There has been ceaseless debate going on the page of my friend Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr and the subject of Jehad has been touched several times over. For instance, on one occasion, friend Saby Ganguly writes:
“JIHAD: OH, WHAT A SHAME
Nasar, Masih & Co., at various stages of our debate on Islam and Hinduism, have upheld Jihad as a noble Islamic concept. Their central theme has been that there is nothing sinister about the concept. Well, let's see what prominent Sunni Muslim leader in Egypt has to say about Jihad. So, here we go: QUOTE:"We are at a time of Jihad; Jihad for the sake of Allah is a pleasure. Mohammed's followers used to compete to do it. THE REASON WE ARE POOR now is because we have abandoned jihad. If only we can conduct a Jihadist invasion AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR or possibly two or three times, then MANY PEOPLE ON EARTH WOULD BECOME MUSLIMS. And if anyone prevents our dawa or stands in our way, then WE MUST KILL THEM or TAKE AS HOSTAGE and CONFISCATE THEIR WEALTH, WOMEN and CHILDREN. Such battles will FILL THE POCKETS OF MUJAHIDS who can return home with 3 or 4 slaves, 3 or 4 WOMEN and 3 or 4 CHILDREN. This can be a PROFITABLE business if you multiply each head by 300 or 400 dirhams. This can be like financial shelter whereby a jihadist, in time of financial need, can always sell one of these heads. No one can make that much money in one deal even if a Muslim goes to the West to work or do trade. In time of need, that is a good resource for profit."
Reacting to this comment, friend Rahul Shastri writes: “Jihadi views are a shame to mankind, for instance, quoted by Sabyji in this discussion. Honest muslims should courageously come out in the open and condemn them. That alone will encourage Hindus to think that there is no duplicity in their talk.”
Friend Saby Ganguly even wanted myself, Mohammad Alvi to give his comments on the subject: “Ok, so no comment from Mohammed Alvi on Jihad as enunciated by the Islamic leader and scholar Abu Ishak Al Oweini?
Saby Ganguly writes a little later in discussion: “Apart from the factionalism and ongoing bloodshed in the Islamic world (with Muslims killing Muslims in outright wars), we also find other issues. Jihadi terrorism against non-Muslims is one big black mark. Also, the Muslim community, by and large, remains backward even after ruling us for almost 1000 of the past 1266 years (ruling by cruelty and violation of all human rights). In international affairs, most Islamic governments are conspicuous by their dumbness where debate is called for. Islamic society is therefore NOT attractive enough for a Hindu with above-average IQ.”
Citing the Egyptian leaders comment once again, Saby Ganguly took on a Muslim gentleman who had been defending Jehad by saying: “NOW, NASAR: All your "clarifications" on jihad and infidels (incl. women & children among the 'infidels') go for a toss with the above quote. Don't tell me it's a wrong source, quoted out of context, planted by enemies of Islam, and your other standard defenses. Please realise what you guys have been defending and/or rationalising. Are you ashamed? Were you ignorant? Or, were you lying?”
Masih Siddiqi while trying to defend the Islamic concept of Jehad wrote back: “Ishak speech, if true and that is big IF, I have already condemned. I believe it is total falsehood. It is contrary to Islam. I say it is Zionist slander and it is typical of them.
You have to quote relevant verses of quran about this Infidel, war, holy month, booty etc and than I will try to give you answers if I know. If I don't know or don't remember I will try to find out for you.
No personal remark made. If you take it as such then its a misunderstanding. I did not say anything which you did not say about yourself. You bringing slanderous falsehood using Ishak to achieve your nefarious goal is not the mark of a gentleman.
You asked for non-Muslim sources and I gave it to you. I can give you dozens more.
I did not bluff anything. If you show me where, I will reply. (now is that not a personal remark?)
No rivalry in "schools of thought"; No cursing; No violence: No factions: Just universal brotherhood.
These negative things which you mention are about the hypocrites who stand in our lines. That is a human deficiency it has nothing to do with Islam or its core values.
If the only way you can attack Islam is through falsehood then we are in a pretty good shape. However if you search properly you will find some Muslims saying ridiculous things but they do not define Islam.
I explained Jihad few days ago; I explained "Madhhabs" earlier on this thread.”
Friend Rahul Shastri too criticized Masih Siddiqui by saying: “"Nothing is divine except Quran and Islam", says Mr. Masih! Then, I suspect all his professions of "utrmost respect for human rights of all human beings" seems a hypocritical claim to be advanced when in a minority, and to be replaced by aggressive conversions and jihad, when majority and conditions permit. It explains clearly, how the 15% percent Hindu population that opted to stay back in Pakistan, was reduced to 2% or less in a matter of fifty years, as also what is happening in Kashmir. Hindus should introspect in the light of this honest declaration.”
A little later, friend Kajal Basu joined the debate with these words: “Saby: I've been following this thread from the beginning. So, yes, I know the contentions at play. I'm weighing in now because I would dearly like to discover why the discussion has become so unthinkingly reductive, so full of - if you will - sheer bollocks. For instance, Nasar has been standing on pedestal erected on a slippery slope that it should have been a simple thing to knock him off his idiotic perch. And yet you take this flamer seriously - so seriously that you take the aid of a rabblerousing mullah, Abu Ishaq al-Heweny, whom even extreme Islamic scholars consider an abomination. You conveniently forgot to mention that al-Heweny is a Salafi and an integral part of the Jama'at al-Islamiyya, which is an al-Qa'eda affiliate. Do you really want to engage with blackheads?”
Kajal Basu further blamed the debaters: “You're comfortable with turning a competition of pieties into “wars”? No wonder the world's awash in blood when all that all faiths seek is serenity.”
Kajal Basu also responded to a post in these words: “Jagannath: The thing is, I have no intention of making anyone respect anything. Given how things are today - with the Islamic world's geopolitics in the hands of truly evil mullahs, resurgent Bible-belt ultraconservative Christianity lurking in the corridors of Capitol Hill, an almost monotheistic Hinduttva on the ascendant, and the Jewish faith in the deathgrip of Zionist Hasidim - the best one can hope for is tolerance.”
The debate continued and is perhaps still continuing, with sides calling each other nincompooh and trying to silence each other and none actually trying to understand the true concept of Jehad.
Though Mohammad Alvi largely refrained from commenting on this debate, he wrote at one place: “Jagannath ji, I never said that the path of Muslims is the only true path. I agree with Rahul Shastri that 'pursuit of God and Truth is important'. But the forces of darkness have put heaves of untruth on the truth, which presently lie under cover. We will have to search the truth, through sincerity and keeping ourselves aloof from all attachments, dislikes, etc.”
“Those who raped, plundered and killed had nothing to do with any religion, howsoever, they said so. This is happening even today. The beastly nature within us prompt us to commit such evils. Why blame religion if certain people do it in the name of religion. There are so many cases that have come of rape in Muzaffarnagar. It was the Hindu mob that was raping, killing or burning. Was it because of teachings of Hindu religion? No, but because of non-adherence to true teachings of religion, howsoever much the rapist or the killer proclaim it to be in the name of religion.”
Mohammad Alvi further said: “You people are doing one big mistake. Because my name is Mohammad Alvi, you are treating me as a Muslim. Since you people too have rightly concluded, Muslims themselves are a warring factions with each other and call different sects as kafirs. Muslims are far digressed from the teachings of Islam, not just in matters related to Jehad but in day to day life. You are true when you say that fundamentalism has encroached Muslims. They are truly the worst people on earth. But that is not the case of true teachings of Islam, which are not an iota different from the true teachings of Hindu or Buddhist scriptures.
At another place Mohammad Alvi wrote: “Jagannath ji, God surely has not written any book. It is Paramatma who has shown the way through his apostles like Rama, Krishna, Buddha, David, Jesus, Mohammad, etc. and they have penned down the path that has been shown to them. I can say with surety now that the path shown in Gita and Vedas cannot be different because both have divine source, but you cannot say with certainty the same about Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, not to speak of Kamasutra, etc. If there are clear evidences that the teachings of Veda and Gita are exactly same as that of Quran, and if you still differ, then it shows that your pursuit of the true path is not with an open heart.”
