Untitled Essay, Research Paper
By: The Institute of Islamic Information & Education
In the linguistic sense, the Arabic word “jihad” means struggling or striving
and applies to any effort exerted by anyone. In this sense a student struggles
and strives to get an education and pass course work; an employee strives
to fulfill his/her job and maintain good relations with his/her employer;
a politician strives to maintain or increase his popularity with his constituents
and so on. The term strive or struggle may be used for/by Muslims as well
non-Muslims; for example, Allah, One and Only True God says in the
Qur’an:
“We have enjoined on people kindness to parents; but if they strive
(jahadaka) to make you ascribe partners with Me that of which you have
no knowledge, then obey them not…” 29:8, also see 31:15.
In the above two verses of the Qur’an, it is non-Muslim parents who strive
(jahada) to convert their Muslim child back to their religion.
In the West, “jihad” is generally translated as “holy war”, a usage the media
has popularized. According to Islamic teachings, it is unholy to instigate
or start war; however, some wars are inevitable and justifiable. If we translate
the words “holy war” back into Arabic we find “harbun muqaddasatun”,
or for “the holy war”, “al-harbu al-muqaddasatu”. We challenge
any researcher or scholar to find the meaning of “jihad” as holy war in the
Qur’an or authentic Hadith collections or in early Islamic literature.
Unfortunately, some Muslim writers and translators of the Qur’an, the Hadith
and other Islamic literature translate the term “jihad” as “holy war”, due
to the influence of centuries-old Western propaganda. This could be a reflection
of the Christian use of the term “Holy War” to refer to the Crusades of a
thousand years ago. However, the Arabic words for “war” are “harb”
or “qital”, which are found in the Qur’an and Hadith.
For Muslims the term jihad is applied to all forms of striving
and has developed some special meanings over time. The sources of this
development are the Qur’an (the Word of God revealed to Prophet
Muhammad(S)) and the Hadith (teachings of Prophet
Muhammad(S) [(S) denotes Sall-Allahu 'alayhi wa
sallam meaning peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Qur'an
and the Hadith use the word "jihad" in several different contexts which are
given below:
1. Recognizing the Creator and loving Him most.
It is human nature to love what is seen with the eyes and felt with the senses
more than the UNSEEN REALITY. The Creator of the Universe and the One God
is Allah. He is the Unseen Reality which we tend to ignore and not recognize.
The Qur'an addresses those who claim to be believers:
"O you who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for protectors
if they love disbelief over belief; whoever of you takes them for protectors,
such are wrong-doers. Say: if your fathers, and your children, and your brethren,
and your spouses, and your tribe, and the wealth you have acquired, and business
for which you fear shrinkage, and houses you are pleased with are dearer
to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way: then
wait till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah does not guide disobedient
folk." 9:23,24
It is indeed a struggle to put Allah ahead of our loved ones, our wealth,
our worldly ambitions and our own lives. Especially for a non-Muslim who
embraces Islam, it may be a tough struggle due to the opposition of his family,
peers and society.
2. Resisting pressure of parents, peers and society:
Once a person has made up his mind to put the Creator of the Universe above
all else, he often comes under intense pressures. It is not easy to resist
such pressures and strive to maintain dedication and love of Allah
over all else. A person who has turned to Islam from another religion may
be subjected to pressures designed to turn him back to the religion of the
family. We read in the Qur'an:
"So obey not the rejecters of faith, but strive (jahidhum) against
them by it (the Qur'an) with a great endeavor." 25:52
3. Staying on the straight path steadfastly.
Allah says in the Qur'an:
"And strive (jahidu) for Allah with the endeavor
(jihadihi) which is His right. He has chosen you and has not laid
upon you in the deen (religion) any hardship ..." 22:78
"And whosoever strives (jahada), strives
(yujahidu) only for himself, for lo! Allah is altogether independent
of the universe." 29:6
As for those who strive and struggle to live as true Muslims whose lives
are made difficult due to persecution by their opponents, they are advised
to migrate to a more peaceful and tolerant land and continue with their struggle
in the cause of Allah. Allah says in the Qur'an:
"Lo! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wronged themselves,
(the angels) will ask: in what you were engaged? They will say: we were oppressed
in the land. (The angels) will say: was not Allah's earth spacious that you
could have migrated therein? ..." 4:97
"Lo! those who believe, and those who emigrate (to escape persecution) and
strive (jahadu) in the way of Allah, these have hope of Allah's
mercy ..." 2:218
Allah tests the believers in their faith and their steadfastness:
"Or did you think that you would enter Paradise while yet Allah knows not
those of you who really strive (jahadu), nor knows those (of
you) who are steadfast." 3:142
"And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss
of wealth and lives and fruits; but give glad tidings to the steadfast."
