It is interesting that Badawi too departs from the tiny-minority-of-extremists propaganda and acknowledges that jihad as warfare is the "only meaning commonly understood by the general public." However, in light of the fact that theorists as eminent among jihadists as Al-Banna (founder of the Muslim Brotherhood) and Azzam (founder of Al-Qaeda) argue that the idea that jihad is anything but fighting is founded on a weak hadith, it will be interesting to see exactly how he expects his views to gain currency among Muslims. From WebIndia123.com, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
Asking the Muslim world to seriously address the issue of jihad, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today told a gathering of scholars and academics from 16 Islamic countries to combat extremism and catch up with the advanced world."It is most unfortunate that some have narrowed down the concept of jihad to qatal, which concerns physical fighting," he said inaugurating a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Commission of Eminent Persons here.
The Chairman of the 57-member OIC said it was even more unfortunate that this was the only meaning commonly understood by the general public.
"If Muslims themselves can make this mistake, what more can we expect from others," he asked and added that Muslims therefore were as much to blame for this distortion of the meaning of jihad.
I really wish that more MODERATE MUSLIMS would talk out like this man
Tsunamis call for 'jihad'
Zakiyuddin Baidhawy, Surakarta, Central Java
A month has passed since the earthquake and tsunami that struck Asia, the worst affected country being Indonesia, specifically Aceh. This natural disaster has killed hundreds of thousands, while leaving millions homeless, devastated and at risk of disease. It is the worst natural disaster since 1883 when Krakatau volcano erupted in the Sunda Sea.
In the wake of the disaster the world's mass media has been filled with news of humanitarian aid and other relief operations from Western and Asia-Pacific countries. There were also brigades of foreign relief workers and volunteers arriving in Aceh.
Unfortunately, until now we have not witnessed a significant expression of concern from those who often identify themselves as mujahid fi sabilillah (the true crusaders for the religion of Allah).
Aid from Muslim countries -- especially the self-named leaders of mujahidin and the holy war -- in the Middle East has been slow to respond.
Osama Bin Laden, the self-proclaimed commander of jihad against United States and their allies, has ignored this humanitarian emergency.
While he regards the U.S. as the great Satan for Muslim nations for having led the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, he himself has done nothing to respond to this greatest of natural disasters. He has not taken action or helped emergency operations to reduce the misery of tsunami victims.
His silence is even more amazing, considering that the worst hit country is Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.
A few days after the earthquake and tsunamis hit south and Southeast Asia, al-Jazeera television aired excerpts of Osama's latest statement to the world, in which the terrorist leader asserted that jihad in Iraq was a duty and that those who fail to engage in such activities are committing a grave sin.
Imagine (the positive impact) if instead of "Iraq" he had said "Indonesia" and his use of jihad related to the reconstruction and rebuilding of infrastructure in Aceh and North Sumatra.
This is probably because the reality is these sort of people do not believe in reconstruction and rebuilding, and that is why the enormous suffering in the wake of the tsunami will further reveal them as the political opportunists they are. Indonesia, like other Southeast Asian countries, were only worthy of their attention as a recruiting ground for suicide bombers.
Several bomb attacks in Indonesia have killed both Indonesians and foreigners.
During one of the trials, the men who were accused of being involved in the J.W. Marriott bombing said the attack was inspired by Osama Bin Laden.
Will Osama and other leaders now encourage people to reconstruct cities destroyed by the tsunami in Aceh?
Osama reportedly said the Bali bombings were legitimate acts. Will the news of the mass suffering in Indonesia inspire him to encourage Muslims to lend a hand? Where are the statements making it incumbent upon Muslims to assist the victims of the tsunami?
Imagine if sheikhs of jihad encouraged young Muslims to go and rebuild villages in Indonesia; Imagine if they inspired them to do this for the simple purpose of serving human beings, not for recruiting future militants.
After volunteering to rebuild a village, what kind of impact would it have on the young man returning home? What lessons during his volunteer mission would he take with him? Wouldn't such a young man then be more eager to help his own people, working for reconstruction in his own country?
The catastrophe that hit Indonesia is almost impossible to articulate in words. The jihad we need here and now is to alleviate the suffering of tsunami victims
Why doesn't Abdullah Ahmad Badawi give himself a non-Arab name, and show that Arab supremacism, and forced (or voluntary) arabization, will no longer be considered a duty by non-Arab Muslims. That would be quite an act, symbolically cutting the cord with the words, and deeds, and attitudes, of some people living in 7th century Arabia, and might also signal a growing unwilingness of non-Arab Muslims to ignore their own non-Islamic past and present, and to become pseudo-Arabs in name and deed.
What a good thing that would be -- for a start.
"The Chairman of the 57-member OIC said it was even more unfortunate that this was the only meaning commonly understood by the general public.
'If Muslims themselves can make this mistake, what more can we expect from others,' he asked and added that Muslims therefore were as much to blame for this distortion of the meaning of jihad."
