The driving force behind this piece is to share knowledge
because knowledge gained without distribution remains meaningless to those who
unaware. It serves no useful purpose to accumulated wisdom without sharing it;
therefore, this essay will be about gaining useful information that could save
one’s life. You just never can tell! The burden to disseminate wisdom rests
upon whomever, acquired it first. That’s who is expected to spread and share
this joy with others. It is therefore encumbered upon all Islamic practitioners
to candidly translate Quranic verses without the constant efforts to hide unfavorable
information. We shortchange humanity whenever obfuscating information is
knowingly or unknowingly circulated to those craving for more knowledge.
On August 23, 2004, one Ahmad Kollere attempted to
misinform the readers with his “Rejoinder to World Igbo
council”
(Care about World
Igbo Congress or Council I don’t!). His article, which quickly featured
on Gamji, the Hausa controlled site, a site whose sole purpose is the negative
propaganda against the Igbo. Ahmad’s article
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was
the most unscholarly thing since he failed to take into considerations the part
of the Quran that gives support to the use of violence. His writing was part of the game to deceive the unsuspecting
Eastern Regioners to believe that Moslems meant well for them. Don’t believe that!
He wanted to mislead by spreading falsehood. This individual tried to sell the
idea that Islam and Moslems are so tolerant about other religions and peoples
such that violence could not be found in the Quran, ever. False!
Each time I read
the subliminally laid lies in articles such as Kollere’s I wonder what
could be wrong with them. Behold, it always dawns on me that it is about
deceit. He wanted us to believe that Moslems are so welcoming of others so much
so they never killed Christians and non-Moslems in any northern cities of Nigeria. He believes that the claims by Christian worshippers in
Pakistan were plain lies. Islamists never killed
innocent worshippers in a Baghdad church or elsewhere. Christian churches abound
in Saudi
Arabia. One is free to worship at any house of worship
of his/her choice in Saudi. And all that jazz! He would want people to think
that misattributions to score a cheap point by those who see nothing right in
their practice are the reasons for the true position of Islam being distorted.
If you believe any of these warped excuses, I have a family-owned skyscraper to
give away. All I gotta say!
My late reply was however mitigated by other things like
showing solidarity first for MASSOB and Eze Igbo Gburugburu Odumegwu-Ojukwu and
my awareness that Gamji may never publish mine. As I write I have three essays,
“The Tragedy of A Wicked Man and His Country, Part I” “The
Tragedy of A Wicked Man and His Country, Part II (And The Treacherous Journey
of A Sycophant)” “TRUTH: The phenomenon that continue to elude the despotic
Obasanjo regime” that
are one month overdue in publishing by Gamji despite numerous reminders to them
and the implication for being seen as an ethnically motivated site. As a matter
of fact the Webmaster at a point reminded me and by implication that the Igbo
are not a priority. Now you know, guys!
Even when erroneous bunkum is posted on that site we have
no right to a rejoinder? But thank God for more serious and democratic sites
like Biafranigeriaworld.com and Kwenu.com. These sites welcome differing
perspectives even from lying irritating writers who have no clue what caused
the war and how it was started. The Tiv (Benue) chap take note! In any case,
today, we would go deeper into claims by Ahmad Kollere to see how much smoke
exists in his gist.
It is pertinent to
state that the term “Jihad” as an Islamic concept is usually overused or even
misunderstood among various people. Therefore, jihad literally means struggle
and not holy war,[whaaa??] that is, inner struggle against evil, in favor of
being Godly within oneself, struggle for decorum and goodness for our social
existence, and struggle on the battlefield, if and when necessary.
Ahmad
Kollere.
What is the meaning
of "jihad" in Islam?
Instead of giving us half-baked
and half-cooked definition of “Jihad,” a more useful purpose would have been
served if authors such as this would come down strongly against those he feels
are misapplying the Quran to
carryout evil deeds. Humanity would be better served if all and every meaning
of Jihad were listed by Ahmad to allow the readers form their own opinions as
to who’s following the fundamental tenets of the Quran. The likes of bin Laden
or the self-professed Islamic saints who can never do any wrong. If these guys
are true to themselves, they did acknowledge in a heartbeat that the former is
the one literally following the teachings of Islam.
In
the above excerpt, an attempt was made to manage and douse the anxieties of
non-Moslems by presenting the Quran differently for the pacification of our
mistrusts. The word Jihad has many interpretations therefore the author could
have exercised objectivity by listing these meanings and allow the readers to
figure which is truly being applied by those we disparage as “terrorists.”
