| JIHAD IN
ISLAM AND IN HINDUISM
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One of the greatest misconceptions about
Islam, not only amongst the non-Muslims but even amongst the
Muslims, is that concerning the concept of Jihad. Non-Muslims
as well as Muslims think that any war fought by any Muslim
for whatever purpose, be it good or bad, is Jihad.
‘Jihad’ is an Arabic word derived from ‘Jahada’,
which means to strive or to struggle. For example. if a
student strives to pass in the examination he is doing jihad.
In the Islamic context, ‘Jihad’ means to strive
against one’s own evil inclination. It also means
to strive to make the society better. It also includes the
right to fight in self-defence or to fight in the battlefield
against oppression and against aggression. |
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Jihad is not holy war
Not only non-Muslim scholars, but even some Muslim scholars
mistranslate the word ‘Jihad’ as holy war. The
Arabic word for ‘holy war’ is ‘harabum
muqaddasah’ and this word is not to be found anywhere
in the Qur’an nor in any hadith. The word ‘holy
war’ was first used to describe the crusades of the
Christians who killed thousands of people in the name of
Christianity. Today, this term ‘holy war’ is
used to falsely describe Jihad, which merely means ‘to
strive’. In an Islamic context, Jihad means ‘to
strive in the way of Allah for a righteous cause’.
i.e. Jihad fi Sabilillah. |
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Only one of the several forms
of Jihad is fighting There are different types
of Jihad i.e., striving. One of the types is striving is
fighting in the battlefield against oppression and tyranny.
Many critics of Islam including Arun Shourie quote Surah
Al-Tawbah chapter 9 verse 5
“… Fight and slay the Mushrik/Kafir
(Hindu) wherever you find them …”
(Al Qur’an 9:5)
If you read the Qur’an, this verse exists but it
is quoted out of context by Arun Shourie.
The first few verses of Surah Tawbah before verse 5 speak
about the peace treaty between the Muslims and Muskhriks
(polytheists) of Makkah. This peace treaty was unilaterally
broken by the Mushriks of Makkah. In verse no. 5 Allah (swt)
gives them an ultimatum to put things straight in four months’
time, or else face a declaration of war. It is for the battlefield
that Allah says “fight and slay the Mushriks (i.e.
the enemies from Makkah) wherever you find them and seize
them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every
stratagem of war”.
This verse is revealed and instructs the Muslims to fight
in the battlefield and kill the enemy wherever you find
them. But natural, any army general to boost up the morale
of the soldiers and to encourage them will say “Don’t
get scared, fight and kill the enemies, wherever you find
them in the battlefield. Arun Shourie in his book ‘The
World of Fatwas’ after quoting Surah Tawbah chapter
9 verse 5 jumps to verse 7. Any logical person will realize
that verse 6 has the reply to his allegation.
Surah Tawbah chapter 9 verse 6 says:
“If any amongst the Mushriks (i.e. the enemies)
ask thee for asylum, grant it to him so that
he may hear the word of Allah and then
escort him to where he can be secure”.
(Al Qur’an 9:6)
Today the most merciful army general may tell his soldiers
to let the enemy go, but Almighty Allah in the Qur’an
says if the enemy wants peace do not just let them go but
escort them to a place of security. Which army general in
today’s day and age, or rather in the whole of recorded
human history is ever known to have given such merciful
instructions? Now will someone ask Mr. Arun Shourie why
did he deliberately not quote verse 6? |
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Jihad (i.e. striving) in the Bhagavad
Gita All the major religions encourage their
followers to strive in good works. It is mentioned in Bhagavad
Gita
“Therefore strive for Yoga, O Arjuna, which
is the art of all work.”
(Bhagavad Gita 2:50) |
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Fighting prescribed in the Bhagavad
Gita too
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All the major religions
of the world have prescribed fighting, at sometime or
the other, especially in self-defence or for fighting
against oppression.
Mahabharata is an epic and sacred Scripture of the
Hindus, which mainly deals with a fight between the
cousins, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. In the battlefield
Arjun prefers not to fight and be killed rather than
having his conscience burdened with the killing of
his relatives. At this moment, Krishna advises Arjun
in the battlefield and this advice is contained in
the Bhagvad Gita. There are several verses in the
Bhagvad Gita where Krishna advises Arjun to fight
and kill the enemies even though they are his relatives.
