The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 159
THE PROMISED MESSIAH AND MAHDI religious parties were given full freedom to profess or practice their religion. Under these circumstances the conditions of Jihad by fighting were not present. For this reason the Promised Messiah wrote against any idea of Jihad by religious fighting against the peaceful. British Government. . He did not abrogate the concept of Jihad by fighting for all times, he only postponed it as conditions were not present in his time. . He said the following in reply to a Christian priest who had blamed Islam to be a religion of violence and Jihad by the sword. "As regards mentioning of Jihad by this critic, he imagines that Quran incites to wage Jihad without any condition. Thus there is no greater lie than this, if there be a thinking mind. . We should know that the Holy Quran does not command fighting without reason. But commands to fight only those who prevent God's people from accepting faith and from following God's commandments and offering worship. And the Quran commands to fight with those who fight with Muslims for no reason, turn the faithful out of their homes and countries, convert people with use of force and want to destroy the religion of Islam and prevent people from accepting Islam. The Wrath of God is on such people and it is mandatory for the faithful to fight with them if they do not desist. " (Noor-ul-Haq, p. 63). Jihad literally means striving with one's life and all faculties for a noble cause. In Islam Jihad by fighting is considered a lesser (Asghar) Jihad. A greater (Akbar) Jihad is by fighting against evil tendencies in oneself. Thus prayers, struggle for self-improvement, propagation of Islam and striving to improve the condition of one's fellow human beings are all part of Jihad. The Holy Quran invites. believers to do greater Jihad with the help of Quran. During Meccan period of the Holy Prophet's life, fighting was not allowed by Allah. but his every moment was devoted to greater Jihad of propagating. Islam while undergoing most difficult persecution with patience and forbearance. Following the Holy Prophet, the Promised Messiah engaged in the greater Jihad of revival of Islam and propagation. He says: 159