The Meaning of Jihad

"Jihad" in Arabic
The Arabic word "jihad" is a noun. Its singular past tense verb is "jahada" (masculine) or "jahadat" (feminine). The singular active participle of "jihad" is "mujahid" (masculine) or "mujahida"(feminine). The root of the word "jihad" is "juhd" which means "effort." Another related word is "ijtihad"which means "working hard or diligently."

Jihad is simply[b] the process of "exerting the best efforts," involving some form of "struggle" and "resistance," to achieve a particular goal.[/b] In other words, jihad is the struggle against, or resistance to, something for the sake of a goal. The meaning of the word is independent of the nature of the invested efforts or the sought goal.


Contrary to common belief, the word[b] "jihad" does not necessarily imply any violent effort[/b], let alone "war" and such instances of extreme violence. It is a general term that can mean violent as well as peaceful actions, depending on the context in which it is used, as we shall indeed see later. Similarly, "jihad" as a generic word can be used even when the sought goals are not Islamic, i.e. in non-religious contexts.


The Qur'an uses the verb of "jihad" in its generic meaning of "exerting the best efforts against something" in the following two verses:

    And We have enjoined on man goodness to parents, but if they jahadaka (do jihad against you) to make you associate [a god] with Me, of which you have no knowledge [being a god], do not obey them. To Me is your return [O people!], so I shall inform you of your past deeds (29..

     
    And We have enjoined on man to be good to his parents; his mother bears him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years; and that [you must] be grateful to Me and to both your parents. To Me is the eventual coming (31.14). And if they jahadaka (do jihad against you) to make you associate [a god] with Me, of which you have no knowledge [being a god], do not obey them, but keep company with them in this world kindly; and follow the way of he who turns to Me. Then to Me is your [O people!] return, then I shall inform you of your past deeds (31.15).

Jihad in the verses above refers to actions taken by non-Muslim parents against their Muslim offspring [/b]to force them to worship other than Allah. This goal goes against the message of Islam which teaches the oneness of God, Allah; obviously this kind of jihad is not Islamic. The verses above also confirm the already mentioned fact that jihad is not necessarily an act of violence.


It is worth noting that the verses above command the Muslims to remain kind and caring toward their parents, but to resist any attempt by the latter to force them to give up the Islamic tenet of monotheism in favor of some polytheistic belief.


[b]"Jihad" in the Qur'an
Aside from its use of the term "jihad" in its generic meaning in the two verses above, the Qur'an uses "jihad" in another twenty eight verses in a specific meaning. In this case, the phrase "fi sabili Allah", which means "in the way of Allah" or "for the sake of Allah", either follows "jihad," or one of its derivatives, explicitly, or is implied by the context. For reference, Appendix A lists all thirty verses that mention the term "jihad" or any of its variations.


Contrary to the common belief that is embodied in the misinterpretation of "jihad" as "holy war," Islamic jihad does not refer solely to fighting in the way of Allah. This, in fact, is a special case of jihad. The Qur'anic concept of jihad refers to exerting efforts, in the form of struggle against or resistance to something, for the sake of Allah. This effort can be fighting back armed aggression, but can also be resisting evil drives and desires in one's self. Even donating money to the needy is a form of jihad, as it involves struggling against one's selfishness and inner desire to keep one's money for one's own pleasures. Jihad can, therefore, be subdivided into armed jihad and peaceful jihad. Armed jihad, which is the subject of Chapter 4, is only temporary and is a response to armed aggression. Once the aggression has ceased, armed jihad comes to an end. Armed jihad, thus, can take place only when there is an aggressive, external enemy.


Causes of peaceful jihad, on the other hand, are always existent, which is why this form of jihad is permanent. One major form of peaceful jihad is the war of the Muslim against his "nafs," an Arabic term that may be translated as the "lower self," and which refers to the individual's inferior drives and evil motives. This most dangerous enemy never disappears, hence this war knows no end.


