By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam

19 February 2019

All Indians including Muslims are extremely angry in the wake of recent Pulwama attack. Demonstrations are being held at several parts of India and all these Indians are condemning the wanton attack that took the lives of 40 soldiers. Naturally people are demanding elimination of terrorism and terrorists.

 But merely condemnations and demands will not be enough. Muslim Ulama and scholars must perform a double role; one for the safety of the country and second for saving Islam from being misused by terror ideologues. This country gives full religious rights to its minorities, unlike the Muslim-majority countries in our neighbourhood. However, terror ideologues are using Islamic titles and appearances to misguide the youth in the name of the religion. As religious guides it becomes their regular primary duty to ideologically defeat the terror narratives. They should consistently engage in ideological struggle against terrorism through their sermons, lectures in Madrasas, mosques and all other religious gatherings.

There are a number of websites like Jaish-e-Mohammad's weekly online Urdu magazine Haftroza Al-Qalam (al qalamonline.com) which are consistently trying to brainwash the Muslim youth and function as breeding grounds for suicide bombers. Websites like this repeatedly make terror narratives to brainwash the Muslim youth. Indian Ulama should issue fatwas against terror narratives, refuting them point by point.

This article is just a wake-up call to Indian Muslims and an expression of concern over the Pulwama Attack. However, I would like to refute two terror narratives significantly used by Jamaat-e-Islami inspired terror outfit JeM’s Urdu magazine Haftroza Al-Qalam.    

Refutation Of JeM’s Terror Clerics- Point 1                                                                                                         

1.    The terrorist Urdu mouthpiece Haftroza Al-Qalam says, 

جہاد کو ریاست کی ذمہ داری قرار دے کے خود مطمئن  بیٹھ جانے والو قرآن کی آیات جہاد کو ایک بار پھر پڑھ لو شاید تمہارا اِیمان بچ جائے

Translation; O the people who declare Jihad the state’s responsibility and take rest! Read again the Quranic verses related to Jihad, so that you may save your faith” (alqalamonline.com/index.php/news/11420-680-kashmir-azadi-ka-zariya)

This aforementioned terror narrative is directed to Indian Ulama who declare that Jihad is the responsibility of the state. This came in response to the Indian Ulama who had issued anti-terror fatwas including the fatwa issued by a Barelwi cleric Mufti Salim Noori who even went to the extent of declaring the terrorists like Hafiz Saeed beyond the pale of Islam. The point commonly enshrined in the anti-terror fatwas was that Jihad is the responsibility of state and not that of any individuals or groups and that anyone who takes the law in hand should be prosecuted.

The terror narrative asks Indian Ulama to save their faith by studying again the Quranic verses related to Jihad. This narrative implies that if Indian Ulama do not stop issuing anti-terror fatwas, they will be losing their faith. Now it is time for Indian Ulama to defend their anti-terror fatwas or accept that they have lost their faith.

As for me, Indian Ulama have not lost their faith by issuing anti-terror fatwas. Instead the JeM’s clerics should take into account their faith as they are imposing lies after lies on the objectives of Islamic Sharia. These clerics must learn Islam again under the people of patronage as the Quranic verses say,

“So O people, ask the people of knowledge if you do not know” (16:43)

“O People who Believe! Obey Allah and the Noble Messenger and those amongst you who are in authority” (4:59)

O JeM’s clerics, when you do not know, why don’t you ask the people of knowledge? The beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Could they not ask when they did not know? The cure for ignorance is inquiry” (Sunan Abu Dawud).

O JeM’s clerics! You people impose lies on Islam; so do you not fear Allah Almighty who says in the Quran, “Or do you say about Allah that which you do not know?” (2:80) and “Has Allah permitted you [to do so], or do you invent [something] about Allah?” (10:59). So fear Allah and stop misguiding Muslim youth.

You should renew Islamic studies especially the Jihad-related verses and Ahadith which were meant for curbing oppression, ensuring religious freedom and security. Don’t you know the objectives for which Jihad was for the first time made mandatory?

You should keep in mind that there are two major types of Jihad; Jihad by fighting and Jihad by Nafs. The first revelation which permitted Jihad by fighting is either 2:190 or 22:39 which came much later in Madani period.  Before revelation of 2:190 or 22:39, fighting even in self-defence was forbidden in Makkah and initially in Madina too. The Quranic verses which directly or indirectly debarred Muslims, in the initial period, from waging Jihad by fighting even in self-defence are 23:96, 5:13, 73:10, 16:82, 88:21-22, 50:45.

