This is a post that many may not expect from me. I read something today where someone was talking about "horrible Muslims and their call for Jihad."
Jihād seems to be a very misunderstood word. It is a noun meaning "struggle."
Jihad appears frequently in the Qur'an and common usage as the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of Allah (al-jihad fi sabil Allah)"
"Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad) ".Sahih al-Bukhari 4:52:41
"O you who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for protectors if they love disbelief over belief; whoever of you takes them for protectors, such are wrong-doers. Say: if your fathers, and your children, and your brethren, and your spouses, and your tribe, and the wealth you have acquired, and business for which you fear shrinkage, and houses you are pleased with are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and
striving in His way: then wait till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah does not guide disobedient folk"
(Quran 9:23, 24).
Mahatma Gandhi's struggle for Indian independence is called a "jihad" in Modern Standard Arabic.
Granted, Jihad can mean violence, but it does not always mean violence.
"And
strive (Jadihu) for Allah with the endeavor (Jihadihi) which is His right. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you in the deen (religion) any hardship..."
(Quran, 22:78)
Jihad of the heart (jihad bil qalb/nafs) is concerned with combating the devil and in the attempt to escape his persuasion to evil. This type of Jihad is regarded as the greater jihad (al-jihad al-akbar).
Jihad by the tongue (jihad bil lisan) is concerned with speaking the truth and spreading the word of Islam with one's tongue.
Jihad by the hand (jihad bil yad) refers to choosing to do what is right and to combat injustice and what is wrong with action.
Jihad by the sword (jihad bis saif) refers to qital fi sabilillah (armed fighting in the way of God, or holy war), the most common usage by Salafi Muslims and offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood.
When faced with two competing interests, it becomes jihad to choose the right one.
"Aisha, wife of the Prophet asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, we see jihad as the best of deeds, so shouldn't we join it?' He replied, 'But the best of jihad is a perfect Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, No. 2784).
The Qur'an permits fighting to defend the religion of Islam and the Muslims. This permission includes fighting in self-defense and for the protection of family and property.
Islam never tolerates unprovoked aggression from its own side; Muslims are commanded in the Qur'an not to begin hostilities, embark on any act of aggression, violate the rights of others, or harm the innocent. Even hurting or destroying animals or trees is forbidden. War is waged only to defend the religious community against oppression and persecution, because the Qur'an says that "persecution is worse than slaughter" and "let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression" (Qur'an 2:190-193). Therefore, if non-Muslims are peaceful or indifferent to Islam, there is no justified reason to declare war on them.
The Qur'an also says, "Let there be no compulsion in religion" (2:256). Forcing someone at the point of a sword to choose death or Islam is an idea that is foreign to Islam in spirit and in historical practice.
I really hope this helps clear up the whole thing with Islam, war and Jihad.
Are there any questions? What do you know about jihad? What are some of your beliefs and misconceptions about it? How has this information helped develop your idea of jihad?
True 
Comments (108)
It actually sounds very similar to some concepts in Christianity.
"For we war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers..."
Paul uses a lot of martial language to refer to the life of a Christ-follower, but they are not necessarily referring to a physical struggle. And this, too, can be similarly misunderstood: I saw some people on one corner of the Interwebs getting very angry because they found a picture of children's "Armor of God" plastic armor.
I met a guy named Jihad once. Very nice man. Super gentle and an advocate for peace. He explained the meaning of Jihad and how it most often means "inner struggle" but it is mostly used as "struggle." It's a shame so many folks only hear it and think "Islamic holy war." There is a book on my shelf called My Jihad by Aukai Collins. I'm excited to read it. Looks very interesting.
We've all got a jihad or two.
GREAT post.
Great post!! Again,..you've given me much to think about!!
I have many Muslim friends from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and some from the middle east. I knew ambassadors from the the Maldives and and other places from the mid east because we lived in the same building in NYC. These people I know are wonderful people with no violence in their bones. Fanatics in Islam are no different than fanatics in any religion. They want to suppress the thoughts and values of other people. If a citizen of the U.S. really wants to go down the rabbit hole (alluding to Alice in Wonderland) you might not like what you see. We in the U.S. have done a lot to harm other people. Under Reagan the CIA bought hashish and opium from Afghans and sold the drugs on the streets of our country so that we could purchase weapons for Afghans without going through Congress. We launched Saddam Hussein into power. We even paid for his university education in the pact. John McCain had a jolly visit with Pinochet in support of the most brutal dictator of Peru. Then look at what Wall Street did to people. I know first hand as I worked for a Wall Street firm. Wake up people. There is an expression that says a lion is feared by every animal in the jungle but can be killed by a parasite in it's own body. We in the U.S. need to look at ourselves and ask, are we out to conquer or out to support and work with people.