The other form of peaceful jihad involves every act of peaceful struggle undertaken by the Muslim against external sources of evil. Preaching the message of Islam in a hostile environment, opposing an evil act, and all such peaceful good actions are instances of jihad because they involve some form of resistance and struggle to achieve a good goal. For instance, the Prophet's patience at the accusations and abuse that the disbelievers directed at him for preaching the Qur'an was peaceful jihad:

    Therefore [O Muhammad!] be patient with what they say, and glorify your Lord by praising Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting, and during hours of the night do also glorify [Him], and during parts of the day, that you may be well satisfied (20.130).

It is interesting to note how the terms "jihad" and "Islam" relate to each other in Arabic and in the Qur'anic sense. Linguistically, the general term "jihad," which refers to "struggle" and "resistance," has almost exactly the opposite meaning of the general term "Islam," which means "surrender" or "submission." The Qur'anic "jihad," however, which is about resisting the lower self and other sources and forms of evil, is the route that the individual must take to attain the state of Qur'anic "Islam" or "submission to Allah."


Although Islamic jihad is a Qur'anic concept, the Qur'an, in reality, is rarely consulted for understanding this concept. The widespread misunderstanding of jihad can only be attributed to an endemic neglect of the Qur'an, not only by non-Muslims, but by Muslims as well. The Qur'an has charged Muslims with the responsibility of educating others about its message and disseminating its teachings. Unfortunately, Muslims have had a big share in propagating the common misunderstanding that jihad is all about violence. Many Muslims think that "jihad" means "holy war." It is a sad but undeniable fact that many Muslims learn about Islamic practices and concepts, such as jihad, from secondary, often unreliable, sources. It is not uncommon even for cultural beliefs and narratives to be among those sources.


Those who misunderstand the Qur'anic term jihad as armed jihad only have totally failed to notice, among other things, this particularly important fact: in the majority of verses in which the Qur'an talks about fighting the enemy, it uses variations of the word "qital," which means "fighting." Here are some examples, and we will encounter more later on:

    And qatilu (fight) [O you who believe!] in the way of Allah, and know that Allah is Hearing, Knowing (2.244).

     
    Falyuqatil (then let) those who sell this world's life for the hereafter (fight) in the way of Allah. And whoever yuqatil (fights) in the way of Allah so he gets killed or turns victorious, We shall grant him a great reward (4.74).

     
    Faqatil (then fight) [O Muhammad!] in the way of Allah; you are not held responsible but for yourself; and urge the believers [to fight]. May be Allah will restrain the might of the disbelievers; and Allah is greatest in might and greatest in punishment (4.84).

The term jihad actually refers to the more general concept of exerting efforts in the way of Allah, of which fighting the enemy, or armed jihad, is only one aspect. In Qur'anic terminology, it is wrong to equate the words "jihad" and "qital," as this reduces a broad concept to a more specific one.


Let's look at an example. The Qur'an refers in several verses to doing jihad with "one's properties and self," i.e. sacrificing one's properties and self in the cause of Islam, as in the following verse:

    The believers are those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, then do not doubt [the verity of Islam], and jahadu (do jihad) with their properties and selves in the way of Allah; those are the truthful (49.15).

It is simply wrong to suggest that the verb jahadu (do jihad) in this verse is equivalent to the verb qatalu (fight). Doing jihad with one's properties and self in the way of Allah covers every effort that the person exerts to please Allah. Even when such efforts are in connection with a war, they would include more than the act of fighting. In other words, jihad is more than armed jihad, which itself is more than just fighting. Going to war means coping with the fear of getting killed or seriously injured, overcoming concerns over the family and properties that the person left behind, losing earnings for being out of work during that time, and all such testing sacrifices. Braving the heat of the desert sun when traveling to and from the battle field is one aspect of armed jihad that is different from fighting itself:

    Those who were left behind were glad to stay home and not join the Messenger of Allah. They were averse to yujahidu (do jihad) with their properties and selves, and said [to other Muslims]: "Do not go forth in the heat." Say [O Muhammad!]: "The fire of hell is far hotter," if they understand (9.81).