Mohammad Alvi also wrote: “As Parsa ji rightly said, don't call them scholars of Islam. I am not a scholar. I am merely a student who prays to Ishwar every day to show me the true path. And He has blessed me with some understanding. But I can see a big difference between all the people who are present here and myself. All of you here are defending a particular faith, faith in which you have taken birth, be it Saby, Rahul, Paul, Jagannath, Masih, Ambreesh or the other Muslim gentleman here. I am not defending the religion in which I have taken birth. I am putting forth the views that I have gathered through my study of various religions. What I have found, I believe it to be the Straight Path to God. So in any discussion, kindly don't expect me to give the view which all Muslims will endorse, nor the view that all Hindus, Christians or Buddhists will endorse. But what all I am saying, I can supplement it with proofs from Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Islamic sources. Since I have found one and only one truth in the books of these 4 supposedly divine religions, I consider the truth that lies open in front of me as the ultimate truth.”
Fact is that the concept of Jehad has been wrongly preached among certain section of Muslims. Fact is also that Muslims will perpetually live in disgrace unless they try to understand Islam by the Divinely Appointed Guides or Leaders viz. Ahlebayt (the devas or Manus who were called Ahlulbayt when they took birth in human form). The moment Muslims discarded the Divinely Appointed Guides (under the influence of the Forces of Darkness), there has been an unending disgrace that knows no end. Fact also remains that without recourse to Ahlulbayt, it is not possible for them to present the teachings of Islam in true light, as the false leaders and imams that they created to replace the Ahlulbayt were incapable of explaining the Divine Teachings. Once they left the Ahlulbayt, several of the questions remain unanswered.
The same happened as regards the concept of Jehad. As you read, you will see that the concept of Jehad in Islam is not an iota different from the same concept propagated in Gita. The teachings are same because they emanate from the same source. Vishnu or Manifest Self is propagating the teachings continuously and in all ages through the devas and through avatars, prophets and apostles. Present here is a write-up written on the subject a few years back. Read on…
JEHAD IN HINDUISM AND ISLAM
Another year from our short life has passed. If we reflect now to see whether we have done any work that will enhance the quality of our life, most of us have done nothing.
There is a dire need now for the advancement of knowledge in the fields of moralistic and spiritualistic issues. Unless this happens, the world will not come out of the increasingly beastly living that we are getting used to living. Whenever this has happened in the past, we have seen God sending His apostles and emissaries to get rid of evil and propagate the good. After all, just like a mother cannot see the child in slight discomfort, the God, for whom the entire universe and all humans who reside in it, are part of His own creation, and He does not like anybody, irrespective of his birth, caste, creed, religion or colour, to be in pain. Unfortunately, man’s tendency to inflict pain on others is getting beyond the limits, and it is time again for us to start expecting of Divine assistance.
However, such a situation may not have emerged had we not forgotten the true essence of those sublime teachings that were imparted by Apostles, who came one after another with the teachings, strived to work for the improvement of humanity and departed. And we, known as we are for our hero-worshipping tendencies, forgot the teachings, elevated few of the personality traits to the level of worshipping them, and put them as revered Gods on high places, thereafter returning to our previous days of living.
Had the society remembered those sublime ways of living, and not distorted them to suit its own needs and interests, the world would surely be a better place to live. Frankly, how many of us are concerned about imbibing any of these traits in the lives of children? If matters continue to remain the way they are, the society is sure to see much more violence, much more bloodshed and lawlessness, despite the fact we all believe that we are increasingly becoming civilized.
Every now and then, the stories of human cruelty, barbarity, beastliness and lawlessness, are heard and seen, and we look the other way as if this is not our concern. Our children are growing up seeing these images in newspapers and on TV. With no proper teaching available about the desired way of life, the role of humans in relation to their Creator, expectations of God from those whom He created, and to whom they have to eventually return, our children will consider every act as right in order to meet their materialistic desires. Aren’t we destined to see more bloodshed by our children, who will either be perpetrators or victims, unless we act now?
We must remember that that God does not desire just a few ritualistic prayers, at a demarked place and at a denoted time. There are certain obligations that need to be fulfilled, in return to all that we have got from Him. The chief responsibility is to learn to do all actions for God and train our intellect, senses, soul and body so that they work either for God or the benefit of His creations. Remember, God treats all his creations equal and we are nobody to create hierarchy or divisions!
This attempt at training is called ‘Jehad-e-Akbar’, meaning ‘the chief Jehad or ‘the grand Jehad’ by Muslims; the word ‘Muslim’ itself signifying ‘musallam iman’ or ‘complete faith in God and His teachings’. A man who has successfully pursued this path of Jehad will have complete faith in God and will dedicate all his actions to please God. He will be able to train his self in such a manner that none of his action inflicts harm or suffering on innocent creatures, will aspire to work for the good of others, without expecting rewards or favours in return. He will pursue knowledge from wherever it comes, which has immense benefits. He will endeavour to gain rich attributes to his personality so as to enable him to gain wisdom, intellect, piety, thankfulness, kind-heartedness, truthfulness, patience, courage and loyalty. No doubt, God has sent His Messengers to impart knowledge of these traits, and they themselves were the chief torchbearers of this way of life.
As Ali says, in Khutba-e-Shaqshaqia, that God has taken a promise from the knowledgeable as per which they would not remain passive witness and satisfied upon seeing the injustice of the oppressor and the hunger of the oppressed.
Imam Ali used to say to his followers:
This is a clear call for action, even though one has to pass through dangerous valleys. This is also to remind of death, which is inevitable. If you have faith in these, then you will not lead a life of carelessness, more centred towards worldly attractions, rather than doing acts that are good and for betterment of others, and will deliver rich dividends hereafter.
Devote yourself to the God; throw out the love of this world from your heart; then only will you be able to face the evils and wrongdoings of this world with courage and steadfastness and become a true human being, because if there is anything that the evil forces are afraid of, it is the true human beings. This is so because they are afraid that even if a single human being is born who cherish those lofty human values taught by the Messengers, he will stand up and fight against their evil and selfish desires, and their benefits will get jeopardized.
As the world moves to anarchy, corruption and violence, it is the responsibility of each one of us that we endeavour to become true human beings, following the enlightened paths shown by revered Messengers like Krishna or Mohammad.
Study the life of Husain whose stand against the tyrannical rule of the monarch Yazid led to the slaughter of his entire family before finally getting killed in the cruelest of fashions. Knowing fully well that he was bound to be looser in the world terms, outnumbered as his handful of followers were against the mighty army of Yazid, not for once did Husain think of abdicating his stand. His supreme sacrifice reflects human values at their zenith, something that Gita and Quran do not tire of talking repeatedly.
So if you are follower of either of the two, remember God in the way that he ought to be remembered and consider it your duty to stand up against all evils that our society is plagued with. This is Jehad-e-Akbar among Muslim, this is the path that Krishna taught all through the Gita.
It is clear that Jehad was introduced because God wanted truthful and righteous men to contribute towards upholding of truth and righteousness. He wanted all of us to dwell in a vibrant society where struggle towards the right path continued ceaselessly. In a way, Jehad-e-Akbar was the fight against one’s self and Jehad-e-Asghar (or the smaller Jehad) was the attempt to improve the society. Armed struggle was only in self-defense or to eliminate the fitna, which is called Qitaal and about which we would read a bit later.
Writes Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini: “We must know while confronting self, compromise and peace settlement is not possible, and what is required is a devastating blow making him (one’s own self) crippled permanently from plotting any further conspiracies. In order to achieve happiness and salvation there is no other alternative except to follow this course, and because, of this reason struggle against the self has been called in traditions as – “Greater Crusade: (Jehad-e-Akbar). Here we would quote few examples from the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (the Chief Aditya, the 2nd of Ahlulbayt and the Vayudev of Upanishads and Vedas):
Take over the possession of your self – through continuous struggle.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p. -13
And said:
Fight and dominate over self’s whims and passions. Because, otherwise if they succeeded in making you their prisoner – they will treat you in a most humiliating manner destroying you eventually.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p-138
And said:
Be aware! That Paradise is purchased through self-struggle. Therefore, who is engaged in self-struggle will be victorious. Paradise (or self) is the greatest reward for some one who really appreciates their worth.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p-165
And said:
By means of fighting against the self, incite him towards God’s worshipping. Fight him the way one must fight with his worst enemy, and dominate over him like the domination of victor over his opponent. The most powerful person is the one who is victorious over his self.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p-371
And said:
A wise man keeps himself engaged in struggle against his self, thus, reforming and preventing him from indulging into passions and amusements, and in this manner subdues him ultimately taking over his possession. Such a wise person is so must preoccupied in his self-refinement that is totally detached with the world, whatever it contains and its dwellers.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p-237
This struggle against self is so important that even Prophet Mohammad called it the “Greater Struggle” and held it higher than a physical fight. Those who have tried would know how easy it is to kill the other or get killed than kill the passions that arise inside the body.
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali had narrated:
That the prophet dispatched his soldiers to battle front to fight against the enemy. When the soldiers returned triumphant, the prophet said: ‘Congratulations! For those who have successfully completed the “Minor-Struggle”, (Jehad-e-Asghar), but they have yet to engage themselves into Greater-Struggle (Jehad-e-Akbar)’. He was asked: ‘Oh Prophet of God! What is the Greater – Struggle?’
‘Struggle against the self’. Replied the Prophet.
Wasail al-Shia, vol. II, p-124
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali said:
The best crusade is the struggle of some one, who fights’ against his self located between his two sides.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 11 p. -124
In his death will the Prophet said to Imam Ali:
Oh Ali! The best struggle is the struggle of some one who made his night into morning without thinking to oppress a single individual.
Wasail al-Shia, vol. 11, p. -123
Writes Ayatollah Amini: “In these traditions the importance of struggle against the self have been described as “Greater-Struggle” or Supreme Crusade – the crusade which is even superior than the crusade for the sake of God-Almighty (Jehad fi Sabi lillah). Considering the exalted position of crusade for the sake of God, which is considered as one of the most superior worship – the importance and worth of self-struggle becomes explicitly clear.”
Imam Jafar Sadiq, the 8th Ahlulbayt (and the 6th Aditya or Imam) said:
How good is a servant of God who struggles against the self and his passions for the sake of God’s Pleasure. Whoever becomes victorious over the self’s whims and passions has already achieved God’s-Pleasure. Whoever offers resistance, and with humility in front of God, allows the reason to control imperious-self would receive the greatest blessing.
There exists between the servants of God and Him nothing darker and horrible barrier than the imperious-self and his passions; and in order to destroy their roots forever, there is no armament better than the realization to seek God, humility, hunger, thirst during the day (i.e. fasting), and night awakening (i.e. engaging in night prayers and having humming communications with God-Almighty [remember chant of ‘Aum’]). Such a person if dies in this course leaves the world as a martyr, and if remains alive would ultimately attain the exalted position of God’s Nearness. God-Almighty has promised in the Holy Quran that those who strive in His cause will certainly be guided towards His path and verily, God is with those who do right.
When you encounter another struggler endeavouring in self-refinement better than your own efforts, then reprimand your self severely, and remind him to be more careful and determined. In accordance with Divine do’s and don’ts make a bridle for the self and like a master, training his inexperienced and wanton slave, encourage your self towards virtuous deeds. The Prophet offered so much prayer that his feet become swelled, in response to people’s complaint, replied: should not I be thankful to God-Almighty?
By these serious endeavours in worship the prophet wanted to teach a lesson to his community. Therefore, one should never be negligent from endeavours, worship, and ascetism. Known that! If you could witness the sweetness of worshipping and other blessings and if your heart becomes illuminated with Divine Light – you will not be ready to discontinue it for an hour, even if they cut off your body into several pieces. Therefore, the negligence from worshipping shall never be possible except being deprived from advantages of competing for achieving immunity against sins and attaining God’s – Blessings.
It was this reason why the Imams never forgot the worship of God in the most adverse of circumstances. Once, in the battle of Siffin, when the war was at peak, Ali was intermittently looking at the sky, while fighting with the opponents. Somebody asked him the reason for this and Ali said that he was seeing whether it was time for prayer. The questioner was surprised and asked whether the situation was right for prayer. Ali replied that it was for this alone that he was fighting.
Those on Husain’s side too surely knew of the importance of prayers. Two of his companions came forward to stop all the arrows being shot by the opponents on their chest as Husain and the rest of the companions offered the noon prayers on the day of 10th Moharram. Husain was the lone survivor fighting the enemy in the battlefield when it was time for the evening prayers. Husain kept his sword in shield to commence his prayers. Again, this was why he was fighting. Enemy who called himself Muslim surrounded him. As Husain supplicated himself to God – the Almighty – Shimr crawled on his back with a dagger and started severing Husain’s head from the body. Husain’s head was severed from his body as his forehead lay on ground in the worship of God.
Quran (2:154) says:
And do not speak of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead; nay, (they are) alive, but you do not perceive.
Says Pooya/Ali Commentary:
“Those, who die and give themselves fully for the sake and in the way of Allah, are not dead. They are alive, attached and closely connected with the ever-living Allah.”
It is reported that verse 154 was revealed for the Muslims who were slain in the battle of Badr. In those days the new converts to Islam, like the disbelievers, thought that death means loss of life forever.
Fisabilillah means “in the way of Allah” or “for the cause of truth”. “The way of the devils” means “for the cause of falsehood” (Nisa: 76). Sale’s interpretation of fisabilillah (wars fought against non-Muslims to propagate Islam) is a deliberate distortion. There is no compulsion in religion (Baqarah: 256); therefore, the Holy Prophet went to war only when it was forced upon him.
All the created beings are given the opportunity to prove their potential; therefore, everyone is tried with something of fear, hunger, and loss of possessions and children. Those who have attained the highest spiritual maturity through personal virtues, ability to exercise patience, with faith and reliance upon Allah, face the trials successfully and reach the highest stations nearest to Allah. Each individual occupies a different status according to the degree of faith and patience he employs to encounter the test and trial. Some souls are not considered fit to be tried. It is their misfortune. The exemption may be to let their infidelity or hypocrisy grow to its full scope for which there is a painful punishment. (Al-Imran: 178).
The Holy Prophet and the twelve holy Imams occupy the highest status near Allah with reference to the faith in and reliance upon Allah, personal virtues and ability to exercise patience. For the cause of truth, in the way of Allah, they gladly suffered every kind of misery, hardship and calamity of the utmost severity throughout their lives. Only once in the history of the world all kinds of trials to the maximum conceivable degree, have been happily and triumphantly endured and coped with by Imam Husain and his family and friends in the desert of Karbala. No less was the situation of the other holy Imams under the tyrannical rule of the Umayyad and Abbasid rulers.
The Holy Prophet has rightly observed:
This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.
A poor Jew once asked Imam Hasan to tell him how could his poverty be a paradise and Imam’s plenty be a prison?
The Imam replied:
If you would know the miseries awaiting the disbelievers, and the blessings in store for the believers in the life of hereafter, you will then agree that even your present plight is a paradise compared to those miseries, and my affluence here is a prison for me as compared to the blessings that will be bestowed on me there.
Now see verses 2:155-156 of Quran:
And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient,
Who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are Allah’s and to Him we shall surely return.
Mahdi Puya says:
“This is the attitude of a faithful when a misfortune befalls him or he suffers a loss. It is the summary of all that which Islam teaches. We are His. We unconditionally submit to His will. We shall return to Him. He is our destination. Whoso makes his life a true expression of this description becomes His prime favourite for His grace, blessings and guidance. The Holy Prophet who stands first and foremost in submission to Allah is the ideal model of this expression, which has further been elaborated in verse 163 of Ali-Imran.
