Is ‘jihad’ against non-Muslims allowed? – Ravinder Singh

Muslim were recently advised to understand "jihad" by the Kelantan mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad. He said many understood the meaning of jihad from the “orientalist viewpoint” that associated it with holy war, meaning opposing non-Muslim adversaries.

"That is why it is not suitable to use jihad in the context of the issue in Syria because it is between Muslims, and it is unfair for us to declare the opponents as non-Muslims”.

Former Perlis mufti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin added to this saying that even the ulama in Syria had advised Muslims against supporting the militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) because the war was between Muslims and hence not in line with the jihad concept.

"Our religion says we can criticise, oppose or have different opinions among Muslims, but we cannot kill one another," he added.

Am I right as an ordinary person to understand that these words mean to say that jihad is to be used against non-Muslims and that it even allows the killing of non-Muslims?

These statements are therefore alarming.

It appears that both the Kelantan mufti and Asri are saying that jihad is something that Muslims are allowed to do, or even required to do, against non-Muslims only, including killing them.

So what does jihad allow or require Muslims to do to their non-Muslims adversaries?

As a non-Muslim Malaysian, I want to know what will happen if jihad is let loose in Malaysia? What are Muslims allowed (or required) to do to me and other non-Muslims in the holy name of jihad?

Could the non-Muslim Ministers please tell us non-Muslims who form nearly 40% of the Malaysian population, what will happen to us if Muslims were to invoke the duty or right to use jihad for furthering any Islamic cause?

We have had the “Allah” issue, the Bibles issue, the hudud issue. Will jihad be next, for what ends?

The non-Muslim ministers must take cognisance of the statements of the Kelantan mufti and Asri on the jihad issue and address this issue now and not dismiss them as mere statements that do not affect the non-Muslims.

The government has acknowledged the existence of extremists in our midst, some of whom are said to be on a jihad in the Middle East. We don’t know how many more are lurking in the corners waiting for orders from somewhere.

If those in positions of power do believe that prevention is better than cure, please start looking into this now, seriously.

* Ravinder Singh reads The Malaysian Insider.