Terror - is a word featured generously (83 times) in the Quran. The Islamic idea
of jihad, which is derived from the Arabic root meaning "to strive"
or "to make an effort," connotes a wide range of meanings, from
inward to outward struggle to promote the Islamic social system. War! The
unmentioned number of times Hell, Hate, Fire, Kill were offensively used in the
Quran is to avoid overkill since the point I guess is already made.
Historically, Jihad means holy
war (Dharma Juddha in Bangla). For more than 1400 years, Moslems always
understood the meaning of Jihad as Islamic holy war. Every Islamic scholar,
Mullah, Maulana, Imam, et cetera, of the world will agree with this
meaning of Jihad.
Technically, Jihad is war against non-Muslims (Jihad al-kuffar or Jihad against
disbeliever; and Jihad al-munafiqeen or Jihad against hypocrites) only, since
Muslims are forbidden to fight the Muslims. Early Islam was spread in the Arabian
Peninsula solely by holy wars (Jihad). Of all the historic
battles (around 78) fought by the Muhammad himself only one (battle of ditch)
was defensive. The rest were offensive wars. Jihads! Remember the war of
conquest and war of conversion?
What the Quran showed in the past and today for masses of
Muslims is summarized in a statement by the world renowned Ibn Khaldun (A.D. 1332-1406), Islam’s
great historian, sociologist and philosopher:
In the Muslim
community, the holy war is a religious duty, because of the universalism of the
(Muslim) mission and (the obligation to) convert everybody to Islam either by
persuasion or by force. Therefore, caliphate and royal authority are
united in (Islam), so that the person in charge can devote the available
strength to both of them at the same time.
In his book, “Jurisprudence in Muhammad’s Biography” the
Azhar scholar, Dr. Muhammad Sa’id Ramadan al-Buti wrote the following:
The Holy War (Islamic Jihad), as it is known in Islamic Jurisprudence, is
basically an offensive war. This is the duty of Muslims in every
age when the needed military power becomes available to them. This is the
phase in which the meaning of Holy war has taken its final form. Thus the
apostle of God said: 'I was commanded to fight the people until they believe in
Allah and his messages… (page 134, 7th edition).
What does the Quran say about
Non-Moslems (unbelievers)?
The Qur’an
cautioned Muslims not force people to accept Islam; this is because protection
of the rights of non-Muslims to worship is part of the Shari’ah. In other words
Shari’ah permits non-Muslims to live and operate within the laws of their
chosen religions. History shows how non-Muslims have faired under Islamic
civilizations, for instance, the prophet of Islam, Muhammad (S.A.W.) has
allowed Jews and Christians to live with Muslims, even in ancient Spain non-Muslims
have flourished for centuries under Islamic rule. Thus, the life, honor and
property of all peace loving people, regardless of their creed are considered
sacred under the Shari’ah rule.
Ahmad Kollere
The quoted excerpt
is a total balderdash, a misinformation and intellectual banditry since the
true position was conspicuously absent. It was purposefully put out there to
mislead the innocent readers who are not aware of the primitiveness of certain
aspects of Islam (please no disrespect, educational purpose intended). The only
times Moslems throughout history preached peace or allowed for peaceful
co-habitation was when they are in a weak position outnumbered and outgunned.
This Mohamed did to his advantage. And here we are!
Whenever they found
themselves outnumbering and overpowering the opposition, war and mayhem is what
they unleash on those unreceptive to Islamic teachings. If we are to buy the
lemon Ahmad Kollere and his fellow students of Islam attempted to smuggle
through our psyches, how in the hell could they dismiss the obvious violence
associated with Islam? The ideology behind Islam most scholars agree is the
propellant behind the violence associated with it as such the modern
practitioners ought to look deep to figure alternative way. In order for a
spade to remain that it must not be seen as kunu, towo, gbigiri dawadawa etc.
Truth should be the keyword especially when sharing or disseminating
information and/ or knowledge.
Note that Muhammad
while he was in Mecca did not have too many supporters; hence, he was very weak in
power compare to the Pagans. It was at that time he brought some soft verses
(maximum one dozen in the whole Qur’an) which our hypocritical Islamists use
them to elude the truth of Islam. But in Medina Muhammad quickly assumed both
religious and political power and leadership over the whole Median community.
It was at that time he brought all those harsh/hateful (several hundreds of
them) Qur’anic verses just to incite his followers to fight.
