As religious intolerance and sectarian violence continue to plague our nation, Muslims around the world, including in Indonesia, are preparing themselves to welcome the most awaited and anticipated Fasting Month. It is time for us all to reflect and contemplate the significance of this annual ritual at heart.
Within this most sacred and auspicious moment, we have to brace ourselves into a voyage of change for the better. Have we put this ritual concept altogether with its social aspects? Do we still succumb to the false belief that Islam is a religion of sword, garbed with violence and intolerance by reinforcing this misleading interpretation into practice?
After all, fasting is all about faith, family, love and one form of the greatest jihad.
Jihad? You might immediately suffer a short circuit in your brain hearing the word as if it was a close symbol of intolerance and violence. I know what you will be thinking; jihad as in wielding your swords against the infidels? Hacking around those who profess to another faith or those who opine differently? Or worse bombing innocent people to save the moral of the ummah (community) as in terrorism?
Sadly as it might seem, it’s hard to blame those who come to think in such a way. With the increasing violence and intolerance in the name of Islam spread all over the news coverage, it is hard to deny the fact that Islam has many bad ambassadors. Proclaiming as pious and devout followers, these shallow-minded ambassadors have ruined the face of the peaceful religion. The enemies most often come from within.
Jihad is probably one of the most misunderstood and abused aspects of Islam. These bad ambassadors exploit, misinterpret and misuse this concept for their own personal gains and political objectives. They twisted verses to suit their own interests. The price goes higher to the highest bidder.
Instead of promoting peace and tolerance as required, their twisted and enforced truth proliferate hatred and blind fanaticism. Accordingly, these reinforce the misleading concept of Islam. They breed, nurture and support terrorism to mushrooming.
Not only did the terrorists bomb public places and destroy life, but they also hijacked the peaceful religion of Islam.
Suffice to say that it is greatly important to revisit the true meaning of Jihad in this approaching holy month of Ramadan so that ummah can promote love, compassion, mercy, peace and tolerance as prescribed by Islamic teachings.
Jihad is never a tool of waging war against the innocents as Islam value the sanctity of human life as well as condemns violence.
“…if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” (Al- Quran 5:32)
Jihad is never a means of flexing the muscles or bullying the weak and oppressed. It is something unique that is established to defend the divine message from being eliminated or hindered by its enemies. Any act that is in compliance with the commandments of Allah; through any means and in any field be it material or moral is jihad.
In its simple forms, jihad can be manifested in an act as petty as helping a blind person to cross the street regardless of their faith, culture, or race; to defending life, property or honor.
It is narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) visited and fed a blind Jewish beggar in the corner marketplace of Madinah each morning daily despite the constant scold and curses the old man threw upon him.
Even then, the blessed Messenger (peace be upon him) did not get angry and ignored the insults against himself. Without saying a single word, he would feed the beggar with his own hand without fail till the day he died. Throughout his service, he never identified himself to the blind Jewish beggar.
Isn’t a lovely example of love, compassion, peace and tolerance?
So, why on earth many of us still dwell on hatred and intolerance against others? Why kicking out our brothers and sisters from their homes and inciting violence under the label of Shia or Sunni or any other label? Why forbidding and destroying the house of worship just because they have different faith? These are against the core values of Islamic teachings.
It is also noteworthy to say that the greatest jihad, or struggle, of our lives is not the one that takes place on a battlefield, but the one that takes place within our hearts — a self struggle from all worldly temptations to increase self-discipline and become a better person such as fasting during Ramadan.
It is prescribed that the the purpose of fasting during Ramadan is not merely abstinence from food and drink, but also a high art to learn to restraint ourselves from from inner lustful desires.
That is to say that all the organs of the body must be in a state of fasting from head to toe. The fast of the eyes is not to look at what is forbidden; the fast of the tongue is not to lie and slander and likewise, every organ must stay away from wrong.
Thus, fasting is not simply to hunger pangs that many unfortunate people involuntarily experience year-round but it also to bring oneself closer to taqwa: a state of sincerity, discipline, generosity, and surrender to Allah.
The experience will connect us with the less fortunate, humble ourselves, and breed love, compassion, tolerance and mercy. In this month of peace and love, individuals are encouraged to bury differences, to forget and forgive and to renew both human and spiritual relationships.
