Jihad In Islam And Islam

Jihad is an Arabic word that means “exerted effort”. It is mentioned in the Qur’an and projected as exerting effort to change one’s self to the better which is seen as each person’s most difficult jihad. This concept of jihad and the betterment of one’s self is almost unknown to non-Muslims specially westerners who refer to jihad as the holy war and terrorism.

What people fail to realize is the multi dimensions of jihad which consists of two parts: the greater jihad which is actually considered the highest form of jihad and used in a moral, ethical, and spiritual sense. Jihad is viewed by Muslims as the struggle to overcome personal temptations and worldly temptation and the struggle to becoming an overall better Muslim. And although this greater form of jihad is the one widely accepted by Muslims, it is often overlooked by everyone else. The second part of jihad is the lesser jihad which includes fighting injustice and oppression against Islamic communities and beliefs and this jihad was applied when early Muslims were being prosecuted and driven out of their lands, this is mentioned in the Qur’an in different places such as "God does not forbid you, regarding those (non-Muslims) who did not fight you because of your religion, and who did not drive you out of your land, that you be good to them and treat them justly. Allah only forbids you regarding those who fought you because of your religion and drove you out of your homes, and came to the help of those who drove you out, that you should befriend them. Any of you who befriend them (and be their allies) are transgressors. (60:8-9)” and "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.' Did not Al...

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...debates, Platonic ideals nor Aristotelian diplomacy. But it knows the dialogue of bullets, the ideals of assassination, bombing, and destruction, and the diplomacy of the cannon and machine-gun. The young came to prepare themselves for Jihad commanded by the majestic Allah’s order in the holy Koran.”

There is a difference between what the Qur’an teaches and what these radical Muslim’s teach. They hijacked the religion and made it into something different to achieve their political goals. They influence a lot of Muslims who are ignorant and illiterate and use scare tactics into making then believe that the only way to be a good Muslim is to follow their ideology.

Many Muslims however don’t agree with their ideology or goals and oppose their violence and often they are labeled as kuffar for that and that’s why many chose to not oppose them or try to stop them.