Reclaiming jihad's true meaning<\/p>\n
Hikmat Sanusi, Tangerang<\/p>\n
\"Don't you think it was just a political statement for an
\ninternational audience?\" read an e-mail from a friend of mine in
\nCalifornia a few days ago.<\/p>\n
He was referring to the declaration made recently by Muslim
\nclerics here to disseminate information on true jihad across the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
I tried to convince him that Muslim clerics here are good
\npeople and want to prevent more people from falling victim to
\nterrorism as many lives have already been lost, including of
\nMuslims.<\/p>\n
Unsatisfied with my answer, his response was cynical:
\n \"But why didn't they do that a long time ago? Are they able to
\nformulate a jihad concept that is acceptable to the many schools
\nof thought in the Muslim world? And, if some sects reject their
\nconcept of jihad, what will they do? Do they have the power to
\ndisband the defense fronts? Do you a law regulating this area? If
\nthere isn't a valid legal instrument, if it's just a matter of
\nappeals to the masses, I don't believe it. Nothing will happen.\"<\/p>\n
Many other people share his doubt that all parties within the
\nMuslim community would accept the concept of jihad and be ready
\nto act according to it.<\/p>\n
Soon after news of the high-profile declaration was broadcast
\non local TV stations, Muhammad Iqbal alias Abu Jibril, who
\nrepresents the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI), appeared on a
\nlocal TV program to speak of the rewards that suicide bombers are
\napparently ready to die for.<\/p>\n
\"A martyr will be rewarded with 72 wives in heaven and will
\npray for 70 other people to be ushered into heaven,\" said Jibril
\nwho was once jailed without trial for two years in Malaysia on
\nsuspicion of being the treasurer of Jamaah Islamiyah and activist
\nof the Malaysian Mujahidin organization.<\/p>\n
This was but part of the seven main rewards he said martyrs
\nwould receive in heaven.<\/p>\n
The above paragraph shows that, even among Muslim leaders, the
\nteachings of the Koran and Hadith are not being approached in
\ntheir entirety. There is a tendency to isolate Koranic verses and
\nparts of the Hadith that serve the interests of a group or
\nindividual.<\/p>\n
So when we talk about clarifying the concept of jihad, we are
\nreally talking about the validity of interpretations of the Koran
\nand Hadith. This being the case, the Muslim clerics' pledge to
\nchallenge false teachings sounds easier said than done<\/p>\n
False ideologies must be challenged through the Koran and
\nHadith but also within the global political context in which
\nreligion exists.<\/p>\n
So, now the question is, exactly how do the Muslim clerics
\nintend to wage a war on ideology?<\/p>\n
And what are the parameters? Jihad is not a word, it is a
\nworld of long-held conviction. This is a highly sensitive and
\naltogether complicated domain. Appeals cannot suffice if concrete
\nresults are sought.<\/p>\n
Reclaiming the concept of jihad has much do to with the
\nabsorption of the teachings of the Koran and Hadith, so perhaps
\nwhat is needed now is for Muslim intellectuals to regain control
\nof the discourse of Islam, removing misleading interpretations of
\nits texts.<\/p>\n
Given the complexity of their mission, it could take several
\nyears to arrive at a clear understanding of the concept of jihad,
\nwhich has been drummed into the beliefs of the more than 190
\nmillion Muslims across this nation.<\/p>\n
To lighten the load of clerics in accomplishing this task, big
\norganizations could use their existing networks -- including at
\nprovincial and regency level -- as well as Islamic boarding
\nschools, universities and informal forums.<\/p>\n
This is a prime opportunity for Muslim leaders here to emerge
\nas new heroes of peace within Indonesia and also beyond it.<\/p>\n
Eventually, their noble work would save many innocent lives
\nfrom being preyed randomly upon by ignorant jihadists, who have
\nfor so long misinterpreted the holy concept as though they have
\nbeen given a heavenly mandate to kill.<\/p>\n
So let jihad be understood correctly and implemented as God
\nintended it -- never in the way of terrorists and narrow-minded
\npeople. Let perceptions about jihad be rejuvenated to benefit,
\nnot to frighten people.<\/p>\n
The biggest jihad in Indonesia now is how to make this a
\nreality. Only then can we talk of how jihad can benefit
\nIndonesia as the world's most populous Muslim nation; a nation
\nthat was built on diversity and is a member of the civilized
\ninternational community.<\/p>\n
The writer is a student at Columbia Pacific University in San
\nRafael, California. He is currently doing research in Indonesia
\nfor his master's degree in political science. He can be reached
\nat hikmat@mailpanda.com.<\/p>",
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