However, there is no denying the fact that Muslims have been enjoined to take up armed struggle, if necessary. Writes Ayatollah Amini: “Armed struggle becomes compulsory only under certain special times and circumstances, further it is not incumbent upon every one (Wajib-e-aini), rather is a collective obligation (Wajib-e-kifai), and some people are free from this obligation. During certain periods armed struggle is not required at all, or is required to the extent of collective obligation, e.g. if required number of people had assumed this obligation, then the others are excused. Apart from this it is not incumbent upon women, elderly men, handicapped, and sick people. But on the contrary, struggle against the self is incumbent upon everyone as an individual obligation (Wajib-e-aini) during all times, circumstances, and situations, must be continued till the very last moments of life, and no body under any condition except the impeccables (Masooms) will ever be free from this requirement.”
Also he says: “The struggle with self is harder than all the worships even the armed struggle in which a combatant risks his life by accepting martyrdom. Because, absolute surrender before God-Almighty, self-struggle against self’s whims and passions for the entire life, and journeying towards the straight path of perfection is much more difficult than the fighting of valiant warrior with the enemy in the battle field for a moment and ultimately achieving martyrdom. In fact, self-struggle is so hard that except with continuous resistance, tolerance of pains and anguishes, and without God’s Assistance it is not possible. It is because of this reason that we recite five times every day in daily prayers the sentence:
(O God!) Show us the straight path.
To follow up the straight path of perfection is so difficult that the Prophet of Islam said to God-Almighty:
Oh God! Don’t leave me at the disposal of my self even for the fraction of a second.”
Considering the difficulties in the path, the God has made a promise:
And those who strive in our cause – we will certainly guide them to our paths. For verily God is with those who do right.
Quran, 29:69
Quran explicitly states that fighting has to be in self-defense. See 2:190:
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.
Pooya/Ali Commentary says: “The message of Islam is universal. From early times the Muslims were only permitted to fight in self-defense. When there is no option, and in the face of persecution, however, the Muslims must fight. The strength of Islam lies in its certainty of ultimate victory over aggression, transgression, and ascribing falsehood to Allah and His last prophet. Fitna can mean oppression, persecution, seduction - all implying the “discord” that attachment with ghayrallah (other-than-Allah) brings about. It is used as in verse 217 of this surah - war is detestable but fitna is worse than slaughter. Islam promotes peace, order and harmony in the human society and keeps man on the right path. When the enemies of Islam found that the light of this message was sweeping darkness from every corner, the disbelievers vowed to annihilate it. It was only then that, no recourse being left for the believers, they had to resolutely take up the sword in defense. Verses 39 and 40 of al Hajj also give permission to fight when any people is wronged, oppressed and persecuted.
If Numbers 25: 1 to 3 and 31: 7 to 18 in the Old Testament are read carefully one comes to the conclusion that when the Israelites, in Shitim, began to worship the gods of Moab the Lord God asked Moses to “take all the leaders of the people and hurl them down to their death before the Lord.”
And they made war on Midians as the Lord has commanded Moses, and slew all the men. The Israelites took captive the Madianite women and children, and carried off all their cattle, their flocks and their property. They burnt all their cities. Moses asked them to kill every male child and every women who has had intercourse with a man.
Likewise, Gita too lays maximum stress on fight against the self. ‘Iswararpana’ is the term used to offer all deeds to God in Gita
On Me all action
Casting, with mind on the over-soul,
Being free from longing and from selfishness,
Fight, casting off thy fever.
Gita. 3:30
Casting (all) actions upon Brahman,
Whoso acts abandoning attachment,
Evil does not cleave to him,
As water (does not cleave) to a lotus leaf.
Gita. 5:10
Yet, when the situation demanded so, Krishna made Arjuna to fight even when he was shirking from doing so. A passage in Gita referring to the negative state of the spirit of Arjuna which Krishna wants to correct (it is from the beginning of the second chapter):
Krishna says to Arjuna: What is the matter with you? Why have you lost courage? You are a great hero, a model Khsatriya with an unsullied name… Your attitude at the call of battle is as incomprehensible as darkness covering the sun, neither meeting with death, wood absorbing fire, salt dissolving water, the frog swallowing the serpent, or the fox defying the lion. You are a sensible man. Wake up. Take courage. War is not made with rose water. Live up to your reputation and get rid of these silly ideas. Kindness towards opponents in battle is misplaced… Did you know hither to that the Kauravas were your kinsmen?
M. Subedar, Gita Explained by Dnyaneswar Maharaj P. 59
Yet, Krishna is the greatest upholder of peace and truth. Ironical? No! Only the one with a conscious self can understand this subtle difference.
If certain misguided Hindus take this statement of Krishna in the narrowest possible meaning and use it to plunder and kill innocent, for their own personal or political gains, would you blame it on Krishna’s teachings. It is unfortunate the face of Islam is distorted when certain misguided Muslims use Jehad for reasons other than what it had been meant for. Islamic view of Jehad is exactly the same as the teachings of Gita, with not an iota of difference.
When Krishna talks of fight, there is an underlying message, a great cause, benefit of humanity and its lofty values and foremost of all, upholding the worship of One Absolute God. Krishna and Arjuna both knew of the evils that had begun to plague the society in which they were living. That is why they have not been discussed. Yet, they always remain in the background. Due to this, some writers have understood the teachings of Gita and the actual purpose of Mahabharata wrongly. The yearning for God’s happiness, the height of spiritual attainment, willingness to be of help and die for a right cause and principles of upholding the truth and justice that Krishna showed is inherent in every verse of Gita.
Same is the case with Jehad. Call for armed conflict in few verses of Quran cannot be viewed independently as some self-centred or ignorant Muslim teachers and the detractors of Islam portray it to be.
Arjuna is first asked to stand firm in the unitive way (yoga) and then he is asked to stand up and fight (III, 42). Most of the Gita describes this unitive way to reach God. Through Unitive Contemplation (Dhyana-Yoga) that is discussed in detail in Chapter VI, the Self is to be recognized:
The Self is dear to one (possessed) of Self, by whom even the Self by the Self has been won, for one not (possessed) of Self, the Self would be in conflict with the very Self, as if an enemy.
Through realizing one’s self through recognizing the Self in it, one can reach union with God. And once the mind and intelligence is surrendered to God, then the man should fight in the way of God.
Therefore at all times remember Me (God) and fight: when your mind and intelligence are surrendered to Me, you shall come to Me; (have) no doubt.
Despite the imperative nature of fighting, it is still made a secondary matter to the contemplation of the Absolute and realizing one’s self.
This is exactly the concept of Jehad in Islam, where the man is required to fight with his own self and only when he has incorporated all the teachings and reached a level where he truly recognizes the God, does his duty begins of trying to put an end to the evils around him. Without the realization and adherence of the Absolute, Jehad in Islam is not possible. And one who attains this realization and shows strict adherence to the teachings, is surely not going to commit injustice, cruelty or suppression of human rights of others. Instead Jehad leads a person to the height where all divisions on the basis of caste, religion, belief or creed lies shattered and the Muslim takes the side of truth, even though he has to make sacrifices for upholding the truth. Jehad can never be a fight for a piece of land or material benefits. And more than armed combat (which is the last stage referred to as Qitaal), Jehad will be more of deeds, a fight against injustice and oppression.
Just ponder for a while. What is the greatest evil plaguing the present society in India? Our view, which we have formulated after talking to several people, is that the greatest cause of all evil is that Indians have begun to accept everything as it is. They see corruption and remain mute witness. They see injustice on some, and they are least bothered. They see white-collared crimes happening all around, and do nothing. This evil has perpetrated so much so that they wait at railway stations for hours but the train do not come, even if it is because the one who has to drive it decided to sleep for another few hours; they see accident victims dying on the roadside and look the other way, and they know of spurious drugs and products ruining their lives and those of their children, industries emitting pollution beyond permissible limits, porn being shown on cable, and so on, but remain mute spectators. Fear of losing a bit of what they have make them do that. Just imagine, If just 10 per cent of Muslims in India are to get up and say that they won’t allow any such act being perpetrated, won’t allow human rights to be violated and would always take the side of the oppressed, the weak and the poor. Won’t the Indian society become a better place to live?
