as to what a cease fire actually is for.   Trump is saying that the war is over.   But it most likely is not.

It's an eye-opening video with historical references which may diminish your cherry-picking Iranian military personnel quotes of anger after bombing their cities/peoples, you should watch it if only to understand why they are angry.

[FlyersFan]

note the bit about "a more lasting peace"; if the intention is to indicate a permanent cease-fire, hudna is not the word to use. militarily, it more indicates a state of armistice, such as what exists between the usa and north korea.

Excellent on topic information.   

That's interesting.  Hudna is more of an armistice then.   
Not really a ceasefire, and not an end to a war.
I wonder if Trumps people are explaining this stuff to him.
He's running around saying 'the 12 day war is over'. 
It's not over.

[quintessentone]

Excellent on topic information.   

That's interesting.  Hudna is more of an armistice then.   
Not really a ceasefire, and not an end to a war.
I wonder if Trumps people are explaining this stuff to him.
He's running around saying 'the 12 day war is over'. 
It's not over.

Trump's secondary desire is getting a peace prize, we must remember his priorities in all of this.

[UltraBudgie]

It's not over.

ah, well, no war is ever over in this ole world, is it?

there's those who still haven't forgotten culloden, for example.