When Jihad Becomes Terrorism.

The words, "Terrorism" "Muslim" and "Islam" have acquired an uncomfortable similitude to each other in recent times--one that has become increasingly difficult to dislodge and even more so to explain or refute. The daily reports of terrorist bombings in Iraq, the militancy in the troubled Kashmir region, the suicide bombings in the occupied Palestinian territories, the fury of the extremists on Western shores and most recently a terrorist explosion in Varanasi, India have cast an indelible stigma on the ideology which purports to inspire such iniquity. Islam has come into focus as a religion, a way of life, a philosophy and a political ideology striving for world domination. And while there are moderate Muslims who will argue against any such grandiose world plans attributed to Islamic aspirations, others actively engaged in pursuing these goals have stopped at nothing, not even the destruction of innocent lives to achieve their nefarious agenda...

According to the view of the Orthodoxy, it becomes incumbent on every able bodied Muslim to participate in a Jihad, if the “Darul Islam” or Muslim world is threatened annihilation. Theorists and apologists on the other hand have argued that verses of the Quran exhorting Muslims to get out and fight in the cause of Allah are contextual and speak to circumstances peculiar to the era marking the advent of Islam in Arabia. The new truths that were being proclaimed by the Last Messenger of Allah needed to be defended at all costs. The world of Islam, the moderates argue is no longer vulnerable to the type of extinction that the early Muslims faced at the hands of the pagans. The current strategies and modalities adopted by the extremists therefore, cannot be justified according to strictly Islamic principles they assert.

Osama bin Laden, his terrorist networks as well as other copy-cat militant organizations however; refute the above central claim of the moderates.

Through his unique interpretation of the doctrine of “jihad”, “harb” or “qital”, the terminology used in the Quran for warfare, Bin Laden has turned a legitimate concept into an ideology of terror. However, before one examines his view, it is crucial to understand the theoretical framework of Jihad as it emerged during the pristine era of Islam

From among the most benign interpretations of Jihad emerges the one that equates the concept to a struggle against one’s evil inclinations. Many however dismiss this interpretation as apologetic, “politically correct” and therefore disingenuous. Jihad, they insist becomes an obligation on every able bodied Muslim when the world of Islam is attacked. It was the same sentiment that inspired the fledgling community of Muslims in Medina to repel pagan onslaughts. The universal truths proclaimed by the last messenger of God had to be protected at all costs and fighting to uphold this would be wholly justified for Allah decreed that “persecution was worse than killing” (2:191)

Jihad would thus come to be seen as the lesser of two evils. Its ultimate goal would be to wipe out tyranny, to restore justice to beleaguered communities and to establish lasting peace. Nonetheless rules of engagement would be clearly defined. Women, children and unarmed men were to be spared attacks. Trees and livestock would not be destroyed.

Regrettably though, Osama bin Laden, his associates and other terrorists do not abide by the above rules and regulations. He justifies his actions in the following excerpts from his letter to the Americans.

“You steal our wealth and oil at paltry prices because of your international influences and military threats. This theft is indeed the biggest theft witnessed by mankind in the history of the world. Your forces occupy our countries. You spread your military bases throughout them, you corrupt our lands, and you besiege our sanctities to protect the security of the Jews and to ensure the continuity of your pillage of our treasure.”

Osama bin Laden thus asserts that contexts and scenarios existing in the pristine era of Islam have been recreated in the current political climate as a conflict between the world of Islam and the Darul Harb. He feels he is merely fighting a defensive war under extreme provocation from the West. Jihad therefore becomes elevated to the status of a sixth pillar of Islam, and those among Muslims and non-Muslims, who are opposed to this viewpoint, are by their inaction, guilty of complicity and can therefore be treated as fair targets in the war against "oppression".

And it is thus that lines are crossed between a “righteous jihad” and terrorism. The culpability of those who "support" the enemies of Islam, whether they are actively engaged in combat or not, becomes evident to the jihadist mentality. Not only are the boundaries thus blurred between jihad and terror, but the methodologies employed in pursuing the jihadist military goals become duly justified. The innocents are no longer considered innocent; in fact they are responsible for aiding and abetting the obliteration of Islam due to their apathy and inaction.

Sadly what is forgotten is the example of the prophet who along with his companions never resorted to kidnapping, extortion or surreptitious murder of their opponents. In stead they practiced patience until they could resist oppression through legitimate means.

It is about time Islam was reclaimed from the tyranny and oppression of madmen who slaughter and kill with impunity.