The following verses make the point absolutely clear. They detail a number of different forms of hardship involved in armed jihad; the act of fighting itself is only one of those hardships:

    It would not be fitting for the people of al-Madina and the Bedouin Arabs of the neighborhood to stay home and not join the Messenger of Allah, nor should they hold themselves back from doing what he wants them to do. That is because no thirst, fatigue, or hunger in the way of Allah afflicts them; no path they tread which angers the disbelievers; and no success they achieve against an enemy but a righteous deed is written down for them on account of it. Surely, Allah does not waste the reward of the doers of good (9.120). And they do not spend anything, small or great, or cut across a valley but it is written down for them [as a credit], that Allah may reward them according to the best of their past deeds (9.121).

Qital in the way of Allah is, thus, only one aspect of armed jihad. It is, however, the most prominent aspect and the climax of that form of jihad, which is why it is usually possible to use "qital in the way of Allah" and "armed jihad" interchangeably. Armed jihad in turn is one of two forms of jihad; the second is peaceful jihad.


So, one major aspect of the widespread[b] misunderstanding of "jihad" is reducing it to "fighting in the way of Allah."[/b] What has made this confusion of "jihad" with "fighting" particularly disastrous is another serious misunderstanding, which is that of the characteristics of Islamic fighting, i.e. "fighting in the way of Allah." The erroneous view of the Qur'anic concept of fighting in the way of Allah has been extended to the Qur'anic concept of jihad. Thus, the true Qur'anic meanings of "jihad" and "fighting in the way of Allah" have both been distorted.

www.quranicstudies.com/louay-fatoohi/jihad/the-meaning-of-jihad.html

Keep-up the good work! Just a thought: you might want to broadcast to a larger audience with twitter.

Nice. . .! May Allah reward you and me. . .




#Javalove. . .unless otherwise stated. . .!

Question that comes to mind is who are the suicide bombers fighting for?

One of the most positive posts i have come across on Nairaland.
Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram e.t.c are not fighting for the cause of Islam. Islam frowns at violence that they have embraced.
The fundamental problem here is that most people are unwilling to differentiate arabian culture, Northern Nigerian culture from Islam.

@toba, why am i not surprised to see u here? I hope u're doing fyn sha, ve u found your Muslim wife yet?

@ deols, nice work amirah! So many muslims out there are not even aware of the true meaning of the word talk more of non-muslims! For many, "Jihad" = "war, suicide bombing, violence etc"

@Poster,

My friend, go and sit down somewhere.

Take your diplomatic rantings to Yemen.  

Forget the connotative meaning, what is implicit meaning? in what context has it been expressly applied?

Better don't raise dust on your shitty ideologies.

jihad or what so ever, dat is for d northerners or muslim. i dont give 2 whoops in hades 4 crap. next time post somtin more relevant 2 d public not 4 sects alone.

Akiika:

One of the most positive posts i have come across on Nairaland.
Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram e.t.c are not fighting for the cause of Islam. Islam frowns at violence that they have embraced.
The fundamental problem here is that most people are unwilling to differentiate arabian culture, Northern Nigerian culture from Islam.

Who is Boko Haram fighting for, then? Why has Boko Haram said that they will not refrain from bombing unless the entire country follows Sharia Law. Why have Muslims not openly and unequivocally denounced Boko Haram, and why have the Northern governments not sent the police to take on Boko Haram head on?

Why are women forced to cover their heads? Why do women not have the freedom to live their lives in peace?

@deols

Start begging me before I reveal the truth.

subscribing

quote author=27naira link=topic=776347.msg9294632#msg9294632 date=1318003854]
@Poster,

My friend, go and sit down somewhere.

Take your diplomatic rantings to Yemen.  

Forget the connotative meaning, what is implicit meaning? in what context has it been expressly applied?

Better don't raise dust on your shitty ideologies.
[quote][/quote]

^^
It's your black smelly arse' that needs to go and sit down not the poster.

@poster
Thumbs up!

@ OP,

Thanks for educating us. Please could you educate us further on the verses below too.

The Quran:
Quran (2:191-193) - "And [size=16pt]slay them[/size] wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers],  but if desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful.   And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah."

Quran (2:216) - "[size=16pt]Fighting is prescribed for you[/size], and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not."

This one below is the most scary.

