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Aslam AbuIsmaeel
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« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2008, 09:16:27 AM » |
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Assalamu alaikum
Yes, many people have indeed distorted the appealing message of Islam by a false idea of the concept of Jihad.
How would we explain the real concept of Jihad to non-Muslims?
A rather simple and natural way I explain the concept of Jihad in Islam is by saying that Jihad is nothing different to what every western and eastern nation on earth today and in history has found to be a fair and just right of all nations - i.e. to protect itself against aggressors and that is all Jihad is. Even Australia and the US as well as European nations uphold this right and give other nations the same right - and so does the Quran give us this right!
Jihad in arabic refers to 'striving to do something'. When coupled with 'fighting', Jihad refers to a battle between two nations. For what? Jihad in Islam refers to a Muslim nation protecting itself - militarily if need be in a proper legitimate battle on the battle field - against aggressors against its members. Jihad does not mean a war against civillians in civillian quarters with suicide bombs etc - this is not what Jihad is.
As for the proper concept of Jihad as expounded in Islam, i.e. right to protect oneself, is something that every nation on earth today regards as its right.
The United States as well as Australia and other nations today all regard the Islamic Concept of Jihad as their own right and try to exercise it whenever required. However, sadly, these two nations may not always abide by the humane guidelines shown in Islam for those engaging in a war to protect itself and its welfare! Whereas in history we always find that Muslims who were following the guidance of Islam, never oppressed others.
Why is it called "Jihad in the path of Allah"?
One Answer: In the path of Allah means it is in the path of the most basic and fundamental human rights as opposed to wars we find at times today that people say are in the path for power, for oil, for wealth, for exploitation of the week etc. In Quran, it says, "... in the path of Allah" in order to make it clear that it is for such fundamental rights as freedom to worship, choose a religion without being forced, to live without crime etc. The Quran mentions "In the path of Allah" to make it clear that it is for this humane purpose and not for exploitation, power, oil, wealth etc. It also encourages the people to make their intentions for Allah seeking reward via good deeds rather than striving for power, wealth etc at the expense of the innocent!
Why does the Quran refer to Jihad and fighting in many verses?
The Quran mentions 'Jihad' and 'fighting' in order to stop senseless wars and killing. How is this? The Quran mentions 'Jihad' and 'fighting' attempting to reform the leaders of nations to not fight for self-indulgence, for power & wealth for oneself, for oppressing others etc. Rather, the Quran frequently keeps reminding the rulers of nations and its military forces to fear God and not oppress people, to fear God and not fight for the short lived pleasures of this life which drive people to oppress others. Instead it says, as described above, to only every engage in a war as a nation in order to protect its people. The reason Quran mentions Jihad in many verses is to inculcate a nature in military folks to be humane on the battle field if they had to go into one. Instead of being silent about a necessity of life, i.e. to engage in war when need be, the Quran mentions it on many occasions reminding the people that it should not be for self-interests but rather for the protection. As the Prophet said, "Do not look forward to fight (in a battle), but if it happened, then know that Paradise lays under the shade of the sword." This clearly shows to Muslims and all humanity that they should not be war-mongers and should try to avoid a conflict as much as possible seeking peaceful means to resove military conflicts. But it acknowledges that there are at times tyrants who listen to no encouragement toward kindness or justice, and for such occasions where there is no alternative but to face them on a battlefield, the Prophet strengthened their resolve to be courageous on the battle field for the sake of a just and humane cause.
Are the suicide bomb attacks on civillians in normal streets Jihad?
This - i.e. suicide bomb attacks on civillians in normal streets - is not what Jihad is. What is worse about this mistaken claim and concept of Jihad is that these killings are done in a Muslim country and most of the people targetted and killed are Muslims! Had the people who do this been religious Muslims doing for religion, then surely all Muslims agree Jihad is not against their own country and people - perhaps then this is NOT driven by religious Muslims for religion but rather by power brokers for the sake of power whatever their religion may be. These bombings are not Jihad, rather they are a misrepresentation of Islam and the simple concept of Jihad that otherwise all humans accept to be their own right for protection! Many Muslims feel that these attacks are not even the doing of Muslims but rather of mercenaries who do it for money and power with little care of religion or piety.
A Few Further notes about 'Jihad' on battlefield
Note One: Right to choose religion and minority law for minorities is a fundamental human right respected by Islam more than any other system of beliefsAn important point to realise is that one of the most fundamental right of every human being - for which they are allowed to fight to defend that right - is the right to worship God and choose their religion. This is a right that Islam and Muslims have always respected for all human beings. Non-Muslims living in Islamic countries that were Islamic, therein even the non-Muslims were not forced by Muslims to accept Islam. Moreover the non-Muslims were given the right to practise among each other any law of their own religion and were not forced to follow the law of Islam. This freedom and liberty is a characteristic of Islam that rarely another religion can ever boast. As for other religions - including atheistic or secular - their countries today do not allow other minority communities living in their country to practise a law of their own amongst themselves, only Islam allows such freedom and liberty and this shows that it is true in its claim of not forcing religion on anyone while seeking the freedom to worship for themselves as well.
Note Two: Why does it seem that fighting in Quran seems to refer always to fighting against non-Muslims?
This is incorrect. The Quran ordains Muslim to fight to protect their nation be it against Muslims or non-Muslims. But most of the Quran is trying to reform people to be fair, just and to not transgress against other people's rights. But it is only the Muslims who read and accept these calls in the Quran to sociable living amicably. Therefore, it is rare to find practising Muslims ever invading a Muslim nation unjustly and oppressively - in fact they do not even do this to a non-Muslim nation due to the Quran reforming them well. But as for some amongst non-Muslims, they may have nothing to reform their inhumane desires and it is them who are most likely to be aggressive unjustly against a Muslim nation and thus it is from them the Quran exhorts the Muslims to engage in a battle to protect their own rights. History testifies that it has almost always been non-Muslim nations (or their non-practising, Muslim-in-name-only-merceneries who have ever fought against a Muslim nation.
As for the rare occasion of a Muslim group fighting a Muslim nation there are proportionate number of verses in the Quran that deal with fighting in such cases, as in Surah Hujurat in the Quran. But because the Quran's reforming verses work well to prevent such aggression by Muslims, therefore, the verses of fighting in such a case are few whereas most verses of fighiting in a battle refer to those people who most commonly fight against Muslims, i.e. some but not all non-Muslims. That is why the Quran is very clear about dealing justly and righteously with non-Muslims who do not fight Muslims etc. Fighting is only to do with those who fight Muslims and drive them from their homes etc, as mentioned in the Quran.
Summary about Jihad in Islam
So, we see from that which preceded that Jihad in Islam is not a 'holy war' - rather no war is holy as such! Muslims are encouraged to seek to avoid fighting. Given the bitter reality and presence of oppressive aggressors, if the Muslims had to fight, then it ought only to be in a humane manner and for protection of the Muslim nation from these aggressors. In such situations they are encouraged in clear terms to be courageous and brave. It is to be in the path of Allah, meaning in a humane manner and for protection of people, as opposed to other wrong paths of oppression, power, wealth etc. So, the concept of Jihad in Islam is not the one presented by many in media, rather it is a very balanced concept that no realistic human would deny and every nation on earth takes it as their own basic right, i.e. right to fight a war in order to protect their nation, its members, their welfare and interests against tyrants and aggressors. Jihad is just an arabic word for something that the whole humanity acceptes and regards to be every nations right to protect itself against aggressors. Jihad is not suicide bombers killing the civilians in a city - that is not Jihad!!
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