The lands of the Middle East and North Africa were once Christian lands. In fact, they were Christian lands for centuries before they were conquered by the Muslim Jihad that swept out of Arabia.
The people of non-Muslim lands need to keep that in mind, for the Muslim Jihad is never ending.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - And before Chrsitianity "swept" across those areas, they were areas of local religions. The "Muslim Jihad" is no different than the missionaries that are out currently in the world. So, technically, it IS never ending.
I can already imagine the Anti-Islam comments that are going to flame up. Well done, Kristen, a double post up and a post worthy of a double post up!
@TheSutraDude@xanga - Wonderful wonderful comment. Blessings to you
@ChrisRusso@xanga - Yes,That is very similar.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - Let me know how it is once you have read it
@Stanelle@xanga - thank you
The probelm is here folks;
THE CONTEXT-- is of war and battle
The use of Jihad is with force, deceit and trickery
AND it is not voluntary conversion they seek but rather subjugated people type of conversion.
AND IT IS SAD that the Muslim faith does not have a searchable online Quran like the we have for the bible, I have read the Koran and understand the view of "god" it presents and what the struggle is against and for... it is against those who do not believe (good if they spoke the truth), and it is for a kingdom of Islam established by it's followers (Jesus does not rely on his follower to establish his kingdom).
YOU SAY:Islam never tolerates unprovoked aggression from its own side; Muslims are commanded in the Qur'an not to begin hostilities, embark on any act of aggression, violate the rights of others, or harm the innocent.
THE TRUTH IS: Solely being an unbeliever is considered an act of aggression, and therefore is not "unprovoked aggression" to attack an unbeliever even if they did not attack you.
@TheSutraDude@xanga - The problem of Jihad is not an issue of how a person practices their faith or even a general is it "what Muslims believe" but it is rather an issue of what the follower is told to do in it's holy book, whether all, a majority, most or some in a religion do not hold the view clearly stated in it's holy book does not mean that religion does not teach that view.
@Aaliyaan@xanga - And before Chrsitianity "swept" across those areas, they were areas of local religions.
That is just Muslim propaganda and has no basis in fact.
The lands of the Middle East and North Africa were Christianized for centuries before being conquered by Muslims.
The early Church Fathers were from North Africa and the Middle East. The Christian Church was highly organized in these areas. Byzantium became the capital of Eastern Christendom (Constantinople).
After enduring centuries of brutal Muslim assault Constantinople finally fell and was renamed Istanbul in 1453. It wasn't until modern times (the 20th century) that the Ottoman Turks were finally sent packing and areas like Greece were liberated from Muslim tyranny.
The brutal conquest of Christian lands by the Islamic Jihad is a matter of indisputable history.
@TheSutraDude@xanga - These people I know are wonderful people with no violence in their bones.
Try wise cracking Allah or his prophet Mohammed around your peaceful Islamic friends the way you denigrate Christian beliefs.
See what happens. Your peaceful, no violence in their bones friends will show a side of themselves that you choose to ignore.
This about the Muslim Imam who directed Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Muslim who tried to blow up 278 passengers in a Dutch airline:
The radical Yemeni-based cleric connected to two violent plots in the U.S. has "gone operational," a senior U.S. official told Fox News, suggesting Anwar al-Awlaki is becoming an increasingly significant figure in Arabian Peninsula terror networks.
The above quote was taken from: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/radical_imam_plans_are_operational_Q3DoJzTA5Z6wYbYNmHrEiN#ixzz0bHhdkrOD
'
There are no mainstream Catholic or Protestant preachers who call for the extermination of anyone. Yet Muslim clerics do on a regular basis direct other Muslims to commit mass murder.
What are we supposed to believe, the politically correct propaganda or our own lying eyes?
Certainly, good American Muslims who respect the freedoms and beneficial democratic values of this country are an asset to us. I believe in religious freedom. However, Muslims of a radical bent, who are enamoured with their terrorist brethren, should be closly watched and deported when they show any signs of being a threat to the peace and tranquility of this country.
@LoBornlytesThoughtPalace@xanga - oh you are talking about the most recent false flag attack to support your idea?
@Kristenmomof3@xanga - oh you are talking about the most recent false flag attack to support your idea?
If you don't like that one, how about Major Hasan, the Muslim radical who recently committed mass murder on a US army base? And there's always 9/11, the Cole, all the Islam-sponsored suicide bombings around the world.
There are just too many acts of Muslim terrorism to ignore the fact that it is Islam and Islamic clerics who sponsor such madness. Judaism and Christianity are not like Islam. There are no mainstream rabbi's, preachers or priests that advocate and support mass murder.
