Why are jihadists insulting Islam?

An eminent Islamic scholar stresses that the ideology of violence articulated by various self-styled radical Islamists and terrorist groups is a crass misinterpretation of the Koran.

By JAGDISH N SINGH
Islamic Jihad Militants launch rocket in Gaza 521 (photo credit: Reuters / Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)
Islamic Jihad Militants launch rocket in Gaza 521
(photo credit: Reuters / Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)
Like it or not, US President Barack H Obama has one thing in common with most of the politicians in the Oriental world: hoodwinking the  minorities into believing that he cares for them. As part of this game, Obama has of late invented several ways to hobnob with some influential Muslims at home on different occasions. The reality is absolutely shocking. Washington’s recent policies in the Middle East have resulted in the establishment of sectarian regimes that are not at all inclined to serve their minorities. The current popular protest against the new dispensation in Cairo will suffice to prove this point.
Washington has also continued damaging the interests of the minorities through some of its ‘best’ allies in the Middle East. All these ‘US-friendly’ regimes, old and new, are adhering to  the theology of  Wahabism, a doctrine that rejects any progress after the third Islamic century. It declares all non-Muslims kafirs (unbelievers) and non-Wahabism Muslims, such as Shias, Sufis and Ahmadiyas apostates. The Wahhabi Imams urge the faithful to utter prayers against the Kafirs: Jews, Christians, Hindus and other non-Muslims. One of its prayers goes “ Ante mawlana, fanSurna ‘ Alal Qawmil Kafiryun.” (O Allah you are our Protector, give us victory over the Kuffar.) Wahhabism  has no respect for women’s rights and liberties. 
It is well documented what the religio-socio-political agenda of all these Islamist regimes has been. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exports Wahhabism, spending billions of dollars in patronizing mosques, madrassas, journals and cleric training programs for this purpose. Together with the fellow monarchical United Arab Emirates, the Saudi Kingdom pumps into Wahabi-oriented Ahle Hadith and Deobandi madrasas alone an estimated $100 million annually.
Currently, the rulers of Qatar, another American ally, are allowing influential Sunni Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi to spread hatred against other faiths. In his sermon in Doha the other day the cleric called upon "Muslims everywhere to kill” Syria’s Alawite sect branding them as "more infidel than Christians and Jews."  
If indeed the United States administration intends to reach out to the minorities, it should use its influence with its allies in  the region to discard their obscurantist version of Islam and embrace instead a path of multi-faceted development for all at home and abroad. The message of hatred the American allies are spreading against all non-Wahhabis is absolutely antithetical to Islam.
There is a near consensus among leading theologians and historians the world over that religion’s origin lies in humanity. True to this spirit and like Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism and several other religions, Islam too has propagated the values of liberalism, equality and justice. Islam — like Judaism and Christianity — is an Abrahamic religion. The Koran shares with the Hebrew scripture, the Torah and the Bible a lot of histories, prophets, stories and teachings. Islam shares a lot even with the Vedas. Ultimately, both prescribe worshipping the One Supreme Lord. Both systems recommend fighting for dharma or justice without any ulterior motives and violence to the non-combatants and civilians, especially women and children, and that too only when there is no alternative to war.
The consensus is that Islam is a message of compassion, brotherhood and social justice. A duty of Muslims is to convey this to co-religionists as well as non-Muslims around. Another is to respect others’ choice of religion or faith and continue to work with and for them in the field of human rights, known in Islamic terms as “insanon ke huquooq” or “huqooq-ul-ibad."  Sura Al-Kafirun (Chapter: 30) mentions: Lakum dinokum waley yadeen (You follow your religion; let them follow theirs).  Muslims should engage themselves in a constant inner-struggle (jehade akbar) against the vices within and finally submit themselves to God.
Pertinently, an eminent Islamic scholar stresses that the ideology of violence articulated by various self-styled radical Islamists and terrorist groups is a crass misinterpretation of the Koran. Islam does not prescribe killing Christians, Jews, Hindus, and others. There is a need for a contextual revision of certain rules contained in the medieval Muslim jurisprudence (fiqh). In the medieval times all states were identified with one or the other religion. It was simply inconceivable that any non-Muslim government would allow Muslims to invite its subjects to God’s path. As such it was never even discussed then how Muslims should relate to a non-Muslim state that explicitly allowed Islam to be practiced, preached and propagated in its territory.
The situation today, the scholar says, is far different. A non-Muslim state not only allows practicing Islam but also allows its subjects to accept Islam and follow it. It is no longer forbidden for Muslims to communicate their faith to non-Muslim rulers or non-Muslims in general. In the changed modern world any proxy war and communal conflict in the name of jihad is simply not permissible. Muslim citizens and residents of non-Muslim states have new duties and responsibilities. Jihad cannot be declared against a non-Muslim government that does not in any way oppress Muslims, nor can such a government be told either to accept Islam or else hand over power to Muslims.
Washington (and other liberal democratic capitals) could care for this real, enlightened version of Islam. Fortunately, all democracies in the world are blessed with many liberal, freedom-loving, peaceful Muslims opposed to violence in the name of Islam. These genuine souls are working constantly for peace, harmony and development. The governments in all democracies could contact and work together with such elements to further the cause of the minorities. Moreover, the democratic governments  must back all those Middle Eastern secular forces currently protesting against their governments’ Islamist agendas.
The author is a senior Indian journalist based in New Delhi. Currently, he is a consulting editor at the Power Politics news magazine based in New Delhi.