The Last Crusade; Jihad vs Terrorism
How do we define Islam in one sentence? Some would say peace while others will label Islam as a synonym of "Submission to Allah". From which ever sect (unfortunately) we belong to, all of us as Muslims will agree that Islam is "whatever Rasool (SAW) ordered us to do". We have already concluded it earlier that Quran alone is insufficient for us as it is a book and to read/comprehend a book, you need light to read in and the ability to read and understand. This light and this ability came to us in the form ofU color=#2266cc Prophet Muhammad SAW/U.
During the time Rasool (SAW) lived among the people, whatever he (SAW) said became Islam, following his orders became an act of worship. The question is, what is Islam after the demise of Rasool (SAW)?
A group broke away believing that Rasool (SAW) passed on his authority to Mawla Ali (AS) at U color=#2266ccGadeer/U in the form of U color=#2266ccImamat/U. Mankuntu Mawla or of whom so ever I (Muhammad (SAW)) am Mawla, Fahaza Aliyun Mawla or this Ali (AS) is his Mawla. Sayings and teachings of Imamat became a definite verdict on Islam and it's regulations. But what about the group which believed and still does that no one inherited Rasool (SAW)? For them, Islam has died out, only Islamic Interpretations remain.
Fatwas of any Mullah is not bound to be followed. Opinions and Conjectures have no place in Islam, specially if they do not coincide with absolute Islam.
And most of them do not follow (anything) but conjecture; surely conjecture will not avail aught against the truth; surely Allah is cognizant of what they do.
Quran [10:36]
And if you obey most of those in the earth, they will lead you astray from Allah's way; they follow but conjecture and they only lie. Surely your Lord-- He best knows who goes astray from His way, and He best knows those who follow the right course.
Quran [6:116-117]
Its tragic that today, we don't have Islam amongst us, but only Islamic interpretations. A tragedy bigger than this is when these "Islamic interpretations" are chained by lack of knowledge, Quranic illiteracy, insincerity, extreme ignorance and misalignment from the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). There cannot be a bigger tragedy than this, yet there is which overshadows all others. It is catastrophic to see millions of people, literate and illiterate, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, moderate and extremists, following blindly, such conjectures.
And there are among them illiterates who know not the Book but only lies, and they do but conjecture. Woe, then, to those who write the book with their hands and then say: This is from Allah, so that they may take for it a small price; therefore woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.
Quran [2:78-79]
If i grow a long beard, wear Capri-pants in the form of above ankle shalwars, put a turban or namazi cap (which ever I can afford and look good in) on my head and say that blowing yourself up in police check-posts and Imambargahs and Mosques is Jihad and will grant you Hooris in paradise, it does not imply that it will. Deen e Islam is independent from my opinions/conjectures.
And among men is he whose speech about the life of this world causes you to wonder, and he calls on Allah to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the most violent of adversaries. And when he turns back, he runs along in the land that he may cause mischief in it and destroy the tilth and the stock, and Allah does not love mischief-making. And when it is said to him, guard against (the punishment of) Allah; pride carries him off to sin, therefore hell is sufficient for him; and certainly it is an evil resting place.
Quran [2:204-206]
My conjecture that I am a man of God does not suffice. Do you ever try to think and verify what is being said by so called Imams from Mimbars? Have you ever seen the leaders of the organizations blow themselves up and lead by example? Why does the suicide bomber have to be a young person from a poor family who needs to die in order to support his family? What happened to the Islamic concept of lead by example? Who are the men which Quran speaks about in the verses above?
It is very easy to sum up Jihad in Islamic interpretation today.
And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers.
Quran [2:191]
I will not go into any conspiracy theories as speaking on them is fruitless. Islamic interpretation backed by wahabi finances, in the form of Taliban and other militant organizations, with or without political motives, is to kill nonmuslims and sects of Islam which do not agree with your philosophy in the name of Jihad. This includes bombing educational institutes for women, police and military offices, mosques, Imambargahs, Chinese engineers, United nation activists, BBC/CNN news reporters etc.
Suicide bombing, target killing and killing of unarmed civilians in the name of religion maybe new to the world, but the concept is not. I will not discuss them in detail and neither do I want to create a controversy as I believe this topic should unify all Islamic groups rather than separating them more. But people who are interested and keen to increase their knowledge, and who idolize all of the companions of Prophet (SAW) and try to follow them should read about:
- Abu Bakr's "Jihad" against Muslims who refused to pay Zakat.
