Jihād and Peacebuilding

Alim Mohammad Taib Pangca

Researcher & Translator III, BDI-BARMM
 Understanding Jihād

1. What is Jihād? What is the concept of Jihād?

2. Why was Jihād prescribed and legitimized in Islam?
3. What are the conditions for performing Jihād?

4. Importance of peace in Islam, why and how?

1. What is Jihād? What is the
Concept of Jihād?
 What is Jihād? The Concept of Jihād:

Root word
Verbal noun
‫ال ُجهْد‬ means effort and
al-juhd w/ U ability
‫َجاهد‬
Jāhada
‫ال َجهْد‬ to bear hardship at
‫يُجا ِهد‬ al-jahd w/ A the utmost level
Yujāhido
JIHAD | ‫اد‬.‫ه‬.‫ج‬
‫ِجهادا‬
Jihādan
MUSHĀRAKAH partnership of two
‫مجاهدة‬ sides: one's self
Mujāhadatan Conclusion: So, Jihād literally is not and his inner
synonymous with violence or holy war. enemy to denote
It simply means making a great effort or continued
striving hard for a particular purpose, peaceful struggle.
which is common for all human beings.
 What is Jihād? The Concept of Jihād:

The term "Jihād" in the prevailing

terminology: "Is to fight the enemy
(infidels and polytheists) in defense
of the religion and homeland".
Here, we will give this term more
explanation and clarification.

The word "Jihād" and its

derivatives have been mentioned
in the Holy Qur'an 33 times, and
its semantic concept gradated
chronologically to include the
following five meanings:
 What is Jihād? The Concept of Jihād:

1. Straightness with Integrity and commitment, "Self Jihād" against

one's own self. It is to adhere to the religion while overcoming all
obstacles that hinder the way of choice for this religion, as Allāh said:

It means: "Whoever strives, he strives only for himself. Allāh is Independent of

the Ԑālamīn (mankind, jinns, and all that exists)" [al-Ankabut 6].
 What is Jihād? The Concept of Jihād:

2. To make a great effort in the cause of Islamic call under the

evidence and proof, so that the massage of Allah could be
understood by his servants, as Allāh said:

It means: "So do not obey the unbelievers and struggle by means of

this [Qur’an, to convey its message to them] a great Jihād/ struggle"
[al-Furqan: 52]. And He said:

It means: "And strive for Allah, with the striving due to Him. He has chosen
you, and has not made in the religion any difficulty for you…" [al-Hajj 78].
 What is Jihād? The Concept of Jihād:

3. To exert an effort to remove a person from his religion to

another, as in the verse where Allāh said:

.‫ من سورة لقمان‬15 ‫وقال نفس المعنى في اآلية‬

It means: "We have advised the human being to be good to his
parents. But if they urge you to associate with Me something you
have no knowledge of, do not obey them. To Me is your return; and I
will inform you of what you used to do” And He said the same
meaning in the verse 15 of Luqman. This meaning in terms of use is
synonymous with the second meaning, but the semantic meaning is
exactly the opposite.
 What is Jihād? The Concept of Jihād:

4. The steadfastness, sincerity, patience … Allāh said:

]31 :‫ين َونَ ْبلُ َو َأ ْخبَا َر ُك ْم﴾ [محمد‬ َ ‫﴿ َولَنَ ْبلُ َونَّ ُك ْم َحتَّى نَ ْعلَ َم ا ْل ُم َجا ِه ِد‬
َّ ‫ين ِم ْن ُك ْم َوال‬
َ ‫صابِ ِر‬

It means: "We will certainly test you, until we know those among
you who strive, and those who are steadfast, and we will test your
reactions". And He said:

‫ين﴾ [آل‬ َ ‫س ْبتُ ْم َأنْ تَد ُْخلُوا ا ْل َجنَّةَ َولَ َّما يَ ْعلَ ِم هَّللا ُ الَّ ِذ‬
َّ ‫ين َجا َه ُدوا ِم ْن ُك ْم َويَ ْعلَ َم ال‬
َ ‫صا ِب ِر‬ ِ ‫﴿َأ ْم َح‬
]142 :‫عمران‬
It means: "Or do you expect to enter Paradise, before Allāh has
distinguished those among you who strived, and before He has
distinguished the patient from among you?
 What is Jihād? The Concept of Jihād:

5. To make the utmost effort in fighting the aggressors …where Allāh

said:

‫ هَّللا ِ َوهَّللا ُ َغفُو ٌر‬.‫ت‬ َ ‫ يَ ْر ُج‬.‫يل هَّللا ِ ُأولَِئ َك‬

َ ‫ َر ْح َم‬.‫ون‬ ِ ِ‫ب‬.‫س‬
َ ‫ي‬.ِ‫اج ُروا َو َجا َه ُدوا ف‬ َ ‫ آ َمنُوا َوالَّ ِذ‬.‫ين‬
َ ‫ َه‬.‫ين‬ َ ‫ الَّ ِذ‬.َّ‫﴿ِإن‬
]218 :‫َر ِحيم﴾ [البقرة‬
It means: "Those who believed, and those who migrated and
struggled/fought for the sake of Allāh - those look forward to Allah’s
mercy. Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful" And Allāh said:

‫يل‬
ِ ِ‫ب‬.‫س‬ ِ ُ‫ َوَأ ْنف‬.‫ يَ ْرتَابُوا َو َجا َه ُدوا بَِأ ْم َوالِ ِه ْم‬.‫ لَ ْم‬.‫ولِ ِه ثُ َّم‬.‫س‬
َ ‫ي‬.ِ‫ ِه ْم ف‬.‫س‬ ُ ‫ آ َمنُوا بِاهَّلل ِ َو َر‬.‫ الَّ ِذي َن‬.‫ا ا ْل ُمْؤ ِمنُو َن‬.‫﴿ِإنَّ َم‬
]15 :‫ون﴾ [الحجرات‬ َ ُ‫صا ِدق‬ َّ ‫هَّللا ِ ُأولَِئكَ ُه ُم ال‬
It means: "The believers are those who believe in Allāh and His
Messenger, and then have not doubted, and strive for Allah’s cause
with their wealth and their persons. These are the sincere"
 What is Jihād? The Concept of Jihād:

Meaning of Jihad

1. Self-struggle: straightness, commitment and endurance

(the Greatest Jihād). It has four ranks: Learning, Practice,
Teaching & Propagation and bearing hardship.

2. Da’wah struggle: exerting a great effort for the Islamic

call (The Great Jihād)

3. Defense struggle: making the utmost effort in fighting

the aggressors and those who practice “Fitnah” sedition
act against the Islamic call (The Small/Specific Jihād).
 What is Jihād? The Concept of Jihād:

This meaning of Jihād "fighting or military engagement, is not inherent or

permanent meaning of Jihād, but it is according to the circumstances in
which Muslims are forced to fight in the battle; it is the last option. But the
real meaning of the Jihād is the first and second which are respectively the
"Jihād an-Nafs" the greatest Jihād against one's self as in the Hadith, and
"Jihād ad-Da'wah" the great Jihād for propagating Islam as in the Qur-an.

If we look at these meanings used by the Holy Qur'an for Jihād with a
scientific view of its original linguistic meaning, we can derive from all of it
a precise scientific definition of Jihād. Therefore, we say the Jihād is:

"Exerting of a Muslim his utmost effort and capacity in what the

religion of Allāh requires, such as learning, straightness,
commitment, calling to its path, and defending it against
aggressors and those who blocked its way by his knowledge,
effort, words and his wealth and self"
 What is Jihād? The Concept of Jihād:

The mistake in this concept is as follows:

a) The term “Jihad” is used in defense struggle only, then

subsequently became synonymous with violence or holy war.
While the greatest Jihad (self-struggle) and great Jihad (Da’wah
struggle) is abandoned/deserted by people and media.

b) The meaning of enemy is all non-Muslim, because of the term

‘Kuffar’ infidels. While the real enemy are: One’s self sahwah,
Satan and aggressors/oppressors.

c) Jihād is used in what is not required by the religion of Allah, but

rather corrupts it, destroys and distorts its image, such as the
extremism and terrorism.
2. Why was Jihād prescribed and
legitimized in Islam?
 Why was Jihād prescribed and legitimized in Islam?

The legitimacy of Jihād in Islam is concentrated

on the following reasons:

 First: Self-defense
 Second: is to eradicate the "Fitnah"
 Third: Support to the oppressed and
persecuted Muslims
 Why was Jihād prescribed and legitimized in Islam?

 First: Self-defense
The Almighty says: "Permission is given to those who are
fought against, and Allāh is Able to give them victory. Those
who were unjustly evicted from their homes, merely for
saying, “Our Lord is Allah” Were it not that Allāh repels
people by means of others: monasteries, churches,
synagogues, and mosques - where the name of Allāh is
mentioned much - would have been demolished. Allāh
supports whoever supports Him. Allāh is Strong and Mighty."
 Why was Jihād prescribed and legitimized in Islam?

