The British Government and Jihad — Page 9
9 They should remember that their understanding of jihad is not at all correct, and that human sympathy is its first casualty. Their belief, that jihad should be lawful today because it was permitted in early Islam, is totally incorrect and we offer two rejoinders. The first is that their reasoning is baseless. Under no circumstance did our Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) raise the sword against anyone unless they had first raised the sword, mercilessly killing innocent, pious men, women and children with such brutality that reading about these events even today brings tears to our eyes. Second, even if we assume that jihad as conceived of by these maulav i s was obligatory in early Islam, the commandment is no longer applicable because it is written that violent jihad and religious fighting will come to an end with the appearance of the Prom- ised Messiah, who will not raise the sword or any other earthly weapon. Prayer shall be his only instrument, and firm determi- nation his only weapon. He will establish peace and gather together the goat and the lion. His age will be one of peace, gentleness and human sympathy. Alas! Why do these people not reflect that thirteen hundred years have passed since the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “ ya d a-‘ul- h arb ” in honour of the Promised Messiah. These words mean that the Promised Messiah will end warfare when he comes.