If we are to believe
(you wish) that the Quran cautioned Muslims against forcing people to accept
Islam, what happens to one who converted from Islam to another religion? We
would also like to know why the upcoming statements in italics below is found
in the Quran or stated authoritatively by Islamic writers contrary to Ahmad
Kollere’s position? We are also dumbfounded by the
silence exhibited by Islamic preachers when Salman Rushdie’s “The Quranic
Verses” drew a death sentence on him. Ahmad Kollere never wrote a
line to denounce the whacked edict, he did not say to the Ayatollah wait just a
minute, sir you can’t according to the Quran do that. Yet he wants the
non-Moslems to believe the imaginative ‘peaceful’ Islam?
Here
are Quranic/Mohammedian punishments/treatments for Unbelievers:
And slay them wherever ye catch
them - 2:191.
And fight them on until there is
no more Tumult or oppression - 2:193.
Let not the believers Take for
friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in
nothing will there be help from Allah - 3:28.
Allah forgiveth not that partners
should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth
anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to
devise
a sin Most heinous indeed - 4:48.
Then fight in Allah’s cause - Thou
art held responsible only for thyself and rouse the believers. It may be that
Allah will restrain the fury of the Unbelievers; for Allah is the strongest in
might and in punishment - 4:84.
And never will Allah grant to the
unbelievers a way (to triumphs) over the believers - 4:141.
The punishment of those who wage
war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for
mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of
hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their
disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter - 5:33.
I will instill terror [like
in terrorist/terrorism?] into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above
their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them - 8:12.
O ye who believe! When ye meet the
Unbelievers in hostile array, never turn your backs to them. If any do turn his
back to them on such a day unless it be in a stratagem of war, or to retreat to
a troop (of his own) he draws on himself the wrath of Allah, and his abode is
Hell an evil refuge (indeed)! - 8:15-16.
It is not ye who slew
them[unbelievers]; it was Allah: when thou threwest (a handful of dust), it was
not thy act, but Allah’s: in order that He might test the Believers by a
gracious trial from Himself - 8:17.
Against them make ready your
strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror
into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others
besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall
spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be
treated unjustly
- 8:60.
O Prophet! rouse the Believers to
the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will
vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the
Unbelievers - 8:65.
But when the forbidden months are
past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them,
beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem - 9:5.
And an announcement from Allah and
His Messenger, to the people (assembled) on the day of the Great Pilgrimage,
that Allah and His Messenger dissolve (treaty) obligations with the Pagans. If
then, ye repent, it were best for you; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye
cannot frustrate Allah. And proclaim a grievous penalty to those who reject
Faith - 9:3.
Fight them, and Allah will punish
them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them,
heal the breasts of Believers - 9:14.
O ye who believe! Take not for
protectors your fathers and your brothers if they love infidelity above Faith:
if any of you do so, they do wrong - 9:23.
O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans
are unclean; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred
Mosque - 9:28.
Fight those who believe not in
Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by
Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they
are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing
submission, and feel themselves subdued - 9:29.
Unless ye go forth, (for Jihad) He
will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him
ye would not harm in the least - 9:39.
O Prophet! Strive hard against the
unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell
an evil refuge indeed
- 9:73.
Allah hath purchased of the
believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden
(of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and
slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the
Gospel, and the Qur’an - 9:111.
O ye who believe! Fight the
unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know
that Allah is with those who fear Him - 9:123.
Disdainfully bending his side, in
order to lead (men) astray from the Path of Allah: for him there is disgrace in
this life, and on the Day of Judgment We shall make him taste the Penalty of
burning (Fire) - 22:9.
These two antagonists dispute with
each other about their Lord: But those who deny (their Lord) for them will be
cut out a garment of Fire: over their heads will be poured out boiling water.
With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as (their) skins.
In addition there will be maces of iron (to punish) them. Every time they wish
to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be forced back therein, and (it
will be said), “Taste ye the Penalty of Burning! - 22:19-22.
So obey not the disbelievers, but
strive against them herewith with a great endeavour - 25:52.
Those who invoke not, with Allah,
any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for just
cause, nor commit fornication; - and any that does this (not only) meets
punishment. “(But) the Penalty on the Day of Judgment will be doubled to him,
and he will dwell therein in ignominy - 25:68.
Bring ye up, it shall be said,
“The wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped- Besides Allah,
and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire! - 37:22-23.
Therefore, when ye meet the
Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have
thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time
for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens - 47:4.