 Second: is to eradicate the "Fitnah"

Allāh says: "And fight them until there is no sedition/oppression,
and religion/worship becomes devoted to Allāh alone. But if
they cease, then let there be no hostility except against the
oppressors". [2/193]. And Allāh said: "Sedition/oppression is
more serious than killing/murder" [2/191]. The majority of
commentators and interpreters say that what is meant by
"Fitnah" sedition is shirk "polytheism" to worship other god
with Allah, because it represents the nodal system, which is an
obstacle to the Islamic call on the one hand, and an obstacle to
the freedom of people to choose this religion on the other
hand. This is what we may call as "religious terrorism" and there
are "Ulama" scholars who call it the "Sweeping Shirk"
Third: Support to the oppressed and persecuted Muslims

One of the reasons for the legitimacy of Jihād for the sake of Allāh
is to save the oppressed and persecuted Muslims wherever they
are, from oppression and persecution. This is what is required by
the rights of Islimic brotherhood and the spirit of cooperation on
righteousness and piety. Allāh says: "And why would you not
fight in the cause of Allah, and the helpless men, and women, and
children, cry out, “Our Lord, deliver us from this town whose
people are oppressive, and appoint for us from Your Presence a
Protector, and appoint for us from Your Presence a Victor" [4/74]
And He says: "But if they ask you for help in religion, you must
come to their aid, except against a people with whom you have a
treaty. Allāh is Seeing of what you do" [8/92].
 What are the conditions for performing Jihād?

 3. What are the conditions for performing Jihād? The

Conditions of performing Jihād for the sake of Allah

1. Good and pure intention, that is to say that Jihād is motivated by

faith in Allah, because one of the motives and reasons for fighting
has been found, not motivated by hatred, revenge or personal
reaction.

2. The Jihād should be behind the one imam "Leader", and under his
banner and permission, it is not permissible for Muslims to fight while
they are dispersed, and disunited under one command, the Almighty
said: "O you who believe! Obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and
those in authority among you" [4/92].
 What are the conditions for performing Jihād?

3. Preparing adequate equipment, and providing the necessary

capabilities of the weapon, equipment, men trained and able to
fight, with the utmost effort and capacity in that case.

4. To present Islamic call to non-Muslims before any military

engagement; because the Almighty does not torture people
before sending them a messenger to invite them to his religion;
so that they do not have the suspicion of an excuse to make
them say as Allāh mentioned: “Our Lord, if only You had sent us a
messenger, we would have followed Your revelations before we
were humiliated and disgraced.” 20/134.
 What are the conditions for performing Jihād?

5. There is a reason accrued from among the three reasons of

Jihād for the legitimacy of the fighting, which has already been
discussed in details.

6. The Mujahideen have raised an Islamic education, committed to

the self-struggle and the principles and ethics of Islam,
characterized by the qualities of the Mujahideen, as the Almighty
stated in his holy book, He says: "Whoever strives, he strives only
for himself. Allāh is Independent of the beings." [29/6].
 What are the conditions for performing Jihād?

Why did the terrorist ideology come from Muslims who are claiming
that their terrorist activities are justified by the Qur-an and Hadith of
the Prophet PBUH? Some of their evidences are as follows:

1. It was narrated that Ibn 'Omar (may Allāh be pleased with him)
said that the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be
upon him) said: "I have been commanded to fight against the people
till they testify that there is no god but Allāh and that Muhammad is
His slave and Messenger, and they establish prayer and pay "Zakat"
alms. If they do that, they have protected their blood and property
except by the rights of Islam, and their accountability is left to Allah"
[Bukhari and Muslim] 
 What are the conditions for performing Jihād?

Why the terrorist ideology came from Muslims who are claiming
that their terrorist activities are justified by the Qur-an and Hadith
of the Prophet PBUH? Some of their evidences are as follows:

2. Allah said in the Qur-an: "When the sacred Months have

passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them. And capture
them, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every
ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayers, and pay the
alms, then let them go their way. Allāh is Most Forgiving, Most
Merciful." (9/5)
 What are the conditions for performing Jihād?

