Album Notes

I consider myself fortunate to have many Muslim friends. Good people, acquaintances I admire and neighbors that I celebrate Id with. And so when Mr. Amal Neerad, a film director approached motherjane to do an OST for his upcoming malayalam movie "Anwar" with a brief that it was going to be about how terrorism was affecting the lives of normal Muslims, we said yes.

He started by quoting how the Quran says that if anyone slays an innocent it shall be as though he has slain all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he has saved the lives of all mankind. I remember him saying with an unsure and yet decided look in his eyes, "I don't know if my movie will make a positive difference to this situation but I'm willing to try".

I guess he realised how unjust it is to misjudge any group of people by projecting the acts of a few thousands onto millions of guiltless. Something captured in the words of Martin Luther King, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"
Now, we don't know if a song will make a positive difference to the situation but we too are willing to do our bit. And this is our effort - a song that celebrates the spirit of Jihad.

We hope "Jihad" forces listeners to right their perceptions about this facet of Islam, as practiced by devout Muslims.
Let's be open-minded. At the centre of every religion, aren't we asked to practice the holy war? Isn't Jihad about the death of the ego, the sense of "I", that sense of separation of the self from the Almighty and there on from the whole world? Isn't Jihad as simple and wonderful a thing as someone bowed at Namaz 5 times a day with only God in his mind? Isn't that a beautiful thought & the only one we should hold in our minds every time we hear the prayer call from a mosque nearby?

We will consider this song blessed every time it is recognised as the joyous, symbolic expression of someone who " surrenders his/her life to God." A song dedicated to people who are one with Him in that pure state of love, where one is incapable of sin.

So listen if you may. Listen with your heart to this declaration

I believe in Jihad
If love is the weapon.

One last thing, irrespective of which religion you belong to; remember, it asks compassion of you. Let us also spare a thought for the misguided. No human child is born with hate. Not one! Surely it’s obvious that anyone who suffers hate has endured pain. Let's do what we can to dilute negative emotions in this world. Sometimes all it takes is to point out to someone how holding onto hate & pain is a practice pursued in vain.

Sometimes all we have to do is say,

I believe in Jihad
If love is the weapon.

Jihad

I believe in Jihad
“I” die, to Him return
& I know in my heart
His will is the sermon

Thus my faith speaks to me
No innocent shall be slain
Louder than most things
This world shouts out in His name

For all hate is poison
Distilled from pain
& what’s alien to heaven
Is practiced in vain

I believe in Jihad
If love is the weapon.