“JIHAD: OH, WHAT A SHAME
Nasar, Masih & Co., at various stages of our debate on Islam and Hinduism, have upheld Jihad as a noble Islamic concept. Their central theme has been that there is nothing sinister about the concept. Well, let's see what prominent Sunni Muslim leader in Egypt has to say about Jihad. So, here we go: QUOTE:"We are at a time of Jihad; Jihad for the sake of Allah is a pleasure. Mohammed's followers used to compete to do it. THE REASON WE ARE POOR now is because we have abandoned jihad. If only we can conduct a Jihadist invasion AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR or possibly two or three times, then MANY PEOPLE ON EARTH WOULD BECOME MUSLIMS. And if anyone prevents our dawa or stands in our way, then WE MUST KILL THEM or TAKE AS HOSTAGE and CONFISCATE THEIR WEALTH, WOMEN and CHILDREN. Such battles will FILL THE POCKETS OF MUJAHIDS who can return home with 3 or 4 slaves, 3 or 4 WOMEN and 3 or 4 CHILDREN. This can be a PROFITABLE business if you multiply each head by 300 or 400 dirhams. This can be like financial shelter whereby a jihadist, in time of financial need, can always sell one of these heads. No one can make that much money in one deal even if a Muslim goes to the West to work or do trade. In time of need, that is a good resource for profit."
Reacting to this comment, friend Rahul Shastri writes: “Jihadi views are a shame to mankind, for instance, quoted by Sabyji in this discussion. Honest muslims should courageously come out in the open and condemn them. That alone will encourage Hindus to think that there is no duplicity in their talk.”
Friend Saby Ganguly even wanted myself, Mohammad Alvi to give his comments on the subject: “Ok, so no comment from Mohammed Alvi on Jihad as enunciated by the Islamic leader and scholar Abu Ishak Al Oweini?
Saby Ganguly writes a little later in discussion: “Apart from the factionalism and ongoing bloodshed in the Islamic world (with Muslims killing Muslims in outright wars), we also find other issues. Jihadi terrorism against non-Muslims is one big black mark. Also, the Muslim community, by and large, remains backward even after ruling us for almost 1000 of the past 1266 years (ruling by cruelty and violation of all human rights). In international affairs, most Islamic governments are conspicuous by their dumbness where debate is called for. Islamic society is therefore NOT attractive enough for a Hindu with above-average IQ.”
Citing the Egyptian leaders comment once again, Saby Ganguly took on a Muslim gentleman who had been defending Jehad by saying: “NOW, NASAR: All your "clarifications" on jihad and infidels (incl. women & children among the 'infidels') go for a toss with the above quote. Don't tell me it's a wrong source, quoted out of context, planted by enemies of Islam, and your other standard defenses. Please realise what you guys have been defending and/or rationalising. Are you ashamed? Were you ignorant? Or, were you lying?”
Masih Siddiqi while trying to defend the Islamic concept of Jehad wrote back: “Ishak speech, if true and that is big IF, I have already condemned. I believe it is total falsehood. It is contrary to Islam. I say it is Zionist slander and it is typical of them.
You have to quote relevant verses of quran about this Infidel, war, holy month, booty etc and than I will try to give you answers if I know. If I don't know or don't remember I will try to find out for you.
No personal remark made. If you take it as such then its a misunderstanding. I did not say anything which you did not say about yourself. You bringing slanderous falsehood using Ishak to achieve your nefarious goal is not the mark of a gentleman.
You asked for non-Muslim sources and I gave it to you. I can give you dozens more.
I did not bluff anything. If you show me where, I will reply. (now is that not a personal remark?)
No rivalry in "schools of thought"; No cursing; No violence: No factions: Just universal brotherhood.
These negative things which you mention are about the hypocrites who stand in our lines. That is a human deficiency it has nothing to do with Islam or its core values.
If the only way you can attack Islam is through falsehood then we are in a pretty good shape. However if you search properly you will find some Muslims saying ridiculous things but they do not define Islam.
I explained Jihad few days ago; I explained "Madhhabs" earlier on this thread.”
Friend Rahul Shastri too criticized Masih Siddiqui by saying: “"Nothing is divine except Quran and Islam", says Mr. Masih! Then, I suspect all his professions of "utrmost respect for human rights of all human beings" seems a hypocritical claim to be advanced when in a minority, and to be replaced by aggressive conversions and jihad, when majority and conditions permit. It explains clearly, how the 15% percent Hindu population that opted to stay back in Pakistan, was reduced to 2% or less in a matter of fifty years, as also what is happening in Kashmir. Hindus should introspect in the light of this honest declaration.”
A little later, friend Kajal Basu joined the debate with these words: “Saby: I've been following this thread from the beginning. So, yes, I know the contentions at play. I'm weighing in now because I would dearly like to discover why the discussion has become so unthinkingly reductive, so full of - if you will - sheer bollocks. For instance, Nasar has been standing on pedestal erected on a slippery slope that it should have been a simple thing to knock him off his idiotic perch. And yet you take this flamer seriously - so seriously that you take the aid of a rabblerousing mullah, Abu Ishaq al-Heweny, whom even extreme Islamic scholars consider an abomination. You conveniently forgot to mention that al-Heweny is a Salafi and an integral part of the Jama'at al-Islamiyya, which is an al-Qa'eda affiliate. Do you really want to engage with blackheads?”
Kajal Basu further blamed the debaters: “You're comfortable with turning a competition of pieties into “wars”? No wonder the world's awash in blood when all that all faiths seek is serenity.”
Kajal Basu also responded to a post in these words: “Jagannath: The thing is, I have no intention of making anyone respect anything. Given how things are today - with the Islamic world's geopolitics in the hands of truly evil mullahs, resurgent Bible-belt ultraconservative Christianity lurking in the corridors of Capitol Hill, an almost monotheistic Hinduttva on the ascendant, and the Jewish faith in the deathgrip of Zionist Hasidim - the best one can hope for is tolerance.”
The debate continued and is perhaps still continuing, with sides calling each other nincompooh and trying to silence each other and none actually trying to understand the true concept of Jehad.
Though Mohammad Alvi largely refrained from commenting on this debate, he wrote at one place: “Jagannath ji, I never said that the path of Muslims is the only true path. I agree with Rahul Shastri that 'pursuit of God and Truth is important'. But the forces of darkness have put heaves of untruth on the truth, which presently lie under cover. We will have to search the truth, through sincerity and keeping ourselves aloof from all attachments, dislikes, etc.”
“Those who raped, plundered and killed had nothing to do with any religion, howsoever, they said so. This is happening even today. The beastly nature within us prompt us to commit such evils. Why blame religion if certain people do it in the name of religion. There are so many cases that have come of rape in Muzaffarnagar. It was the Hindu mob that was raping, killing or burning. Was it because of teachings of Hindu religion? No, but because of non-adherence to true teachings of religion, howsoever much the rapist or the killer proclaim it to be in the name of religion.”
Mohammad Alvi further said: “You people are doing one big mistake. Because my name is Mohammad Alvi, you are treating me as a Muslim. Since you people too have rightly concluded, Muslims themselves are a warring factions with each other and call different sects as kafirs. Muslims are far digressed from the teachings of Islam, not just in matters related to Jehad but in day to day life. You are true when you say that fundamentalism has encroached Muslims. They are truly the worst people on earth. But that is not the case of true teachings of Islam, which are not an iota different from the true teachings of Hindu or Buddhist scriptures.
At another place Mohammad Alvi wrote: “Jagannath ji, God surely has not written any book. It is Paramatma who has shown the way through his apostles like Rama, Krishna, Buddha, David, Jesus, Mohammad, etc. and they have penned down the path that has been shown to them. I can say with surety now that the path shown in Gita and Vedas cannot be different because both have divine source, but you cannot say with certainty the same about Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, not to speak of Kamasutra, etc. If there are clear evidences that the teachings of Veda and Gita are exactly same as that of Quran, and if you still differ, then it shows that your pursuit of the true path is not with an open heart.”
