Jihad

Jihad is an Islamic concept meaning "to exert utmost effort, to strive, struggle". The term has many meanings to the Muslim, both inward and outward; however, it is mainly used in the West to describe a "holy war" that fundamentalist Muslims fight against non-Muslims or Muslims of other Islamic sects. The word "Jihad" is a transliteration of the Arabic word "جهاد".

Jihad as "struggle" is divided into two types, the greater Jihad and the lesser Jihad. The greater Jihad is the internal struggle against sin and temptation and to make one's self a better Muslim. The lesser Jihad is the physical conflict against those who threaten the Muslim way of life. Many non-fundamentalist followers of Islam do not condone the use of jihad as a manner of securing converts.

Jihad in Islamic thought and practice possesses a range of meanings, with Muslim radicals and Islamofascist terrorists focusing on terroristic tactics via the physical, violent form of struggle to resist what they see as cultural, economic, military, and political assaults from outside the ummah (community of Muslims) and oppression and injustice within. Islamic scholar Abul Maududi, whose works were written in Urdu and translated into English, Arabic, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Burmese and many other languages, and was instrumental in the "Sharization" of Pakistan, wrote^[1]

[T]he truth is that Islam is not the name of a ‘Religion’, nor is ‘Muslim’ the title of a ‘Nation’. In reality Islam is a revolutionary ideology and programme which seeks to alter the social order of the whole world and rebuild it in conformity with its own tenets and ideals. ‘Muslim’ is the title of that International Revolutionary Party organized by Islam to carry into effect its revolutionary programme. And ‘Jihād’ refers to that revolutionary struggle and utmost exertion which the Islamic Party brings into play to achieve this objective.

A jihadi is a person, usually male, who participates in jihad. However, the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton and John Kerry State Departments referred to jihadis in the Syrian and Libyan Civil Wars as "rebel opposition."

Jihad in the Qur'an[edit]

Fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits. And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight with you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers. But if they desist, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Sura 2:190-192^[2]

Except those who reach a people between whom and you there is an alliance, or who come to you, their hearts shrinking from fighting you or fighting their own people; and if Allah had pleased, He would have given them power over you, so that they should have certainly fought you; therefore if they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not given you a way against them.

Sura 4:90^[3]

And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them; and whatever thing you will spend in Allah's way, it will be paid back to you fully and you shall not be dealt with unjustly. And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

Sura 8:60-61^[4]

O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).

Sura 9:123^[5]

Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them.

Sura 22:39^[6]

So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates. That (shall be so); and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have exacted what is due from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others; and (as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will by no means allow their deeds to perish.

Sura 47:4^[7]

Modern jihad[edit]

At the start of the Anti-Soviet jihad the Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia Sheikh 'Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Humaid published an essay on jihad.^[8] It was included in the Noble Quran—a modern, nine volume, English translation of the Quran with some commentary. Humaid writes that the call to jihad requires the support of the entire Muslim people. It involves the transformation of a religious community into a military machine.^[9] Jihadis in the field are supported by the zakat, or the charitable giving mandated under the 5 pilars to non-indigent Muslims with a positive net worth. Sheikh bin Humaid states:

"And you will not find any organization past or present, religious or non-religious...(ordering) the whole nation to march forth and mobilize all of them into active military service as a single row for Jihad in Allah's Cause so as to make superior the Word of Allah...as you will find in the Islamic Religion and its teachings".

In the 20th century, Muslims became Westernized, forgot Allah, and lived for material riches and pleasures. Muslims adopted a love of wealth and hatred of death. Only by re-discovering the true meaning and teachings of the Koran can the situation be reversed. By loving death more than the 'polytheists' (a codeword for believers in Christ) love life, can the situation be reversed.^[10] Only by dying in the service of Allah trying to kill Allah's enemies can the Muslim believer hope to atone for sin, seek reconciliation, or receive a reward.

Peace, prosperity, and culture so prized by the West has corrupted traditional Islam from within, posing a threat to its very existence.

A City of Virtue[edit]

It is quite true that, in the age of militant Islamic terrorism, it is not very helpful to tell millions of peaceful Muslims that their religion is inherently violent, evil, and oppressive.^[11] Moderate Muslims aspire for a society – a city of virtue—that will treat all people with dignity and respect.

Today, the relationship between Islam and the rest is getting increasingly worse. Muslim militants are sowing seeds of poison and hatred between Muslims and the rest of humanity by committing egregious acts of violence in the name of Islam. In this precarious environment, it is important that everyone finds and nurtures the many wonderful examples of moderate Muslims one can still find.^[12]

On January 9, 2010, a group of Canadian and U.S. Islamic leaders on Friday issued a fatwa, or religious edict, declaring that an attack by extremists on the two countries would constitute an attack on the 10 million Muslims living in North America.^[13]

Jihad as youth rebellion[edit]

Jihad is fundamentally youth rebellion that society elders seek to control by directing its unruliness and potential for violence away from the community and toward outsiders and non-Muslims in defense of the community. By contrast, Marxists and political correctness harness youth rebellion in destruction of the society and community it originated from.

Modern jihadis living in secularized Muslim Republics, or abroad in Western states, have adopted much Marxist revolutionary thinking, rhetoric, rational and techniques to destroy the existing structure of the societies they live in. In this they found allies in the Left as a so-called "oppressed minority" in the identity politics coalition.

Call it willful ignorance among atheists and liberals, or non-disclosure among followers of the Prophet Mohammad, when final victory of Marxism/Mohammadism is achieved, non-believers will be dispatched forthwith. Such is the rational thinking among the haters of Christ - modern leftists are willing to self-destruct in the effort to destroy the legacy of Christ and Christianity.

See also[edit]

• Jihadism

External links[edit]

• The Lord JESUS CHRIST versus Muhammad
• Jihad in Islam: Is Islam Peaceful or Militant? and An Initial Christian Response
• Moderate, peaceful Muslims — where is the evidence?
• Islam, Warlike or Peaceful?
• What makes a Muslim radical?

Further reading[edit]

• Firestone, Reuven. Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam (1999), by a Professor at Hebrew Union College online edition
• Knapp, Michael G. "The Concept and Practice of Jihad in Islam," Parameters. Volume: 33. Issue: 1. 2003. pp 82+. Published by U.S. Army War College; online edition
• online books and articles

References[edit]