Quran (3:151) - "Soon shall We cast [size=16pt]terror[/size] into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority"

Quran (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades,[size=16pt] seize them and slay them [/size]wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks."

Quran (8:12) - "I will [size=16pt]cast terror[/size] into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore [size=16pt]strike off their heads[/size] and strike off every fingertip of them"

Quran (9:29) - "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."

Quran (47:3-4) - "Those who reject Allah follow vanities, while those who believe follow the truth from their lord.  Thus does Allah set forth form men their lessons by similitude.  Therefore when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then [size=16pt]smite the necks[/size] until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners,"

@OP
so why are the imams not preaching that cos if they were i see no reason why most muslims in the north are quick to pick up arms and butcher their neighbours if someone in denmark feels like amusing himself by cartoon'ing muhammed. Whose fault that these keep occuring? Your islamic leaders offcourse. Even if not directly. As long as you guyz keep calling non-muslims; especially christians, INFIDELS, you'll always be bloodthirsty. Truth is your god should fight his own battles anything other than this is pure murder. EVERYBODY PROTECT YOURSELVES and MAY GOD PROTECT UP ALL.

@poster I'm really loving for you for creating this thread and for those who are been led astray I pray almighty Allah bring you back to your to the way of light and believe that GOD is one he never had a son and Jesus is his messenger not Lord

BULL SHIT!!!, D ONLY FIN WE KNW BOUT JIHAD Z TERRORISM, UR DEFINATIONS RE MEANINGLESS, AND NON MUSLIMS RE NT INFIDELS,

may pig eat all muslims the way it eats prophet mohammed

all this brain washed followers of muhamed,blood thirsty hypocrites.just a flash back to post election dastard killings of christians in the north by your useless dirty almagiris because they were unable to pronounce the name of your bloody allah,after burning our churches and killing ours pastors including little hapeless children,who were the dirty useless amajiris fighting for.op go boil rock

It very easy been diplomatic but the truth of d matter is check those quotes out. Those condemning the Jihadist are diplomatic just has Muhammed was before launchn an attack on d people of medina. Were those Jihadist not promised 70+virgins after dying as Jihadist? How about d drinks forbidden on earth that await them in Aljana? Check ur quaran well. Dont die in bondage as a result of what anybody wil thinj or say. Jesus is d only way to the life eternity.

I think we can make our points without insults.

While I am not innocent of raising provoking articles on ISLAM , this is not the right way forward, it creates bitterness , mistrust and hate.

I have repented of this sort of method , seriously  

Muslims are human beings made in God's image like we all are . I do not agree with ISLAM 100%, but let us debate in a friendly and brotherly way.

frosbel:

I think we can make our points without insults.

While I am not innocent of raising provoking articles on ISLAM , this is not the right way forward, it creates bitterness , mistrust and hate.

I have repented of this sort of method , seriously  

Muslims are human beings made in God's image like we all are . I do not agree with ISLAM 100%, but let us debate in a friendly and brotherly way.

have you ever escape death narrowly because of your religion in the hands of these people(muslims) up north.then u ll know that actions speaks louder than words.my unreserve apology to the muslims in the western part of nigeria.but as for those in the north,bleep off

Princek12:

Who is Boko Haram fighting for, then? Why has Boko Haram said that they will not refrain from bombing unless the entire country follows Sharia Law. Why have Muslims not openly and unequivocally denounced Boko Haram, and why have the Northern governments not sent the police to take on Boko Haram head on?

Why are women forced to cover their heads? Why do women not have the freedom to live their lives in peace?

Boko haram is fighting for what they do not understand, The verses in support of jihad in the Holy Quran have been greatly misunderstood by so many ignorant muslims, who do not sit down with their Qur'ans to comprehend what jihad is really about, but rather rely on what their 'half-baked' clerics feed them with. This has been well explained in the Op's post.

I still maintain my stand on the fact that BH constitutes a negligible part of the muslim population, but even non-muslims who are surrounded by peaceful muslims fail to see the beautiful part of Islam, but focus on the 'bad eggs'.

Every religion has its own 'bad eggs' but hypocrites fail to realise this and jump on islam at any given opportunity forgetting that religion alone does not define an individual,

Muslim clerics have condemned these acts of killings and I wonder if you are truly unaware of this.

