The meaning and Concepts of Jihad

840 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: True meaning of jihad

The Holy of Holy Wars: Jihad

In light of recent events in the global community, one word that is used frequently but rarely truly understood is the Islamic word Jihad. Jihad has become a very volatile word, so it is necessary that those who use it should understand exactly what it means, what it entails, and what significance it has in current global events.

There are many interpretations of the word Jihad, but the most common literal translation from Arabic to English is "struggle." Many interpret the idea of a Jihad as a holy war. While holy war may be part of the struggle of Muslims, it is not the entirety of Jihad. In its primary sense, Jihad is an internal struggle to rid oneself of debased actions or inclinations and devote oneself to achieving a higher moral standard through prayer, study, and spreading the Islamic Faith, since it is of universal validity (Peace 2).

With the use of the word Jihad by men such as Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden, many people believe that Jihad highlights the violent nature of Muslim people. However, in its pure form, Islam is not at all violent. Muslims are taught to fulfill Jihad through four methods: the heart, the tongue, the hand, and the sword (Jihad 2). The first is the internal struggle to cleanse oneself of internal evil. Fulfilling Jihad through heart and hand are directed more toward supporting what is right and correcting which is wrong. Raising the sword in defense of Islam is only prescribed when all other methods have failed and Muslims have come under attack. A passage in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, states, "Fight for the sake of God those that fight against you, but do not attack them first. God does not love the aggressors"(Van Voorst 311). However, there ...

... middle of paper ...

...is true for all people in all areas of life, so expanding the Nation of Islam is a very important goal for all Muslims. To avoid being stopped or pushed back, Jihad can oftentimes become necessary, and despite what popular media may have people believe, Jihad is not evil, it is as pure as Christians saying Grace before eating or Jews wearing yarmulkes.

Works Consulted and Cited

Jihad. http://www.Quran.org/jihad.htm

Peace Encyclopedia. Jihad. http://www.yahoodi.com/peace/jihad.html Last updated March 14 2003

Sherif, Faruq. A Guide to the Contents of the Qur'an. 166-68

Torop, Jonathan. Commentary Magazine. Arafat and the uses of Terror. May 1997. 63-65

VanVoorst, Robert E. Anthology of World Scriptures. Fourth Ed. 2003 Wadsworth Publishing

.

Show More
Related

  • The Race For Paradise By Professor Paul Cobb

    1154 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Jihad was but one of the reactions that Muslims had toward the Franks. But given its prevalence in the medieval Islamic sources—understanding this concept and its history in the years leading up to the era of the Crusades is important.” states Cobb (Cobb, page

    Read More

  • The Armenian Genocide and the American Response

    2117 Words  | 5 Pages

    ... and Jihad According to Islam." HWeb. HWeb, 13 June 2006. Web. 05 Nov. 2013. .

    Read More

  • The Real Meanings of Jihad

    2587 Words  | 6 Pages

    An examination of the Jihad’s etymological context will lend a keener insight into why the word is often associated with violence. Pre-Islamic Arabia was populated with tribes that often engaged in civil warfare because it was the tradition and norm to settle disputes violently rather than through peaceful means. Commenting on this, Asghar Engineer, a learned western Muslim wrote:

    Read More

  • Thomas W. Lippman's Understanding Islam

    1218 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas W. Lippman gives an introduction to the Muslim world in the book Understanding Islam. He has traveled throughout the Islamic world as Washington Post bureau chief for the Middle East, and as a correspondent in Indochina. This gave him, in his own words, "sharp insight into the complexities of that turbulent region." However, the purpose of the book is not to produce a critical or controversial interpretation of Islamic scripture. It is instead to give the American layman an broad understanding of a religion that is highly misunderstood by many Americans. In this way he dispels many myths about "Muslim militants," and the otherwise untrue perception of Islamic violence. In this way the American reader will become more knowledgeable about an otherwise unfamiliar topic. However, the most significant element of Lippman’s book is that it presents Islam in a simple way that makes the reader feels his awareness rise after each chapter. This encourages him to continue learning about the world’s youngest major religion. Understanding Islam dispels many misconceptions about the Muslim world, and presents the subject in a way that urges his reader to further his understanding of Islam through continued study.

    Read More

  • War in Christianity and Islam

    622 Words  | 2 Pages

    Through the years the idea that Islam is an aggressive religion has been developed. This is mainly due to the fact that the word "jihad" -- a very important concept in Islamic faith -- is often misunderstood or its initial meaning is intentionally misrepresented. From the very beginning of Islamic invasion in Europe a sense of devotion to the religion was instilled in the Muslim soldiers and believers. Religion was a really important part of their lives. The soldiers were taught to die for Allah in their holy war against unbelievers -- this was the so-called jihad. However, if one examines thoroughly the Quran, the saint book for Muslims, he/she will find that jihad carries a completely different meaning -- this is an internal struggle with oneself for achievements in a certain filed or, simply, for self-improvement. Even though most Islamic believers know what jihad really is, there are zealots that still look for excuse for their appalling and inhumane deeds in the abovementioned word. Nowadays, this is still a major problem, especially concerning the...

