The Ahmadiyya Muslim Concept Of Jihad - The Holy War

According to the Holy Quran, this in no way reflects upon their religion's attitude to coercion. No religion at its source has ever permitted the use of force in any form whatsoever. In fact all religions have been made targets of coercion, and no efforts were spared by their opponents to arrest the growth of religions at their source and to annihilate them completely.

The Holy Quran, it should be remembered, is the only Divine book which absolves all the prophets of the world, wherever and in whichever age they were born, of the crime of coercion in relation to the spread of their message. Hence it is inconceivable that the Quran should present its Holy Prophet (sa) as the harbinger of an era of bloodshed in the name of peace, and hatred in the name of love of God. This is no place to engage in intricate polemical discussions, so this brief introduction should suffice here. According to the Quran, the Holy War, called Jihad, is in reality a holy campaign which uses the help of the Quran to bring about a spiritual revolution in the world.

Fight against them by means Of it (the Quran) a great fight - Surah Al-Furqan (Ch. 25, V,53)

These are the very words of the Quran which throw light on the nature of Jihad. It must be fought by means of the Quran and the Quranic message alone. Again, to tame one's rebellious nature into complete submission to God is another form of Jihad which is in fact the greater Jihad, according to the Holy Prophet of Islam. On returning from a battle, he is reported to have said:

We are returning from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad.

Of course, defensive war is permitted only on the condition that the enemies initiate hostilities and raise sword against aweek, defenseless people for having committed the only crime of declaring that God is their Lord.All offensive wars according ti Islam are unholy.

The concept of Jihad in Islam has been a subject of great controversy in recent years. The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, clearly stated more than one hundred years ago that, according to the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Mohammad, use of force is totally forbidden in matters of faith. Below, we are presenting a few excerpts from his writings.

Islam is propagated through its Inherent Qualities.

No true Muslim has ever believed that Islam should be spread by the sword. Islam has always been propagated through its inherent qualities. Those calling themselves Muslims, who seek to spread Islam by means of the sword, are not aware of its inherent qualities and their conduct resembles the conduct of wild beasts.

(Ti iyaq-ul-Qulub, Ruhanj,Khaza 'in, vol. 15, p. 167, footnote,-19 0 2)

I have already written books in Urdu, Persian and Arabic, in which I have proved that the
Popular concept of Jihad prevalent among Muslims, such as the expectation of a bloodthirsty Imam and cultivation of malice for others, are no more than false notions harbored by short-sighted clerics. Islam, on the contrary, does not allow the use of the sword in religion except in the case of defensive wars.

The doctrine of Jihad as understood and propagated by the Muslim divines of this age who are called maulvys is utterly incorrect. It can lead to nothing, except that, by their forceful
Preaching they would convert common people into wild beasts and would deprive them of all the good qualities of human beings; and so it has happened. I know for certain that the burden of the sins of those people who commit murders through ignorance on account of such preaching, and who are unaware of the reason?

Why Islam had to fight battles in its early stages, lies on the necks of these maulvys who go on propagating secretly these dangerous doctrines which result in such grievous loss of life.
It is written that when the Promised Messiah appears, Jihad by the sword and all fighting for religion will come to an end, as he will not take up the sword or any other earthly weapon. His only instrument will be his supplications, and his only weapon will be his firm determination. He will lay the foundation of peace and will gather the goat and the lion together. His age will be the age of peace and kindliness and human sympathy. Why do these people not reflect upon the fact that fifteen hundred years ago the Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had said concerning the Promised Messiah: He will put an end to war?

(Government Angrezia Aur Jihad, Rz~hanyK haza 'in, vol. 17pp. 7-8, I900)

The concept of jihad is often misrepresented both Muslim and non muslim. True Jihad remains a key for good and one that promotes peace at all level. The Arabic word Jihad literally means to strive or struggle. It refers to a Muslim's inner spiritual quest to vanquish evil inclination in his or her heart ULTIMATELY Jehad-e-Akber or, great jihad, is to overcome the self that incites evil and to achieve nearness to God.