The answer for their allegation is as follows:

1. It is not true that the mentioned Hadith of the Prophet is for their
side, because they interpreted the word (people) in its literary
meaning (all Non-Muslim people), and that is the big error of them,
which if it is true, then the Islam is obviously terrorist religion. The
correct meaning of the word "people" is as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, the
authorized person to explain the all Hadiths through Imam al-
Bukhari, interpreted the word "people" saying that it means:
"Mushrikil-Arab" Arab polytheists who were not part of people of
the book, because Imam Nassai, also Hadith Interpeter, narrated the
same Hadith as "… that I fight mushrikin..." not "people". It means
specific people, not the Non-Muslim people.
 What are the conditions for performing Jihād?

2. The word ‘people’ in the Qur’an is not always used in its general meaning, like
the verse says: “Proclaim to the people the Hajj (pilgrimage), they will come to
you…” [22/27] Not all people are obliged to do Hajj. And He said: “He (Jesus) will
speak to the people in the cradle” [3/47] Not all people but those who were
around him.

3. The mentioned Hadith is explanation of the Prophet to the mentioned verse

of the Qur-an [9/5]. Why? Because it is very clear that the three exemptions in the
verse are the same exemptions in the Hadith. The question is who are the
polytheists in the verse? The Qur-an answers this, Allah says in the beginning of
the surah at-Tawbah: "A declaration of immunity (being free from any
responsibility) from Allah and His Messenger to those with whom you had made
a treaty from among the polytheists". It means not all polytheists, but some of
them, they are those with whom the Prophet made a treaty of Hudaybia 6thH,
then they violated it. Because Bani Bakr of Quraish killed many people from Bani
Khuzāԑah who were part of the Muslims side.
 What are the conditions for performing Jihād?

Why did the Almighty Allah order the Prophet and his companions to
kill those polytheists after the sacred month wherever they find them?

Because of the following reasons as the same Surah in the Qur-an stated:

1. They did not respect the kinship with the Prophet and his
companions.
2. They did not respect the treaty with the Prophet and his
companions.
3. They violated their oaths and their treaty.
4. They planned and tried to kill and exile the Prophet [PBUH].
5. They initiated and did continuously all kinds of hostilities against
the Prophet and his companions, so they were the aggressors
and transgressors.
 PEACE IN ISLAM
 Islam glorifies peace and engrains it in man's relation with his
Creator, in his relation with his own self and in his relation
with the community. Even in the relation of the society with
the other societies and the relation of individuals with the
state and the relation of the state with the other states,
Islam establishes the principles of Peace as the guiding
option and priority.

 After those steps, Islam goes on to achieve its final goal: to

establish peace throughout the world.
‫ي‬P‫ة ف‬P‫ ادخلوا كاف‬:‫ أي‬.]208 :‫﴾ [البقرة‬Pً‫ ْل ِم َكافَّة‬P‫ي ال ِّس‬Pِ‫ آ َمنُوا ا ْد ُخلُوا ف‬P‫ا الَّ ِذي َن‬Pَ‫ ﴿يَاَأيُّه‬:‫ى‬P‫قال تعال‬
ّ ‫الم‬P‫ي الس‬P‫ وه‬،‫المة‬P‫لم والمس‬P‫ة الس‬P‫ى االنقياد وحال‬P‫الم بمعن‬P‫و اإلس‬P‫ ْلم الذي ه‬P‫الس‬
‫ فرد‬P‫لكل‬ ِّ
ّ ،‫ه أح ٌد‬P‫ن أن يؤذي أحدا وأن يؤذي‬P‫ه ال يمك‬P‫ل في‬P‫داخ‬
‫ بإتيان‬P‫ة هللا‬P‫ى طاع‬P‫ االنقياد إل‬P‫ألن‬
‫الما‬P‫لم مس‬P‫ك يكون المس‬P‫ة؛ لذل‬P‫الم والطمأني‬P‫ى الس‬P‫ه ال يؤدي إال إل‬P‫أوامره واجتناب نواهي‬
ُ
.‫الم‬PPPP‫الس‬PPPP‫دين‬ ّ ‫ا‬PPPP‫ن هن‬PPPP‫م م‬PPPP‫ ونفه‬،‫الم‬PPPP‫ا للس‬PPPP‫ا منبع‬PPPP‫مطمئن‬
‫و‬PPPP‫الم ه‬PPPP‫اإلس‬PPPP‫أن‬
‫ (المسلم من المسلمون من لسانه ويده) متفق عليه‬:‫قال النبي صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬

Allah, the Most High said: "O you who believed! Enter perfectly into peace." [Al
Baqarah 208]. That means: Enter into Peace completely, which is Islam, by
submission and having peaceful relations with everyone in the society, not
causing harm to anyone and not being harmed by anyone. That is because when
everybody submits to Allah by fulfilling His commands and avoiding His
prohibitions, there is no other result except peace and tranquility. Hence, a
Muslim becomes tranquil, peaceful and source [or builder] of peace. From here,
we understand why Islam is the religion of peace.
The Prophet (PBUH) said, "A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands
the Muslims are safe…” [Bukhari & Muslim]
 Peacebuilding :P‫لسالم‬PP‫ناء ا‬PPP‫ب‬
‫ تبدأ‬،‫ة‬P‫ف بطرق مختلف‬P‫م والعن‬P‫باب الظل‬P‫ل أس‬P‫ى ح‬P‫ة تهدف إل‬P‫الم نشاط وعملي‬P‫ بناء الس‬
‫ي‬PP‫ه ف‬PP‫م بأنواع‬PP‫ة الظل‬PP‫ى محارب‬PP‫م الجهاد عل‬PP‫ ث‬،‫توى الفردي‬PP‫ى المس‬PP‫س عل‬PP‫بجهاد النف‬
‫ة الحقوق‬PP‫اواة وتأدي‬PP‫ة والمس‬PP‫ي العدل والحري‬PP‫الم وه‬PP‫اء مبادئ الس‬PP‫ع بإرس‬PP‫المجتم‬
‫ل‬P‫ بإيجاد الح‬،‫راع‬P‫ة إدارة الص‬P‫ل هذه العملي‬P‫ وتشم‬.‫بيق مبدإ الشورى‬P‫والواجبات وتط‬
.‫عن طريق الحوار والمصالحة بعد الصراع أو خالله‬
Peace-building is an activity and process aims at resolving the causes of
injustice and violence in different ways, starting with self-jihad at the
individual level, and then jihad to fight injustice of all kinds in society by
establishing the principles of peace, namely justice, freedom, equality,
performance of rights and duties, and the application of the Shura
principle CONSULTATION. This process involves managing conflict, by
finding a solution through dialogue and reconciliation during conflict or
after it.
 Peace lies in justice‫دل‬P‫لع‬PP‫يا‬PPP‫كمنف‬PP‫ ي‬P‫لسالم‬PP‫ا‬:
Pِ ‫ ُك ْم َأ ِو ْال َوالِ َديْن‬P ‫ى َأ ْنفُ ِس‬PPَ‫ هَّلِل ِ َولَ ْو َعل‬P ‫اء‬
َ ‫ ِط ُشهَ َد‬P ‫بِ ْالقِ ْس‬P ‫ين‬ َ ‫ا الَّ ِذ‬PPَ‫ (يَاَأ ُّيه‬:‫ى‬PP‫ فال تعال‬
َ ‫آ َمنُوا ُكونُوا قَ َّوا ِم‬P ‫ين‬
‫ا‬P‫ ( َو َم‬:‫] وقال‬135 :‫اء‬P‫ تَ ْع ِدلُوا) [النس‬P‫ا فَاَل تَتَّبِعُوا ْالهَ َوى َأ ْن‬P‫ى بِ ِه َم‬Pَ‫ا َأ ْو فَقِيرًا فَاهَّلل ُ َأ ْول‬Pًّ‫ َغنِي‬P‫ يَ ُك ْن‬P‫ ِإ ْن‬P‫َواَأْل ْق َر ِبي َن‬
]59 :‫[القصص‬ َ ‫ُكنَّا ُم ْهلِ ِكي ْالقُ َرى ِإاَّل َوَأ ْهلُهَا ظَالِ ُم‬
)‫ون‬
‫ والحكومة‬،‫ الحكومة العادلة هي التي تؤسّس السالم وإن كانت كافرة‬:‫ خالصة أقوال العلماء‬
‫ ولكن السالم من الحكومة اإلسالمية العادلة أفضل‬،‫الظالمة ال تؤسس السالم وإن كانت إسالمية‬
.‫وأشمل وأبقى‬

 “O you who believed! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even
though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor,
Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your
hearts), lest you may avoid justice”, And He said: “And never would We
destroy the towns unless the people thereof are oppressors/unjust”
 Summary of scholars’ sayings: It is the just government that establishes peace, even if
it is infidel, and the unjust government does not establish peace, even if it is an
Islamic one. But peace from a just Islamic government is better, more comprehensive,
and more lasting.
 Now, we understand the true Jihād in Islam, and we
realize the fairness and justice of Islam. We realize also
that Islam is far away from what is now called terrorism
and its people. So, Islam is religion of justice and peace.

SHUKRAN
Wassalāmo Alaikom wa rahmatullāhi
wa barakātuh