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Furoo
Ad-din
The Branches of Faith
By
Cyril Anderson
Part
2 of 2
6.
JIHAD (STRIVING) –A much maligned and misunderstood term, jihad
means in general a striving in the way of encouraging and sustaining
goodness in the world and combating evil in the world.
This is related to the branches of Amr bil ma’roof
(enjoining good) and nahi anil munkar (forbidding evil) described
below. Does not necessarily mean armed combat, though this is
one of the forms of it, when performed under certain stringent conditions
regarding the ethical rules to regulate armed combat.
For example, in this struggle, it is forbidden to kill women,
children, elderly, or other civilians, or to destroy farmland and other
economic infrastructure required by the civilian population.
It is also generally forbidden to engage in unprovoked aggressive
warfare, but only limited forms f defensive struggle.
There are actually two acknowledged forms of jihad, Jihad al-akbar
(the greater jihad) and jihad as-saghrir (the lesser jihad).
external and internal. The
largest jihad is actually the jihad against oneself, the internal striving
for self-purification that all face in battling against their more
unhealthy instincts. To
protect the rights of people from oppression, from those who would use the
freedom God gave them wrongly, to take away the freedom of others.
Hussain (as) did jihad in Kerbala.
7.
AMR-BIL-MA’ROOF
(ENJOINING THE GOOD) – Hussain (as) in Kerbala called to those who
fought against him eloquently to turn from their errors.
Amr bil ma’roof refers to the responsibility of the believer to
call to people toward the right way of action, to tell them what is the
right thing to do, the right way to act, and to encourage them toward it.
8.
NAHI-ANIL-MUNKAR (FORBIDDING THE EVIL) – The complement of the
previous, amr bil ma’roof. In
addition to calling people toward what is good or right, one must use his
knowledge to call people away from what is wrong.
One must teach people that certain actions are wrong, and must
encourage people to avoid them. The
last two branches of the religion illustrate the responsibility that
fallas upon those with knowledge. For
the more one knows of right and wrong, the more one is obligated to teach.
Learning is an obligation, a gift, and also a heavy burden for a
Muslim to bear. But it is of
unsurpassing value to pursue nonetheless.
Hussain (as) fought to combat the wrong being done by Yazid. Prophet said: If you see a wrong thing being done,
change it with your hand…voice…heart.
9.
TAWALLA (LOVE AND RESPECT OF AHLUL BAYT AND THEIR FRIENDS)
In a way, related to amr bil maroof.
The ahlul bayt (as) and their good, faithful followers, are amongst
the best of people, guiding to the right way.
It is only right to draw near to, to love, and if possible, to help
such people. It was one of
the great tragedies of Kerbala that for the people of Kufa, their fear or
love of material gain was greater than their love of Imam Hussayn (as).
They did not viciously order the death of Imam Hussayn (as), as
Yazid did, but they let him down in his hour of need.
It is our duty to cherish the ahlul bayt (as), the protectors of
Islam, as well as those who carry on their teachings.
10.
TABARRA (DISSOCIATING FROM ENEMIES OF AHLUL BAYT)
This is the complement of the above.
For if we truly understand the greatness of these figures of
Muhammad’s (saws) family, how can we help but feel disappointment,
disgust, and revulsion at those who oppressed the ahlul bayt (as) and
their followers, who took their rights?
If one truly believes in these Imams from the ahlul bayt (as) as
God-sent guides for humanity, then the crimes done against these guides
are crimes against humanity. At
the minimum, one must distance himself from those who wronged the ahlul
bayt (as), in so doing distinguishing himself from these wrongdoers.
In commemorating Ashoura, we practice this, learning about and
drawing near to the ahlul bayt (as), and by doing so, to the God that they
dedicated their lives to following.
We lean towards their example, and try to avoid the example of
those who oppressed them.
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