Jihad, terrorism and Muslims

By

Abdul Hannan Siwani Nadvi

So much hue and cry over war to counter terrorism across the world in last more than seven years and a series of bomb blasts in India did not get the chance to be paid more attention on other issues. And when, the heat of war has started to its low, the time has come for Muslims to think on the measures taken and the mistakes occurred by them within and beyond India.

I think 9/11 attack and seeking the answer in Yes or No by the then American President Bush at the time of beginning of war on terrorism had paralyzed the power of thinking of Muslim governments and Muslims across the world. They were not able to understand to how deal with the situation. The result of it was that they gone into defense mood.

They were not in condition to what they do. Bomb blasts were remained to continue in and outside of India. Innocent civilians were sacrificing their lives. Media, some anti-Muslim and anti-Islam elements were blaming on Islam and Qura'an for increasing of bomb blasts and terrorism. From all corners Muslims, their youths and their religion were on target. The air of fear and terror against Islam and Muslims had created in and outside of India.

Entire Muslim community was in pressure. Their minds were not working. They were not able to know that how to be faced this situation. At the same time, demands began arising from a section of society that religious and moderate class of Muslim community should clarify their position on terrorism.

There was no way before them except, come to and face the challenges posed by the elements who search only their political interest to get more advantages in election and a justification on what they are doing against Muslims across the glob.

The matter reached to its final stage when terrorism linked to Jihad and propagated that the word Jihad in Islam instigates Muslims on violence.

The situation was going worsen day by day. Muslim leadership was in pressure to clear its position. In that situation not only in India but also in all over the world, religious and moderate class of Muslims came ahead and decided to oppose the terrorism.

In India, Muslims organized conferences in almost every state against terrorism. Fatawas have been issued, Ahadieth, and Qura'anic verses presented to shun such ideologies, likewise, scene seen across the glob. Despite it, bomb blasts remain to continue. Picking up Muslim youths remained to continue in India, and American forces were ready to kill any terrorist means Muslim.

Muslim moderate and religious class came into pressure here. They have gripped, as their enemies were wanted. They mixed up Jihad with terrorism. Though both terms are very, very different from each others. There are two things. First, Jihad and second is terrorism. Both could not be mixed up. However, word Jihad frequently used with terrorism, by a section of Media, American pro-Media and by Muslims too.

Why it happens so, and why Muslim cannot understand the conspiracy behind mixing these two terms, I am unable to understand it. If terrorists are being found in Muslim community so what's the matter to worry on it. This is a natural system. Muslims live in the society where other communities live. If wrong elements work in Muslim community, so I do not think that there is a matter of concern for entire Muslim community or there is no reason to others to blame Muslims for it.

The subject of discussion is not that Jihad in which circumstances is allowed or not, nor that what is its instructions in Islam. This is a baseless subject of discussion. Here is question only that a bad thing of society which always been found in other people of different communities has now permeated in Muslim community too and some Muslim youths have been affected of it. This is very simple thing missed to understand by Muslim class.

There are killers, rapists, kidnappers, Don, traffickers, kidnappers, thief etc are to be found in Muslims. Is it mean that Islam provides them shelter? Is it mean that Islam provides them support or these bad adjectives also be linked with Jihad. If it is not, then why only terrorism linked with Jihad and Islam? If Killers Rapists, Kidnappers, Don are to be found in Muslims, is it mean that Islam behind it.

This is the phenomenon of society where every kind of people whether they are Muslim, Hindus, Christian, Jews etc, can be a killer, rapist, terrorist and drug dealers. This is the global phenomenon and nobody can oppose it. Then why only terrorism liked to Jihad?

There is a question need to be answered very carefully that which community and nation are free from such very bad things, especially terrorism?

Previously said that Muslim youths are involved in various bomb blasts took place across the country. After that, it was become a fashion for police to arrest any Muslim youth, whether proofs indicates their innocence.

The investigations of security agencies so far show the other pictures of the scene. The outcome came into light after the arrest of some Hindutva elements is that Muslims and their community falsely implicated in bomb blasts.

The investigation yet now is going on. Malegaon, Mekka Masjid, and Ajmer Dargah bomb blast accused are in police custody. I hope that if security agencies continue to work honestly, other bomb blast case such as, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, etc would be solved very soon.

All these investigations are an indication that Muslim youths falsely implicated in it and a section of communal Media played a great rule in defaming of Muslim's image in India.

Now, if we take a look on terrorism across the world, we see that only Muslim not involved in it. Every nation and every community are involved in it.

First, we take a look in India where Red Terrorism on high every time. Though there are various other groups are active across India.

1. 29^th June, 2008, 38 security forces killed by Naxals in Bali mela of Odissa.

2. 20 June 2010, 26 security forces killed by Naxals in Narain pur of Chattis Garh.

3. 16 July 2008 21 serucity forces killed in mine blasts placed by Naxals in Malkan geeri in Odissa.

4. 6^th April 2010, 75 secority forces killed in Dante warah

This is very, very brief story of those security forces have been killed in Naxal attacks. Otherwise, here is a list of such attacks and a list of innocent people killed in Red Terrorism. And the number is increasing day by day. Just keep and watch their developments in India.

Now Hindutva elements and activists are to be found in bomb blasts. They are also from Hindu religion.

Mr. Doug Bandow gives some light on terrorism in his article “why they want to kill us”, he says: “Terrorism is not new. It was used against Russian Tsars, the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, and British colonial officials. Algerians employed terrorism against the French and later Algerian governments. Basque and Irish separatists freely relied on terrorism. Until Iraq, the most promiscuous suicide bombers were Tamils in Sri Lanka”.

The situation is now very clear for us that such groups are being found in every community and in every country so why Jihad linked with terrorism. Will Jihad be linked with terrorism because Muslims are involved in it? If this is the way of thinking, then let me know that how we treat other community's terrorism. Are we may blame other community's terrorism with their religion. Are we may say them that their religion supports terrorism.

Jihad is a different thing and terrorism is different term. If some Muslims involved in terrorism it would be a no reason to say something on Jihad while the discussion is on terrorism.

This is the big mistake did by religious and educated Muslim class. They cannot clarify the differences of both terms. If there are terrorists in Muslims, the law will do its own job and they will receive the punishment for what they did.

This is very sample and very common thing missed by almost Muslim class. There are need that our educated Muslim class, before say something, should have study very clearly on the subjects they want to speak on it.

There is no matter of concern to hang their head in shame. There is need to open the eyes to see who are terrorists in India and who are not. As well as across the glob, you will see that the picture is very different.

Muslim leaders should have to come ahead very proudly. No reason to worry. There are details and open proofs indicate that the Muslims are not terrorist.

This is a conspiracy and a part of war to blame and defame the image of Muslims and Islam before other believers. This is the sedition is being demonstrated to justify the killing of innocent people. This is a confederacy prepared by those who are doing illegal works and leading anti-government movements in their camps as well as they are trying to divert the attention of police and the government from their anti-national works.

Muslims should have to be more careful from such conspiracies and try to present true picture of Islam. If there is any ambiguity in understanding the Islam, this is their responsibility to come and make clear it. Quraan says. “Invite mankind, ( O Muhammad ) to the way of your Allah with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better”. Surah An-Nahal

12-07-2010