TEN MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM (12); Misconception 7 contd:- Another reason advanced in support of the misconception is that the Creator has imposed `jihad on us. The term holy war is from the time of the Crusades and originated in Europe as a rallying cry against the Muslims in Jerusalem. Jihad is an Arabic word meaning struggle, but in the context of many verses in the Quran, it carries the meaning of military struggle, or war. Allah gradually introduced the obligation of military struggle to the Muslim community at the time of the Messenger (saas). The first verse ever revealed in that connection is as follows (translation), [22:39] 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; This verse lays down the precondition for all war in Islam: there must exist certain oppressive conditions on the people. The Creator unequivocally orders us to fight oppression and persecution, even at the expense of bloodshed as the following verse shows (translation), [2:190-192] And fight in the cause 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 where they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the reward 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. As one might imagine, the method of military struggle has been clearly and extensively defined in the Quran and Sunnah. Since this subject is a huge one, we simply summarize part of it by noting that it is unlawful to kill women, children, the infirm, the old, and the innocent. From the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find: [4:52:257] Narrated Abdullah: During some of the Ghazawat of the Prophet a woman was found killed. Allahs Apostle disapproved the killing of women and children. A related misconception to jihad is often propagated by Muslims who say that Jihad is only for self- defense of physical borders. The Quran and Sunnah refute this notion categorically. As the verses cited above show, jihad is obligatory wherever there is injustice, and Muslims need not acknowledge imaginary lines around the earth when it comes to upholding this obligation. The Messenger of Allah (saas) has also commented on this extensively in the Sunnah. From the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find that, [4:52:65] Narrated Abu Musa: A man came to the Prophet and asked, A man fights for war booty; another fights for fame and a third fights for showing off; which of them fights in Allahs Cause? The Prophet said, He who fights that Allahs Word (i.e. Islam) should be superior, fights in Allahs Cause. TO BE CONTINUED ON THIS MISCONCEPTION AGAIN INSHA ALLAH.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:33:49 +0000
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