Interpretations of Jihad in South Asia by Tariq Rahman

So far, it is the language in which the state apparatus functions at the highest level. However, in elite society people speak English spontaneously and naturally not to impress the native speaker of the language but as a matter of habit. Most people, even in urban areas, know only a few words of English but cannot understand or hold sustained conversation in the language. It helps young Pakistanis climb up the social ladder easily but it also prevents others from doing so or, at least, proves to be the biggest impediment in their path. The book also explains how theories about jihad are influenced by the political and social circumstances of the period and how these insights feed into practice legitimizing militant movements called jihad for that period.Įnglish is in a great paradox in Pakistan. One purpose of the book is to understand how the radical interpretation came to South Asia. It is seen as being both defensive and aggressive by traditionalists only defensive and mainly about moral improvement by progressive Muslims and being insurrectionist, aggressive, eternal and justifying violence against civilians by radical Islamists. The main thrust of the study is to understand how interpretations of jihad vary. The hermeneutic devices used to understand the meaning of the Quranic verses and the Prophetic traditions relating to jihad will be the focus of this study. The focus of the study is the idea of jihad with its changing interpretations mostly those available in exegetical literature of key figures in South Asia. In the wake of radical Islamist terrorist attacks described as jihad worldwide and in South Asia, it is imperative that there should be a book-length study of this idea in this part of the world.

Interpretations of Jihad in South Asia by Tariq Rahman