Understanding Islam — Page 74
WHAT IS JIHAD? 72 enlightenment, reasoning, arguments, and the active assistance of God the Exalted, and signs, and His personal attention are such matters that always drive [Islam’s] progress and propagation 18. He also writes: It should be remembered that today’s Islamic scholars (who are called maulav ī s) completely misunderstand Jihad and misrepresent it to the general public. The public’s violent instincts are inflamed as a result and they are stripped of all noble human virtues. This is in fact what has happened. I know for certain that maulav ī s who persist in propagating these blood-spattered doctrines are in fact responsible for murders committed by ignorant, egotistical people who know nothing of why Islam was forced to fight battles in its early history. 19 Hence, to assume that permanent, aggressive Jihad is a feature of Islam is a false notion as the Holy Quran clearly specifies the context for Jihad and says that fighting should stop immediately when the enemy desires peace.