In addition to attending the seminars On Sikhism, I decided to attend some of the seminars from other religions. The first one in such a series was the seminar on “Jehaad” or “Holy War” by some prominent Muslim scholars. This seminar attracted my attention because in the history of Sikhs and many other nations, it is described how in the name of “Jehaad,” the Muslims have invaded country after country, killed thousands of people and committed so many atrocities, At the very outset the Muslim scholars admitted that the Muslims themselves are to blame for missing the word “Jehaad™ in the past to gain their political ends and defame the religion of Islam, which by its very name is supposed to be the religion of peace.
They explained that in reality there are five kinds of “Jehaad.” The first one is the Jehaad of the war which one is supposed to fight against one’s own carnal desires (like lust, anger, greed, etc.). 1 immediately identified these with our own Sikh doctrines of controlling the five desires of lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego.
The second Jehaad is the one which one fights against Shaitan or Devil, who tempts us to wrong path. Since Sikhism does not believe in any external entity such as Shaitan or Devil, [could not relate to it, the closest thing I could think of was Maya.
The third Jehaad according to Muslims is the fight against social wrong. I could relate it easily to our Gurus’ fight against the social customs of Sat or female infanticide.
The fourth holy war is against the corrupt government with peaceful means, I had no problem relating to this category also, since we have fought many peaceful wars, liberating our Gurdwarian using absolutely nonviolent means even when we were beaten with Lathi blows or crushed under railway engines.
The last category of Jehaad according to Muslims is called “Qanaal” which is form of a war with all the arms and ammunition, which all the Muslims are required to participate in when a ruthless enemy has attacked them and will not listen to any voice of reason or nonviolence and they have no other choice.
The next partial seminar I attended was that on “Tolerance and Non Violence” in Hinduism. I reached pretty late during the question and answer period. One lady rose and basically told the panel of speakers “You talk of basic concepts of great tolerance and nonviolence in Hinduism, but what about the fact that Hindus have destroyed 13,000Jain Temples and burned alive thousands of Budh Bhikhshus,” One of the speakers responded, “Yea, but that is only one exception from our past general history of tolerance and non. Violence.” Then the lady asked “How about the fact that in last 60 years at least 100 Jain Temples have been destroyed or converted into Hindu Temples.” To this none of the speakers had nay response. Then another lady asked, “What is Hinduism? What scripture describes the basic tenants and beliefs of Hinduism, because I find different Hindu sects believing and practicing many different and sometimes directly opposite beliefs and practices.” One speaker replied, “It is a mixture of scriptures and traditions which you chose.” They concluded the session saying “Basically Hinduism is a tolerant and nonviolent religion rather sometimes it has been too tolerant and we should modify this attitude and sometimes retaliate in kind, particularly when the opponent side exceeds limits and even destroys our temples.” Since they adjoumed after this seminar, I caught hold of the main speaker later and asked him “You told that nonviolence and tolerance can go lo certain extent, but not when your adversary goes to the limit of even destroying your temple.” He said “Yes.” Then I said “So now think about other people, you fee! justified in resorting to violence for the desecration of an ordinary temple, imagine what kind of jolt and injury it has caused 1o the Sikhs when you desecrated their holiest of holy temple, the Golden Temple of Amritsar, so now can you realize that it is now the Sikhs who originally wanted to separate from India, but it is you people who are compel: ling them to do so.” He seemed to realize and said, “I will surely try to relay this point to my other colleagues.” The second question I asked him, “How come you’ say that Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence is “Accor dance with the teachings of Bhagwat Gita, where Bhagwan Krishna exhorts Arjuna to go and fight in the battle even when it involved killing of his near relatives.” He responded by saying that, “Of course there are situations when you have to fight for your rights, when all other peace= ful means have failed.”
From both the Hindu and Muslim seminars, 1 concluded that unnecessarily other nations label us. 4s warmongers and in fact they all believe and practice the basic concept four Guru Gobind Singh when he says, “When an affair becomes beyond any remedy to settle, it then becomes lawful to unsheathe the sword.”
Daljit Singh Jawa Topeka, KS.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 12, 1993
