Reclaiming jihad's true meaning

Reclaiming jihad's true meaning

Hikmat Sanusi, Tangerang

"Don't you think it was just a political statement for an
international audience?" read an e-mail from a friend of mine in
California a few days ago.

He was referring to the declaration made recently by Muslim
clerics here to disseminate information on true jihad across the
country.

I tried to convince him that Muslim clerics here are good
people and want to prevent more people from falling victim to
terrorism as many lives have already been lost, including of
Muslims.

Unsatisfied with my answer, his response was cynical:
"But why didn't they do that a long time ago? Are they able to
formulate a jihad concept that is acceptable to the many schools
of thought in the Muslim world? And, if some sects reject their
concept of jihad, what will they do? Do they have the power to
disband the defense fronts? Do you a law regulating this area? If
there isn't a valid legal instrument, if it's just a matter of
appeals to the masses, I don't believe it. Nothing will happen."

Many other people share his doubt that all parties within the
Muslim community would accept the concept of jihad and be ready
to act according to it.

Soon after news of the high-profile declaration was broadcast
on local TV stations, Muhammad Iqbal alias Abu Jibril, who
represents the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI), appeared on a
local TV program to speak of the rewards that suicide bombers are
apparently ready to die for.

"A martyr will be rewarded with 72 wives in heaven and will
pray for 70 other people to be ushered into heaven," said Jibril
who was once jailed without trial for two years in Malaysia on
suspicion of being the treasurer of Jamaah Islamiyah and activist
of the Malaysian Mujahidin organization.

This was but part of the seven main rewards he said martyrs
would receive in heaven.

The above paragraph shows that, even among Muslim leaders, the
teachings of the Koran and Hadith are not being approached in
their entirety. There is a tendency to isolate Koranic verses and
parts of the Hadith that serve the interests of a group or
individual.

So when we talk about clarifying the concept of jihad, we are
really talking about the validity of interpretations of the Koran
and Hadith. This being the case, the Muslim clerics' pledge to
challenge false teachings sounds easier said than done

False ideologies must be challenged through the Koran and
Hadith but also within the global political context in which
religion exists.

So, now the question is, exactly how do the Muslim clerics
intend to wage a war on ideology?

And what are the parameters? Jihad is not a word, it is a
world of long-held conviction. This is a highly sensitive and
altogether complicated domain. Appeals cannot suffice if concrete
results are sought.

Reclaiming the concept of jihad has much do to with the
absorption of the teachings of the Koran and Hadith, so perhaps
what is needed now is for Muslim intellectuals to regain control
of the discourse of Islam, removing misleading interpretations of
its texts.

Given the complexity of their mission, it could take several
years to arrive at a clear understanding of the concept of jihad,
which has been drummed into the beliefs of the more than 190
million Muslims across this nation.

To lighten the load of clerics in accomplishing this task, big
organizations could use their existing networks -- including at
provincial and regency level -- as well as Islamic boarding
schools, universities and informal forums.

This is a prime opportunity for Muslim leaders here to emerge
as new heroes of peace within Indonesia and also beyond it.

Eventually, their noble work would save many innocent lives
from being preyed randomly upon by ignorant jihadists, who have
for so long misinterpreted the holy concept as though they have
been given a heavenly mandate to kill.

So let jihad be understood correctly and implemented as God
intended it -- never in the way of terrorists and narrow-minded
people. Let perceptions about jihad be rejuvenated to benefit,
not to frighten people.

The biggest jihad in Indonesia now is how to make this a
reality. Only then can we talk of how jihad can benefit
Indonesia as the world's most populous Muslim nation; a nation
that was built on diversity and is a member of the civilized
international community.

The writer is a student at Columbia Pacific University in San
Rafael, California. He is currently doing research in Indonesia
for his master's degree in political science. He can be reached
at hikmat@mailpanda.com.