INTRODUCTION: Indeed, jihad is one of the important topics to be discussed. This is because jihad has a high position in the life of Muslims in order to build and maintain strength. Without jihad, Muslims will be threatened, and even more alarming, if the Muslims have abandoned the duty of jihad from their agenda whether in terms of external, internal, thought and culture. Therefore, Muslims must prepare themselves for jihad. But as we see, jihad has been misinterpreted and consequently cause negative reaction that affect the integrity of Islam as divine religion. In a religious sense, as described by the Quran and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, jihad has many meanings. It can refer to internal as well as external efforts to be a …show more content…
At certain areas it overlaps with zakat and hajj. Al-Imam Al-Bukharinarrated a hadith from the Prophet SAW: “A person whose feet become dust ridden because of striving in the way of Allah will never be touched by the flames of Hell”
JIHAD BY THE SWORD: Jihad by the sword or jihad bissaif. In contrary to the jihad by the heart, this form of jihad is referred as “the lesser jihad” (al-jihad al-asghar). Sometimes, it is necessary to undertake jihad with weapon. This would include usage of weapons and engaging and struggling in a war to liberate the country from colonialism and also to defend the rights and not to create violence. There are only two situations were jihad by the sword is allowed to be undertaken:
1- For self-defence.
2- Fighting against evil and unjust.
There are many rules and limitations when engaging in a war under the title of jihad. For example, civilians are not to be harmed; trees are not to be cut down ; asylum should be granted to surrendering enemy soldiers; etc. Allah SWT said which means: “If one amongst the Pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge”
Prompt action through prosecution may be taken against anyone encouraging violence and jihad, through hate speech against different sects and the spread of jihadi or hate literature.
My definition or impression of the word “Jihad” before I watch these videos is a struggle, or a war, or a fight between someone.
Islam extremists believe in "jihad" which is interpreted by traditional clerics and Muslim scholars, the word speaks of spiritual struggle against sin. This can include fighting an attacker, but when it does, it has specific rules that bar indiscriminate killing. The word can also refer to the believer's internal striving for self-improvement. But within the dictionary of Islamic extremists, it has connoted acts of exceptional violence against governments that are deemed as non-Muslim or inadequately Islamic. This has led to include the launching of deliberate attacks against innocent civilians, essentially, terrorism. From the perspective of totalitarian ideologues, societies that reject the call for total revolutionary transformation are
Qutb was one of the most significant figures in the development of jihadi Salafi ideology. Qutb in true Salafi style, reanalysed the Qur’an to find new ideology. Qutb acknowledge that the contemporary jama’at (movement) would also encounter periods of weakness. Therefore he insisted that here was an immediate need for a new movement. Qutb also constantly stated that there was a need for new leadership. He claimed that the new leaders should engage in jihad (struggle) against jahiliyya, so that a true Islamic state can be established. His teachings of jihad and the need to use force if the survival of the Islam was under threat, is being used today out of his context of time by extreme “terrorist” groups. Members of these radical groups say are not afraid to die for their cause because Qutb gave them reason: “For a pious life is a life of struggle or jihad for Islam, and struggle means martyrdom”.
example, “The meaning of the Arabic word jihad is the struggle. It usually means a struggle of
In the United States, we have Americans that are waiting and wanting to destroy anything that has to do with our country and our western way of life, all in the name of “jihad” or holy war. Just in the past year and almost 10 years after September 11, 2001, there has been upsurge in jihadist recruitment and
Jihad – a dispute or war between followers of Islam faith and those who do not follow the Islam faith; a struggle within a Muslim between good and evil (Dictionary)
“Just as Jihad for its own sake risks dragging the world into the infernos of apocalypse, universal jihad- the struggle of all against all- assumes its place in the world-ending cycle of fitna, that age of strife and tribulation that Muhammad had prophesized for his community.” This quote by Filiu is the definition of what he believes is the purpose of the global jihad and it is through this quote we are able to look at the links between apoclypticism and global
One can scarcely turn on the television, or the radio, or open up a web browser without the mention of Islamic terrorism or unrest around the world. Though the United States and the rest of the world may not be engaged in a protracted religious war, for radical Muslim fundamentalist they are. Bernard Lewis brings to light possible reasons for the issues facing the world dealing with Islamic terrorism. The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror explains these issues in historical context as well as how some of the actions professed in the name of Islam and claim to
Verses 2:190-194 and 216-218 of the Quran reflect what Muslims believe constitutes a just war. A part of verse 191 says, “And kill them wherever you overtake them, and expel them from where they had expelled you.” The Quran even supports a just war in sacred places and sacred times of the year. Another part of verse 191 says, “But do not fight them at the Sacred Mosque, unless they fight you there.” The first part of verse 194 mentions fighting during a sacred time when, “The sacred month for the sacred month; and sacrilege calls for retaliation.” It also addresses how it is a necessity for a Muslim to fight if there is persecution by verse 216 saying, “Fighting is ordained for you, even though you dislike it.” The rest of verse 216 says that the person who finds fighting unappealing must still fight. These people who do not like fighting do not know what is best for themselves, but God does according to verse 216.
Yet even with thousands of innocent civilians killed on American soil by Islamic terrorists, the full significance of the Muslim concept of jihad has not been grasped by the American public.
The concept of Jihad was not widely known in the western world before the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Since then, the word has been woven into what our media and government feed us along with notions of Terrorism, Suicide Bombings, Hamas, Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, and now, Jihad. Our society hears exhortations resounding from the Middle East calling the people to rise up in Jihad and beat back the imperialist Americans. Yet, if we try to peel back all of these complex layers of information we can we attempt to find out what Jihad really means. Webster’s Dictionary defines Jihad as “a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty or a crusade for a principle or belief” (1). Often, media depicts
Associating Islam with violence is a false impression that the Western public has long cultivated about this religion. An example of this misconception is that Islam is a religion spread by the sword, meaning that Muslims went from one end of the world to the other, conquering nations and forcing the inhabitants to either convert or die. The truth is that Islam spread through the expansion of the Ottoman empire, not that people were forced to convert or die. A modern day example of the Islam=violence misconception is Saddam Hussein. Although Hussein is of the Islamic faith, not all of his actions necessarily represent Islamic beliefs.
There are many interpretations of the word Jihad, but the most common literal translation from Arabic to English is "struggle." Many interpret the idea of a Jihad as a holy war. While holy war may be part of the struggle of Muslims, it is not the entirety of Jihad. In its primary sense, Jihad is an internal struggle to rid oneself of debased actions or inclinations and devote
Jihad as a political word was first recorded during the struggle of the Meccan establishment by Prophet Mohammed. The early movement of Muslims, first under their Prophet and later his passing, advanced both religion and political dynamics. In addition to the five tenets of faith, the organizations of the community were centered on structure, movements, decision-making systems and political agendas. The five pillars of the faith are: witness, prayer, pilgrimage, alms, fasting. Jihad main interest is the global jihad and they were looking for pure jihad. They have continued to dominate the scene in South Asia and the Middle East, their influence has reduced in the western diaspora.