- Khalid Bin Waleed's "Jihad" against Banu Jadhimah after disarming them during conquest of Mecca.
- Ayesha's "Jihad" against Mawla Ali (AS)
- "Jihad" of the Kharjites against Mawla Ali (AS)
- Killing of Imam Hussain (AS) with his sons in Kerbala in the name of "Jihad"
- Conquering policy of the "Sheikhayns" in the name of "Jihad"
If Jihad can be done against the grandson of Prophet (SAW), then no one is safe from it. As a matter of fact, Islamic scholars gave fatwa (after being paid) that Hussain (AS) was a traitor against the Islamic state and thus killing him was mandatory. If muslims who refrain to give zakat can be put to sword, then verily, Muslims who do not pray salaat etc, who take out processions in the memory of Hussain (AS) also deserve the sword.
It is not astonishing that the Ahlulbayt (AS), notably Mawla Ali (AS) whose sword was the sole defendant of Islam in Ghazwas, remained in sheath under the conquests of the first three caliphs. Because he (AS) did not agree with the "interpretation" of Jihad the way the scholars did. That is why U color=#2266ccwe emphasize the need to realize who the authorized to-be-followed models were after Rasool SAW/U, whose declarations were not mere interpretations but facts.
Coming back to modern day scenario where militancy is on the rise and extremely difficult to tackle. Their Kharjite-like approach is not out of the blue. Quran had spoken clearly about it.
It has always been very hard to manipulate people, other than using religion. Man was always sentimental about his beliefs and thus it was always used against him. For example, the church would distribute certificates to the people granting them place in paradise. In return, the people would pay the church and be loyal to it. Caliphate of Ummayads, Fatamids etc did the same. Because they were caliphs, they floated the idea that Allah had given them caliphate and so going against them was a sin because that would be like going against the will of Allah.
It is very easy to gain a following in the name of religion. If you tell the people, the truth which is written in the Quran, they will never fall prey to you, thus you need to manipulate them by giving your own tongue to the Quran. Is it a part of Quran to kill namazis in a mosque, be it sunni, shia, wahabi, deobandi etc, in order to gain paradise?
Quran has clearly warned about people who will misguide the common man by distorting the book and it's meaning.
Most surely there is a party amongst those who distort the Book with their tongue that you may consider it to be (a part) of the Book, and they say, It is from Allah, while it is not from Allah, and they tell a lie against Allah whilst they know.
Quran [3:78]
Furthermore,
And thus have We made in every town the great ones to be its guilty ones, that they may plan therein; and they do not plan but against their own souls, and they do not perceive.
Quran [6:123]
Beware of the great ones of your town. Always remember that power changes a man and he will do anything to retain his power and authority. Thus he plans in order to maintain the perks of power. As this article focuses on Jihad, specially the problems in Pakistan region, I would like to point out towards a great one of our town, Zia ul Haqq, who planned the making of Sippah Sahaba Pakistan.
Coming back, the Talibans, the militants and other organizations who want to establish Shariah by killing innocents are doing it right? I believe the Quran answered this one also.
Surely those who disbelieve, it being alike to them whether you warn them, or do not warn them, will not believe. Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing and there is a covering over their eyes, and there is a great punishment for them. And there are some people who say: We believe in Allah and the last day; and they are not at all believers. They desire to deceive Allah and those who believe, and they deceive only themselves and they do not perceive. There is a disease in their hearts, so Allah added to their disease and they shall have a painful chastisement because they lied. And when it is said to them, Do not make mischief in the land, they say: We are but peace-makers. Now surely they themselves are the mischief makers, but they do not perceive. And when it is said to them: Believe as the people believe they say: Shall we believe as the fools believe? Now surely they themselves are the fools, but they do not know.
Quran [2:6-13]
What better matches the description of the "Jihadis"? They believe in Allah thus they shout Allah hu Akbar. They believe in the last day, thus they embrace death by blowing themselves up. They deceive themselves by thinking that they are doing Jihad and helping the cause of Islam. And they claim to be peace-makers, yet their Fitnah is one of the greatest ones in the last millennium, when a father does not know if he will return home after Jummah Prayers, a daughter does not know if she will return home from school without acid on her face. And they refuse to believe, as we fools believe, majorly the belief of protection of lives of innocents and believers.
And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is hell; he shall abide in it, and Allah will send His wrath on him and curse him and prepare for him a painful chastisement.
