Association and Partnership
Muslims are taught not to compromise. Knowingly or not, they take
their religion overly seriously. Not because of their faith in their
nameless and unidentifiable god, but because their (ulama') savants
interpret the 114 (sura) Chapters in such a way that makes
everything non-Muslim under certain conditions, (halal) lawful to
them. Islamic teaching incites Muslims to attain primacy over all
other religions. Islam is preached as universal and eternal and that
it should be accepted unquestioningly, bestirring them to remain
firm in their faith as ardent followers. As they grow older, they
become staunch believers. Innocently or not, they follow the
teachings and interpretations of their savants wholeheartedly and
without question. Through interpretation of their religious leaders,
they struggle to attain worldly pleasures and material gains in the
name of Allah. As for paradise, the savants guarantee it to them
with a carte blanche from on high. Some mujahideen wear a key around
their neck as an assurance of gaining entrance to paradise when they
fall in battle - the reward for their martyrdom against enemies of
Islam (Mawdudi, 1992: pp 31-32).
A Muslim, in the Abode of Peace, has no option. All Muslims are
presumed good and believers in Allah, the prophet and his true
message. They are expected to accept it as the only true religion
and live it to the full whatever the consequence. Whether moderates
or conservatives, fundamentalists or radicals, it is hard to fathom
their sincerity. They are all the same with their attitudes towards
the Christians and Jews. Muslims compromise only on their own terms.
At times, it is hard to make a distinction. They are unpredictable.
A long time Muslim friend or neighbour, be he pure as gold, may
suddenly turn against a Christian or Jew. Charged with a hidden
motive he may change at any moment and decide on a hostile act he
believes is right. His innermost faith in his religious teachings
gives him the personal liberty to act in a manner he believes is in
the best interest and protection of his religion. According to the
canonical law of Islam, a non-Muslim in an Islamic society is
generally beheld as defilement. Yet, for convenience, the Muslim
viewing the non-Muslim as a source of gainful ploy, whether in the
field of material gain or entertainment, extends a measure of
cautious respect to gain his/her confidence with a view to meeting
his expectations. By his adulation and defiant action, he becomes
the centre of attraction by his fellow Muslims, gaining him higher
respect among his community. It also contributes towards fulfilling
the call for expanding and protecting his religion. To mix and
indulge in gainful business and entertainment with non-Muslims,
impound, take hostage, kill or blow up, even himself, for the sake
of Allah is lawful and acceptable, convinced that it is a religious
act in the service of Allah and defence of his religion. Martyrdom
is the pinnacle of Jihad - the road to heaven (Hiro, 1989: p 31;
Pryce-Jones, 1989: p38).
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