In a recent speech, Hadi Awang was reported to have implied that Muslims must consider voting for Muslim political parties when threatened by other races as a form of “jihad.”

I think muftis must answer Hadi Awang in this statement that will confuse the Muslims to consider other faiths as enemies of Islam.

The common understanding of the meaning of “jihad” to most Muslims is “holy war” where lives are lost in defending Islam against an enemy that has taken up arms against the Muslims on the grounds that can be considered as a holy act of war.

The other meaning of “jihad” is rarely understood by many Muslims and others as it relates more to a strife or hard struggle of the self or ego to achieve an objective.

Although Hadi may not be implying directly that Muslims and Malays in Malaysia are being “threatened” of life by other faiths and races, this call may put Muslims in a position of animosity between races and faiths.

I would like to comment on three aspects of “jihad” in Islam and whether such a concept merits its use in a democratically held election in Malaysia.

Firstly, “jihad” means an action of faith in wartime that may result in the Muslim losing a most expensive cost, their own lives or that of their loved ones.

Those who perish in a holy war or “jihad” is said to be “syahid.”

The Prophet ordered that those who died in a holy war to be buried without cleaning the blood to their fatal wounds so that these would shine in testimony in the hereafter and Judgment Day.

Thus, for an ordinary state elections, what expensive cost can the Muslims suffer? Merely driving to the polling station, waiting a few hours in line in the rain or in the hot sun, would that merit an action of “jihad”?

I do not think so. This would make “jihad” such a cheap concept.

Secondly, how can we relate “jihad” in a political battle?

Politics in a democracy entails political parties marketing their own policies on administration, economy and education. None of the political parties are allowed to threaten the loss of lives and property to the voters if they do not get elected.

So, how can this be considered “jihad”? If not voting for a so-called Muslim party makes the voters “enemies of Islam.” then this is a seditious statement bent on creating animosity between races and faiths.

Malaysia is supposed to be a place where all citizens can be in any faith, and live a lifestyle that does not cause bodily harm to others. “Jihad” should therefore never be used in a political battlefield for canvassing for votes.

Hadi Awang’s “jihad” call may put Muslims in a position of animosity between races and faiths.

Thirdly, the example of Saidina Ali ibnu Abi Talib, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad and the Fourth Rightly Guided Caliphs should be a lesson.

It was related that in one holy battle or “jihad,” Ali had overpowered his enemy and was about to deliver the fatal blow from his sword.

At that precise moment, the enemy spat on his face and Ali stayed his hand and walked away.

The surprised enemy went to Ali and asked why he stayed his hand from delivering the killing blow? Ali said when he had overpowered his enemy he was fighting for the cause of Islam but when his face was spat on, he became angry and then frightened that he might kill someone because of his emotion and not because of Islam.

This shows that Muslims must not use sentiments in any “jihad” but a pure intention of defending the faith within the bounds of Islamic values and not from blind anger or fear.

Muslims must always be aware and conscious of any act to defend Islam and not just from hearsay or the personal agendas of politicians with vested interest.

The muftis must answer Hadi Awang and put the matter of elections as not part of “jihad” even though it may not mean “holy war.”

For me, the idea of “struggle or strife in the concept of ‘jihad’ of the self is not valid in simply casting a vote for a political party as there is no struggle at all.

In GE15, My wife, my son and I went to Skudai in Johor to cast our votes. We went to the polling station in the rain. I spent RM1,000 for hotel and travel expenses and 48 hours in travel and overnight stay. I do not consider that “jihad” at all, because it was not too difficult for us to do with the income that I had.

How is it then traveling a few kilometers and waiting in a shaded hallway to vote within an hour or two merits a “jihad” claim?

Silence is no longer an option to our religious officials in this matter, as this statement by Hadi is a most irresponsible one that can divide the country even further.

I do not prefer the police to act as this would embolden his support base. Only the wise words of the religious officials can save Malaysia.

Please, dear muftis…save our country!

(Prof Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi is Professor of Architecture at a local university and his writing reflects his own personal opinion entirely.)