Mohammad Alvi also wrote: “As Parsa ji rightly said, don't call them scholars of Islam. I am not a scholar. I am merely a student who prays to Ishwar every day to show me the true path. And He has blessed me with some understanding. But I can see a big difference between all the people who are present here and myself. All of you here are defending a particular faith, faith in which you have taken birth, be it Saby, Rahul, Paul, Jagannath, Masih, Ambreesh or the other Muslim gentleman here. I am not defending the religion in which I have taken birth. I am putting forth the views that I have gathered through my study of various religions. What I have found, I believe it to be the Straight Path to God. So in any discussion, kindly don't expect me to give the view which all Muslims will endorse, nor the view that all Hindus, Christians or Buddhists will endorse. But what all I am saying, I can supplement it with proofs from Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Islamic sources. Since I have found one and only one truth in the books of these 4 supposedly divine religions, I consider the truth that lies open in front of me as the ultimate truth.”
Fact is that the concept of Jehad has been wrongly preached among certain section of Muslims. Fact is also that Muslims will perpetually live in disgrace unless they try to understand Islam by the Divinely Appointed Guides or Leaders viz. Ahlebayt (the devas or Manus who were called Ahlulbayt when they took birth in human form). The moment Muslims discarded the Divinely Appointed Guides (under the influence of the Forces of Darkness), there has been an unending disgrace that knows no end. Fact also remains that without recourse to Ahlulbayt, it is not possible for them to present the teachings of Islam in true light, as the false leaders and imams that they created to replace the Ahlulbayt were incapable of explaining the Divine Teachings. Once they left the Ahlulbayt, several of the questions remain unanswered.
The same happened as regards the concept of Jehad. As you read, you will see that the concept of Jehad in Islam is not an iota different from the same concept propagated in Gita. The teachings are same because they emanate from the same source. Vishnu or Manifest Self is propagating the teachings continuously and in all ages through the devas and through avatars, prophets and apostles. Present here is a write-up written on the subject a few years back. Read on…
JEHAD IN HINDUISM AND ISLAM
Another year from our short life has passed. If we reflect now to see whether we have done any work that will enhance the quality of our life, most of us have done nothing.
There is a dire need now for the advancement of knowledge in the fields of moralistic and spiritualistic issues. Unless this happens, the world will not come out of the increasingly beastly living that we are getting used to living. Whenever this has happened in the past, we have seen God sending His apostles and emissaries to get rid of evil and propagate the good. After all, just like a mother cannot see the child in slight discomfort, the God, for whom the entire universe and all humans who reside in it, are part of His own creation, and He does not like anybody, irrespective of his birth, caste, creed, religion or colour, to be in pain. Unfortunately, man’s tendency to inflict pain on others is getting beyond the limits, and it is time again for us to start expecting of Divine assistance.
However, such a situation may not have emerged had we not forgotten the true essence of those sublime teachings that were imparted by Apostles, who came one after another with the teachings, strived to work for the improvement of humanity and departed. And we, known as we are for our hero-worshipping tendencies, forgot the teachings, elevated few of the personality traits to the level of worshipping them, and put them as revered Gods on high places, thereafter returning to our previous days of living.
Had the society remembered those sublime ways of living, and not distorted them to suit its own needs and interests, the world would surely be a better place to live. Frankly, how many of us are concerned about imbibing any of these traits in the lives of children? If matters continue to remain the way they are, the society is sure to see much more violence, much more bloodshed and lawlessness, despite the fact we all believe that we are increasingly becoming civilized.
Every now and then, the stories of human cruelty, barbarity, beastliness and lawlessness, are heard and seen, and we look the other way as if this is not our concern. Our children are growing up seeing these images in newspapers and on TV. With no proper teaching available about the desired way of life, the role of humans in relation to their Creator, expectations of God from those whom He created, and to whom they have to eventually return, our children will consider every act as right in order to meet their materialistic desires. Aren’t we destined to see more bloodshed by our children, who will either be perpetrators or victims, unless we act now?
We must remember that that God does not desire just a few ritualistic prayers, at a demarked place and at a denoted time. There are certain obligations that need to be fulfilled, in return to all that we have got from Him. The chief responsibility is to learn to do all actions for God and train our intellect, senses, soul and body so that they work either for God or the benefit of His creations. Remember, God treats all his creations equal and we are nobody to create hierarchy or divisions!
This attempt at training is called ‘Jehad-e-Akbar’, meaning ‘the chief Jehad or ‘the grand Jehad’ by Muslims; the word ‘Muslim’ itself signifying ‘musallam iman’ or ‘complete faith in God and His teachings’. A man who has successfully pursued this path of Jehad will have complete faith in God and will dedicate all his actions to please God. He will be able to train his self in such a manner that none of his action inflicts harm or suffering on innocent creatures, will aspire to work for the good of others, without expecting rewards or favours in return. He will pursue knowledge from wherever it comes, which has immense benefits. He will endeavour to gain rich attributes to his personality so as to enable him to gain wisdom, intellect, piety, thankfulness, kind-heartedness, truthfulness, patience, courage and loyalty. No doubt, God has sent His Messengers to impart knowledge of these traits, and they themselves were the chief torchbearers of this way of life.
As Ali says, in Khutba-e-Shaqshaqia, that God has taken a promise from the knowledgeable as per which they would not remain passive witness and satisfied upon seeing the injustice of the oppressor and the hunger of the oppressed.
Imam Ali used to say to his followers:
This is a clear call for action, even though one has to pass through dangerous valleys. This is also to remind of death, which is inevitable. If you have faith in these, then you will not lead a life of carelessness, more centred towards worldly attractions, rather than doing acts that are good and for betterment of others, and will deliver rich dividends hereafter.
Devote yourself to the God; throw out the love of this world from your heart; then only will you be able to face the evils and wrongdoings of this world with courage and steadfastness and become a true human being, because if there is anything that the evil forces are afraid of, it is the true human beings. This is so because they are afraid that even if a single human being is born who cherish those lofty human values taught by the Messengers, he will stand up and fight against their evil and selfish desires, and their benefits will get jeopardized.
As the world moves to anarchy, corruption and violence, it is the responsibility of each one of us that we endeavour to become true human beings, following the enlightened paths shown by revered Messengers like Krishna or Mohammad.
Study the life of Husain whose stand against the tyrannical rule of the monarch Yazid led to the slaughter of his entire family before finally getting killed in the cruelest of fashions. Knowing fully well that he was bound to be looser in the world terms, outnumbered as his handful of followers were against the mighty army of Yazid, not for once did Husain think of abdicating his stand. His supreme sacrifice reflects human values at their zenith, something that Gita and Quran do not tire of talking repeatedly.
So if you are follower of either of the two, remember God in the way that he ought to be remembered and consider it your duty to stand up against all evils that our society is plagued with. This is Jehad-e-Akbar among Muslim, this is the path that Krishna taught all through the Gita.
It is clear that Jehad was introduced because God wanted truthful and righteous men to contribute towards upholding of truth and righteousness. He wanted all of us to dwell in a vibrant society where struggle towards the right path continued ceaselessly. In a way, Jehad-e-Akbar was the fight against one’s self and Jehad-e-Asghar (or the smaller Jehad) was the attempt to improve the society. Armed struggle was only in self-defense or to eliminate the fitna, which is called Qitaal and about which we would read a bit later.