    Read More

  • Islam in America

    2522 Words  | 6 Pages

    Islam, a religion of people submitting to one God, seeking peace and a way of life without sin, is always misunderstood throughout the world. What some consider act of bigotry, others believe it to be the lack of education and wrong portrayal of events in media; however, one cannot not justify the so little knowledge that America and Americans have about Islam and Muslims. Historically there are have been myths, many attacks on Islam and much confusion between Islam as a religion and Middle Easter culture that is always associated with it. This paper is meant to dispel, or rather educate about the big issues that plague people’s minds with false ideas and this will only be touching the surface.

    Read More

  • Jihad

    1243 Words  | 3 Pages

    While there are multiple meanings for the word jihad, the fact remains that in all definitions, the term normally refers to an armed struggle against an opposing force. In any event, despite.

    Read More

  • Interview With A Muslim

    2097 Words  | 5 Pages

    Robinson, B.A. (2002, October 14). Islam: Is it a religion of violence or of peace.

    Read More

  • The Roots Of Muslim Rage Analysis

    1201 Words  | 3 Pages

    In both given articles, “The Roots of Muslim Rage” by Bernard Lewis, and “The Roots of Muslim Rage Revisited” by Nicolaas J.E. van der Zee, argue about the enhancement of the Muslim fundamentalism with different perspectives; however, I believe that Lewis’ view may be quiet misleading to the actual perception. Lewis indicates that Muslim fundamentalism is conceived through the Muslim community’s oppression and dissatisfaction with the West’s political involvement, as well as “Islam is a source of aggression” . In defiance of Lewis’ opinion, the word ‘Islam’ comes from the word peace as well as the will of submission to God. The notion of aggression and violence that Lewis conceptualizes to be the headline of Islam does not have any supporting

    Read More

  • What Makes Islam, Islam?

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is a strong belief that Islam and politics are directly tied. They are tied in the sense that the building blocks of the religion dictate how they ought to behave in the political environment. Through this mandatory follow up behavior that the religion delineates, many have come to believe that its teachings are a form of terrorism. Mandaville argues that what has challenged the Islamic link between politics and religion was the emergence of secularism, which went against the belief that politics and religion could go together. Islam has been a religion that has been accused of supporting terrorist activities in the world. Different assumptions have been brought up to understand better the linkages between what really lies behind the Islam religion and politics. Peter Mandaville argues that Islam is dynamic and that it has changed over time; situated within time and politics.

    Read More

  • Common Misconceptions of Islam

    1677 Words  | 4 Pages

    Like Christianity, Islam only permits fighting. self-defense, in defense of religion (but not the excuse for your own). personal or political purposes), or on the behalf of those who have.... ... middle of paper ... ...

    Read More

  • A Cultural Studies Approach to Understanding Islam

    2004 Words  | 5 Pages

    differences, it is easy to see each religion as a monolithic entity existing separate from

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Islam

    939 Words  | 2 Pages

    A lot of people believe that Muslims, Islam, and/or the Holy Quran encourages killing, fighting, and terrorism. Events such as the 9/11 attack in the United States, the Boston Marathon Bombing, and conflicts in the Middle East causes the media to label Muslims as terrorists. When a specific group of people cause violence to another group it is categorized as ‘hate crime’, but if a Muslim does the same act, the media immediately labels it as ‘terrorism’ (Frater, 2009). As a matter of fact, regarding to the attacks of the mosques in Israel, the media did not use the acts to victimize or stereotype Judaism. Moreover, some extremist groups use Islam as a tactic to gain followers even though a lot of their practices go against the teachings of the Quran. A person would not be considered a Muslim if they spread fear or terrorize others. The Quran clearly states, “You shall not take life, which God has made sacred, except by way of justice and law.” (Quran, 6:151). Islam is against any force or violence towards another person. Often the word ‘Jihad’ is taken out of context by violent militants; it means to strive or struggle for the sake of ones’ self improvement with respect to their spirituality. Religious and political groups use Jihad to justify ...

    Read More

  • Deuteronomy 31: 1-9

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    Arnold and Beyer (2015) explain that “The herem, or spoils of war—be it people, animals, or goods—belonged to the Lord, and he had the right to do with it as he pleased” (p. 145). In certain cases, God wanted everything destroyed (e.g., 1 Samuel 15:1-3). Is a herem, however, the same as an Islamic jihad? Mateen Elass, a former Muslim turned Christian pastor, says no. Islamic jihad is a war against all unbelievers, whereas Christianity does not condone the use of force to advance God’s kingdom (Elass, 2002, para.

    Read More

  • Cultural Violence

    1571 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout history, violence and religion were always related, however, how this violence is formed and for how it is used differs in every religion and also on one’s view. Even the most serene religions are capable of supporting violence since all religions incorporate a violent nature along with the dedication and belief. In “Understanding Islam”, Kenneth Jost poses a question: Is Islam a religion that promotes violence? His answer is no but he does not answer it directly. He does bring up possible arguments from the opposite side and rebuts it. He “A CBS poll in April 2006 found that 46 percent of those surveyed believe Islam encourages violence more than other religions. A comparable poll four years earlier registered a lower figure: 32 percent. These perceptions are sometimes inflamed by U.S. evangelical leaders... [Franklin] Graham called Islam ‘a very evil and wicked religion’ and [Jerry] Vines, called Muhammed, Islam’s founder and prophet, a “demon-pos...

    Read More

More about The meaning and Concepts of Jihad

Open Document