JIHAD and its misconception, the search for a Mujaddid
THE MISCONCEPTION OF JIHAD
How many times have we heard the words ‘Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist. etc.’ linked with violence. Politics in the so called ‘Muslim countries’ may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often dictators and politicians will use the name of
Islam for their own purposes. One should remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media.
Islam permits fighting in self- defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and
against destroying crops, trees and livestock. NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS.
The Quran says: “Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits.
God does not love transgressors.” (2:190)
“If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth
and knoweth all things.” (8:61)
War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term ‘jihad’ literally means ’struggle’. Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad.
The other ‘jihad’ is the inner struggle of the soul which everyone wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner peace.
Islam cannot advance except through the struggle of `jihad’. Still, it is not easy to fight for the truth. Before we can progress on this mission, we must first have the right knowledge and understanding of what we are struggling for. Indeed, the pursuit and defence of truth is a difficult cause, as truth itself is extremely valuable. Only a few members of the Islamic community are capable of dedicating themselves to the spreading of Islamic truth because only they have the proper knowledge and understanding of the complicated twists-and-turns that they have to face alone in this mission.
We have strayed too far from the path of the Prophet and his Companions. No one can accurately explain the meaning of `jihad’ anymore. There are so many interpretations of the term. This inevitably leads to different opinions of how it should be carried out, with different parties contradicting each other and believing that only they are in the right, thus discarding anything that anyone else has to say about the matter.
Hence, instead of Islam moving forward, it is falling apart even more as a result of the conflict between different parties that are supposedly fighting for Islam.
It is no surprise that today Islam is regarded as so lowly in the eyes of the world. This is why God’s aid
has not arrived. God will not help people whose strategies no longer follow His laws and have deviated too far from the teachings of the Prophet and his Companions.
THE SEARCH FOR A MUJADDID ( REFORMER )
The truth of Islam comes from God. Hence, only God has the right to bring glory to His religion. In the past, it is through His prophets that God raised the status of the truth above all else. It is God who taught the Prophets how to spread this truth to their people. In this post-prophet era, God still brings glory to His religion but this time through leaders with prophet-like characteristics.
This refers to the Mujaddid, leaders sent by God every 100 years and born at the beginning of each century. God inspires the Mujaddid with the `tajdid’ (revolutionary) way until Islam regains its former glory. If not for them, Islam would be little more than embers: glowing faintly in the darkness, and not providing the warmth and brightness that it should.
The Mujaddid, or prophet-like leaders, are those who most accurately understand what `jihad’ is and how it is to be carried out. It is in their hands that victory awaits.
UNDERSTANDING THE STRUGGLE
First and foremost, the struggle for truth is the struggle for God; He is to be known, admired, glorified, feared, loved and brought into every possible aspect of a person’s life. It is only when mankind finds God this way that His shari’at (RULES) and all else becomes truly useful. If God is not at the forefront of the struggle, then His rules is nothing more than ideology. Religion must be connected to God.
If God is not feared and loved, His rules is easily forgotten. When God is not prioritised, glorified and admired, His rules will not seem important anymore. People tend to be selective when practising God’s rules, picking and choosing only what they feel will benefit them. If the rules becomes troublesome, it is too easily pushed aside.
In conclusion, other aspects such as justice, unity, laws against disobedience and cruelty, are all easily practised and carried out if God is at the forefront of it all. All of God’s rules, whether they are commands or prohibitions, become beautiful and easy to practice. Even the small things become valuable and enjoyable to
practice, what more the more important things.
When we hear of any remarks against Islam by the so called Orientalists etcetra, we should look back at ourselves and the way to react to such things should be, our hearts must have proper guidance from God Al Mighty, our beloved Prophet and our Mursyid, the spiritual teacher. We should not respond to them with anger and emotions which could be demeaning to ourselves and Islam.
God has promised help to those with TAQWA and our mission should be towards correcting ourselves and get ourselves closer to God, love and fear only Him. InsyaAllah ( God willing), His help will be on the way and we leave the enemies of Islam to God Himself, as God`s power is absolute and limitless.
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Malaysian furore over Dutch film
H.E Mr Lody Embrechts, Netherlands’ Ambassador to Malaysia (February 18, 200 
“In dialogues or partnership with Western countries, Malaysia can create a better understanding at the political and society level and prevent the hijacking of Islam and Islam-related subjects by people with an extreme or radical mindset or have political ambitions,” the national news agency Bernama quoted Netherlands Ambassador to Malaysia Lody Embrechts as saying.
“In the international arena, I believe Malaysia can and perhaps should play a more prominent role on issues related to Islam and the West,” he said.
Teringat halusnya hati Panglima Islam terhebat sepanjang zaman, Sayyidina Ali Karamallahu Wajhah [semoga Allah memuliakan wajahnya]
Ketika dalam sebuah peperangan, seorang musuh berjaya dijatuhkannya. Pedang Sy Ali siap memenggal leher si musuh, tiba2 si musuh meludah pada wajah Sy Ali, maka dengan serta merta Sy Ali mengurungkan niatnya memenggal leher si musuh.
Si musuh hairan, lalu bertanya, “mengapa engkau tidak membunuhku?” Jawap Sy Ali, “saya khawatir saya membunuh anda karena ada sedikit rasa marah dalam hati saya disebabkan anda meludah pada wajah saya”.
Ajaib, si musuh itu pun masuk Islam kerana merasakan agungnya akhlak Sy Ali.Begitulah pejuang kebenaran sejati,mereka adalah penyelamat dan pembina tamadun. Mengislamkan manusia lebih mulia bbanding membunuhnya dalam keadaan tidak beriman.
Jihad yang lahiriah [buah] adalah tertipu jika jihad yang batin tak selesai dan tak istiqamah.Maka perlunya hati kita bersama orang Tuhan yang padanya kita boleh “sandarkan” jihad kita yang mungkin masih tertipu ini samada zahir dan batin sehingga tepat dan ada nilai di sisi Tuhan.
[...] Buat temanku, saya rekomendasikan bacaan berikut: Salah pengertian mengenai JIHAD. [...]