Quran [4:93]
They have not only misinterpreted Islam badly, they have bought a bad name for it. It may reflect international media's immaturity, but the west calls Muslims, terrorists. They have made Jihad a joke, they have lessened the burden of Jihad for they cannot lift it if it were the Jihad Rasool (SAW) did. Jihad is not as easy to wear a jacket and blow yourself up in someone's funeral.
Jihad was never easy. When you are poor, unemployed, have no family, no luxury and purpose to life, why not end it and gain 70 women in paradise? This is the easiest way out. It is very hard today, to earn by halal means and support your family. It is very easy to kill others but challenging to kill your evil habit. It is very easy today to eliminate a person who does not believe in Allah, but very hard to up bring a child who sincerely believes in Allah. Given the authority, opportunity and strength to commit a sin, it is very very hard overcoming your own desires, but very easy to pull a trigger at some one else. It is very easy to be angry, but very hard to tolerate.
Establishing Shariah was never easy. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) took 23 years to establish Islamic law in an Islamic estate. It is very easy to force and oppress the weak to practice Islamic Shariah you "interpret" as. It is very hard to convince the masses so that they follow it without any compulsion. You want to stone a person who committed adultery? Be my guest. But make sure that he who stones the adulterer must himself be free from adultery, adultery of his own eyes, hands and private parts. You want to cut the hands of a thief, do so. But make sure that you provide an environment where the people do not require theft in order to survive and feed their families. And make sure that the person assigned to cut the fingers of the accused must be free from theft himself, theft/misuse of public treasury, property, dishonesty in business (which is a theft in itself) etc.
It is no doubt that Jihad is worship, incumbent on every able Muslim.
Fighting is enjoined on you, and it is an object of dislike to you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and Allah knows, while you do not know.
Quran [2:216]
Who wants to leave his family, property and face hardships in the way of Allah? It demands a lot of faith in Allah. Note that when the only way out you see is death and when you have no choice, then the believe in Allah and paradise is not out of your own free will, but a result of circumstances you faced. As said earlier, to leave luxuries of life and then strive in the way of Allah is one thing, and to claim to strive in the way of Allah because you have no alternative is another.
The Jihad done under the leadership of Rasool (SAW) was different than the interpretations today. It had rules, it had controls, it had conditions.
And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits. And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers. But if they desist, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors. The Sacred month for the sacred month and all sacred things are (under the law of) retaliation; whoever then acts aggressively against you, inflict injury on him according to the injury he has inflicted on you and be careful (of your duty) to Allah and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).
Quran [2:190-194]
They ask you concerning the sacred month about fighting in it. Say: Fighting in it is a grave matter, and hindering (men) from Allah's way and denying Him, and (hindering men from) the Sacred Mosque and turning its people out of it, are still graver with Allah, and persecution is graver than slaughter; and they will not cease fighting with you until they turn you back from your religion, if they can; and whoever of you turns back from his religion, then he dies while an unbeliever-- these it is whose works shall go for nothing in this world and the hereafter, and they are the inmates of the fire; therein they shall abide.
Quran [2:217]
Therefore let those fight in the way of Allah, who sell this world's life for the hereafter; and whoever fights in the way of Allah, then be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward. And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper. Those who believe fight in the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the Shaitan. Fight therefore against the friends of the Shaitan; surely the strategy of the Shaitan is weak.
Quran [4:74-76]
They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) in Allah's way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper. Except those who reach a people between whom and you there is an alliance, or who come to you, their hearts shrinking from fighting you or fighting their own people; and if Allah had pleased, He would have given them power over you, so that they should have certainly fought you; therefore if they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not given you a way against them. You will find others who desire that they should be safe from you and secure from their own people; as often as they are sent back to the mischief they get thrown into it headlong; therefore if they do not withdraw from you, and (do not) offer you peace and restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and against these We have given you a clear authority.
Quran [4:89-91]
O you who believe! when you go to war in Allah's way, make investigation, and do not say to any one who offers you peace: You are not a believer. Do you seek goods of this world's life! But with Allah there are abundant gains; you too were such before, then Allah conferred a benefit on you; therefore make investigation; surely Allah is aware of what you do.