Writes Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini: “We must know while confronting self, compromise and peace settlement is not possible, and what is required is a devastating blow making him (one’s own self) crippled permanently from plotting any further conspiracies. In order to achieve happiness and salvation there is no other alternative except to follow this course, and because, of this reason struggle against the self has been called in traditions as – “Greater Crusade: (Jehad-e-Akbar). Here we would quote few examples from the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (the Chief Aditya, the 2nd of Ahlulbayt and the Vayudev of Upanishads and Vedas):
Take over the possession of your self – through continuous struggle.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p. -13
And said:
Fight and dominate over self’s whims and passions. Because, otherwise if they succeeded in making you their prisoner – they will treat you in a most humiliating manner destroying you eventually.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p-138
And said:
Be aware! That Paradise is purchased through self-struggle. Therefore, who is engaged in self-struggle will be victorious. Paradise (or self) is the greatest reward for some one who really appreciates their worth.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p-165
And said:
By means of fighting against the self, incite him towards God’s worshipping. Fight him the way one must fight with his worst enemy, and dominate over him like the domination of victor over his opponent. The most powerful person is the one who is victorious over his self.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p-371
And said:
A wise man keeps himself engaged in struggle against his self, thus, reforming and preventing him from indulging into passions and amusements, and in this manner subdues him ultimately taking over his possession. Such a wise person is so must preoccupied in his self-refinement that is totally detached with the world, whatever it contains and its dwellers.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p-237
This struggle against self is so important that even Prophet Mohammad called it the “Greater Struggle” and held it higher than a physical fight. Those who have tried would know how easy it is to kill the other or get killed than kill the passions that arise inside the body.
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali had narrated:
That the prophet dispatched his soldiers to battle front to fight against the enemy. When the soldiers returned triumphant, the prophet said: ‘Congratulations! For those who have successfully completed the “Minor-Struggle”, (Jehad-e-Asghar), but they have yet to engage themselves into Greater-Struggle (Jehad-e-Akbar)’. He was asked: ‘Oh Prophet of God! What is the Greater – Struggle?’
‘Struggle against the self’. Replied the Prophet.
Wasail al-Shia, vol. II, p-124
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali said:
The best crusade is the struggle of some one, who fights’ against his self located between his two sides.
Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 11 p. -124
In his death will the Prophet said to Imam Ali:
Oh Ali! The best struggle is the struggle of some one who made his night into morning without thinking to oppress a single individual.
Wasail al-Shia, vol. 11, p. -123
Writes Ayatollah Amini: “In these traditions the importance of struggle against the self have been described as “Greater-Struggle” or Supreme Crusade – the crusade which is even superior than the crusade for the sake of God-Almighty (Jehad fi Sabi lillah). Considering the exalted position of crusade for the sake of God, which is considered as one of the most superior worship – the importance and worth of self-struggle becomes explicitly clear.”
Imam Jafar Sadiq, the 8th Ahlulbayt (and the 6th Aditya or Imam) said:
How good is a servant of God who struggles against the self and his passions for the sake of God’s Pleasure. Whoever becomes victorious over the self’s whims and passions has already achieved God’s-Pleasure. Whoever offers resistance, and with humility in front of God, allows the reason to control imperious-self would receive the greatest blessing.
There exists between the servants of God and Him nothing darker and horrible barrier than the imperious-self and his passions; and in order to destroy their roots forever, there is no armament better than the realization to seek God, humility, hunger, thirst during the day (i.e. fasting), and night awakening (i.e. engaging in night prayers and having humming communications with God-Almighty [remember chant of ‘Aum’]). Such a person if dies in this course leaves the world as a martyr, and if remains alive would ultimately attain the exalted position of God’s Nearness. God-Almighty has promised in the Holy Quran that those who strive in His cause will certainly be guided towards His path and verily, God is with those who do right.
When you encounter another struggler endeavouring in self-refinement better than your own efforts, then reprimand your self severely, and remind him to be more careful and determined. In accordance with Divine do’s and don’ts make a bridle for the self and like a master, training his inexperienced and wanton slave, encourage your self towards virtuous deeds. The Prophet offered so much prayer that his feet become swelled, in response to people’s complaint, replied: should not I be thankful to God-Almighty?
By these serious endeavours in worship the prophet wanted to teach a lesson to his community. Therefore, one should never be negligent from endeavours, worship, and ascetism. Known that! If you could witness the sweetness of worshipping and other blessings and if your heart becomes illuminated with Divine Light – you will not be ready to discontinue it for an hour, even if they cut off your body into several pieces. Therefore, the negligence from worshipping shall never be possible except being deprived from advantages of competing for achieving immunity against sins and attaining God’s – Blessings.
It was this reason why the Imams never forgot the worship of God in the most adverse of circumstances. Once, in the battle of Siffin, when the war was at peak, Ali was intermittently looking at the sky, while fighting with the opponents. Somebody asked him the reason for this and Ali said that he was seeing whether it was time for prayer. The questioner was surprised and asked whether the situation was right for prayer. Ali replied that it was for this alone that he was fighting.
Those on Husain’s side too surely knew of the importance of prayers. Two of his companions came forward to stop all the arrows being shot by the opponents on their chest as Husain and the rest of the companions offered the noon prayers on the day of 10th Moharram. Husain was the lone survivor fighting the enemy in the battlefield when it was time for the evening prayers. Husain kept his sword in shield to commence his prayers. Again, this was why he was fighting. Enemy who called himself Muslim surrounded him. As Husain supplicated himself to God – the Almighty – Shimr crawled on his back with a dagger and started severing Husain’s head from the body. Husain’s head was severed from his body as his forehead lay on ground in the worship of God.
Quran (2:154) says:
And do not speak of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead; nay, (they are) alive, but you do not perceive.
Says Pooya/Ali Commentary:
“Those, who die and give themselves fully for the sake and in the way of Allah, are not dead. They are alive, attached and closely connected with the ever-living Allah.”
It is reported that verse 154 was revealed for the Muslims who were slain in the battle of Badr. In those days the new converts to Islam, like the disbelievers, thought that death means loss of life forever.
Fisabilillah means “in the way of Allah” or “for the cause of truth”. “The way of the devils” means “for the cause of falsehood” (Nisa: 76). Sale’s interpretation of fisabilillah (wars fought against non-Muslims to propagate Islam) is a deliberate distortion. There is no compulsion in religion (Baqarah: 256); therefore, the Holy Prophet went to war only when it was forced upon him.
All the created beings are given the opportunity to prove their potential; therefore, everyone is tried with something of fear, hunger, and loss of possessions and children. Those who have attained the highest spiritual maturity through personal virtues, ability to exercise patience, with faith and reliance upon Allah, face the trials successfully and reach the highest stations nearest to Allah. Each individual occupies a different status according to the degree of faith and patience he employs to encounter the test and trial. Some souls are not considered fit to be tried. It is their misfortune. The exemption may be to let their infidelity or hypocrisy grow to its full scope for which there is a painful punishment. (Al-Imran: 178).
The Holy Prophet and the twelve holy Imams occupy the highest status near Allah with reference to the faith in and reliance upon Allah, personal virtues and ability to exercise patience. For the cause of truth, in the way of Allah, they gladly suffered every kind of misery, hardship and calamity of the utmost severity throughout their lives. Only once in the history of the world all kinds of trials to the maximum conceivable degree, have been happily and triumphantly endured and coped with by Imam Husain and his family and friends in the desert of Karbala. No less was the situation of the other holy Imams under the tyrannical rule of the Umayyad and Abbasid rulers.
The Holy Prophet has rightly observed:
This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.
A poor Jew once asked Imam Hasan to tell him how could his poverty be a paradise and Imam’s plenty be a prison?
The Imam replied:
If you would know the miseries awaiting the disbelievers, and the blessings in store for the believers in the life of hereafter, you will then agree that even your present plight is a paradise compared to those miseries, and my affluence here is a prison for me as compared to the blessings that will be bestowed on me there.
Now see verses 2:155-156 of Quran:
And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient,
Who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are Allah’s and to Him we shall surely return.
Mahdi Puya says:
“This is the attitude of a faithful when a misfortune befalls him or he suffers a loss. It is the summary of all that which Islam teaches. We are His. We unconditionally submit to His will. We shall return to Him. He is our destination. Whoso makes his life a true expression of this description becomes His prime favourite for His grace, blessings and guidance. The Holy Prophet who stands first and foremost in submission to Allah is the ideal model of this expression, which has further been elaborated in verse 163 of Ali-Imran.
