Understanding Islam — Page 84
WHAT IS JIHAD? 82 meaning of Jihad, no one would have taken advantage of the opportunity to criticize Islam. 34 The Promised Messiah as has also challenged the corrupt Muslim scholarship in the following words: Is it not shameful that a complete stranger should be unjustly killed while occupied in his daily affairs, thus widowing his wife, making his children orphans, and turning his house into a funeral parlour? Which Ḥ adith or verse of the Holy Quran authorizes such behaviour? Is there any maulavi who can respond? Foolish people hear the word Jihad, and make it an excuse for the fulfilment of their own selfish desires. Or perhaps it is sheer madness that inclines them towards bloodshed. 35 Some people allege that Prophet Muhammad sa once said “I will fight the people until they testify the Shahada” and that this is a clear-cut injunction to force people to convert. It is important to note that the Arabic word translated as “fight” in this ḥ ad ī th is uq ā tilu , which has multiple meanings, one of which is to “kill one’s inner desires”. 36 This is