Will there be a jihad?

Many circles have lashed out at the government's failure to stop the sectarian strife in Maluku, but during the past week the bloodshed has increased from day to day.

Muslims outside the province, particularly those in Jakarta, have zoomed in on the situation in Maluku and have been horrified at how their brethren have become the easy prey of Christians. The picture is made all the more uglier in their eyes when they remember how Muslims were the victims of a brutal attack by a similar group on Idul Fitri last year.

So on the eve of the Muslim post-fasting festival on Friday, tens of thousands of Muslims assembled at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta and called for a jihad in Maluku. They also called for Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri's resignation because of her inaction over the conflict. Megawati has been tasked by President Abdurrahman Wahid to solve the unrest.

Before the cries for a holy war resounded, Muslim elders and political leaders had made angry statements to tell the authorities that Muslims' patience had grown thin.

Amien Rais, speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), gave Abdurrahman a two-week deadline to resolve the conflict. Judging by Amien's popularity among the Muslim community it is possible that after the two-week deadline Muslims might decide that enough is enough and that may take drastic measures, perhaps even prepare die-hard groups to support their brethren in Maluku to wage a holy war.

Will there be a jihad? It appears the answer could be in the affirmative if the senseless killing in the province goes on unabated and if restless jihad supporters cannot be put off by Koranic teachings. It depends on how the situation in Maluku is interpreted and how it relates to the Islamic law on engagement in war.

In Islam, entering into a war is permissible as an act of self-defense. "Fight for the sake of God those that fight against you, but do not attack them first. God does not love the aggressor," says the Koran.

However, in the case of Maluku, Muslims do not need a religious ruling to launch a holy war as conditions there "meet the criteria", according to the head of the edict commission of the Indonesian Ulemas Council, Ibrahim Husein. The prerequisite for a jihad, he said, "exists and it's now mandatory to engage in one", Antara news agency quoted him as saying last week.

But respected Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid sees another side to the problem. He agrees that Muslims may fight back, but says they should remember that this does not mean they should overreact or become oppressive.

Speaking at a huge gathering on the eve of Idul Fitri, Nurcholish said Muslims should also show their compassionate side to soothe emotions. "Becoming a Muslim is difficult. We have to know when to forgive and when to rise to destroy our enemy."

Besides acknowledging that all the ingredients for a holy war appear to be present, Nurcholish's reminder seems more relevant in the current situation. Because the reality is that before last year Muslims and Christians lived side by side in harmony in the province, meaning the current ugly situation has clearly been engineered by political creatures for their own interests.

Whatever happens all depends on the military's ability to restore lasting peace and order there. The problem is that no one, not even experts, can predict what the military will do next.