In January, president general Pervez Musharaf of Pakistan spoke eloquently and passionately about Haquooqul Ibad – obligations towards fellow human beings – and about the real and complex meaning of jihad.
The smaller struggle, or Jihad-e-Asghar, is over, he told his people; now is the time for a greater war, a war against poverty, illiteracy, hunger and pain. Not only in Pakistan should this idea of an ultimate struggle be heeded: globally we need to launch an international equivalent to Jihad-e-Akbar – the greater struggle.
