Violence Has No Role In Islam

There is no role of violence in Islam—the target of Bush W’s new Jihad indeed preaches peace, one of the few among the organized religions, though has become much maligned today because of its overt political exploit. Only time Koran condones violence is in self-defense.

Let’s examine the Koranic verses in regard to violence:

You may fight in the cause of GOD against those who attack you, but do not aggress. GOD does not love the aggressors. [2:190]

You may kill those who wage war against you, and you may evict them whence they evicted you. Oppression is worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Sacred Masjid, unless they attack you therein. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is the just retribution for those disbelievers. [2:191]

If they refrain, then GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful. [2:192]

You may also fight them to eliminate oppression, and to worship GOD freely. If they refrain, you shall not aggress; aggression is permitted only against the aggressors. [2:193]

During the Sacred Months, aggression may be met by an equivalent response. If they attack you, you may retaliate by inflicting an equitable retribution. You shall observe GOD and know that GOD is with the righteous. [2:194] And in a wonderfully compact expression Koran defines what shall be the true characteristic of a Muslim. Indeed this one sentence captures the whole spirit of the religion, and most followers found wanting measured with this simple yardstick:

You shall spend in the cause of GOD; do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction. You shall be charitable; GOD loves the charitable. [2:195]

In politics the goal is to achieve power in any manner, questionable techniques are no bars, that is why I reject the role of Jamat in Bangladeshi politics. Politics seeks power, the end justifying the means. Undoubtedly, power corrupts.

Politics gets dirty, down and dirty where nothing is unfair, however nefarious the means may be. That urge to succeed motivated Jamat to conduct unprovoked carnage of Bangladeshi intelligentia in the end days of Pakistani reign in Bangladesh.

Islamic history is bloody, even before Prophet Mohammed’s body had turned cold; his followers were shedding blood over who should be the next leader. In a beautiful renderation, Hasan Mahmud had captured this scenario in a book called Sharia Ki Bole Amra Ki Kori, which is freely downloadable from his site . I wish, He had published it in English.