So, to all my fellow brothers and sisters, let us all wage our jihad in this coming Ramadan to promote love, peace and tolerance. It is our crusade in the highest form of jihad that takes place within our hearts, and then translates these spiritual journeys into practice to be a better person.
Within this most sacred and auspicious moment, we have to brace ourselves into a voyage of change for the better. Have we put this ritual concept altogether with its social aspects? Do we still succumb to the false belief that Islam is a religion of sword, garbed with violence and intolerance by reinforcing this misleading interpretation into practice?
After all, fasting is all about faith, family, love and one form of the greatest jihad.
Jihad? You might immediately suffer a short circuit in your brain hearing the word as if it was a close symbol of intolerance and violence. I know what you will be thinking; jihad as in wielding your swords against the infidels? Hacking around those who profess to another faith or those who opine differently? Or worse bombing innocent people to save the moral of the ummah (community) as in terrorism?
Sadly as it might seem, it’s hard to blame those who come to think in such a way. With the increasing violence and intolerance in the name of Islam spread all over the news coverage, it is hard to deny the fact that Islam has many bad ambassadors. Proclaiming as pious and devout followers, these shallow-minded ambassadors have ruined the face of the peaceful religion. The enemies most often come from within.
Jihad is probably one of the most misunderstood and abused aspects of Islam. These bad ambassadors exploit, misinterpret and misuse this concept for their own personal gains and political objectives. They twisted verses to suit their own interests. The price goes higher to the highest bidder.
Instead of promoting peace and tolerance as required, their twisted and enforced truth proliferate hatred and blind fanaticism. Accordingly, these reinforce the misleading concept of Islam. They breed, nurture and support terrorism to mushrooming.
Not only did the terrorists bomb public places and destroy life, but they also hijacked the peaceful religion of Islam.
Suffice to say that it is greatly important to revisit the true meaning of Jihad in this approaching holy month of Ramadan so that ummah can promote love, compassion, mercy, peace and tolerance as prescribed by Islamic teachings.
Jihad is never a tool of waging war against the innocents as Islam value the sanctity of human life as well as condemns violence.
“…if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” (Al- Quran 5:32)
Jihad is never a means of flexing the muscles or bullying the weak and oppressed. It is something unique that is established to defend the divine message from being eliminated or hindered by its enemies. Any act that is in compliance with the commandments of Allah; through any means and in any field be it material or moral is jihad.
In its simple forms, jihad can be manifested in an act as petty as helping a blind person to cross the street regardless of their faith, culture, or race; to defending life, property or honor.
It is narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) visited and fed a blind Jewish beggar in the corner marketplace of Madinah each morning daily despite the constant scold and curses the old man threw upon him.
Even then, the blessed Messenger (peace be upon him) did not get angry and ignored the insults against himself. Without saying a single word, he would feed the beggar with his own hand without fail till the day he died. Throughout his service, he never identified himself to the blind Jewish beggar.
Isn’t a lovely example of love, compassion, peace and tolerance?
So, why on earth many of us still dwell on hatred and intolerance against others? Why kicking out our brothers and sisters from their homes and inciting violence under the label of Shia or Sunni or any other label? Why forbidding and destroying the house of worship just because they have different faith? These are against the core values of Islamic teachings.
It is also noteworthy to say that the greatest jihad, or struggle, of our lives is not the one that takes place on a battlefield, but the one that takes place within our hearts — a self struggle from all worldly temptations to increase self-discipline and become a better person such as fasting during Ramadan.
It is prescribed that the the purpose of fasting during Ramadan is not merely abstinence from food and drink, but also a high art to learn to restraint ourselves from from inner lustful desires.
That is to say that all the organs of the body must be in a state of fasting from head to toe. The fast of the eyes is not to look at what is forbidden; the fast of the tongue is not to lie and slander and likewise, every organ must stay away from wrong.
Thus, fasting is not simply to hunger pangs that many unfortunate people involuntarily experience year-round but it also to bring oneself closer to taqwa: a state of sincerity, discipline, generosity, and surrender to Allah.
The experience will connect us with the less fortunate, humble ourselves, and breed love, compassion, tolerance and mercy. In this month of peace and love, individuals are encouraged to bury differences, to forget and forgive and to renew both human and spiritual relationships.
So, to all my fellow brothers and sisters, let us all wage our jihad in this coming Ramadan to promote love, peace and tolerance. It is our crusade in the highest form of jihad that takes place within our hearts, and then translates these spiritual journeys into practice to be a better person.
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