Islam condemns terriosm in all its forms and manifestations, for any cause however noble they look to be. Harming life and property of innocent non-combatant persons, or making suicide attacks on them deserves to be condemned by all Muslims and non Muslims alike.

Muslims are forbidden from cheating the enemy and from damaging public buildings and crops. They are to avoid striking terror into the general population.

Suicide bombings are contrary to the teaching of Islam. Allah says: And kill not your own selves. Surely, Allah is merciful to you (chapter 4: verse 196)

The holy Quran specifically states:

It does not behove a prophet that he should have captives until he engage in regular fighting in the land. You desire the good of the world, while Allah desires for you the Hereafter. and Allah is mighty, Wise (Chapter 8: verse 68).

This verse discredits the practice of slavery, restricts imprisonment to war and demolishes any justification of hostage-talking and hijacking of people not involve in actual combat

Friends! Abandon the thought of ‘jihad’ warfare now;
it is now forbidden to go to the war for the sake of your faith.
The messiah who is the religious leader of the faith has come;
Now is the end of all wars of violence for faith.
The light of god is now descending from heavens;
it is now futile to issue an edict for battle and fighting.
Muhammad (May peace and blessing of Allah be upon him)

The chosen Prophet-had clearly stated that; when the second advent of Jesus Christ takes place, he would put a halt to fighting. (Tuhfah-Golaviyah Ruhani Khaza ‘in, vol 17, p.77, 1902).

My dear! The way to support faith is quiet different! Not that you draw the sword if someone disagree! Why do you need to draw the sword to support your faith?
What survives on bloodshed cannot be faith.

(Tiryaq-ul-Qulub, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol.15, p.132, 1902)

One of the reasons for which Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Sect in Islam was branded as Kafir(non believer) is that he has denounced 'Jihad'. We give below an excerpt from his writings in which he has given an exposition of the kind of Jihad which he has forbidden. It is easy to see from it that the Jihad which he has denounced consists propagating Islam at the point of sword. Such a Jihad has no authority in the Holy Quran or the Traditions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Holy Quran rejects it by pronouncing there should be no compulsion in religion (2:257). The Promised Messiah explains in this article that early wars of Islam were fought in self defense only and that Islam strongly condemns those ignorant Muslims who seek to become Ghazis by killing innocent non-Muslims.

Anybody who reads the following, can judge for himself whether by denouncing such a bloody interpretation of Jihad, the Promised Messiah deserves to be branded as a Kafir or to be hailed as a champion of Islam.

There is not the least truth in the assertion that it is time for resorting to the sword and gun for spreading the true religion and righteousness. The sword, far from revealing the beauties and excellence of truth, makes them dubious and throws them into background. Those who hold such views are not the friends of Islam but its deadly foes. They have low motives, mean natures, poor spirits, narrow minds, dull brains and short sight. It is they who open the way to an objection against Islam, the validity of which cannot questioned. They hold that Islam needs the sword for their advancement, thus brand its purity and cast a slur upon its holy name. The religion that can easily establish its truth and superiority by sound intellectual arguments, heavenly signs or other reliable testimony, does not need the sword to threaten men and force a confession of its truth from them. Religion is worth the name only so long as it is in consonance with reason. If it fails to satisfy that requisite, if it has to make up for its discomfiture in argument by handling the sword, it needs no other argument for its falsification. The sword it wields cuts its own throat before reaching others.
If it be objected that sword was resorted to by early Islam and hence the legality of Jihad, we say the objection is based upon ignorance of early Islamic circumstances. Islam never allowed the use of the sword for spreading the faith. On the other hand, it strictly prohibits compulsion in matters of faith. It has the plain injunction "There should be no compulsion in religion." Why was the sword taken in hand then? The circumstances under which this measure had been resorted to have nothing to do with the spread of religion; they are connected with the preservation of life. The true religion is that which on account of its inherent property and power and its convincing arguments is more powerful than the keenest sword, not that which depends upon steel for its existence.

(Courtesy, Review of Religions, 1902)

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