Read these verses in full as follows;

“Repel evil with the best deeds; We well know the matters that they fabricate”. (23:96)

“So, forgive them and excuse them; indeed, Allah loves the virtuous”. (5:13)

“And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance”. (73:10)

“Then if they turn away, O dear Prophet, (Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) upon you is nothing but to clearly convey (the message)”. (16:82)

“Therefore advise; indeed, you are a proclaimer of advice. (The Holy Prophet is a Remembrance from Allah.) You are not at all a guardian over them”. (88:21-22)

“And you are not one to use force over them” (50:45)

However, when the verse 2:190 or 22:39 was revealed, Jihad by fighting in self-defence against religious persecutions was allowed against those who initiated fighting; Allah Almighty says,

“And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Truly Allah loves not the transgressors.” (2:190)

O clerics of JeM, have you forgotten the objectives for which Jihad by fighting was permitted?

Muslims in Makkah were subjected to all sorts of indignities and persecutions. In the words of Zia al-Quran (tafsir of the Quran), “Hadrat Bilal was rolled on the glowing embers. Yasir and his wife Samiya were wounded with spears. Not to speak of the poor and the helpless, even the blue-blooded could not go unmolested. For instance, Osman’s uncle would tightly wrap him in a fresh animal skin, and throw him in the scorching sun. The searing sun, profuse sweat and foul smell of the skin would choke his breath and be unbearably excruciating and painful. Similarly, Abu Bakr was once subjected to such a cruel and painful torture that he lay unconscious for a long time.

“Besides inflicting physical torture, the Makkan pagans stooped to make the early Muslims the butts of their playful jokes. They raised baseless objections to the verses revealed by Allah, derided the injunctions of Shariat. In brief, they left no stone unturned. Although the Muslims suffered heartless oppression, torture and abuse for thirteen years, yet they were not allowed to exact a measure of retaliation. They were commanded to persevere patiently. During the thirteenth year after the declaration of his Prophet-hood, Allah commanded the prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions to migrate. They carried out Allah’s command worshipfully and migrated to Yathrib –nearly 300 miles away from Makkah. Still the animosity of the inveterate enemies of Islam had not subsided. They inflicted fresh injuries on the Muslims; robbed them of the peace of mind and heart. A band of pagan Arabs would raid the pastures of the Muslims and take away their cattle. If they encounter a lonely Muslim, they would not hesitate in killing him mercilessly.

“For as long as 14 or 15 years, the Muslims suffered insults, outrages and injuries at the hands of their persecutors. They bore all these indignities with the utmost humility and patience. When the aggression and ruthlessness of the pagan Arabs grew more hotly than ever, Allah granted permission to the believers to take up arms in their own defence and make the mischief-loving pagan Arabs believe that the torch of Islam – that lights up darkness – would never be allowed to be blown out. Likewise the flag held aloft for the dissemination of the truth will never be let down, however hot they might grow. This torch will remain lit until the doomsday. And the flag of the truth will continue to flutter so long as the world exits”. (Zia-ul-Quran, Vol: 3; p.218)

This first command for Jihad by fighting, as in the Quranic verse 2:190, was revealed in connection with the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. It is reported that in 6 A.H/628, the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) went out with his companions from Madinah to Makkah for performing ‘Umrah. When they camped at Hudaybiyyah near Makkah, the Makkans came and prevented them from continuing on into Makkah. So the Muslims remained there for a month. Then they made a treaty stipulating that they would turn back the following year for three days and perform the ‘Umrah and that there would be no fighting among them. Having concluded the Treaty, they came back to Madinah. Then, as the time for that approached, Muslims feared treachery of the Makkan pagans and being called upon to fight in the sacred precinct [Haram] during the sacred months. This verse 2:190 was then revealed to set the rules of war, meaning that Muslims are allowed to fight if the Arab pagans initiate fighting with them. We already know that in the initial days, Muslims were brutally tortured, murdered and driven out of their homes, but despite that, as the above Quranic verses testify to this fact, they were commanded to have patience and pardon their enemies, but now since they have made a treaty and are feeling treachery of the Makkans, Muslims were therefore allowed to fight them in their defence.

O clerics ofJeM! You should take into account the cause of revelation [shan e nuzul] and context of the afore-mentioned Quranic verse 2:190. Have you forgotten the basic teaching that Shan E Nuzul (cause of revelation) impacts the ruling. Why don’t you gather all the Quranic verses and Ahadith together and apply the right methodological approach in order to understand the purpose of Islam which aimed merely at eliminating oppression, establishing peace, justice and tranquillity?!

