The Times of India recently conducted a discussion between Islamic scholar and peace activist Maulana Wahiduddin Khan and Hindu spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on the issue of Jihad in the Quran and Bhagvadgita. The discussion was moderated by Narayani Ganesh, a well known Columnist.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/self-help/War-peace-its-in-the-mind/articleshow/5059228.cms

 Right at the beginning Maulana Wahiduddin started with "Let's discuss the misunderstanding of the term jihad. Jihad is an Arabic word that has neither a mysterious meaning nor relation to any sacred duty. Jihad is a simple word; it means to struggle, to strive. Jihad is to achieve a positive goal in life through peaceful means."

"The Prophet of Islam has said: "Do jihad against your own desires." That is, doing jihad against yourself. So jihad means to control your desires. Jihad is to discipline your own behaviour. The Qur'an says: "Do jihad with the help of the Qur'an" (25:52). The Qur'an is a book of ideology; it is not a weapon. So doing jihad with the help of the Qur'an means to try to achieve one's goals through an ideological struggle." He continued.

Before we accept the Mualana's definition of jihad let us look at the subject of jihad from the basic scriptures of Islam and what other Islamic scholars and commentators have said on the subject in some details. One or two sentences here and there do not do justice to this important topic.

Jihad has been going on in the world ever since Islam was born in the seventh century but its latest manifestation has been, among other places, most notably in Palestine, Chechnya, and Kashmir. Even, in February 1998, when World Islamic Front issued a fatwa and a call for Jihad to  "every Muslim who believes in Allah and wishes to be rewarded to comply with Allah's order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it", it did not arouse much interest in the general public. It took direct assault on 9/11 on the fundamental symbols of what America stands for that it created some curiosity. Today, Jihad is, no doubt, one of the most discussed terms in the world.

What is Jihad? What drives a man to commit such horrendous acts against humanity? What motivates Islamic terrorists? Why do they operate under the name of Jihad?

Dr. Eyad Sarraj, a Palestinian psychiatrist answers (Newsweek, April 8, 2002)

"This is the influence of the Koran, the most potent and powerful book for the past 14 centuries. God promised Muslims who sacrificed for Islam  that they would not die. They will live on in paradise. Muslims hold to the promise literally."

How valid is this assertion?

Last update : 04-10-2009 00:08

Keywords : What is Jihad?, Vinod Kumar

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