The Light, London Edition, August 2006
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The Light — London edition August 2006 The Lahore Ahmadiyya monthly magazine from U.K. Contents: • True meaning of Jihad, • Obituary: Mrs Razia Madad Ali .......................... 6 Does not mean war ................................................ 1 • Muhammad Ali Jauhar’s praise of our • Qadiani leader’s recent comments about English translation of the Holy Quran ................. 8 our Jama‘at, A refutation and reply............................................. 4 Published from London by: Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam Lahore (U.K.) The first Islamic Mission in the U.K., established 1913 as the Woking Muslim Mission Darus Salaam, 15 Stanley Avenue, Wembley, HA0 4JQ (U.K.) Centre: 020 8903 2689. President: 020 8524 8212. Secretary: 01753 692654. E-mail: [email protected] ♦ website: www.aaiil.org/uk Next Meeting at Darus Salam: Regular activities: Darus-i Quran and Hadith: Date: Sunday 6th August 2006 Every Friday at 2.30 p.m. Time: 3.00 p.m. Meetings of the Executive: Topic: Family Day Special Meeting First Sunday of every month at 2.00 p.m. in presence of Hazrat Ameer Meeting of the Jama‘at: Dr A.K. Saeed First Sunday of every month at 3.00 p.m. by those opposed to Islam to make Muslims True meaning of Jihad worship other beings and things than the One God: by Zahid Aziz “And We have enjoined on man goodness The Arabic word jihad means striving or exerting to his parents. But if they strive with you to yourself to the utmost against something ascribe partners to Me, of which you have disapproved. It does not as such mean war or no knowledge, do not obey them.” — 29:8 fighting by means of arms. No doubt an armed and see also 31:15 conflict could also be described as a jihad, but that The Arabic word translated as ‘strive’ here usage would be similar to applying the word indicates the act of jihad. This use shows that, ‘struggle’ in English to a war. To determine what is firstly, jihad does not mean war, as no war is being considered as jihad in the teachings of Islam, we waged here, and secondly that even the opponents need to examine the usage of this word in the of the Muslims are spoken of as engaging in a jihad Quran. against the Muslims! In such a broad sense is the word jihad used in the Quran that it is applied to the striving carried out 2 The Light — London edition, August 2006 In the Quran we find that the jihad or striving it “Then surely your Lord, to those who flee requires Muslims to conduct is of the following after they are persecuted, then strive hard kinds: and are patient, surely your Lord after that is Protecting, Merciful.” — 16:110 1. Striving to attain nearness to God by improving yourself morally and spiritually This verse was revealed while the Holy Prophet and overcoming your bad desires; was still resident at Makka, before Muslims had been commanded to fight in battle, while they had 2. Sticking to Islam under difficult circum- started to emigrate to Madina. Their striving hard or stances, such as when facing persecution, jihad was to bear all this hardship with patience, by showing perseverance and patience in and did not mean fighting. conditions of suffering; A jihad of this kind is also indicated in a well- 3. Striving to take the message of Islam to known Hadith, in which the Holy Prophet others, by devoting your time, energy and Muhammad said: money for this work; “The most excellent jihad is to say a word 4. Fight or help to fight in battle in the defence of truth before an unjust ruler.” 1 of the Muslims community under the conditions in which Islam allows Muslims Here, speaking the truth for a noble purpose, to fight a war by military means. when it requires great courage to do so, is called jihad, indeed the most excellent jihad, by the Holy Jihad to attain nearness to God Prophet of Islam. This is mentioned in the following verse: Jihad of propagating the message of Islam “And those who strive hard for Us, We The jihad of the verse quoted above (16:110) shall certainly guide them in Our ways. And includes propagating the message of Islam, because Allah is surely with the doers of good.” — it was for this also that the Muslims were being 29:69 persecuted. This verse requires them to persevere in The word translated as “strive hard” indicates the jihad of preaching and be patient as to the the act of doing jihad in the original Arabic. The results. meaning is clearly striving hard to bring about your The Holy Prophet Muhammad is