Let’s get a perspective on HIV. There is no cure for the disease yet. No matter how much one hides or runs away from knowing one’s status even if one is not directly infected with the Human Immuno Virus, one is certainly affected by it.

Overwhelming messages about the disease in the media are splattered across every public space. In the beginning we questioned every aspect of our engagements to be aware of possible opportunities that the virus might get us. However, we forget the biggest message: HIV is a behaviour-related virus. Human beings act in ways that makes them at risk for contracting the virus. So, how do we deal with this killer virus that threatens to infect and increase to every second person in South Africa with a HIV positive status within the next 10 years? (according to statistics)

The matter looks frightening, seemingly inevitable. Positive Muslims, an NPO formed in 2000 identifies themselves as an educational and awareness support group, who does research and advocacy and lobbying for persons infected and affected with HIV and AIDS. They have also been dubbed as leading the Jihad against HIV and AIDS in a recent television advert.

Is Positive Muslims mere idealists living in a pipe-dream or worse: are we crazy to believe that we can help ‘Create a generation that is HIV-free’ as the popular adverts drone?

Yes, we can. Positive Muslims says we can do it with compassion and exercising a non-judgmental approach in our dealings with people of all levels of illnesses regardless. We can do it by intensifying our Jihad against HIV and AIDS and bring about an approach that enables affected and infected to live a Positively Conscious life. We shall combat HIV and AIDS by driving and leading the Jihad against HIV and AIDS.

Unlike the dominant discourse in the media that Jihad is terrorist in nature and how this discourse shapes the notion and concept of Jihad as an instrument of terrorism, Positive Muslims follow the real revolutionary concept of Jihad.

In the language of non-terrorism and practical interpretation, Jihad means “to exert”, or to make effort, or to expend energy. This exertion is not only physical but also an intellectual, spiritual and moral exertion. All these exertions requires inner strength, vision, goal orientated action, and all falls within this scope of exerting oneself.

Positive Muslims have a good chance to undo and combat the notions and prejudice of STIGMA. Stigma is the result of these judgments that we as Insan/ human beings make and become judgmental.  An organisation like Positive Muslims break down these notions through the armory of jihad, struggle and/ exertion. The cornerstone of this armory is based on the ‘Theology of Compassion’ that articulates a non-judgemental, enabling, forgiving and just approach to HIV and AIDS, based on a just and compassionate Allah.

Of all of Allah’s creation, human beings are the only ones that have the capacity to make choices. We choose right over wrong, as God commanded us to do. This age old struggle enables each of us to decide for ourselves and by this very act makes each one responsible or accountable for our own actions and behaviours. In this way Positive Muslims stress the responsibility of the individual and the capacity of the individual to contribute towards the struggle to a society that openly addresses HIV and enables persons to live positively.

God commands us to choose a right over wrong not to become self-righteous and implement that self righteousness against others but to approach our matters with love and compassion that starts with engaging the individuals with a sense of responsibility to the self and others. Owning the right to decide for themselves, take ownership and responsibility of that choice for themselves is armour against the potentially killer disease itself.

Riding on a Theology of Compassion, Positive Muslims have been much inspired by forerunner and pioneer, Professor Farid Esack in this field. Prof Esack put forward a frame of thinking that imbibed Allah’s Mercy, Ragmah and enables the believer to live out Allah’s mercy and Ragmah in this worldly phase of our existence on earth.

The only approach to the Human Immuno Virus.

Sister Fatima Nordien has been a teacher for 17 years. She holds a Masters degree in Education
from University of Western Cape. She is a well known community activist. She is currently the
director of Positive Muslims.