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Islamic concept of Jihad
by Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
The killing of innocent people is terrorism
irrespective of the fact whether they are Muslims or not. It is also
terrorism to murder the peaceful people regardless of their being in
state of war even if they are not fighting a war with you directly.
Victimizing the children, the old, the women and also targeting the
worship-places and hospitals fall in the domain of terrorism. It
also includes the efforts aimed at spreading harassment, creating
disturbance, staging sit-ins, forcing people to go on strikes and
targeting the worship-places of other religions. Attacking human,
religious, political, social and cultural rights is also terrorism.
Jihad and terrorism have no relation with
each other nor is there anything in common between them. On the
other hand Jihad stands for the eradication of terrorism.
Jihad-bil-qital is characterized by ending terrorism. But if !
threats are posed to human life, property and honor, fighting for
defending these areas is called Jihad.
It is not meant for
grabbing wealth. Expansionist designs have nothing to do with the
Islamic concept of Jihad. Every Charter of Human Rights terms taking
up of arms against injustice and unwanted blood-letting, crushing
down of rebellion and revolt, uprooting of conspiracies, violence
and mischief-mongering as not only being legal but also making it
binding. All that is done with a view to making the earth safe. When
any individual or party transgresses its limits and encroaches upon
others' rights, only in that case the Holy Quran enjoins upon
believers to wage Jihad, so that mischief-mongering is halted and
peace comes to our planet, earth.
The concept of Jihad
is one of the highly misunderstood Islamic concepts. Unfortunately
the West sees it as mere fighting against disbelief and the West.
While some extremist religious groups who declare their activities
as Jihad, are presenting Islam in a fanatic and emotional way giving
a distorted picture of Islam. So the West has wrongly conceived
terrorist activities as Islamic Jihad. Islamic concept of
Jihad has
absolutely no link with terrorism, extremism or barbarism. Jihad
means struggle for good and elimination of evil. The spiritual
struggle for self-purification of the soul is the greatest Jihad
declared by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). This is known as Jihad-e-Akbar.
According to the Prophet's tradition this is an exclusive struggle
for moral excellence, ethical perfection and spiritual purification
of mankind.
Another form of Jihad is for the promotion of knowledge. Similarly
spending wealth for the poor is "jihad bill maal". Providing jobs,
economic stability and prosperity falls in the same category.
Humanitarian activities are also fighting for "Haq". Haq means truth
and lawful rights.
The
armed Jihad doesn't allow killing of the innocent, women, aged, children and patients. Moreover
Jihad does not allow destruction of property and inhuman acts of
cruelty. Jihad is not allowed without the permission of Islamic
government. And if there is no Islamic government at least there
should be consensus of Ummah. So there should be a Shoora or a
national meeting.
If
Ulema and religious organizations, without adopting proper legal and
juristic way, start declaring Jihad on their own this would just
create "Fitna", disintegration and disruption. Then there will be no
limits and the followers of various scholars and r! religious
leaders can start fighting against one another on any point. This
undisciplined and unorganized way is neither recognized by Islam nor
accepted and supported by any authentic Islamic source.
That
is one of the reasons why majority of the Muslims around the globe
have not accepted this form of call for Jihad by religious
extremists and fanatics. They understand that they cannot be caught
away with the Mulla's emotional speeches and that it is more a
political game rather than saving faith and faithful.
Mr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
is a prominent Pakistani scholar and politician.
Source:
by courtesy & ©
200 1 Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
by the same author:
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© 2001 Media Monitors Network. All rights reserved.
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