US Muslim conference debates Jihad, Qitaal concepts
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Sept 1: The difference between Jihad, an Arabic word for struggle, and Qitaal, another Arabic term used for the permission to fight for the country or faith, generated an interesting debate at a three-day Muslim conference in Washington on Saturday.
Although an estimated 30,000 Muslims from across North America are attending the conference to discuss a variety of issues of Muslim faith and culture, the four-day gathering this year was overshadowed by the events of Sept 11.
The terrorist attacks that day have affected the Muslim community both internally and externally. Internally, it has started a debate on what is true Islam. Is it the one presented by a handful of militants or the one practised by an overwhelming majority.
Externally, it has forced the rest of the world to look closely at both Islam and the Muslims. The international community now often regards the Muslim with apprehension and, sometimes, even fear.
Aware of the conflicts and crises besetting the Muslim community, Islamic scholars and participants will spend the next three days at Washington’s Convention Center pondering how to deal with these challenges.
Wayne State University professor Munir Fareed told convention participants that “9-11 was a mammoth event. Muslims have made meaningful contributions to the United States but all has been overshadowed by 9-11.”
Fareed, who teaches Islamic studies, urged Muslims to tell the world about their “true faith” and “the principles of peaceful coexistence, love, care and hospitality” that millions of Muslims practice throughout the world.
“Unfortunately, in the backdrop of 9-11 there will always be reference to violence while talking about Islam,” said Murad W. Hoffman, a former German ambassador who converted to Islam.
During this debate, both speakers and the audience, who were asked to comment on the proceedings, raised several major issues confronting the Islamic world today.
Can an individual gather a few adherents and declare a holy war against anyone, asked someone from the audience. The idea was overwhelmingly rejected. While discussing this, several Muslim scholars drew a distinction between jihad, and qitaal.
They argued that only a central authority recognized by the majority of Muslims can declare a holy war against an aggressor. Two elements, they said, were essential for a holy war: the presence of a central authority and aggression against a Muslim population.
“And even in holy war, Islam forbids wanton killing of innocent people. It forbids destruction of civilian property and of crops and vegetation,” said Fareed. Others said that prisoners of war, women, children, those ill and those who did not participate in the war against the Muslims also enjoy immunity.
A question by one of the attendants led the debate to another issue that has been discussed numerous times among Muslims both in the United States and abroad: Who was behind the Sept 11 terrorist attacks?
One of the questioners suggested they could not have been Muslims as no Muslim could commit such an act of cruel, senseless violence.
“Osama bin Laden is on record to have ordered his followers to kill Americans wherever they see them,” reminded Hoffman, who as a convert to Islam and the author of several books on their faith is widely respected by the Muslims.
Fareed urged Muslims not to waste their “time and efforts on conspiracy theories” unless they have substantial evidence to support them.
Instead, he said, “this time could be better spent in dispelling the conclusions other people have drawn about Islam and Muslims after 9-11.” He received a strong support from the audience as several people said Muslims would be better off explaining to the world what their true faith was, and how the events of Sept 11 pained the Muslims as strongly as they hurt others.
Another important issue raised by the audience was that of the extremists using Islamic concepts and Holy Quranic verses to justify their actions.
Admitting that “certain verses of the Holy Quran have been sloganized” for political purposes, Fareed urged Muslims to develop “the ability and the courage to look at Islamic documents with sharper eyes and in accordance with the needs of our time.”
The debate then moved to another sensitive issue: how should Muslims support struggles by Muslim minorities in places like Chechnya and Kashmir without being branded as terrorists.
Some speakers advised Muslims to do a better job explaining these issues to the rest of the world while others asked them not to be apologetic while supporting Muslim minorities who need their help.
“We should not allow the prejudice generated by 9-11 to harm our right causes and genuine interests. It is our duty to support our brothers who need help and we should not shy away from this duty,” said one of the speakers.
Some speakers suggested there were “hot-headed” people among the Muslims who made it difficult for them to hold a meaningful dialogue with other communities. Others said there were “hot-headed” people on the other side as well. “A day does not go by without someone saying something negative about Islam,” complained one person.
“The challenge is upon us to gain recognition as a people who believe in and practice peace,” said Hoffman.
The US support for the Israeli government also generated a heated debate, with speaker after speaker suggesting various proposals for dealing with this issue. Hoffman urged the Muslims to beat Israel in peace because “with US support and US weapons Israel has the capability of beating Muslims in every battle.” “But Israel cannot survive peace,” he added while encouraging Muslims to “win people’s minds and hearts” for the Palestinian cause.
