On Islam and Jihad

To make matters worse, the hatred felt by the Muslim fundamentalists has become inseparable from their ideology. They hate others who think differently from themselves because they hold them to be ideologically in error. Experience shows that of all kinds of hatred, that based on an ideology is the most rabid. Personal hatred, on the other hand, arises from temporary factors, and seldom takes long to dissipate in the ordinary course of events. But there is little chance of ideological hatred abating. And its target is the obliteration of enemies. Not until this end is achieved will it ever die down. This is the reason that ideological hatred takes no time in assuming the shape of violence. When it is found that peaceful means of persuasion are showing no results, arms are then resorted to, so that all enemies may be removed from its path. Terrorism in the Name of Islam In the present time, Muslim fundamentalists are responsible for actions resulting from hatred and marked by violence taking place in the name of Islam. The famous poet Iqbal presents a justification of what they are engaged in in the following couplet: To every vein of falsehood every Muslim is like a surgical knife. (Shikwa Jawab-e-Shikwah). Conversely, however, we find a different picture in the Quran: “When it is said to them: ‘Do not commit