Fighting the good jihad<\/p>\n
It is regrettable enough that the lofty idea of jihad is being
\nreduced to the weapons-and-armor defense of the faith, with
\nbloodshed all around. Even worse, some Muslims loosely use this
\nbattle cry to suit their own narrow needs and shallow causes and
\nto justify destruction and hate when Islam has nothing to do with
\neither.<\/p>\n
Even the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed
\nPutra Jamalullail, the head of religion in this country, is
\ndismayed. It was timely for the King to express concern over the
\nextremist positions of those Muslims who not only distort the
\nconcept of jihad and martyrdom for their own ends, but perpetuate
\nthe prejudice that all Muslims are prone to violence.<\/p>\n
There have been too many unhealthy developments of late
\npointing towards the sheer abuse of religion and a manipulative
\nmisrepresentation of Islam's clarion call in an attempt to give
\ncredence to unlawful activities. The emergence of religious
\nmilitant groups propagating violence to achieve their objectives
\nhas become a threat to the nation's security.<\/p>\n
Pas too is not innocent of this. Being a political party which
\nuses the word Islam in its name, Pas appears to exploit
\nsituations -- both in the country and around the world -- to the
\nhilt by, for example, fomenting a controversy over the Memali
\nincident. Fifteen years on, they still adamantly describe that
\nshootout between a fanatical cult and the police as jihad and
\nIbrahim Libya and his followers who died in the clash as martyrs.
\nThis is in clear violation of a National Fatwa Council decree
\nthat states otherwise. Ignoring a legitimate religious authority
\nis a serious transgression in an Islamic society. But not so for
\nPas.<\/p>\n
Moderate religious scholars have been extolling the softer
\nside of jihad, which is defined as a personal \"struggle\" to live
\nup to the ideals of Islam. It is this devout meaning of sacrifice
\nand progress that will show the way to success and excellence for
\nthe ummah in every aspect of life in this world and the
\nhereafter.<\/p>\n
-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fighting-the-good-jihad-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }