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Subject: Understanding 'JIHAD'
Replies: 3 Views: 641
muslim1 7.02.12 - 06:18am
Understanding Jihad
By Farida Khanam
Date: 4 July 2000
http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/insights/insight20000704a.html
In its literal sense jihad in Arabic simply means struggle - striving to one's utmost to further a worthy cause. As we say in English, We must struggle against this prejudice.
There is a difference, however between the word, struggle and jihad. The word struggle does not connote the sense of reward or worship in the religious sense of the word. But when the word jihad became a part of Islamic terminology, the sense of reward or worship came to be associated with it, that is to say, if struggle is struggle in the simple sense of word, jihad means a struggle which is an act of worship, the engagement of which earns reward to the person concerned. As the Qur'n says: Strive for the cause of God as you ought to strive.(22:78)
It is a common human trait to work very hard in order to achieve some goal. There are words in every language including Arabic, to express this human quality. The word Jihad conveys this same sense of striving, that is, a great striving. *
muslim1 7.02.12 - 06:18am
Jihad in the Dictionary
The root of the word jihad is judh, which means striving one's utmost. For instance we say in Arabic bazala juhduhu (I exerted my utmost struggle). Jihad or ijtihad thus means, striving one's utmost in any matter.
The word Jihad in the Quran
The word Jihad or its derivative has appeared in the Quran for four times in the same literal sense, as we find in the Arabic dictionary. At each place it has been used in the sense of effort and strength and not in the sense of war and fighting.
The first verse in the Quran in this connection is: Say: 'If your father, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your tribes, the property you have acquired, the commerce in which you fear a decline, the homes in which you love, are dearer to you than God. His Apostle and the striving in his cause (Jihad fi sabilihii), then wait until God shall fulfill his decree. God does not guide the rebellious. (9:24)
In this verse of the Quran the Muslims are enjoined to extend their full support to the mission of the prophet, to the extent of making sacrifices. Here the phrase jihad fisabilil lah has appeared for helping the Prophet in his mission of dissemination of the message of Islam, and not for waging war.
Another verse of Quran says:
Do not listen to the unbelievers, but strive with them strenuously with it (the Quran) (22:52) *
muslim1 7.02.12 - 06:19am
The word jihad is again clearly used for the mission of the Prophet. No other sense can be implied by the word jihad in this context of doing jihad with the Quran.
The word jihad has appeared in the Quran for the third time in chapter titled Mumtahana .
If you have come out to strive in My Way and seek My Good pleasure. (60:1)
This verse was revealed shortly before the conquest of Mecca. The Prophet was preparing for the journey from Medina to Makkah. It was indeed a peaceful journey made for achieving peaceful results in the form of Hudaybiyah peace treaty. One incident makes it clear that it was a march of peace. For during this march one Muslim uttered these words aloud: Today is the day of fighting. The Prophet responded immediately, saying that No today is the day of mercy.
The fourth time the Quran has used this word in chapter 22:
And strive in his cause as you ought to strive. (22:78)
Here too jihad is used for struggle for the cause of God's religion.
The word Jihad has nowhere been used in the Quran to mean in the sense of war in the sense of launching an offensive. It is used rather to mean struggle. For fighting and war another word called qital is used. Qital is to engage in war at the time of aggression on the part of the enemies. The qital or war is purely in self-defence in accordance in accordance with God's commandment also involves a struggle this came to be called jihad as well. *
muslim1 7.02.12 - 06:23am
PLZ GO COMPLETE NEXT TOPIC (( The command of war in Islam )) *
