Islam and Terrorism
21) What is "Jihad"?
While Islam is generally misunderstood in the West, perhaps no other Islamic term evokes such strong reactions as "jihad". The Arabic word "Jihad", which is most always mistranslated as "holy war", simply means "to struggle" or "to exert one's utmost effort". It is incorrect to imagine that jihad is synonymous only with fighting or war, for this is but one particular aspect of the term.13
Jihad is a struggle to do good and to remove injustice, oppression, and evil from oneself and from society. This struggle is spiritual, social, economic, and political. Indeed, the concept of jihad is one of life, and it is vast, not limited only to armed conflict. For example, one finds in the Qur'an mention of "jihad by means of the Qur'an14 ;
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ وَجَـٰهِدْهُم بِهِۦ جِهَادًۭا كَبِيرًۭا ٥٢
"meaning invitation to the truth, evidence, clarification, and presenting the best argument. There is also "jihad of the soul", which means striving to purify the soul, to increase its faith and incline it toward good while keeping it from evil and from unlawful desires and temptations. Then there is "jihad through wealth", which means spending it in various beneficial ways, including, The word for war in the Qur’an is “harb” or “qitaal”.
(Refer to 25:52)
charities and welfare projects. And there is "jihad through the self", which comprises all good works done by a believer, such as propagation, teaching, and finally, lawfully armed struggle against aggression and oppression. In the name of jihad, Islam calls for the protection of societies from oppression, foreign domination, and dictatorships that usurp rights and freedom, abolish just and moral rule, that prevent people from hearing the truth or following it, and that practice religious persecution. In the name of jihad, it endeavors to teach belief in Allah, the One supreme God, and worship of Him and to spread good values, virtue and morality through wise and proper methods. Allah has commanded:
ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ ١٢٥
"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best."
[16:125]
In the name of jihad, Islam calls for social reform and the elimination of ignorance, superstition, poverty, disease and racial discrimination. Among its main goals is the protection of rights for weaker members of society against the impositions of the powerful and influential. Islam prohibits injustice, even toward those who oppose the religion. Allah, the Exalted, says in the Qur'an:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ ٱعْدِلُوا۟ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ٨
"O people of faith, let all of you always be people who uphold justice for the sake of God, and explain the truth; and don't let your hatred of a certain people push you to not do justice. You should be fair (to anyone) because a fair attitude is closer to piety. And fear Allah, verily Allah knows deeply what you do.s."
[5:8]
And Allah told the believers regarding those who prevented their entry to the Sacred Mosque in Makkah:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُحِلُّوا۟ شَعَـٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا ٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَلَا ٱلْهَدْىَ وَلَا ٱلْقَلَـٰٓئِدَ وَلَآ ءَآمِّينَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًۭا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَٰنًۭا ۚ وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَٱصْطَادُوا۟ ۚ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا۟ ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ٢
"O you who believe, do not think that it is lawful to do as you please about the religious teachings of God, and about the honored months, and about the animals that were presented (to Makkah for sacrifice), and about the bats of gift animals. that, and about those who go to Baitullah Al-Haraam, who aim to seek bounties from their Lord (by way of business) and seek His pleasure (by performing Hajj in the Holy Land); and when you are finished from ihram then you can hunt. And never let your hatred towards a people because they once prevented you from the Al-Haraam mosque - encourage you to trespass. You should help each other in doing good deeds and piety, and you should not help each other in committing sin (disobedience) and aggression. And fear Allah, because indeed Allah is severe in punishment (for those who break His command).."
[5:2]
Enmity toward any people or nation should not provoke Muslims to commit aggression against them, oppress them, or disregard their rights. One of the highest levels of jihad is to stand up to a tyrant and speak a word of truth. Restraining the self from wrongdoing is also a great form of jihad. Another form of jihad is to take up arms in defense of Islam or a Muslim country when Islam is attacked, but this has to be declared by the religious leadership or by a Muslim head of state.
Although Jihad is a wider concept than war, it is also clear that Islam acknowledges war when it becomes the last option for the treatment of such problems as oppression and aggression and for the defense of certain freedoms and rights. When Islam acknowledges military engagement, it is as an integral part of a complete system of values inherent in the religion, behind which any equitable person can perceive the reason and logic.
War is permissible in Islam only when all peaceful means such as dialogue, negotiations, and treaties fail. War is a last resort and should be avoided as much as possible. The purpose of Jihad is not to convert people by force, or to colonize people to acquire land or wealth or for self-glory. Its purpose is basically the defense of life, property, land, honor, and freedom for oneself as well as the defense of others from injustice and oppression.
May Allah guide us all to the truth.
22 ‘Heroes, Hero-Worship and the Heroic in History’
- 99 -
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