<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By : Dr. Kalimullah Lone<\/p>\n\n\n\n
August 5, 2025<\/strong> \u2014 The Government of Jammu and Kashmir, under the directive of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, issued an order banning 25 books, including Al Jihad Fil Islam<\/em> by Syed Abul Aala Maududi, originally published in 1927 during British India. The ban, imposed under Section 98 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, cited alleged grounds of \u201cpromoting false narratives, secessionism, and glorifying terrorism\u201d (The Wire, August 7, 2025; Greater Kashmir, August 7, 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n This decision\u2014announced on the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370\u2014not only misinterprets the scholarly depth of Maududi\u2019s work but also poses a serious threat to intellectual freedom and the open pursuit of discourse on peace, justice, and ethical governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a voice committed to reasoned debate and open dialogue, I write this letter in defense of Al Jihad Fil Islam<\/em>. I urge policymakers, intellectuals, educators, and citizens across the globe to examine the book’s contents with discernment and to resist this act of censorship. This is not merely a defense of a book\u2014it is a defense of the right to read, question, and engage with complex ideas in a democratic society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al Jihad Fil Islam<\/em>, authored by Syed Abul Aala Maududi, translated by Syed Rafatullah Shah, and edited by Syed Firasat Shah, is a 304-page scholarly treatise published by Idara Tarjuman ul Qur’an. It explores jihad through the lens of Islamic theology and ethics. Far from promoting violence, the book articulates jihad as a moral, disciplined, and multi-dimensional struggle (jihad fi sabilillah \u2014 striving in the path of Allah) aimed at eradicating oppression, upholding justice, and ensuring societal welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maududi sought to correct colonial-era distortions of Islamic teachings, especially the characterization of jihad as indiscriminate violence. Instead, he presents it as a path to ethical reform and peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drawing on verses from the Qur’an\u2014such as Al-Furqan 25:68 and Al-An\u2019am 6:151\u2014Maududi grounds jihad in the sanctity of human life and the imperative of justice. In Chapter One, Facts about Jihad in Islam<\/em> (pages 15\u201328), he states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe restrictions on shedding the blood of innocents are severe\u201d (p. 19).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n These foundations contradict the notion that the book glorifies terrorism. Instead, jihad is portrayed as a principled response to tyranny and injustice, guided by strict ethical parameters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Chapter Two, Defensive Warfare<\/em> (pages 29\u201341), Maududi emphasizes that jihad is primarily defensive. He cites Al-Taubah 9:13 (p. 33) and asserts that violence, when necessary, must be proportionate and aimed at restoring peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maududi clearly affirms the Qur\u2019anic stance that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is no compulsion in religion\u201d (Al-Ghashiyah 88:21\u201322, p. 81), Chapters Three and Five highlight the revolutionary reforms Islam introduced to the conduct of war. In stark contrast to pre-Islamic practices marked by vengeance and brutality, Islam emphasized restraint, protection of civilians, and dignity in conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maududi references:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These examples challenge the false narrative that the book incites violence. They demonstrate a model of justice, mercy, and restraint that can inform both historical understanding and contemporary conflict resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Chapter Four, Sword and the Spread of Islam<\/em> (pp. 74\u201384), Maududi confronts the misconception that Islam was spread by force. He argues that jizya<\/strong> was not a tool of religious coercion but a civic tax ensuring protection for non-Muslims under Islamic rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His clear position:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is no coercion in religion\u201d (p. 76), The government\u2019s decision to ban Al Jihad Fil Islam<\/em> rests on a superficial reading that ignores its theological, ethical, and historical depth. The book does not call for rebellion or violence; it dissects Islamic jurisprudence and ethics with scholarly precision. The accusation of \u201cdisguised political commentary\u201d (Business Standard, August 7, 2025) overlooks the book’s core as a religious and philosophical discourse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suppressing Al Jihad Fil Islam<\/em> endangers the very freedoms that allow democratic societies to flourish. It alienates communities seeking spiritual and ethical guidance, stifles critical debate, and blocks engagement with nuanced religious scholarship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maududi\u2019s critique of imperialism (pp. 64\u201373) and modern warfare (pp. 219\u2013294) is academic, not seditious. The ban risks creating an intellectual vacuum that, as journalists warn, \u201cpushes youth toward radicalization\u201d by denying access to scholarly frameworks that promote ethical resistance and peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Chapter Six, The Status of War in Other Religions<\/em> (pp. 152\u2013218), Maududi compares religious doctrines of war, critiquing the absence of ethical constraints in many traditions. He uses historical examples\u2014like the Crusades\u2014to demonstrate the consequences of unregulated violence, contrasting them with Islam\u2019s emphasis on treaties, safety for civilians, and religious freedom (p. 131, Treaty of Jerusalem under Caliph Umar).