Making a mockery of jihad By Asghar Ali Engineer
This has relevance to Pakistan also. t
Recent terror attacks in India and abroad have created an impression that jihad is central to Koranic teaching. First of all, as we have asserted repeatedly, jihad does not mean war in the Koran as there are other words for it like qital and harb. Jihad has been used in the Koran in its root meaning: to strive for betterment of society, to spread goodness (maruf) and contain evil (munkar).
But supposing jihad means war, as some Muslims believe, even then it still isn't central to Koranic teachings. The word "jihad" occurs in the Koran 41 times though not a single verse uses it in the sense of war. The four most fundamental values in the Koran are justice ('adl), benevolence (ihsan), compassion (rahmah) and wisdom (hikmah). Thus, the Koran is an embodiment of these values and a Muslim is duty-bound to practice them above all.
One who fails to practice these values can hardly claim to be a true Muslim. Jihad is not even obligatory in Islamic jurisprudence whereas these values are indicative of a Muslim's character and hence quite important. It can be said that compassion is most central to Koranic teachings. The words "compassion" and "mercy" in their various forms occur in the Koran 335 times.
There is great emphasis in the Koran on justice in all social and political matters and it uses three words for justice - 'adl, qist and hakama. These three words occur 244 times in the Koran. To seek revenge is human weakness, not strength. Thus, a devout Muslim tends to forgive, like Allah who forgives his servants if they sincerely repent. Those who are waging jihad in the form of terror attacks are bent upon seeking revenge whereas a good Muslim would tend to forgive just as Allah does.
In sharia law, jihad can be declared only by the state or those empowered by it. Terror attacks, on the other hand, are planned and executed by a few individuals unrepresentative of any state or state institution. So their attacks cannot be legitimate by any Islamic or sharia law. That is nothing but committing the murder of innocent people. Also, according to Islamic laws, in jihad no non-combatant can be attacked, much less women, children and the elderly and no civilian property can be destroyed unless it is being used for military purposes or for purposes of combat.
Recent terror attacks in India and abroad have created an impression that jihad is central to Koranic teaching. First of all, as we have asserted repeatedly, jihad does not mean war in the Koran as there are other words for it like qital and harb. Jihad has been used in the Koran in its root meaning: to strive for betterment of society, to spread goodness (maruf) and contain evil (munkar).
But supposing jihad means war, as some Muslims believe, even then it still isn't central to Koranic teachings. The word "jihad" occurs in the Koran 41 times though not a single verse uses it in the sense of war. The four most fundamental values in the Koran are justice ('adl), benevolence (ihsan), compassion (rahmah) and wisdom (hikmah). Thus, the Koran is an embodiment of these values and a Muslim is duty-bound to practice them above all.
One who fails to practice these values can hardly claim to be a true Muslim. Jihad is not even obligatory in Islamic jurisprudence whereas these values are indicative of a Muslim's character and hence quite important. It can be said that compassion is most central to Koranic teachings. The words "compassion" and "mercy" in their various forms occur in the Koran 335 times.
There is great emphasis in the Koran on justice in all social and political matters and it uses three words for justice - 'adl, qist and hakama. These three words occur 244 times in the Koran. To seek revenge is human weakness, not strength. Thus, a devout Muslim tends to forgive, like Allah who forgives his servants if they sincerely repent. Those who are waging jihad in the form of terror attacks are bent upon seeking revenge whereas a good Muslim would tend to forgive just as Allah does.
In sharia law, jihad can be declared only by the state or those empowered by it. Terror attacks, on the other hand, are planned and executed by a few individuals unrepresentative of any state or state institution. So their attacks cannot be legitimate by any Islamic or sharia law. That is nothing but committing the murder of innocent people. Also, according to Islamic laws, in jihad no non-combatant can be attacked, much less women, children and the elderly and no civilian property can be destroyed unless it is being used for military purposes or for purposes of combat.
posted by temporal at 10/11/2008
1 Comments:
True that Jihad is being abused by fanatics but then it's being abused by both leftist and right wing fanatics.leftist liberals abusing it by REFUSING to accept the real meaning of Jihad. No where in Quran it was said that Jihad via Sword is NOT allowed while Liberals who prefer to surrender infront of West don't want to accept the reality that the prophet told various kind of Jihads including "to fight with enemy".
It's lame babbling that state should start Jihad. Talking about Pakistani state where state rulers are busy to lick toe of Western masters, which state ruler will order for Jihad.
Ironically, West's propaganda is religiously embraced by our liberals who follow their orders more than Koran.
We need to getrid of Liberal and Right Wing Mullahs who want to impose their own version of Jihad.
Surah Tauba clearly talks about Jihad via Sword as a last resort when enemy is crossing limits. Quran didn't say to give them roses while they are killing our people via drones.
I think liberal machinaries should come out of fools paradise and start writing against terrorism started by America rather asking us to accept this war as our war
We don't need dictations by Liberals at all! Pakistanis knows that America created the whole fuss which is uncontrollable by us.
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