The Jakarta Post, February 11, 2007
Authentic jihad is about peace and coexistence
Nurrohman, Bandung
Basri, a Poso militant recently! arrested by police, confessed that he had been
involved in numerous sectarian attacks and other incidents, including the beheading of
three Christian schoolgirls in 2005. He was instructed to fight against kafir (infidels)
and thagut (those who do not uphold "God's law"), including security personnel.
"Security personnel are thagut because they don't punish Muslims in accordance with
Islamic law. That is why we fight them." Basri said. He claimed he was often nervous
about perpetrating the acts of terrorism assigned to him and had considered
surrendering to police. He refrained, however, upon being told by preachers that to
surrender was haram, or forbidden under Islamic law (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 3, 2007)
Basri's confession indicates that he is trapped in a jihadist group that prefers to opt for
the easy form of jihad. Basri is actually also the victim of his own ignorance of the real
meaning of jihad, and the victim of incitement and indoctrination by preachers. The
Poso jihadists are also the victims of their own ignorance and erroneous perceptions
of contemporary human relations in the world.
Jihadist groups commonly adhere to the view that sees humanity as being separated
into two hostile blocs: the Muslim community (Dar al-Islam), and the infidel
non-Muslims (Dar al-Harb). They believe that Allah has commanded Muslims to
conquer the entire world in order to rule it according to Koranic law. Hence, Muslims
must wage a perpetual war against infidels who refuse to submit. This is the
motivation for their form of jihad.
Upon the establishment of an Islamic state, the whole outside non-Muslim world will
potentially become Dar ul Harb. Once the Islamic state, or Dar al-Islam, is
established, as the foreign policy of the Islamic state is aimed at conquering the
world, no respect will be shown for the lives or property of non-Muslims. Hence, a
Muslim in such circumstances can appropriate the property of non-Muslims unless
there is a treaty with them. If there is no treaty, individual Muslims can even go to Dar
al Harb and take women to keep as slaves.
In international relations, Muslims cannot behave as a superior group by considering
themselves as God's people (ummat), who have been mandated to rule the world.
Rather, the world should be shared and ruled together based upon universal
principles, like justice, liberty, equality and brotherhood. Muslims should respect
other human beings, including non-Muslims, or infidels.
Therefore, it is wrong for Muslims to adhere to the old perception that says Muslims
are allowed to attack non-Muslims merely because they refuse to accept Islam,
Islamic law or refuse to be treated as dzimmi (second class citizens with limited
rights). Non-Muslims in Indonesia cannot be termed dzimmi because they have the
same rights and liberties as Muslim citizens of Indonesia.
Neither can non-Muslims be forced to accept Islam or Islamic law. Even in the case of
Muslims themselves, Islamic law, as God's law, should be treated as a set of social
norms and ethics that is voluntarily accepted by Muslims based upon their
consciences and without coercion fro! m outside.
Muslims in Indonesia should realize that the Taliban style of government, which
adheres to the teachings of only one Islamic school, or more precisely, Wahabism, is
not suitable for Indonesia, which is a plural society.
So, it is difficult to understand why Abu Bakar Ba'asyir said that sharia must be
implemented in Indonesia through the institutions of state at all costs.
What is needed in Indonesia now is not jihad in the sense of war or violent attacks.
Although more difficult, jihad against poverty, corruption, human rights abuses and
other crimes against humanity is what is really required.
In order to build peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims, and
between Muslims themselves, dialog should be encouraged, differences of opinion
should be respected, and violence and the politicization of religion should be avoided.
People like Basri, beside deserving a fair trial, actually deserve help as he is, in
reality, the victim of misguided Islamic teaching.
The writer is lecturer at Bandung State Islamic University (UIN), and the chairman of
the West Java LAKPESDAM-NU. He can be reached at nsyarif2006@yahoo.co.id.
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