<\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Government:<\/strong> To Scholars and Educators:<\/strong> To the Youth:<\/strong> To Global Citizens and Human Rights Advocates:<\/strong> Let us not allow censorship to dictate the limits of scholarship. Al Jihad Fil Islam<\/em> is not a manifesto of militancy but a guide to ethical engagement with injustice. Its ban in Jammu and Kashmir undermines the region\u2019s intellectual vitality and further polarizes society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an era rife with misinformation and fear, this book offers a powerful reminder: that peace, justice, and freedom are best pursued through knowledge\u2014not suppression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us stand together to defend its place in our libraries, classrooms, and conscience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sincerely,<\/strong> By : Dr. Kalimullah Lone August 5, 2025 \u2014 The Government of Jammu and Kashmir, under the directive of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, issued an order banning 25 books, including Al Jihad Fil Islam by Syed Abul Aala Maududi, originally published in 1927 during British India. The ban, imposed under Section 98 of the Bharatiya […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4340,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[116,94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-message","category-kashmir"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4338"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4339,"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4338\/revisions\/4339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/noukeqalamnews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\nUnderstanding Al Jihad Fil Islam<\/em>: Peace Through Ethical Struggle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nJihad as a Mechanism for Justice and Peace<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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and writes:
\u201cNowhere is it written that men can be forced to accept Islam\u201d (p. 60).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIslamic Reforms in the Ethics of Warfare<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nRefuting the Misconceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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and his description of the Prophet’s refusal to compel conversions (p. 75) directly refutes the government\u2019s characterization of the text as inciting forced conversions or extremism.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nA Misguided Attack on Scholarship<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Real Danger: Censorship<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nJihad vs. Terrorism: A Clarification<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAn Appeal to Engage, Not Silence<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I urge the Lieutenant Governor and the authorities of Jammu and Kashmir to reconsider this ban. The book promotes ethical understanding and dialogue, not division. By engaging with its arguments in educational settings, interfaith programs, and academic institutions, you uphold the democratic ideals of truth and inquiry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Incorporate this book into curricula on comparative religion, ethics, and Islamic jurisprudence. Use its Qur\u2019anic references (e.g., Al-Baqarah 2:205, p. 56) and historical case studies (e.g., treatment of POWs, p. 116) to deepen classroom discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You are the future stewards of knowledge. Don\u2019t accept suppression as the norm. Seek access to texts like Al Jihad Fil Islam<\/em> and engage critically with their ideas. Truth and justice, as Maududi writes, are distinct and worth striving for (p. 29).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Support intellectual freedom in Kashmir. Engage organizations such as UNESCO and Amnesty International to raise awareness about the implications of this ban. Share the book\u2019s ethical message widely to counter disinformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCall to Action: Defend the Right to Know<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Let us protect Al Jihad Fil Islam<\/em> as a text of reflection, not rebellion; of peace, not provocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nConclusion: A Vision of Peace Through Dialogue<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Kalimullah Lone<\/strong>
Justice and Development Front, Handwara<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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