Interpretations of Jihad in South Asia: An Intellectual History

by Tariq Rahman

In the wake of radical Islamist terrorist attacks described as jihad worldwide and in South Asia, it is imperative that there should be a book-length study of this idea in this part of the world. The focus of the study is the idea of jihad with its changing interpretations mostly those available in exegetical literature of key figures in South Asia. The hermeneutic devices used to understand the meaning of the Quranic verses and the Prophetic traditions relating to jihad will be the focus of this study. The main thrust of the study is to understand how interpretations of jihad vary. It is seen as being both defensive and aggressive by traditionalists; only defensive and mainly about moral improvement by progressive Muslims; and being insurrectionist, aggressive, eternal and justifying violence against civilians by radical Islamists. One purpose of the book is to understand how the radical interpretation came to South Asia. The book also explains how theories about jihad are influenced by the political and social circumstances of the period and how these insights feed into practice legitimizing militant movements called jihad for that period.

Genres: History, Religion, Nonfiction

334 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2020

About the author

Tariq Rahman PhD is presently Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the Beaconhouse National University, Lahore. He is also HEC Distinguished National Professor and Professor Emeritus at the National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. Dr Rahman has been a guest professor in Denmark and Spain, and a Fulbright research scholar (1995-96) at the University of Texas at Austin, USA. He was also the first incumbent of the Pakistan Chair at U.C. Berkeley (2004-05). He has been a research fellow at the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies and the South Asia Institute at the University of Heidelberg. He has been given several awards: the Presidential Pride of Performance (1994), HEC lifetime achievement award, the highly prestigious Humboldt Research Award (2012) from Germany, and the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2013. He was awarded a higher doctorate (D.Litt) by the University of Sheffield for all of his published research in 2014.

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon a time, there was a noble idea named ‘Jihad,’ living happily with his relative ideas in a conceptual town of Islam. The town was managed and controlled by an elite group of ‘ Interpreters,’ who were highly sensitive to the genealogy, place , appearence, and function of every idea. . That’s why no mixing, flirting, or marriage with foreign ideas was allowed. For a long time, the town enjoyed supremacy over all the rival towns in the city of ideas. So, inhabitants of the Islamic town were mostly satisfied with their positions and roles. But sometimes, in special Situations, like survival, renovation, or reconstruction after natural catastrophes forces interpreters to employ foreign ideas. Besides special circumstances , the old friendship of interpreters with foreign ideas also played a role. Irrespective of what the interpreters intend, the prolonged presence of foreign ideas ultimately influences the inhabitants to change their appearances and roles.

The interpreters , although very powerful but ultimately restricted by the instruction manuals— handed down by the founding father— to run the town. They had to be very careful in taking liberty with the words and instructions of the instruction manuals. The consequences of unnecessary flirting with foreign ideas could result in banishment — of both Interpreter and the idea—to the Heretic-Town.

Jihad was not present when the town was founded. He joined much later as a soldier to defend the town. He was a humble and selfless idea, acting completely in accordance with the instructions in a particular situation. After the founding father, the interpreters took control of the Town and Jihad became their favorite idea. They elevated its status from a mere defender to the roles of expander and developer of the town. Jihad gradually transformed into an aggressive idea whose purpose was to subjugate rival towns for the interpreters.

Time passed, Power balance in the city had changed. Rival towns with strange powerful ideas became the rulers and started attacking Islam and its inhabitans mercilessly.New Rulers, after subjugating and plundering the town, wanted to reform its inhabitants according to their wishes— The purpose was to prolong the subjugation. Old Jihad was their special target,

They forced Interpreter to help banish Jihad forever from the town. For interpreters , complete banishment was impossible on the basis of instruction manuals. But , they also didn't want to look uncivilised in the eyes of their subjugaters or other city members. So what they did was , retired the old Jihad from all possible roles and responsibilties except moral instruction: The foreign ideas helped alot in this regard. He was publicized as an old legend who had done what needed to be done in the past, but whose services were no longer required in the present of future conditions.

Not everyone within the interpreters was happy with this development. Serious argument broke out within the ranks. Traditionalists believed, Role of Jihad as a defender and expander of the town must be restored.Modernists arrogantly refused this proposition as impractical.

A radical new group of interpreters emerged from the fragmentation of authority who wanted to regain the old glory of the past at any cost. They used the prolonged influence of foreign ideas for the liberation and empowerment of Jihad.

Unfortunately, this liberation and empowerment of jihad , instead of providing the old glory wreak hell on the inhabitants of the town.