Jihadi Readings of Qur'anic Verses Regarding Jihad

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Memri

The Director of South Asia Studies Project at the Middle East Media Research Institute, Tufail Ahmad, writing "The Terrorist Groups' Interpretation of the Koranic Verses Regarding Jihad" (Memri, Inquiry and Analysis Series Report No. 1098, June 4, 2014), notes an interesting point:

Although liberal commentators argue that jihadists are inspired by radical Egyptian teacher Sayyed Qutb and Pakistani cleric Maulana Abul Aa'la Maududi among others, it doesn't appear that the jihadists are quoting these writers; most of the jihadist literature essentially cites the Koran and the Hadiths.

As evidence, Ahmad goes on to note that one Pakistani terrorist group (Jaish-e-Muhammad), visited 18 cities in Pakistan to give "lessons that taught translation and interpretation of more than 558 verses on jihad." In fact, says Ahmad, "Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar . . . cited several Koranic verses to explain the jihadist mission in Islam":

Allah . . . in Chapter Anfal . . . says: 'Fight them until no corruption (kufr) exists and all religion (worship) is for Allah' (Chapter Anfal, Verse 39). This verse refers to the final objective of jihad, which is to exterminate every shred of resistance that kufr offers so that Islam dominates over all other religions and all abide by the law of Allah.

The jihadist scholars cited by Ahmad take note of various liberal Muslim interpretations of Qur'anic verses, countering each one of them with withering scorn based on close readings of the Koran and Hadiths. No one seems to be citing Qutb or Maududi, as Ahmad notes, but upon reflection, that shouldn't really be surprising since the writings of Qutb and Maududi are secondary sources, lacking the divine authority to be found in the Qur'an or the revered authority found in authentic Hadiths.

For the full report, see Memri.