However, there is no denying the fact that Muslims have been enjoined to take up armed struggle, if necessary. Writes Ayatollah Amini: “Armed struggle becomes compulsory only under certain special times and circumstances, further it is not incumbent upon every one (Wajib-e-aini), rather is a collective obligation (Wajib-e-kifai), and some people are free from this obligation. During certain periods armed struggle is not required at all, or is required to the extent of collective obligation, e.g. if required number of people had assumed this obligation, then the others are excused. Apart from this it is not incumbent upon women, elderly men, handicapped, and sick people. But on the contrary, struggle against the self is incumbent upon everyone as an individual obligation (Wajib-e-aini) during all times, circumstances, and situations, must be continued till the very last moments of life, and no body under any condition except the impeccables (Masooms) will ever be free from this requirement.”
Also he says: “The struggle with self is harder than all the worships even the armed struggle in which a combatant risks his life by accepting martyrdom. Because, absolute surrender before God-Almighty, self-struggle against self’s whims and passions for the entire life, and journeying towards the straight path of perfection is much more difficult than the fighting of valiant warrior with the enemy in the battle field for a moment and ultimately achieving martyrdom. In fact, self-struggle is so hard that except with continuous resistance, tolerance of pains and anguishes, and without God’s Assistance it is not possible. It is because of this reason that we recite five times every day in daily prayers the sentence:
(O God!) Show us the straight path.
To follow up the straight path of perfection is so difficult that the Prophet of Islam said to God-Almighty:
Oh God! Don’t leave me at the disposal of my self even for the fraction of a second.”
Considering the difficulties in the path, the God has made a promise:
And those who strive in our cause – we will certainly guide them to our paths. For verily God is with those who do right.
Quran, 29:69
Quran explicitly states that fighting has to be in self-defense. See 2:190:
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.
Pooya/Ali Commentary says: “The message of Islam is universal. From early times the Muslims were only permitted to fight in self-defense. When there is no option, and in the face of persecution, however, the Muslims must fight. The strength of Islam lies in its certainty of ultimate victory over aggression, transgression, and ascribing falsehood to Allah and His last prophet. Fitna can mean oppression, persecution, seduction - all implying the “discord” that attachment with ghayrallah (other-than-Allah) brings about. It is used as in verse 217 of this surah - war is detestable but fitna is worse than slaughter. Islam promotes peace, order and harmony in the human society and keeps man on the right path. When the enemies of Islam found that the light of this message was sweeping darkness from every corner, the disbelievers vowed to annihilate it. It was only then that, no recourse being left for the believers, they had to resolutely take up the sword in defense. Verses 39 and 40 of al Hajj also give permission to fight when any people is wronged, oppressed and persecuted.
If Numbers 25: 1 to 3 and 31: 7 to 18 in the Old Testament are read carefully one comes to the conclusion that when the Israelites, in Shitim, began to worship the gods of Moab the Lord God asked Moses to “take all the leaders of the people and hurl them down to their death before the Lord.”
And they made war on Midians as the Lord has commanded Moses, and slew all the men. The Israelites took captive the Madianite women and children, and carried off all their cattle, their flocks and their property. They burnt all their cities. Moses asked them to kill every male child and every women who has had intercourse with a man.
Likewise, Gita too lays maximum stress on fight against the self. ‘Iswararpana’ is the term used to offer all deeds to God in Gita
On Me all action
Casting, with mind on the over-soul,
Being free from longing and from selfishness,
Fight, casting off thy fever.
Gita. 3:30
Casting (all) actions upon Brahman,
Whoso acts abandoning attachment,
Evil does not cleave to him,
As water (does not cleave) to a lotus leaf.
Gita. 5:10
Yet, when the situation demanded so, Krishna made Arjuna to fight even when he was shirking from doing so. A passage in Gita referring to the negative state of the spirit of Arjuna which Krishna wants to correct (it is from the beginning of the second chapter):
Krishna says to Arjuna: What is the matter with you? Why have you lost courage? You are a great hero, a model Khsatriya with an unsullied name… Your attitude at the call of battle is as incomprehensible as darkness covering the sun, neither meeting with death, wood absorbing fire, salt dissolving water, the frog swallowing the serpent, or the fox defying the lion. You are a sensible man. Wake up. Take courage. War is not made with rose water. Live up to your reputation and get rid of these silly ideas. Kindness towards opponents in battle is misplaced… Did you know hither to that the Kauravas were your kinsmen?
M. Subedar, Gita Explained by Dnyaneswar Maharaj P. 59
Yet, Krishna is the greatest upholder of peace and truth. Ironical? No! Only the one with a conscious self can understand this subtle difference.
If certain misguided Hindus take this statement of Krishna in the narrowest possible meaning and use it to plunder and kill innocent, for their own personal or political gains, would you blame it on Krishna’s teachings. It is unfortunate the face of Islam is distorted when certain misguided Muslims use Jehad for reasons other than what it had been meant for. Islamic view of Jehad is exactly the same as the teachings of Gita, with not an iota of difference.
When Krishna talks of fight, there is an underlying message, a great cause, benefit of humanity and its lofty values and foremost of all, upholding the worship of One Absolute God. Krishna and Arjuna both knew of the evils that had begun to plague the society in which they were living. That is why they have not been discussed. Yet, they always remain in the background. Due to this, some writers have understood the teachings of Gita and the actual purpose of Mahabharata wrongly. The yearning for God’s happiness, the height of spiritual attainment, willingness to be of help and die for a right cause and principles of upholding the truth and justice that Krishna showed is inherent in every verse of Gita.
Same is the case with Jehad. Call for armed conflict in few verses of Quran cannot be viewed independently as some self-centred or ignorant Muslim teachers and the detractors of Islam portray it to be.
Arjuna is first asked to stand firm in the unitive way (yoga) and then he is asked to stand up and fight (III, 42). Most of the Gita describes this unitive way to reach God. Through Unitive Contemplation (Dhyana-Yoga) that is discussed in detail in Chapter VI, the Self is to be recognized:
The Self is dear to one (possessed) of Self, by whom even the Self by the Self has been won, for one not (possessed) of Self, the Self would be in conflict with the very Self, as if an enemy.
Through realizing one’s self through recognizing the Self in it, one can reach union with God. And once the mind and intelligence is surrendered to God, then the man should fight in the way of God.
Therefore at all times remember Me (God) and fight: when your mind and intelligence are surrendered to Me, you shall come to Me; (have) no doubt.
Despite the imperative nature of fighting, it is still made a secondary matter to the contemplation of the Absolute and realizing one’s self.
This is exactly the concept of Jehad in Islam, where the man is required to fight with his own self and only when he has incorporated all the teachings and reached a level where he truly recognizes the God, does his duty begins of trying to put an end to the evils around him. Without the realization and adherence of the Absolute, Jehad in Islam is not possible. And one who attains this realization and shows strict adherence to the teachings, is surely not going to commit injustice, cruelty or suppression of human rights of others. Instead Jehad leads a person to the height where all divisions on the basis of caste, religion, belief or creed lies shattered and the Muslim takes the side of truth, even though he has to make sacrifices for upholding the truth. Jehad can never be a fight for a piece of land or material benefits. And more than armed combat (which is the last stage referred to as Qitaal), Jehad will be more of deeds, a fight against injustice and oppression.
Just ponder for a while. What is the greatest evil plaguing the present society in India? Our view, which we have formulated after talking to several people, is that the greatest cause of all evil is that Indians have begun to accept everything as it is. They see corruption and remain mute witness. They see injustice on some, and they are least bothered. They see white-collared crimes happening all around, and do nothing. This evil has perpetrated so much so that they wait at railway stations for hours but the train do not come, even if it is because the one who has to drive it decided to sleep for another few hours; they see accident victims dying on the roadside and look the other way, and they know of spurious drugs and products ruining their lives and those of their children, industries emitting pollution beyond permissible limits, porn being shown on cable, and so on, but remain mute spectators. Fear of losing a bit of what they have make them do that. Just imagine, If just 10 per cent of Muslims in India are to get up and say that they won’t allow any such act being perpetrated, won’t allow human rights to be violated and would always take the side of the oppressed, the weak and the poor. Won’t the Indian society become a better place to live?
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