The myth of Taliban’s Jehad
By Saman Malik
The Taliban’s Jihad has cast Islamic Jihad under a negative shade. For one thing, Jihad does not mean Qital alone. Not only the Sunni ulema but also the deobandi have issued edicts against the Taliban brand of Jihad. Jihad fi sabil l’illah, as described in the Quran (vide al-Quran 25: 52) can mean argumentation, writings, or financial help and may include actual fighting. Allah, the Almighty could have used the word Qital, if He meant to ordain only fighting in His path. Then who are the people claiming to wage Jihad to enforce shariah? Certainly, they are not the Taliban, students of madaaris en masse.
David Kilcullen, in his Accidental Guerrilla, calls them takfiri terrorist”. To him, takfiri terrorists are the Taliban who use terrorism to further their political ideology. Takfir is a heresy according to majority of Muslim. The majority of the Takfiri reject the Quranic injunction against compulsion in religion (Surah al-Baqarah: 256).They, instead, hold that the Muslim whose beliefs differ from the takfiris’ are infidels who must be killed. The Economist magazine in a 2003 article used the term neo-Taliban for them. It characterized an opposition that has evolved beyond the old regime and encompasses new groups with new agenda’. In simple words, they are radical Taliban in contradistinction with moderate talibaan. The neo-talibaan are a few in number. They neither represent majority of the talibaan nor the Muslim.
Aware of their small strength, Karzai dangled amnesty offer even to mullah Omar, the talibaan leader. He says that ‘only 150 top talibaan, having links with Al-Qaeda are enemies of Afghanistan’. The rest ‘who want to work and farm here are welcome to participate in elections and take part in reconstruction efforts’. The takfiri wear the mask of religion. But, they are in fact interested in carrying out their political agenda by hook or by crook. They target even the non-combatants in violation of Islamic injunctions. Even secular writers like Michael Walzer despise it. They argue that those engaged terrorism can be morally justified when a nation or community faces the extreme threat of complete destruction and the only way it can preserve itself is by intentionally targeting non-combatants.
The takfiri not only mistranslate the word Jihad for Qital, but also distort the true meaning of Quranic texts by quoting them out of context with Ahadith or peculiar situations to which they relate. They present a jaundiced microscopic view of Islam, equating Jihad with terrorism. Islam does not support unbridled Jihad or Qital. Quran, Ahadith and conduct of the Pious Caliphs explains types of wars, reasons for waging them, treatment of civilians, women and children, and other aspects. Let us have a bird’s-eye view of some of Islamic injunctions. Islam provides for tolerance of other religions. The Qur’an gives a clear instruction that there is no compulsion in religion (2: 256). It states that people will remain different (11: 118), they will always have different religions and ways and this is an unalterable fact (5:48). God tells the Prophet that most people will not believe ‘even if you are eager that they should’ (12: 103). Marriages with Ahl al Kitab are valid.
Quran says wars are to be avoided. Muslims, think of war not as something to be desired or sought after. The Qur’an (8: 61) says: “And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in God. And again: “So do not falter, and invite to peace when ye are the uppermost (Qur’an 47:35). A Hadith of the Prophet goes: “Do not be eager to meet the enemy, but ask God for safety. Yet if you meet them, persevere and have patience; and know that Paradise is under the shadows of swords (Bukhariy 56:112, 156:94: 8 Sahih of Muslim, V 143 Abu Dawood). On another Occasion, the Prophet. Said: “Do not be eager to meet the enemy, perhaps you may be put to test by them, but rather say: O God! Suffice for us, and keep their might away from us! (Ibn-Qutaibah, Uyunul Akhbar, 1, 107, Chapter. Kitab al-Harb). Wars are accidents among the happenings of the time, just like sicknesses, in contrast to peace and security, which resemble health for bodies. So it is necessary to preserve health by means of political action, and to shun sickness by means of warlike action, and to busy one’s self in preserving health’ (Hasan-ibn-Abdallah, Athar ul Awwal fi Tarteebud Dawwal, compiled in 708 Hijri).
Who should be fought? Fight in the way of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God does not love the transgressor. Although the Prophet did attempt to use catapults against the town of Ta’if, it was only to break down the fortifications, not to bombard the inhabitants. Are the Muslims allowed to Co-operate with Non-Muslims? Co-operate in what is good and pious and do not co-operate in what is sinful and aggression (5:2). God does not forbid you from being kind and equitable to those who have neither made war on you on account of your religion nor driven you from your homes. God loves those who are equitable (60:8). Other relevant texts: (49: 9), (4:114).
Source: http://pakobserver.net/200908/07/Articles04.asp
URL of this page: https://newageislam.com/islam-terrorism-jihad/the-myth-taliban’s-jehad/d/1651