2:155
We find that the Prophet Muhammad(S) and his clan were boycotted
socially and economically for three years to force him to stop his message
and compromise with the pagans but he resisted and realized a moral victory.
4. Striving for righteous deeds:
Allah declares in the Qur'an:
"As for those who strive (jahadu) in Us (the cause of Allah),
We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good doers."
29:69
When we are faced with two competing interests, it becomes jihad to choose
the right one, as the following Hadith exemplify.
Aisha, wife of the Prophet(S) asked, "O Messenger of Allah, we
see jihad as the best of deeds, so shouldn't we join it?" He replied, "But,
the best of jihad is a perfect hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)." Sahih
Al-Bukhari #2784
At another occasion a man asked the Prophet Muhammad(S):
"Should I join the jihad?" He asked, "Do you have parents?" The man
said, "Yes!" The Prophet(S) said, "then strive by (serving)
them!" Sahih Al-Bukhari #5972
Yet another man asked the Messenger of Allah:
"What kind of jihad is better?" He replied, "A word of truth in front
of an oppressive ruler!" Sunan Al-Nasa'i #4209
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad(S) said:
"... the mujahid (one who carries out jihad) is he who
strives against himself for the sake of obeying Allah, and the
muhajir (one who emigrates) is he who abandons evil deeds and sin."
Sahih Ibn Hibban #4862
5. Having courage and steadfastness to convey the message of Islam:
The Qur'an narrates the experiences of a large number of Prophets and good
people who suffered a great deal trying to convey the message of Allah to
mankind. For examples see the Qur'an 26:1-190, 36:13-32. In
the Qur'an, Allah specifically praises those who strive to convey His message:
"Who is better in speech than one who calls (other people) to Allah, works
righteous, and declares that he is from the Muslims." 41:33
Under adverse conditions it takes great courage to remain a Muslim, declare
oneself to be a Muslim and call others to Islam. We read in the Qur'an:
"The (true) believers are only those who believe in Allah and his messenger
and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their selves
for the cause of Allah. Such are the truthful." 49:15
6. Defending Islam and the community
Allah declares in the Qur'an:
"To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to defend themselves),
because they are wronged - and verily, Allah is Most Powerful to give them
victory - (they are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance
of right - (for no cause) except that they say, 'Our Lord is Allah'.... "
22:39-40
The Qur'an permits fighting to defend the religion of Islam and the Muslims.
This permission includes fighting in self defense and for the protection
of family and property. The early Muslims fought many battles against their
enemies under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad(S) or his
representatives. For example, when the pagans of Quraysh brought armies against
Prophet Muhammad(S), the Muslims fought to defend their faith
and community. The Qur'an adds:
"Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do
not transgress limits. Lo! Allah loves not aggressors. ... And fight them
until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist,
then let there be no hostility except against transgressors." 2:190,193
7. Helping allied people who may not be Muslim:
In the late period of the Prophet Muhammad's(S) life the tribe
of Banu Khuza'ah became his ally. They were living near Makkah which was
under the rule of the pagan Quraysh, Prophet Muhammad's(S) own
tribe. The tribe of Banu Bakr, an ally of Quraysh, with the help of some
elements of Quraysh, attacked Banu Khuza'ah and inflicted heavy damage. Banu
Khuza'ah invoked the treaty and demanded Prophet Muhammad(S) to
come to their help and punish Quraysh. The Prophet Muhammad(S)
organized a campaign against Quraysh of Makkah which resulted in the conquest
of Makkah which occured without any battle.
8. Removing treacherous people from power:
Allah orders the Muslims in the Qur'an:
"If you fear treachery from any group, throw back (their treaty) to them,
(so as to be) on equal terms. Lo! Allah loves not the treacherous."
8:58
Prophet Muhammad(S) undertook a number of armed campaigns to remove
treacherous people from power and their lodgings. He had entered into pacts
with several tribes, however, some of them proved themselves treacherous.