There are no Christian terror networks working out of the Vatican or Mars Hill.
Regarding the "false flag attack"...You cite as your source of truth a back bencher radio talk show host.
Go here, to a reputable source of news, The Wall Street Journal, for credible information on the Christmas attack. Actual news about this event is interesting and bone chilling.
There are still people who believe the Moon landings were staged and that the earth is flat. And there is probably at least one radio talk show host somewhere in the world who supports such things.
@LoBornlytesThoughtPalace@xanga -
dear, Byzantium was Greek in culture, not Middle Eastern.
"The brutal conquest of Christian lands by the Islamic Jihad is a matter of indisputable history."
Christians have been just as brutal.
@LoBornlytesThoughtPalace@xanga -
"There are no mainstream rabbi's, preachers or priests that advocate and support mass murder."
maybe not in this era, but there have been in the past.
@LoBornlytesThoughtPalace@xanga - So basically you're saying that before Christianity, there was nothing? That people believed in nothing? That's ridiculous. There were MANY local religions there and taht's not something "made up," it's history.
I honestly don't know what your problem is but how about you TRY and understand the Muslim population instead of spewing hate?
And don't talk about their being no Christian clerics or Jewish Rabbis that spew hatred towards other faiths, because there are, well maybe not in your hate-filled bubble but in the real world, there ARE.
@too_pretty_to_die@xanga - Dear, Byzantium was Greek in culture, not Middle Eastern.
I was referring to geography not culture.
Christians have been just as brutal.
The key is here is "have been". Muslims "still are" present tense.
maybe not in this era, but there have been in the past.
Again the key is the past tense. Muslims "still are" present tense.
@Aaliyaan@xanga - So basically you're saying that before Christianity, there was nothing? That people believed in nothing? That's ridiculous. There were MANY local religions there and taht's not something "made up," it's history
By the time the Islamic Jihad swept out of Arabia in the 7th century on its murderous rampage of conquest, the Middle East, Asia Minor and North Africa all had cultures firmly rooted in Christianity.
The Spaniard culture was so strong and obstinate that it fought Muslim tyranny for 770 years before forcing it back into Africa.
Saying these things is not hate. Islamic mass murder is hate. Here you are calling me a hater when real Islamic haters are committing actual mass murder on a regular basis.
Why don't you go after the actual haters and call them what they are? Why do you pick on someone who simply observes a cultural and religious pattern in the current and historic incidents of mass murder and conquest?
Actual haters?
May I mention the Crusades and the Inquisition? And those occurred AFTER Islam came about. Makes you wonder what happened before.
Christianity has a bloodier history than Islam. Acting prim and proper now doesn't deem any religion as a non-violent religion. All religions have heretics and they have psycho followers which breed hatred.
How about sitting with a practicing Muslim, live a day in their lives and THEN judge Islam.
@Aaliyaan@xanga - May I mention the Crusades and the Inquisition?
The Crusades were an effort to take back formerly Christian lands from their Islamic conquerors. And how long ago was that?
Islamic terror is still going today the same as it always has. While Christianity has changed Christians, while Islam continues to support a violent, on-going, never ending Jihad.
The Inquisition? You have got to be kidding! Such folly has long been driven out of the Church. The entire world wishes that it could be so with Islam.
But Islamist like you would rather lay guilt trips on Christians than address what's really going on in your own religion:
organized, clerically sanctioned mass murder.
@Aaliyaan@xanga - Christianity has a bloodier history than Islam.
I doubt that very much. Christianity began in the blood of the Lamb and was spread peacefully all over the Roman Empire.
Conversely, Islam began its march into civilized lands with the sword. And the violent sword of Islam continues cutting a bloody path even in the modern world of today.
@LoBornlytesThoughtPalace@xanga -
Islamists? Stop there. I'm a Muslim. If you can't say that, then just stop.
I didn't start this little debate, all I'm saying is that all religions have violence in them due to their extremists. Heck, I know a lot of practicing Christians that are fairly accepting and I've lived along side Christians that hate anyone that isn't Christian.
Christianity has not "changed" in their violence in any way. May I mention the Holocaust? Yes it was done in the name of Christianity and any sane human being condemns it, but the facts are there. The holocaust was done in the name of Christianity. I lost family members in that cruel period, so don't tell me that Christianity has changed.
I can keep pointing out violent sects in each religion of the world all day. The point is, instead of pointing fingers, get to know a practicing Muslim before you judge us.
My Jihad is to be a practicing Muslim so that people that bask in ignorance can know what Islam is REALLY about.
Until you can say you've lived a day in the life of a Muslim, you have no right to talk about Muslims as a whole.