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It is mentioned in The Bhagvad Gita
Chapter 1 verse 43-46
(43) O Krishna, maintainer of the people, I have
heard by disciplic succession that those who destroy
family traditions dwell always in hell”
(44) “Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing
ourselves to commit great sinful acts, driven by the
desire to enjoy royal happiness.”
(45) I would consider better for the sons of Dhritarashtra
to kill me unarmed and unresisting rather than fight
with them.
(46) “Arjuna, having thus spoken, cast aside
his bow and arrow, and sat down on the chariot, his
mind, overwhelmed with grief”.
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Krishna further replies in Bhagvad
Gita Chapter 2 Verse 2, 3
“My dear Arjuna, how have these impurities
come upon you? They are not at all befitting a man
who knows the progressive values of life. They lead
not to higher planets but to infamy.
“O son of Partha, do not yield to this degrading
impotence. It does not become you. Give up such petty
weakness of heart and arise, O chastiser of the enemy!”
When Arjuna prefers to be killed unarmed and unresisting
rather than fight and kill his cousins Kauravas, Krishna
replies to Arjun by saying how this impure thought
has come to you which prevents you from entering heaven.
Give up this degrading Impotence and weakness of heart
and arise, O defeater of enemy.
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Krishna further says in Bhagvad
Gita Chapter 2 verse 31-33
31. “Considering your specific duty as a Kshatriya,
you should know that there is no better engagement
for you than fighting on religious principles, so
there is no need for hesitation.”
32. “O Partha, happy are the Kshatriya to whom
such fighting opportunities come unsought, opening
for them the door of the heavenly planets”.
33. “If however, you do not fight this religious
war, then you will certainly incur sin, for neglecting
your duties, and thus loose your reputation as a fighter”.
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There are hundreds of verses in
the Bhagvad Gita alone, which encourages fighting and
killing, many times more as compared to such verses
in the Qur’an.
Imagine if someone were to say that the Bhagvad Gita
encourages the killing of the family members to attain
paradise, without quoting the context – such
a deliberate attempt will be devilish. But within
the context if I say that for truth and justice fighting
against the evil is compulsory, even if it be against
your relatives, it makes sense.
I wonder how come the critics of Islam, especially
critics amongst the Hindus, point a finger at the
Qur’an when it speaks about fighting and killing
unjust enemies. The only possibility I can think of
is that they themselves have not read their sacred
scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata
and the Vedas.
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Critics of Islam including Hindu
critics speak against the Qur’an and the Prophet
when they say that if you are killed while doing Jihad
i.e. fighting for the truth, you are promised paradise.
Besides quoting Qur’anic verses they quote
Sahih Bukhari Vol. 4, Book of Jihad Chapter no. 2
Hadith No. 46
“Allah guarantees that He will admit the Mujaahid
in His cause to Paradise if he is killed, otherwise
he will return him to his home safely with rewards
and war booty”.
(Sahih Bukhari Vol. 4, Book of Jihad Chapter no. 2
Hadith No. 46)
There are various similar verses in Bhagavad Gita
guaranteeing a person paradise if he is killed while
fighting. Take the example of Bhagavad Gita Chapter
2 verse 37:
“O son of Kunti, either you will be killed
in the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets
(paradise), or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly
kingdom, therefore get up and fight with determination”.
(Bhagavad Gita 2:37) |
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Similarly Rigved Book No. 1 Hymn
132 Verse 2-6 as well as many other verses of Hindu
Scriptures speak about fighting and killing. |
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Explain Jihad by quoting Scriptures
of other Religions Allah says in the Qur’an:
Say: “O people
Of the Book! Come
To common terms
As between us and you:
(Al Qur’an 3:64)
The best way to explain a misconception of Islam is to
quote a similar message given in the Scripture of other
religions. Whenever I have spoken to Hindus who criticize
the concept of Jihad in Islam, the moment I quote similar
passages from Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita, and since they
know the outline and the context of the fight in Mahabharata,
they immediately agree that if the Qur’an too speaks
about a fight between truth and falsehood then they have
no objection but rather appreciate the guidance of the Qur’an. |
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