commanded: moral and spiritual improvement. It may be noted that a synonym of jihad is the word mujahada, “And if We pleased, We could raise a which is applied to religious exertions such as warner in every town. So do not obey the fasting. disbelievers, and strive against them a mighty striving with it.” — 25:51–52 The two verses given below indicate the same jihad, where again the word “strive” is used to The mighty or great striving, the great jihad translate the act of jihad: (jihad kabir in Arabic) mentioned here, is the mission of the Prophet Muhammad to spread the “And strive hard for Allah with due truth with the Quran, which is what the words “with striving. He has chosen you and has not laid it” refer to. This is also the duty of every Muslim as upon you any hardship in religion … so the great jihad. This verse, again, was revealed keep up prayer and pay the due charity and during the Makkan phase of the Holy Prophet’s life hold fast to Allah.” — 22:78 and therefore the command in it to “strive a mighty “And whoever strives hard, strives for striving”, which mentions jihad twice, cannot himself. Surely Allah is Self-sufficient, possibly refer to undertaking any armed conflict. above need of His creatures.” — 29:6 There are also verses revealed after the Holy These verses were revealed to the Holy Prophet Prophet had moved to Madina commanding Muhammad while he was living under persecution Muslims to undertake jihad where it cannot mean at Makka, and therefore the command here to do fighting by arms. For example: jihad cannot refer to fighting. In case of the first “O Prophet, strive hard against the verse, the form of striving is indicated as by prayer, disbelievers and the hypocrites and be firm giving in charity and holding fast to God. against them.” — 9:73; 66:9 Jihad of patience and endurance This is indicated in the following verse: 1 Tirmidhi, Abwab-ul-Fitan. The Light — London edition, August 2006 3 The hypocrites were those people who were the most excellent of all deeds. Should we outwardly within the Muslim community but at not then engage in jihad? He said: The most critical junctures they refused to support the cause excellent jihad is the properly-performed of Islam and showed insincerity of faith. No war Hajj.” 1 was ever undertaken against this group. The striving “A man came to the Prophet and asked his hard or jihad against them were efforts to convince permission for jihad. He asked: Are your them of the truth of Islam. parents alive? The man said, Yes. He said: Another example of verses revealed at Madina Then do jihad in their way.” 2 where jihad cannot mean fighting is as follows. In The words “do jihad in their way” can only chapter 61, verse 11 states: mean, and are understood by everyone as meaning, “You should believe in Allah and His “exert yourself in the service of your parents”. The Messenger, and strive hard in Allah’s way Holy Prophet here has not presented Hajj or service with your wealth and your lives. That is of parents as a metaphorical or lesser alternative for better for you, if you but knew!” people unable to take part in a real jihad. He has described these as the actual jihad on their part. Three verses later it is stated: A very illuminating incident is recorded in “O you who believe, be helpers (in the Hadith, of a time some sixty years after the death of cause) of Allah, as Jesus, son of Mary, said the Holy Prophet, when there was a rebellion of to the disciples: Who are my helpers in the some Muslims led by Ibn Zubair against the Muslim cause of Allah? The disciples said: We are government of the time. Abdullah ibn Umar, one of helpers (in the cause) of Allah.” — 61:14 the greatest commentators of the Quran and son of The striving hard, or jihad, of verse 11 is the second Caliph Umar, was urged by some to join explained in this verse 14 as making yourselves this rebellion as they considered it as jihad. It is helpers in the cause of Allah in the manner in which reported: the disciples of Jesus responded to his call to be “A man came to Ibn Umar and said: Why is helpers in the Divine cause. The disciples of Jesus, it that one year you go for the hajj and one whether according to Islamic or Christian sources, year you go for the umra [a lesser form of were not asked to fight in any battle with weapons. the pilgrimage], and yet you have discarded They helped the cause of truth by propagating his jihad in the way of God? You know how message in the face of persecution and the utmost much God has encouraged jihad ? Ibn Umar difficulties.