Quran [4:94]
Therefore if you overtake them (disbelievers) in fighting, then scatter by (making an example of) them those who are in their rear, that they may be mindful. And if you fear treachery on the part of a people, then throw back to them on terms of equality; surely Allah does not love the treacherous. And let not those who disbelieve think that they shall come in first; surely they will not escape. And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them; and whatever thing you will spend in Allah's way, it will be paid back to you fully and you shall not be dealt with unjustly. And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing. And if they intend to deceive you-- then surely Allah is sufficient for you; He it is Who strengthened you with His help and with the believers
Quran [8:57-62]
So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters (who broke the treaty) wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And if one of the idolaters seek protection from you, grant him protection till he hears the word of Allah, then make him attain his place of safety; this is because they are a people who do not know.
Quran [9:5-6]
What! do you think that you will be left alone while Allah has not yet known those of you who have struggled hard and have not taken any one as an adherent besides Allah and His Messenger and the believers; and Allah is aware of what you do.
Quran [9:16]
Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them;
Quran [22:39]
That (shall be so); and he who retaliates with the like of that with which he has been afflicted and he has been oppressed, Allah will most certainly aid him; most surely Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving.
Quran [22:60]
And whoever defends himself after his being oppressed, these it is against whom there is no way (to blame). The way (to blame) is only against those who oppress men and revolt in the earth unjustly; these shall have a painful punishment.
Quran [42:41-42]
So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates. That (shall be so); and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have exacted what is due from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others; and (as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will by no means allow their deeds to perish.
Quran [47:4]
Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice. Allah only forbids you respecting those who made war upon you on account of (your) religion, and drove you forth from your homes and backed up (others) in your expulsion, that you make friends with them, and whoever makes friends with them, these are the unjust.
Quran [60:8-9]
Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.
Quran [9:29]
In a nutshell, Jihad from Quran without any interpretations, stated Ayah by Ayah;
- Fighting in the way of Allah, against those who fight with you is Jihad. This fighting should continue until Allah's religion is established, or the opponents halt their hostility. Limits should not be exceeded even when engaged in Jihad. Allah dislikes aggression.
- Jihad in the sacred months, namely Rajab, Dhilqad, Dhilhajj and Muharram is strictly forbidden, unless provoked.
- Fighting is encouraged against the friends of Satan. This Jihad should only be performed by those whose focus is the hereafter and not this world.
- You cannot fight against anyone who offers peace to you. Similarly, you cannot fight anyone with who you have a treaty with, or with those who are under the protection of the group you are bound with in a treaty. Jihad will be incumbent if the opposition breaks the treaty.
- Investigate before engaging yourself in war. Do not fight with those who offer you peace, labeling them as Kaafirs.
- Fight with courage when in battle. If the enemy offers peace during the process, accept it. Even if the enemy plans to deceive, accept the peace offer and trust Allah.
- Jihad is allowed if the opposition breaks their treaty. It should be continued until the opponent repents and accepts Islam. However, if anyone asks for protection during the battle, then it is the duty of the Islamic soldier to provide it to them until they reach a place of safety.
- Jihad is a way to test the believers and their faith.
- Retaliation is a part of Jihad. This also includes defense against oppression.
- Execution in battle is allowed. Prisoners if caught should be set free as a favor or be ransomed once the war terminates.
- Jihad is extremely forbidden against those who are not hostile to you because of your religion. Infact such nonmuslims should be dealt with kindness and respect.
- Nonmuslims living in an Islamic state, who refuse to pay Jizya should be fought with.
Keeping in mind the above rules set by Allah, we can clearly see how killing of unarmed civilians, even if they are Jews living in Israel, can not be termed as Jihad, but is obviously cruelty. How then can killing Shias or Sunnis in mosques be termed as Jihad?
Shias are criticized because of the bodily harm they cause during U color=#2266ccmourning/U. In the eyes of many Sunnis, to harm one's own body is forbidden. Why not then the same Muftis pass fatwas against suicide bombings? To cry for Hussain (AS) is a sin but to blow yourself up in market places killing women and children is holy war? This makes alot of sense!
Unfortunately for Mullahism, you cannot bomb America for America does not wage it's war against Islam. Are there not Mosques and Imambargahs, even Madressahs in the US itself? Islam promotes kindness to nonbelievers and protection to prisoners of wars etc, so that they get attracted to Islam through the behavior and character of Muslims. It is more important for Islam to increase the number of true Muslims rather than decrease the number of pagans.
High profile and learned people should have the guts to openly tell the public why suicide bombing and talibanisation is anti-Islamic. Any soft spot for militants should be eliminated, for militancy is what Quran has described 1400 years earlier:
Their parable is like the parable of one who kindled a fire but when it had illumined all around him, Allah took away their light, and left them in utter darkness-- they do not see. Deaf, dumb (and) blind, so they will not turn back.
