1ihad - struggle in the way of Allah

1ihad
Introduction
1ihad
The literal meaning oI Jihad is struggle or eIIort, and it means much more than holy war.
Muslims use the word Jihad to describe three diIIerent kinds oI struggle:
O believer's internal struggle to live out the Muslim Iaith as well as possible
O The struggle to build a good Muslim society
O oly war: the struggle to deIend Islam, with Iorce iI necessary
Many modern writers claim that the main meaning oI Jihad is the internal spiritual struggle, and
this is accepted by many Muslims.
owever there are so many reIerences to Jihad as a military struggle in Islamic writings that it is
incorrect to claim that the interpretation oI Jihad as holy war is wrong.
1ihad and the Prophet
The internal Jihad is the one that the Prophet (pbuh) is said to have called the greater Jihad.
But the quotation in which the Prophet says this is regarded as coming Irom an unreliable source
by some scholars. They regard the use oI Jihad to mean holy war as the more important.
%he internal 1ihad
earning the Qur'an by heart is considered engaging in Greater Jihad
The phrase internal Jihad or greater Jihad reIers to the eIIorts oI a believer to live their Muslim
Iaith as well as possible.
ll religious people want to live their lives in the way that will please their God.
So Muslims make a great eIIort to live as llah has instructed them; Iollowing the rules oI the
Iaith, being devoted to llah, doing everything they can to help other people.
For most people, living God's way is quite a struggle. God sets high standards, and believers
have to Iight with their own selIish desires to live up to them, no matter how much they love
God.
%he five Pillars of Islam as 1ihad
The Iive Pillars oI Islam Iorm an exercise oI Jihad in this sense, since a Muslim gets closer to
llah by perIorming them.
Other ways in which a Muslim engages in the 'greater Jihad' could include:
O earning the Qur'an by heart, or engage in other religious study.
O Overcoming things such as anger, greed, hatred, pride, or malice.
O Giving up smoking.
O leaning the Iloor oI the mosque.
O Taking part in Muslim community activities.
O orking Ior social justice.
O Forgiving someone who has hurt them.
%he Greater 1ihad controversy
The Prophet is said to have called the internal Jihad the "greater Jihad".
On his return Irom a battle, the Prophet said: "e are Iinished with the lesser jihad; now we are
starting the greater jihad." e explained to his Iollowers that Iighting against an outer enemy is
the lesser jihad and Iighting against one's selI is the greater jihad (holy war).
This quotation is regarded as unreliable by some scholars. They regard the use oI jihad as
meaning 'holy war' as the more important.
owever the quotation has been very inIluential among some Muslims, particularly SuIis.
Holy war
hen Muslims, or their Iaith or territory are under attack, Islam permits (some say directs) the
believer to wage military war to protect them.
owever Islamic (shariah) law sets very strict rules Ior the conduct oI such a war. In recent years
the most common meaning oI Jihad has been oly ar.nd there is a long tradition oI Jihad
being used to mean a military struggle to beneIit Islam.
the overwhelming majority oI classical theologians, jurists, and traditionalists |i.e. adith
experts| ... understood the obligation oI jihad in a military sense.
What can justify 1ihad?
There are a number oI reasons, but the Qur'an is clear that selI-deIence is always the underlying
cause.
O SelI-deIence
O Strengthening Islam
O Protecting the Ireedom oI Muslims to practise their Iaith
O Protecting Muslims against oppression, which could include overthrowing a tyrannical
ruler
O Punishing an enemy who breaks an oath
O Putting right a wrong

What a 1ihad is not
war is not a Jihad iI the intention is to:
O Force people to convert to Islam
O onquer other nations to colonise them
O Take territory Ior economic gain
O Settle disputes
O emonstrate a leader's power
lthough the Prophet engaged in military action on a number oI occasions, these were battles to
survive, rather than conquest, and took place at a time when Iighting between tribes was
common.
%he rules of 1ihad
In recent years the most common meaning oI Jihad has been oly ar military Jihad has to
obey very strict rules in order to be legitimate.
O The opponent must always have started the Iighting.
O It must not be Iought to gain territory.
O It must be launched by a religious leader.
O It must be Iought to bring about good - something that llah will approve oI.
O very other way oI solving the problem must be tried beIore resorting to war.
O Innocent people should not be killed.
O omen, children, or old people should not be killed or hurt.
O omen must not be raped.
O nemies must be treated with justice.
O ounded enemy soldiers must be treated in exactly the same way as one's own soldiers.
O The war must stop as soon as the enemy asks Ior peace.
O Property must not be damaged.
O Poisoning wells is Iorbidden. The modern analogy would be chemical or biological
warIare.
%he Qur'an on 1ihad
The Qur'an has many passages about Iighting. Some oI them advocate peace, while some are
very warlike. The Bible, the Jewish and hristian scripture, shows a similar variety oI attitudes
to war.
Fight in the way oI llah against those who Iight against you, but begin not hostilities. o! llah
loveth not aggressors.
To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to Iight), because they are wronged;-
and verily, llah is most powerIul Ior their aid.
ThereIore iI they withdraw Irom you but Iight you not, and (instead) send you (Guarantees oI)
peace, then llah ath opened no way Ior you (to war against them).
But iI the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in llah:
Ior e is One that heareth and knoweth (all things).