jihad - Khadijah Mosque

Jihadso as to establish a society based on higherspirituality and morality. He set an examplebefore Arabs to pardon the enemy rather thanseek revenge. Retaliation may satisfy our rawemotions but pardoning results in innercleansing and spiritual purity.It is true that the Quran, in one of its versessays there is life in retaliation (al-hayat fi’al qisas)but it refers to existing Arab social reality ratherthan asking Muslims to practise retaliation. Allahdesires Muslims to transcend such practicesand desist from retaliation as Allah is Ghafur al-Rahim i.e. a pardoner and compassionate and atrue worshipper of Allah must also develop thesequalities in himself/herself.One has to properly understand the Quranicmethodology and comprehend its exhortationson different levels. First the Quran refers toexisting realities and then requires believers totranscend the given situation and accept highermorality. The Quran adopts first a practicalapproach and then wants its followers to try toestablish what is ideal and desirable. It adoptssame approach as regards war. War may becomenecessary but is certainly not desirable. Oneshould transcend war and establish peace.Some Muslims refer to certain verses, whichpermit war and ignore the Quranic emphasison ideal of peace. Even paradise according tothe Quran is place of peace and security as theQuran says enter it (the Paradise be salaminaaminin i.e. in peace and security 15:46). Thusthe earth can become paradise only when thereis peace and security for all. It will become hellif there is violence and insecurity. Thus theQuran clearly aims at higher level of existenceand not at animal level of revenge andretaliation.In Quranic text one finds this tensionbetween what is given and what is desirable.Without understanding this tension one cannotbegin to understand the true spirit of Quran.The Muslim youth who are lured by powerfulvested interests to declare “jihad” and courtmartyrdom are totally unaware of the higherlevel of Quranic teachings. In all situations onecannot simply talk of courting martyrdom. Itcould be done after exhausting all otheralternatives and with minimum use of violence,even where very necessary.But what we witness is abhorant use ofindiscriminate violence killing scores ofinnocent people. In fact violence is being used84 Masjid Khadijah