Approaching the West — Page 93
A pproaching the West—93 The great spiritual Jih ā d of standing firm in faith against satanic temptations and social evils is of permanent nature— an ongoing obligation for all the Muslims. But the lesser Jih ā d, fighting in self-defense is only occasional and isolated, and is to be conducted only in a crisis situation. Only a legitimate head of state has the authority to declare war. Any preacher or so-self-made leader, or scholar has no right to pronounce an armed struggle against an aggressor. Moreover, the strict rules governing the conduct of warfare are to be obeyed; for example, non-combatants cannot be killed. Women, children, elderly and the clergy or monks cannot be targeted. Property cannot be wantonly destroyed. Disfiguring of dead bodies is prohibited. Prisoners of war are to be treated humanely. The A ḥ madiyya Movement in Isl ā m believes that the doctrine of Jih ā d has been entirely perverted by the so-called “fundamentalists” and it needs to be rescued, and the offenders stopped by all possible means. [ 3 ] What is ahead of us? Now the question arises, What can we do together— Muslims and Christians living in the United States of America? I think it is imperative that we should review our Government’s foreign policy with an honest self-criticism, and ask our elected law-makers and the Administration to avoid all such actions which are counterproductive, and instead of reducing terrorism are actually helping more terrorist groups to emerge among the radical Muslims.