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07 February 2013
By El-Hajj Mauri'
Saalakhan
My own humble perspective
is in brackets
Excerpts of Ahmed Rehab's statements in
English:
{My own humble perspective is in brackets - MS}
…The prophet defined a
Muslim as one from whose tongue and hand people are
ensured peace.
{A Muslim is also one who strives to be an upholder of
truth and justice - one who "enjoins
the good and forbids the evil."}
…Muslim extremists have
tarnished the image of Jihad in the first degree.
{I agree. And the Muslim "extremists" are of two
types: (a) those for whom jihad is only found
on the material battlefield, and who callously violate
the limits established
by ALLAH and His Messenger in their pursuit of this
material jihad; (b) and those who attempt to relegate jihad
fisabililah to
an inner struggle solely - when it is clearly far more
than that.}
…The prophet stated that
the greatest Jihad is a word of truth, not a bomb of
truth or a bullet of truth or a spear of truth or a
sword of truth – a word of truth.
{The complete narration would be 'A
word of truth to a ruler (government or other
authority) who has deviated from the right way!' I
sincerely believe that if we Muslims in America, with
the freedoms that we enjoy, would do more of this - and
teach our young how to effectively engage in this type
of jihad - it would
reduce the success rate of FBI informants and
provocateurs who prey upon our young with entrapment
cases.}
…The goal of the campaign
is to introduce a new space for a logical, rational
discussion about Jihad and Islam, above and beyond the
simplistic, dumbed-down rhetoric that has dominated
the discussion on Islam in many circles. We are
succeeding evidenced by this dedicated hour on the BBC
as well as similar global venues.
{A "logical, rational discussion about Jihad and
Islam" is needed - but
it must be accurately balanced - within our
faith community and in the public square.}
…When he returned from
the battlefield, the Prophet stated we have come from
the small Jihad to the great Jihad. The great Jihad is
the struggle against oneself.
{Most translations I've read use the word 'lessor
jihad.' While the perpetual struggle
within the self - which is a struggle to maintain
one's integrity as a Muslim in all spheres - is indeed
the greater jihad, there is nothing "small" about risking
one's life in
the cause of ALLAH!}
…I reject the definition
of Jihad that subscribes to force to spread God's
word. Jihad is never about forcing anything on anyone,
if you wish to share your faith do it by sharing the
good word, and even better do it by living it out,
certainly not by force – The Qur'an states that there
is no compulsion in faith and that who wishes to
believe let him believe and who wishes to reject the
faith, let him do so."
{On this point I absolutely agree without further need
of elaboration!}
…My last word is a call
to Muslims around the world: reclaim the virtues and
qualities of this faith and the proper meaning of its
concepts including the true meaning of Jihad. I call
on them to make their Jihad FOR education AGAINST
ignorance and illiteracy, FOR jobs AGAINST indolence
and idleness, and FOR truth AGAINST injustice and
falsehood. This is my Jihad. We cannot just settle for
media campaigns, the reality of the Muslim has to be a
healthy one, we must return to the true values and
virtues of this faith that once built tolerant
civilizations.
{Again I agree, but with the following caveat. Our
beloved Prophet, pbuh, declared: "When
you see an evil action you must change it with your hand;
if you cannot do so, with your tongue (the
jihad of the tongue!); if you cannot do so, detest it
within your heart,
and that is the weakest degree of faith." We,
Muslims, have both the freedom and
obligation to
speak truth to power on the MAJOR challenges
confronting our nation and the global community! This
is NOT the time to be risk
averse, or to try to play it safe.
Our responsibility is to "enjoin
the good and forbid the evil," and strive to
the best of our ability to be exemplars for the rest
of humanity. We ignore this
jihad at
our own peril.}
Tagging #MyJihad In
Media
NBC 5: "MyJihad" Ads Land
on CTA Buses
BBC Arabic: Is the
concept of "jihad" inevitably linked to acts of
violence?
May ALLAH guide and
fortify us in the struggle ahead! |
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