What does this really mean? If it is merely standing or marching in rows and columns with lathis or rifles firmly held in hand or mere show of finery of acrobatic skills, obviously there are too many disciplined organisations and too many armies to set the world in a new order.
The reform and order in Islam starts at cultivating taqwa, or ‘character’ which makes the only difference among individuals and forms part and parcel of any ‘discipline and organisation’, worth the name. In other words, character is the soul (which indicates the very existence) of discipline.
A human without character, aql, vivek, buddhi, ’ability to distinguish correct and incorrect thinking and actions’ (furqaan) or taqwa or belief is like ‘a car without steering’ or a man without soul i.e. equivalent to dead.
‘Not alike are the blind (disbelievers in Islamic Monotheism) and the seeing (believers in Islamic Monotheism). Nor are (alike) the darkness (of disbelief) and light (of Belief in Islamic Monotheism). Nor are (alike) the shade and the sun’s heat. Nor are (alike) the living (i.e. the believers and the dead (i.e. the disbelievers)….’(35:19-22).
Nowadays we come across a barrage of articles and discussions in leading newspapers and magazines and in the electronic media, all the time about the dangers being posed to peace and tranquillity all over, by Jihadists and Islamic Jihad, implying holy war in Islam, wherein an unsuccessful propaganda is also on to prove that ‘Islam is spread by sword’ and to conclude that ‘Islam and Muslims are synonymous to terror and terrorism or violence’, which stands absolutely contrary to historical facts.
It is in fact, the statistics disclosed by UNO, affirming that the world population of Muslims more than doubled during the 50 years period ending 1984, when not a single war is fought by any Muslim country, that led the panic-stricken enemies of Islam and Muslims, to plotting 9-11 attacks, as a pretext to the so-called ‘war on terror’.
Those who are introduced to Islam only through the media, generally have the impression that Islam is a religion of Jihad, and Jihad to them is an attempt to achieve one’s goal by means of violence. But this idea is based on a misunderstanding. Anyone who reads the Qur’ān, the scripture of Islam, for himself will easily appreciate that its message has nothing to do with violence. The Qur’ān is, from beginning to end, a book which promulgates peace and in no way countenances violence. It is true that Jihad is one of the teachings of the Qur’ān. But Jihad, taken in its correct sense, is the name of peaceful struggle rather than of any kind of violent action. The Qur’ānic concept of Jihad is expressed in the following verse, ‘Do greater Jihad (strive more strenuously) with the help of this (Qur’ān) (25:52).’
Obviously, the Qur’ān is not a weapon, but a book which gives us an introduction to the divine ideology of peaceful struggle. The method of such a struggle, according to the Qur’ān, is ‘to speak a word to reach their very soul’ (4:63).
So, the desired approach, according to the Qur’ān, is one which moves man’s heart and mind. That is, in addressing people’s minds, it satisfies them, convinces them of the veracity of the Qur’ān and, in short, brings about an intellectual revolution within them.
It is true that there are certain verses in the Qur’ān, which convey injunctions similar to the following: ‘Slay them wherever you find them’ (2:191). Referring to such verses, there are some who attempt to give the impression that Islam is a religion of war and violence. This is quoted out of context and is totally untrue. Such verses are found in all scriptures. For example, in the Gita, the holy book of the Hindus, Krishna exhorts Arjuna to fight (Bhagvadgita-3:30). This does not mean that believers in Gita wage wars all the time. The exhortation to wage a war in Gita applies to exceptional cases where circumstances leave no choice. But for general day-to-day existence it gives the same peaceful commands as derived by Gandhiji.
Similarly, Jesus said, ‘Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.’ (Mathew,10:34). It would not be right to conclude that the religion preached by Jesus was one of war and violence, for such utterances relate purely to particular occasions.
The same is true of the Qur’ān. When Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) emigrated from Makkah to Medina, the idolatrous tribes were aggressive towards him, in spite of his averting attacks by exercising patience and strategy of avoidance. However, on certain occasions, when there were no other options but defence, the revelations relating to war were to be followed. They were neither unconditional nor valid for all occasions. That is, precisely why the permanent status of Allah’s Messenger has been termed as a ‘mercy to mankind’. (21:107).
The fact that violence is not sustainable, in the present world, is sufficient indication that violence, as a principle, is quite alien to the scheme of things in Islam. Islam claims to be an eternal religion and, as such, could never afford to uphold any principle, which can’t stand up to the test of time.
Any attempt to bracket violence with Islam amounts, therefore, to casting doubt upon the very eternity of the Islamic religion.
Islamic terrorism is indeed a self-contradiction in terminology, much like ‘pacifist’ terrorism.
The Arabic word ‘Islam’ which means peaceful submission to the will of one true Creator, Cherisher of the universe. This is the same unique and final version of divine religion that has demonstrated in thinking, words and action (during the reign of holy Prophet and four rightly guided caliphs,) that a true welfare state, catering to the welfare of complete humanity, in the present life as well as hereafter can be built, by developing individuals with discipline inclusive of character, i.e. ‘….those who fight for His cause in ranks, as if they were a solid cemented structure.’
Once again I stress that a change of ‘rules’, ‘rulers’, or ‘ruling parties’ is not going to bring any change worth the name. For ‘real inquilaab’, organisation of individual citizens’ discipline along with character as per and only as per ‘divine guidance’ is primary requirement, just as ‘little drops of water making the mighty ocean’ or ‘strong bricks making a strong structure’.