The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-04
A Mohammedan's Explanation Of the
Holy war.

~ HiOtAWuntuhhb EApiahh'o"
Holy War.
To THE EDITION OF The SUN-Sfr: Owing
to various changes In political conditions IN
Islam during the last thirteen centuries
the meaning Of Jehad Is not clearly UNDER
stood even by Moslems Of ordinary educa-
ton nowadays. "Jehad' originally meant
"strlving, " but In the DURAN II signifies "striv-
Ing for virtue" All the wars In the time OF
the prophet and his four immediate success
sors were defensive.
The prophet, according to our belief, had
two aspects, as q fountainhead OF spiritual
life and as q founder of an ideaLpolity. Those
who refused to receive the gift Of spiritual
life at his hand and ridiculed him were SIM
ply told what misery they would experience
In life beyond the grave; but those VINO
tried to destroy the Islamic commonwealth
were the ones against whom Jehad would be
proclaimed.
For example, when the confederate armies
Of the Quriesh were besieging Medina, the
prophet and his companions, while digging
the ditch around the city. were chanting: =,
Verify these tQuriesh) have unjustly risen against
us; whenever they Intended ito embroil us) In mis-.
chief WAR We refused several times to respond).
In cases where the just cause Of war was
without doubt established and fighting be-
come inevitable, the prophet. out OF mercy
and zeal for the extension OF spiritual lie
even to his enemies, instructed his Generals
not to war at once, but TO offer
to the enemies before fighting a chance OF
fellowship In faith or Of becoming Moslem
subjects, retaining their own faith and pay
ing the taxes. But II the enemies failed to
accept either OF the alternatives. the prophet
then permitted actual fighting to begin.
An instance In point occurred at the ex-
petition Of Khaiber. whose people, though
allies Of the Moslems Of Medina. had con-
spired against them with the confederate
armies. The prophet sent All to Khaiber with
thou bring one soul to the light Of truth. it
would be better, for thee than to possess a
valley full Of red camels."
one Of three courses may be followed; con
Ss tSs to sw lsld%' R Rffglns the E poll Conquest ssa Ct d Of a
HpSasss ~ pr0s share e" equal PSivleees' With
faith. He also acknowledgements another verse
Of The 99ran. which Z only applica6is to
sSS aua asstin aas Sss The the fnsd Ss.as wh Is gssinSs x;
And kin them wherever " find them and = t TUT.
A an; WIN N.Y. Ih en- H ss.!. Is Ell HS a .i Te'S AZ. a viii s SsS
ndels. III. 1877. o.
Your correspondent Is right In saying that
Jehad was abused in latter days. its meaning
Tss te G1nsF apsr u aoH aa i p and Bar u Islam:
a asiIln xsitS 10 the ,ti asd1Sisabfi SSF 81 f Mosismss', aS sRc
for "Harb" WAR might endanger the safety
Of their lives and property. In Arabic his
year A. b. ioao In the Holy Land after its
capture by the Crusaders Is given as 10000.
As to sKhiafet" there is only one verse in
the Duran that refers to, 1t; Obey God and
obey the prophet and those who hold the
Ts!ns Of SoyeFnTme ss from q nn9 sH yourself nron Ess
says: obey the commander Of the faithful
even II he be a negro slave, whose head g as
sm'o Of + Turkey ! ,ai Is as much eiisibis to Khilsfet
as any Of his predecessors from the omyyad
Or Abbasid dynasties Tbs Sutton en-. q TSa,
Or for the assistance of Moslems under nom
sultan Abdul Hamid rendered q great ser
stained, from .proolaimlng Jehad against
meetings held throughout India by. Mos.
lens protesting against the British attempt
to se line the be a., hsa temner pe 81 fSe ao wHg1d w elys
As to the sultsn's popularity in HIndustan.
Influential Moslem, 0iawyer In Lahore was
addressing q ,Moslem mass meeting. and
!!R%Ss s' sbs S %asIsms .n 81 inais, have %sd not E rsR po do
politically with the sultan Of Turkey" There
was an uproar in the meeting and the people
standing alone. He was obliged after ward
to apologize before a public meeting for
In 1895 the name OF the Sultan Abdul Hamid
Is mentioned In the "Khutba" 0iturgyl every
Friday in the mosques oyer all India. No
man could insult the Sultan's name In the
presence OF Moslems OF. Bombay to-day
without endangering his life,
Is 1t right to suggest the organization OF
Q crusade for annihilating the last remnant
Of Independent Islam. or on the part Of ORR
entalist" to sug Rest the establishment OF a
Byzantine Republic. without calculating the
grave danger and misery 1t would involve.
especially when through many Rratuitous
provocatlons the blood Of millions OF Mos
lens Ia up?
MoHAMMAp BARAxATuLLAH.