Perhaps the common, mistaken understanding of the meaning of "jihad" has to do with what is preached by Muslim clerics and politicians like the late and unlamented Y. Arafat, Supreme Leader Khamaini in Iran, etc..
SHIVA
Thanks for your information about a Muslim speaking out against extremists - hope his life isn't in danger!! We should do everything to assist Muslims who honestly want peaceful solutions. As you are living in Indonesia [correct me if I'm wrong] you are able to see first hand what the situation really is.What is intolerance level towards minorities where you are?
'Hate fest' at school riles Jews
THE UNIVERSITY of Toronto is refusing to stop an event Jewish community leaders are calling a "hate fest." Just the title of the event, "Israeli Apartheid Week," has members of the Jewish community fuming and fearful it will help usher in a "new era of anti-Semitism."
The university is allowing the event, organized by the Arab Students Collective, to be held on its campus beginning Monday.
The list of topics include the apartheid wall, labour apartheid in Israel, and solidarity with workers under apartheid. The topics and speakers have incensed the Jewish community who say they are one-sided.
'BUILDING BLOCK'
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Here's the link for the entire story,with hatred being crammed into the minds of young Arabs how could anybody perceive a honest effort by Palestinians and Arabs to accept an all out peaceful existance on Earth with all non-Arabs and non-Muslims.
Please note the cowardly defense by the University which has become the norm in order to appease the militant wing of Islam,they use the "Free-speech" safety net to avoid the Jew-bashing fest.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2005/01/27/911731-sun.html
Please note the cowardly defense by the University which has become the norm in order to appease the militant wing of Islam,they use the "Free-speech" safety net to avoid the Jew-bashing fest.
Posted by: ala-sux
Yea... but let you or I try to use that same rational in our criticisms of Islam and these hypocrites will be all over us, calling us racists and nazis and what ever else comes to their narrow muddled minds.
Canuck
It is refreshing to actually see some in the Arab states take a stance against extremism.
Unfortunately the pittifully small minority speaking out against extremeism is meaningless against the millions of muslims who stand idle allowing "god's will" to be carried out. All too often I've seen someone say the violence is wrong and then lay an offering at the monument to the jihadist. Visit an organization like Cair and you'll see many things that sound well and good. Noting that they seem to be against extremism, you look for what actions they are taking to prevent it - but alas you can find none. Look a little deeper and you'll see that the well meant are usually being duped by the founding members who support the acts and groups their members have just spoken out against. I'm left to question if the islamic community in general, particularly the arab states, are really hurting in education so badly or are these extremists actually that commanding in manipulative techniques. The Arab community as a whole needs to stand out against not just terrorism but extremism. As we are all fully aware, all terrorists are extremists but all extremists are not terrorists. Islam needs to understand that they have the most to lose if extremism is not stopped and the rule of law and basic human rights are not brought to the forefront in the Arab states. And yes, that includes basic rights for women. Sooner or later Islam's basic tenants, if not changed, will conflict so strongly with the basic rights of the free that WWII will look like polka party compaired to the ensuing conflict. I can only pray that day never comes - unfortunately it appears that most of Islam doesn't care, doesn't listen to their own, or just doesn't know any better.
Can Badawi be unaware that the word "qital" (qatal, qatala) or combat occurs some 27 times in the Qur'an? What does he think that word in the Qur'an means? Why does he insist that Muslims misunderstand when they make an intimate link between fighting or combat and "Jihad"? And note what he is suggesting. Badawi simply suggests that the Infidels are alarmed by that word "jihad" meaning "combat" or "fighting" and that Muslims seem to have forgotten that the "Jihad" can be conducting using many other instruments: economic warfare, propaganda (the Call to Islam), and demography.
He is not arguing that Jihad should stop. He is not arguing that Islam needs to be -- for it cannot be, and he knows it -- reformed. He is arguing for making speeches, and holding conferences, and giving the illusion that something is being done within the world of Islam to change things.
But the canonical texts cannot be changed. No one possesses the authority. No one possesses the ability to make the Muslim masses agree to downgrade, or upgrade, this or that Hadith, or to change some of the reported facts of Muhammad's life. It simply can't happen. And of course, how does one change the actual word of God -- the Qur'an? How? Can't be done.
But we can't say that to Infidels, because they will then draw certain conclusions. So let us keep up a steady mountebank's patter, even as our numbers increase and Da'wa continues, from Mexico to Spain to Russia.
And the Infidels, who don't want to confront the truth, for it is so unpleasant in all of its implications, continue to comfort themselves with the pleasant, hollow idea of Islamic "reformation." There was one "reformation," one return to the early purity. It is called Wahhabism. It is what you see in Saudi Arabia, and what is being spread by the money the Saudis receive, not from any work they do, or any effort they make, but purely as a result of an accident of geology. So Wahhabism is the "reformation."
Like what you see?
This piece is plagerized from a piece by writer Mona Eltahawy that appeared on Muslim WakeUp! website called "Where is the Jihad Against the Tsunami?" that appeared on January 3, 2005.