And if any believe not in Allah
and His Messenger, We have prepared, for those who reject Allah, a Blazing
Fire! - 48:13.
Muhammad is the messenger of
Allah; and those who are with him are strong against Unbelievers, (but)
compassionate amongst each other - 48:29.
Seize ye him, and bind ye him, And
burn ye him in the Blazing Fire. Further, make him march in a chain, whereof
the length is seventy cubits! This was he that would not believe in Allah Most
High. And would not encourage the feeding of the indigent! So no friend hath he
here this Day. Nor hath he any food except the corruption from the washing of
wounds, which none do eat but those in sin - 69:30-37.
Early I opined that the only times
Moslems throughout history preaches peace is when they are in a weak position,
when their defeat is imminent. Below are supportive Quranic writings by Islamic
scholars to buttress.
047:035.
Pickthall: So do not falter and cry out for peace when
ye (will be) the uppermost,
and
Allah is with you, and He will not grudge (the reward of) your actions
Palmer: Then faint not, nor cry for peace while ye have
the upper hand; for God is
with you
and will not cheat you of your works!
Rodwell: Be not fainthearted then; and invite not the
infidels to peace when ye have
the
upper hand: for God is with you, and will not defraud you of the
recompense of your works.
Sale: Faint not therefore, neither
invite [your enemies] to peace, while ye [are] the
superior:
For God [is] with you, and will not defraud you of [the merit of] your
works.
Yusuf Ali: Be not
weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye should be
uppermost:
for God is with you, and will never put you in loss for your
(good)
deeds.
Shakir: And be
not slack so as to cry for peace and you have the upper hand, and
Allah is
with you, and He will not bring your deeds to naught.
Sher Ali: So
be not slack and sue not for peace, for you will, certainly, have the
upper
hand. And ALLAH is with you, and HE will not deprive you of the
reward of your actions.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
of 47:35:
So do not lose heart and beg for peace while you are
superior. Allah is with you and He will never deprive you of (the reward of)
your deeds.)
Thus,
Allah says,
”So do not lose heart and beg for peace while you are superior.”
Meaning, in the condition of your superiority over your enemy. If, on the other
hand, the disbelievers are
considered more powerful and numerous than the
Muslims, then the Imam (general commander) may decide to hold a treaty if he
judges that it entails a benefit for the Muslims. This is like what Muhammad
did when the non-moslems obstructed him from entering Makkah. A treaty was
offered where all fighting would stop between them for ten years. He
nonetheless agreed to that because he was in a weak position.
If
they feel the original and true meaning of Jihad is obsolete then a revised
Quran is expected in order to discourage feature students of Islam from
misapplying it. If a new twisted calmer and politically correct interpretations
of what Jihad means is to be contemplated, they had better first change the
Quran, Hadiths and all those Islamic history books available in the library
throughout the world. Alternatively, they should dump all the Islamic history
literature into the Daria or sea and re-write a new peaceful Islamic history by
themselves. If they do so, then it will be a Reformed Islam, which
Mullahs will not allow to happen any time soon because the violence seems to be
the enigmatic ‘high.’
Having neared the end of my thesis let me advice our
Moslem neighbors to reach out to others in love instead of propagating
something they obviously found wanting by their own actions, denial. Instead of
running away from certain Quranic verses, they should either embrace
or obliterate it. As someone born and raised under the Judaic Christian
doctrines, I heartily acknowledge “an eye for an eye” doctrine of Old
Testament. Therefore my position and essay is for the purpose of scholarship
and to share information that is how I want you to view it without cynicism. A light humor of one’s religion
could be entertained sometimes without the unnecessary seriousness Moslems
attach to theirs. Having said that, it becomes imperative to read mine in
remembrance of me. Let there be Light and Peace on earth!!
How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism
lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a
man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.
Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of
commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the
Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and
refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. "Individual Moslems may
show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the
Queen: all know how to die. But the influence of the religion paralyses the
social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists
in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and
proselytising faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step…
Winston Churchill.
Sources:
http://quranbrowser.com, www.faithfreedom.org, http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=47&tid=49201,
http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=47&tid=49188
http://qb.gomen.org/Quranbrowser/html/passage_instructions.html
Ibn Khaldun, The
Muqaddimah, trans. by Franz Rosenthal (New York: Pantheon Books Inc., 1958)
Vol. 1:473).
Encyclopedia
of Politics and Religion, ed. Robert Wuthnow. 2 vols. (Washington, D.C.:
Congressional Quarterly, Inc, 1998) 425-426.