IT was Nietzsche the German philosopher who said, 'God is dead' but one does not know what exactly he meant by this statement. Was he a rationalist? Most rationalists in the 19th century turned atheists thinking that the ultimate mystery of the universe and its creation would soon be discovered.

New scientific discoveries made them hopeful. However, that hope remains a hope. Or did Nietzsche say what he did in the sense that moral values were dead and God represents ultimate values like ultimate justice or ultimate compassion or ultimate love and so on? Or did he say that in the sense that we no more need any values, much less its source, God, and what ultimately matters is power, not morality. Nietzsche after all did believe in a superior race that had the right to rule. It is said that he provided inspiration to the Nazis who also believed in a superior race of Aryans. kafir

It is interesting to note that Iqbal was also attracted by Nietzsche's doctrine of power, though not of a superior race which did not have to follow any morals. Iqbal believed in power with morality as a Muslim and hence he described Nietzsche as one whose mind was (non-believer) but heart a believer. iloh

Whatever Nietzsche meant the answer to the question is God 'dead' is no — in whatever sense we take his statement. The rationalists' hope that the ultimate mystery of the universe would be solved through scientific discoveries has proved more an illusion than reality. Every new discovery brings a greater sense of mystery. These discoveries increase our sense of awe and wonderment. It is interesting to note that the word 'Allah' comes from the Hebrew '', which carries the sense of wonderment or awe.

Recently, scientist Stephen Hawkins expressed his doubt about the Creator of this universe and many believers in God tried to refute his statement. But Hawkins made it clear that there may be God in a universal sense of energy and power but that there is no 'personal' God, who answers prayers. To deny the personal God is not to deny the universal God. Even the French philosopher Voltaire, a firm believer in Catholic Christianity, did not believe in a personal God. One Sunday when he came out of church he saw an old woman praying to God to cure her sick bird. Voltaire commented, “Madame, God has more serious work to run this universe than to attend to your bird.”

Is 'dead' then used in another sense, i.e. in the sense of ultimate values whose source is God? Here there is some truth. The ruling classes have always been beyond any sense of morality. They do invoke religion in a formal sense and woo religious priests making them part of their oppressive establishments. It was in this sense that Karl Marx criticised the role of religion and priesthood. However, in colonial days when Nietzsche was thinking and writing, there was a sharp decline in the morality of the colonial masters. What motivated the colonists was their greed and loot.

However, colonial loot pales into insignificance if we take the loot being perpetrated by the globalised economy and destructive wars being waged by global powers with the help of modern weapons which, with the pressing of a button hundreds of miles away, can kill thousands of people; all this for monopolising oil and other resources. Even the colonial masters would have turned in their graves at such ruthless killings and such a sharp decline in moral standards and values.

The interesting thing is that the more such naked loot and sharp decline in moral values takes place the more the ruling elites need the concept of God and religion. Thus, during the George W. Bush presidency it was right-wing Christianity which was ruling the roost. Along with the army which invaded Iraq Bush had sent texts of Christian prayers for each weekday which soldiers were asked to recite. Zionists too are fanatics in such matters. The more they act immorally the more they invoke the extremes of religion for political ends which has nothing to do with Judaism as religiously practised.

The trend of using religion is hardly any different as far as Muslim extremists are concerned. Terrorists like Al Qaeda and Taliban have little respect for human life and dignity, which is, according to all religious scriptures, the highest and best creation of God. Terrorists, for their own political designs have killed thousands of innocent people. They too invoke religion to cover up their misdeeds; the more they kill the more they need to invoke God and religion.

The word 'jihad' has been repeatedly invoked by Al Qaeda and Taliban to mislead Muslims. Jihad in the Quran is a noble concept and cannot be practised without rigorous standards of morality and ethical responsibility. The Taliban let off bombs at the revered mausoleums of Sufi saints who devoted their lives to the truth, morality and peace and showed the highest respect for human life. All this in the name of religion. n

Thus, Nietzsche was not wrong in his definition in this sense. As believers it becomes our duty to fight against such gross misuse of religion. It is God in the sense of ultimate moral values who is the Saviour and Sustainer, and who should be invoked. That would be the real jihad which all believers must wage as their obligation, and across all religious denominations.

The writer is an Islamic scholar who also heads the Centre for Study of Society & Secularism, Mumbai.