O clerics of JeM! Don’t you know that the early Muslims after the beloved Prophet went to glory, had much better understanding of Jihad and that they stipulated that Jihad was the state’s responsibility, otherwise any individual could have misused Jihad. Don’t you know that with the changing phase of time, many issues of Islam were changed? Today the situation has changed and Islamic Sharia has all flexibility to coexist with the changing stipulations of Islamic rulings?

O clerics of JeM! Come out of the intoxication of Mr. Maududi’s narratives of ‘Jihad’ and try to understand Islam in its spirit. Your Maulana Maududi’s writings are full of blasphemous writings and you should do more home work to understand Islam. So come out of such blasphemous writings and seek tauba for what you have been so far, and stop brainwashing the Kashmiri or any other Indian Muslims.

O clerics of JeM! Have you forgotten the terms of covenant? Muslims in India are living in agreement with the Constitution which fully grants religious freedom and security. According the Indian Constitution, India is not only an abode of peace for Muslims but also a covenant which makes it mandatory for Muslims to live peacefully and with all loyalty. Have you forgotten the Divine Message of Allah Almighty which says, “And fulfil the promise; indeed the promise will be asked about” (17:34) Muslims in India have promised to live peacefully, but you clerics want them to break the promise and be accountable to Allah Almighty.

O clerics of JeM! We know what do you mean by ‘Jihad’? Your definition of ‘Jihad’ is to fulfil your agenda of nefarious desires. You provoke Muslims in Kashmir for stone-pelting. You incite them for militancy. You are causing destruction for Kashmiri Muslims. It is you people who have brought Kashmiri Muslims into trouble by teaching them your own narratives. Who will be responsible for the death of Kashmiri Muslims? Of course you are responsible, O clerics of JeM. If you stop provoking Kashmiri Muslims, everything will be good for Kashmiri Muslims.

O clerics of JeM! Take care of your own country, Pakistan in which as per reports not only non-Muslim minorities are oppressed but Muslim civilians are also killed. The clerics like you have justified killing of Sufi-Muslims and destructing shrines by suicide attacks. You should learn that suicide attacks are forbidden under all circumstances. My article on forbiddance of suicide attacks are referenced below.

O clerics of JeM! First uphold Islamic teachings in your own country, which asks you to ensure religious freedom and security of non-minorities. Perhaps you have forgotten these Islamic teachings. I am giving you some of its lessons through a number of authentic references.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,

أَلاَ مَنْ ظَلَمَ مُعَاهِدًا أَوِ انْتَقَصَهُ أَوْ كَلَّفَهُ فَوْقَ طَاقَتِهِ أَوْ أَخَذَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا بِغَيْرِ طِيبِ نَفْسٍ فَأَنَا حَجِيجُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏"

Translation: “Beware, if anyone persecutes any peaceful non-Muslim citizen [Mu’ahid], or diminishes his right, or forces him to work beyond his capacity, or takes from him anything without his consent, I shall plead for him on the Day of Judgment.” (Please see Sunan Abi Dawud – Book 20, Hadith 125- Arabic reference).

The purport of this Hadith is that if any Muslim persecutes any peaceful non-Muslim citizen, or diminishes his right and so on, as mentioned above in the Hadith, the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) will plead for that peaceful non-Muslim on the Day of Judgment.

This Hadith is not simply a warning but a law promulgated in the blessed era of the beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) even after the conquest of Makka [Fath-e-Makka]. This law is still a part of Islam. There is not a single hint of its being abrogated. Thus, according to the great Ulema and Fuqaha of Islam, this law is universal and all-time valid in its essence and application. Therefore, none of the followers of Ahadith or the followers of the interpretation of great Ulema and Fuqaha should hesitate to accept the message inherent in this Hadith.

Similar Hadith has been reported by several well-known Muhaddethin like Bukhari, Nasai, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, as follows;

“Whoever kills a peaceful non-Muslim living in minority [Mu'ahid] shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance can be smelt at a distance of forty years (of travelling). (Sahih Bukhari, Book 87, Hadith 52)

 “Whoever kills a peaceful non-Muslim living in minority or under Muslim-governed country [Mu'ahad] with no justification, Allah will forbid Paradise to him.” (SunanNasai, Book 45, Chapter “Seriousness of killing the Mua’hid”, Hadith 42)

 “If anyone unjustly kills a peaceful non-Muslim living in minority or Muslim protection [Mu’ahid], Allah will forbid him [the killer] to enter Paradise” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Book 15, Hadith 284)

 “Indeed, whoever kills a peaceful non-Muslim living in minority or under the Muslim protection [Mu'ahid] that has a covenant from Allah and a covenant from His Messenger (peace be upon him), then he has violated the covenant with Allah and the covenant of His Messenger, so he shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise; even though its fragrance can be sensed from the distance of seventy autumns.” (Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, Book 16, Hadith 19)

“Whoever kills a peaceful non-Muslim living under the protection of Muslim-run country [Mu’ahid], will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance may be detected from a distance of forty years” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 21, Hadith 2789-Arabic reference)

“Whoever kills a peaceful non-Muslim (living in Muslim-run country) who has the covenant with Allah and the covenant with his Messenger, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance may be detected from a distance of seventy years” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 21, Hadith 2788-Arabic reference)

O clerics of JeM! Why do you forget that your ‘Jihad’ merely appears as ‘Fasad’. In your fasad you people incite Muslim youth to commit the sins which are forbidden in so many Ahadith.