Muslim women are NOT forced to cover their heads, its in the Holy Quran to do so.

Lastly, are the muslim women around you in bondage? Are they not living in peace? I need your definition of 'freedom' cos I really don't get that part of your post. Muslim women are honoured in the Quran.

Those who claimed to be fighting for their god just confirm their god did not have hand, leg, eyes and mouth.
Anyone, who believes after death, it time to engaged many virgins in sexual orgies is psycho and mad. Maybe, they want to be sleeping with demons,

All these are product to geometrical illiteracies over many years,

I only pity those suicide-bombers, because immediately they are gone, they shall be disappointed.

27naira:

@Poster,

My friend, go and sit down somewhere.

Take your diplomatic rantings to Yemen.   LOL

Forget the connotative meaning, what is implicit meaning? in what context has it been expressly applied?

Better don't raise dust on your shitty ideologies.

It shall be what you want it to be for you. If you want it to be what the poster has correctly said- it will be like that. If you want it to be what you erroneously believe, so shall it be. The ball is in your court.

Hmmmmm whats this thing about the virgins please muslims explain to me this might be the reason why these young men are bombing themselves. What would you do if you where promised many virgins? Theres something perverted about that.

bhusayor:

[b]Boko haram is fighting for what they do not understand,  The verses in support of jihad in the Holy Quran have been greatly misunderstood by so many ignorant muslims, who do not  sit down with their Qur'ans to comprehend what jihad is really about, but rather rely on what their 'half-baked' clerics feed them with. This has been well explained in the Op's post.

I still maintain my stand on the fact that BH constitutes a negligible part of the muslim population, but even non-muslims who are surrounded by peaceful muslims fail to see the beautiful part of Islam, but focus on the 'bad eggs'.

Every religion has its own 'bad eggs' but hypocrites fail to realise this and jump on islam at any given opportunity forgetting that religion alone does not define an individual,

Muslim clerics have condemned these acts of killings and I wonder if you are truly  unaware of this.

Muslim women are NOT forced to cover their heads, its in the Holy Quran to do so.

Lastly, are the muslim women around you in bondage? Are they not living in peace? I need your definition of 'freedom' cos I really don't get that part of your post. Muslim women are honoured in the Quran.[/b]

Preach-on sister, preach-on! Spread the good word!

boko haram are fighting for revenge of killing their leader muhammed yusuf, they started their fight after killing of their leader, my question to those who are hating northern muslims is
 IS IT ONLY BOKO HARAMISTS  THAT ARE LIVIN IN THE NORTH, OR ARE ALL NORTHENERS BOKO HARAMIST?

Naledi14:

Hmmmmm whats this thing about the virgins please muslims explain to me this might be the reason why these young men are bombing themselves. What would you do if you where promised many virgins? Theres something perverted about that.

The Virgins you are talking about are called Houri. Read about their description here. It is a fallacy that Islam says any body that kills himself will receive 72 Houris. It is a western simplification of a complex problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houri

oyesjoy:

may pig eat all muslims the way it eats prophet mohammed

oh my world!

1stCitizen:

@ OP,

Thanks for educating us. Please could you educate us further on the verses below too.

This one below is the most scary.

These verses you are quoting refer to battle and there are specific Muslim rules of engagement that you can research. I am sure the American army does not drop rose petals in battle- ask the people in Afghanistan and Iraq if in doubt. Have you heard that the American government has a "kill list"?

So relax, learn and be better.

@maclatunji
now that you've mention America; i know the hatred the muslim world have for them. They must protect themselves from MUSLIMS WHO BELIEVE THEIR SOLE ASSIGNMENT ON EARTH IS TO SEE ISLAM DOMINATE THE WORLD which will never happen. No offense intended. When the U.S. were attacked in 2001. My muslim classmate, who was also a leader amongst fellow muslims was visibly pleased. I asked him why he was pleased that 3000 plus Americans lost their lives and all he could mutter was '' they boast alot''. Not just him, every muslim i talked to felt the they deserved it. PATHETIC.