Prophet Muhammad(S) launched armed campaigns against these tribes,
defeated and exiled them from Medina and its surroundings.
9. Defending through preemptive strikes
Indeed, it is difficult to mobilize people to fight when they see no invaders
in their territory; however, those who are charged with responsibility see
dangers ahead of time and must provide leadership. The Messenger of Allah,
Muhammad(S), had the responsibility to protect his people and
the religion he established in Arabia. Whenever he received intelligence
reports about enemies gathering near his borders he carried out preemptive
strikes, broke their power and dispersed them. Allah ordered Muslims in the
Qur'an:
"Fighting is prescribed upon you, and you dislike it. But it may happen that
you dislike a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that you love
a thing which is bad for you. And Allah knows and you know not." 2:216
10. Gaining freedom to inform, educate and convey the message of Islam in
an open and free environment
Allah declares in the Qur'an:
"They ask you (Muhammad) concerning fighting in the Sacred Month. Say, 'Fighting
therein is a grave (offense) but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent
access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred
Mosque, and drive out its inhabitants. Persecution is worse than killing.
Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith,
if they can. ..." 2:217
"And those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, (are not cowed
but) fight back." 42:39
To gain this freedom, Prophet Muhammad(S) said:
"Strive (jahidu) against the disbelievers with your hands and
tongues." Sahih Ibn Hibban #4708
The life of the Prophet Muhammad(S) was full of striving
to gain the freedom to inform and convey the message of Islam. During his
stay in Makkah he used non-violent methods and after the establishment of
his government in Madinah, by the permission of Allah, he used armed struggle
against his enemies whenever he found it inevitable.
11. Freeing people from tyranny
Allah admonishes Muslims in the Qur'an:
"And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being
weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? - Men, women, and children, whose
cry is: 'Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors;
and raise for us from You, one who will protect; and raise for us from You,
one who will help'." 4:75
The mission of the Prophet Muhammad(S) was to free people from
tyranny and exploitation by oppressive systems. Once free, individuals in
the society were then free to chose Islam or not. Prophet
Muhammad's(S) successors continued in his footsteps and went to
help oppressed people. For example, after the repeated call by the oppressed
people of Spain to the Muslims for help, Spain was liberated by Muslim forces
and the tyrant rulers removed. After the conquest of Syria and Iraq by the
Muslims, the Christian population of Hims reportedly said to the Muslims:
"We like your rule and justice far better than the state of oppression and
tyranny under which we have been living."
The defeated rulers of Syria were Roman Christians and Iraq was ruled by
Zoarastrian Persians.
What should Muslims do when they are victorious?
Muslims should remove tyranny, treachery, bigotry, and ignorance and replace
them with justice and equity. We should provide truthful knowledge and free
people from the bondage of associationism (shirk or multiple gods),
prejudice, superstition and mythology. Muslims remove immorality, fear, crime,
exploitation and replace them with divine morality, peace and education.
The Qur'an declares:
"Lo! Allah commands you that you restore deposits to their owners, and if
you judge between mankind that you judge justly. Lo! It is proper that Allah
admonishes you. Lo! Allah is ever Hearer, Seer." 4:58
"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah's witnesses to fair dealing,
and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart
from justice. Be just: that is next to Piety and fear Allah. And Allah is
well acquainted with all that you do." 5:8
"And of those whom We have created there is a nation who guides with the
Truth and establishes justice with it." 7:181
"Lo! Allah enjoins justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbids
lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorts you in order that you
may take heed." 16:90
"Those who, if We give them power in the land, establish prescribed prayers
(salah) and pay the poor-due (zakah) and enjoin right conduct
and forbid evil. And with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs."
22:41
Did Islam spread by force, swords or guns?
The unequivocal and emphatic answer is NO! The Qur'an declares:
"Let there be no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right
direction is distinctly clear from error." 2:256
Here is a good study of the question of the spread of Islam by a Christian
missionary, T.W. Arnold:
"... of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim
population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian
religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course
of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand
and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestantism penal
in France, or the Jews were kept out of England for 350 years. The Eastern
Churches in Asia were entirely cut off from communion with the rest of
Christiandom throughout which no one would have been found to lift a finger
on their behalf, as heretical communions. So that the very survival of these