Approaching the West — Page 92
A pproaching the West—92 aggression in self-defense for maintaining religious freedom. As compared to other forms of Jih ā d, fighting against an armed and aggressive enemy is called in Isl ā m Jih ā dan Sagh ī ran—the lesser Jih ā d. The Qur’ ā n says, Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made because they have been wronged—and All ā h indeed has power to help them—Those who have been driven out of their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is All ā h’—And if All ā h did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques wherein the name of All ā h is oft commemorated. And All ā h will surely help one who helps Him. All ā h is indeed Powerful, Mighty— (22:40-41) This concept of Jih ā d is closer to the Christian doctrine of “just war. ” But it is not called a “holy war” in Isl ā m. Modern Western thought, strongly influenced by Crusades-era terminology of “holy war,” tries to portray Jih ā d as an Isl ā mic war against all the non-Muslims. But most clearly, the permission to fight back is not to destroy the churches, temples or synagogues. On the contrary, the Qur’ ā n makes clear that it is to protect them along with protecting the mosques. In other words, it is to protect religious freedom for all those who worship God in accordance with their own faith traditions.