Quran [2:17-18]
Awareness should be created amongst the ignorant. The government should take measures to ensure that the youth of the nation sees a future for itself rather than a dead end.
Jihad is to fight in the name of Allah, for the name of Allah. If you fight for political powers, it is an action of your own lust. National ideologies have changed. It's a war of finances, a war of technology, a war of resources. It is time leaders stop using the people in the name of religion. Russian invasion of Afghanistan was not an attack on Islam. Were the Islamic community united with one caliph or leader and no borders, attack on one place would be termed as an attack on all. As it is not the case today, Afghanis have the right to defend themselves as nationalists. Since when did fighting for Afghanistan translate into fighting for Allah? What was the motive behind Iran-Iraq war? Political or religious?
And if those who disbelieve fight with you, they would certainly turn (their) backs, then they would not find any protector or a helper. Such has been the course of Allah that has indeed run before, and you shall not find a change in Allah's course.
Quran [48:22-23]
Allah disgraces the disbelievers. We as Muslims have been disgraced throughout the world. We have been looked down upon. We are considered the un-touchables. We face defeat in every field, of science, technology, finances, battlefield. We are being massacred by Muslims and nonmuslims, in our homes, shops, schools, mosques. Today, we have no protector or helper and thus we turn our faces towards the west for help. We are eating what we had grown ourselves in our farms, after sowing the seeds of hatred, division and ignorance. U color=#2266ccWe deserve what we are going through/U. Until we hold fast to the rope of Allah, I am afraid our sufferings would not ease.
On the day when their faces shall be turned back into the fire, they shall say: O would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger! And they shall say: O our Lord! surely we obeyed our leaders and our great men, so they led us astray from the path; O our Lord! give them a double punishment and curse them with a great curse.
Quran [33:66-68]
It is time we stop following our leaders and great men, our political party leaders, our presidents, and start following Rasool (SAW). Just to touch and hint on the subject, every political leader when speaks to the public talks about the vision of Quaid e Azam, the Bhuttos, the Sharifs. Did anyone ever mention the vision of Rasool (SAW) and Mawla Ali (AS) for an Islamic state and strived to achieve that? On other thoughts, seeing what a military president did to Pakistan in the name of Islam in the eightys, it is better for the country to not entangle itself in the name of religion. Why step in a territory (ISLAM) which is unknown to the clerics themselves?
Shias should also remember that the Jihad the Imams did after Kerbala was in prisons, battling thirst and hunger, displaying magnificent patience. Their Jihad was with their pens, not with the sword. To cleanse yourself such that you can carry the Flag of Abbas (AS), and be a member of the army of Imam Mahdi (AS) is a greater Jihad. Try to remove the impurities within you, arrogance, ignorance, jealousy, lack of piety, dishonesty, fraud, try to protect your eyes and private parts etc and you will know the meaning of Jihad.
The mischief of extremism is a product of their cowardice. Throwing acid on girls on their way to school, and then running away on motorcycles is not Jihad. Being a Muslim is some thing extreme, the militants should first prove their being humans. For their actions resemble that of a pack of wild insane dogs, who bite off the flesh of any living creature within their sight, in order to satisfy their lust and dictate their dominance.
Mullahs should first fight amongst themselves as to determine whose interpretation of Shariah should be implemented. And people should ponder over as to who finances the militants. Zakat money should be very carefully distributed. You might be sponsoring a weapon for Jihadis in your own carelessness and ignorance.
U color=#2266ccShias of Ali AS /Uhave always been on the receiving end. Being slaughtered is not new for the Imams, neither for their sincere followers. Being labeled as "Wajib ul Qatl" gives us a sense of pride. There will always be two groups of people in all areas of life, the oppressor and the oppressed. Is not Allah with the oppressed?
It is time, we, the Muslims, shun our differences and unite to fight terrorism and extremism. If the educated argue like ignorants, with each other, without knowledge and tolerance, throwing abuses at one another, we should not blame the illiterate who follow the conjectures of their Mullahs (of which ever sect) blindly.
To kill a mischief maker, who initiates aggression in the name of Religion is Jihad. The only Jihad a suicide bomber does during his life is, when he kills himself. Because of all the victims he targets, his own life is most worthy to be eliminated for the betterment of Islam. |
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Topic: The Last Crusade; Jihad vs Terrorism
