I was working for a company in Dubai and had the opportunity to bring some delegates from there to Ahmedabad for a factory visit. The delegation had Lebanese, Palestinian and Japanese nationals. The visit was to obtain approval for supply from a factory in India. The delegation was skeptical about the quality that would come from there – there are still many people who think we make poor quality stuff. What happened to the original purpose of the visit is not very interesting.
During lunch we all were sitting around a table and chatting away. The Japanese asked if there are any places to see around Ahmedabad. The factory representative started telling about the historical importance of the city and moved on to say that Gujarat is the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi. He told that Porbandar, the birth place of the statesman was about 400kms away. The Palestinian, who was till then detached from the discussion, suddenly got interested.
“Is it possible for me to travel there today?” he asked.
“It is quite far sir. Considering that you have a flight to catch tomorrow morning at Mumbai, it is not possible to drive there today and comeback.”
“How about flights”
“I can try Sir.”
“Can you please let me know?”
The factory representative went out of the hall to check. I continued the discussion.
“Sabarmati Ashram is an ashram which Gandhiji instituted and is in Ahmedabad, in the banks of Sabarmati River.”
“Oh. How long does it take to go there?”
“Half hour, maybe.”
“Can we leave right away?”
“Yes of-course.”
Immediately set out to go to the ashram. On the way, I continued the discussion. “Do you know about Gandhiji?”
“Ofcourse” he said. “I have read about him during my college days in UK. He is a great man. While in college I used to think that all these were stories. Nobody could have been like this. But as I grew older I understood that this is how a sensible person can live.” Just as we reached Sabarmati Ashram he said, “You know, only his way can solve the Israel – Palestinian problem.”
I was shocked. Being curious about Gandhiji is one thing. But thinking that his method can solve the Israel – Palestine problem is altogether another thing – a shift from the typecast Islamic thinking. We got down from the car and another shock was awaiting me. The moment he stepped down, he kneeled down and kissed the ground. With sparkle in his eyes he asked, “Really, Gandhiji walked here? Alhamdulillah”
I was awestruck to see this Palestinian of 45, go around clicking pictures of himself in the ashram, with enthusiasm of a child. His enthusiasm rubbed on me too. After we saw all places, we started back to the factory.
“So, you do not believe in Jihad?” I asked
“Ofcourse I do. Gandhi was a Jihadi, wasn’t he?”
Now I knew that all his bolts were not in place. I understood that his enthusiasm for Gandhiji was misplaced. He must have mixed up Jinnah with Mahatma.
“What, so you think, is Jihad?” he asked.
“Holy war against the evil; that is, the non-believers.” I told. How much more concise can you be about this?
He laughed. “Holy war against the evil is ok… but who are non-believers?”
“Those who do not follow Islam.”
Ha ha ha ha.
“Dear friend, the word ‘Islam’ itself means ‘peace’. Then why would Islam propagate war.”
Now I was totally confused. So are all of media wrong. They all seem to propagate that Islam is an aggressive religion which condemns all people of all other faiths.
“So, what does Jihad mean?”, I asked.
“Jihad, my friend is a fight between the good and the evil… the good and evil feelings that arise within you. In this fight you should always side with the good. For example, if you find a packet containing money in the road, two thoughts would arise… one would say ‘keep it’ and the other would say ‘find the owner and hand it over’. In this conflict of thoughts you should side with the good one. That is what Jihad all about. It is not about declaring someone else as evil and killing him. So, now you tell me if Gandhi was a Jihadi or not.”