Even during Jihad by fighting waged in defence, the following rulings are binding upon the warriors. The beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

 (1)      “Do not kill any child, any woman, or any elder or sick person.” (Sunan Abu Dawud)

(2)      “Do not practice treachery or mutilation. (Muwatta Malik)

(3)   “Do not destroy the villages and towns, do not spoil the cultivated fields and gardens, and do not slaughter the cattle.” (Sahih Bukhari; Sunan Abu Dawud)

(4)      “Do not kill the monks in monasteries, and do not kill those sitting in places of worship. (Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal)

(5)      “Do not uproot or burn palms or cut down fruitful trees. (Al-Muwatta)

(6)      “Do not wish for an encounter with the enemy; pray to Allah to grant you security; but when you [are forced to] encounter them, exercise patience.” (Sahih Muslim)

(7)      “No one may punish with fire except the Lord of Fire.” (Sunan Abu Dawud).

O clerics of JeM! In numerous attacks inspired by people like you, you have killed women, children and elderly people. People like you have done suicide attacks in mosques while the worshippers were sitting in places of worship. When you brainwash the Muslim youth to commit suicide attacks in the name of Istishhad, don’t you think that you punish them with the fire, which is forbidden for you? By your acts of terrorism, you are causing defamation of Islam. Do not you fear the Day of Judgment when you all will be accountable to God Almighty for every deed?

O clerics of JeM! Don’t you fear God Almighty when you misinterpret Islamic teachings and make Muslim youth fool? It is because of you people and your likes that even peaceful mainstream Muslims in India and across the world are being seen with suspects and objects of terrorism. You people have created such a situation around the world. But when any non-Muslims understand true Islam, they stop suspecting peaceful Muslims.

O clerics of JeM! Stop brainwashing Kashmiri Muslims for committing acts of terrorism in the name of ‘Jihad’ and fear Allah Almighty!

 Refutation of JeM’s terror ideologues- Point 2

2. O clerics of JeM, you people have made in your Urdu mouthpiece Haftroza Al-Qalam another argument for brainwashing Indian Muslims,

،مقبوضہ کشمیر آزاد ہوگا اور اپنے ساتھ پورے ہندوستان کے مسلمانوں کی آزادی کا ذریعہ بنے گا

Translation; “the occupied Kashmir will be liberated and it will be the reason for liberation of all Indian Muslims” (alqalamonline.com/index.php/news/11420-680-kashmir-azadi-ka-zariya)

O clerics of JeM, your narrative is completely false. We Indian Muslims do not think we are slaves. It is you people who are instilling into our mind thought of slavery. So you want to enslave us to follow your nefarious desires. We Indian Muslims are safe and secure under Indian Constitution. Above all, our God Almighty is the only Protector. Do not try to make us fool by your agenda. We also do not forget that whenever we Indians fight over some issues, we again resolve our issues with mutual cooperation and that majority of non-Muslims stand by us in some difficult times.

O clerics of JeM, Our Indian Constitution give us all necessary rights; right to freedom of religion, right to education, right to justice, right to development, right to building mosques and madrasas and right to leading peaceful life. It is you who should try to seek freedom from the clutches of evil desires and terror narratives inspired by your masters. Even Kashmiri Muslims of India have been granted such rights, but you are brainwashing them, taking their life by making them suicide bombers and slaves of your evil desires.

O clerics of JeM, there are many other grounds substantiated by the Quran and Sunnah which guide you to change your terror narratives and stop brainwashing Indian Muslims including Kashmiris otherwise you have already imposed lies upon the Islamic teachings for which you will be accountable to Allah Almighty.

A regular Columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is an Alim and Fazil (Classical Islamic scholar), with a Sufi-Sunni background and English-Arabic-Urdu Translator. He has also done B.A (Hons.) in Arabic, M.A. in Arabic and M.A in English from JMI, New Delhi. He is Interested in Islamic Sciences; Theology, Jurisprudence, Tafsir, Hadith and Islamic mysticism (Tasawwuf).

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