Clarifying the Term"JIHAD"

Clarifying the Term"JIHAD" as an Answer for the Pope's Speach Against ISLAM


Jihad is one of the most misunderstood, and abused aspects of Islam. There are some Muslims who exploit and misuse this concept for their own political objectives. There are many non-Muslims who misunderstand it. There are some non-Muslims who misinterpret it to discredit Islam and Muslims.

What is Jihad?
The word Jihad does not mean “Holy War”. It means “struggle” or “striving”. The word for war in the Qur’an is “Harb” or “Qital”. Jihad means serious and sincere struggle on the personal as well as on the social level. It is a struggle to do good and to remove injustice, oppression and evil from the society. This struggle should be spiritual as well as social, economic and political. Jihad is to work hard to do right things. In the Qur’an this word is used in its different forms 33 times. It often comes with other Qur’anic concepts such as faith, repentance, righteous deeds and migration.

Jihad is to protect one’s faith and one’s human rights. Jihad is not a war always although it can take the form of war. Islam is the religion of peace, but it does not mean that Islam accepts oppression. Islam teaches that one should do one’s utmost to eliminate tension and conflict. Islam promotes non-violent means to bring change and reform. Actually, Islam urges that one should eliminate evil through peaceful means without the use of force as much as possible. In Islamic history from the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) until now, Muslims most of the time resisted oppression and struggled for liberation in non-violent and peaceful manners.

Islam teaches proper ethics in the situation of war also. The war is permissible in Islam, but only when other peaceful means such as dialogue, negotiations and treaties fail. It is a last resort and should be avoided as much as possible. Its purpose is not to convert people by force, or to colonize people or to acquire land or wealth or for self-glory. Its purpose is basically: defense of life, property, land, honor and freedom for oneself as well as defense of others from injustice and oppression.

The basic rules of war in Islam are:

1. Be strong so that your enemy fear you and should not attack you.
2. Do not begin the hostilities. Work for peace as much as possible.
3. Fight only those who fight, no collective punishment; non-combatants should not be harmed. Weapons of mass destruction should not be used.
4. Stop hostilities as soon as the other party is inclined to peace.
5. Observe the treaties and agreements as long as the enemy observes them.

Allah says very clearly: (Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not do aggression, for Allah loves not the aggressors.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 190)

(The prohibited month, for the prohibited month, and so for all things prohibited, there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 194)

Jihad is not terrorism:

It is to be emphasized that terrorism against the innocent civilians, whether through aggression or suicidal means, is under no circumstances permissible in Islam. Islam encourages the oppressed people to struggle for their liberation and it commands other Muslims to help those who are oppressed and suffering, but Islam does not allow, under any circumstance, terrorism against non-combatants and innocent people. Terrorism is not Jihad, it is Fasad (mischief). It is against the teachings of Islam. There are some people who use their twisted arguments to justify terrorism for their causes, but it has no justification: Allah says: (When it is said to them: 'Make not mischief on the earth,' they say: 'Why, we only want to correct things.' Indeed they are the mischief doers, but they realize (it) not.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 11-12)

Islam wants to establish a world order where all human beings - Muslims and non-Muslims - can live with justice in peace, harmony and good will. It gives its followers full guidelines to find peace in their personal and social lives, but it also tells them how to extend the good will on the basis of human relations towards others. Muslims worked under these principles for centuries. People of many faiths lived with them and among them. Islamic societies were known for their tolerance, generosity and humanity.

In our modern society where we are living in a global village, where non-Muslims are living with Muslims in the Muslim countries and Muslims are living with non-Muslims in countries where non-Muslims constitute a majority, it is our duty to bring better understanding among ourselves, work for peace and justice for all people and cooperate with each other in matters of goodness and virtue in order to stop all terrorism, aggression and violence against the innocent people. This is our Jihad today

Thank you dear sister nour el huda for this article but i want to tell you that the picture reported by the media today about Jihad is wrong picture,I think you know what happened in Iraq and in Afghanistan and in Lebanon and in Chechnya, and in Albania, which is happening in Palestine today , All this to eliminate Islam and Muslims, and the remainder will come all this under the flag of the Cross and the Star of David !!!!!!!! God help us and save us all, He is the only one who can take revenge from the enemies of Islam and Muslims. Bye sister nour and jazaky Allah-o khair.
Your Brother in the Islam

May Allah bless and reward you dear sister nour

jzakom allah 5yran brother ahmed,yeah i'm aware that the media always report us no point too zero word jehad as "terrorism" and that's why I meant to Clarify that "JEHAD" means fighting the evil and it's not like a holy war or something...
and there was that words that was mentioned in the pope's speach,his own words was "Christians and Jews continued living peacefully with the Arab Moslims for all these centuries, in real tolerance and love.
"
and i felt like omg,did this pope ever saw the news?!!
and i wanted to remind him that:

*your great ancestor in the 11th century instigated the crusades to come all the way from Europe to the Holy Land, killing children, women, elderly who were besieged in Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem . The knee reaching blood of this massacre is not an act of tolerance and love....

*the greatest sin ever in the history of man was committed in the 20th century by the extra tolerant, loving British, French and others, in the creation of Israel, sending to exile, until this very day, the indigenous people of Palestine to live in intense in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and elsewhere until this very hour. Deir Yassine, Jenine and other massacres in Palestine have not instigated any feelings of sympathy in the loving and tolerant Europe ...

*the Arab Iraqis did not attack Europe or the White House in Washington , but 32 loving and tolerant nations destroyed the nation of Iraq ..

*this reminds us of a boxing game where spectators crave blood in the arena !!!!! Tolerant and loving America, Europe and Israel enjoyed extension of the war in Lebanon day after day and over 34 days spilling more and more blood to satisfy their love and tolerance...

so this tolerant loving pope for me seems to be living on mars..

anyhow jzakom allah kol 5yr again brother.
MORE may allah bless and protect you always dear brother,and guide us all to the right path..
allahom ameen

فَادْعُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ

So, call you (O Muhammad SAW and the believers) upon (or invoke) Allâh making (your) worship pure for Him (Alone) (by worshipping none but Him and by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allâh's sake only and not to show-off and not to set up rivals with Him in worship). However much the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allâh) may hate (it). (Ghafir 40:14)

Yes you're right, dear sister nuor el huda, and we hope from Allah that everything is going to be back on the right way and our right is only at Allah.Thank you again for your wonderful reaction and Jazaki Allah kol khair.