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Untitled Essay Research Paper By The Institute

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:

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"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


Churches to the present day is a strong proof of the generally tolerant attitude


of the Mohammedan [sic] governments towards them.” (Emphasis added.)


Islam does not teach nor do Muslims desire conversion of any people for


fear, greed, marriage or any other form of coercion.


In conclusion, jihad in Islam is striving in the


way of Allah by pen, tongue, hand, media and, if inevitable, with arms.


However, jihad in Islam does not include striving for individual or national


power, dominance, glory, wealth, prestige or pride.


M. Amir Ali, Ph.D.


REFERENCES:


1. For the sake of simplicity and easy reading, masculine pronouns have been


used throughout this brochure. No exclusion of females is intended.


2. Haykal, M.H., THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD, Tr. Ismail R. Faruqi, American Trust


Publications, 1976, p. 132.


3. Haykal, pp. 216, 242, 299 and 414 for the Battles of Badr, Uhud, Al-Khandaq


and Hunayn, respectively.


4. Haykal, p. 395 for the Conquest of Makkah.


5. Haykal, pp. 245, 277, 311 and 326 for campaigns agaist the tribes of Banu


Qaynuqa’, Banu Al-Nadir, Banu Qurayzah and Banu Lihyan, respectively. Also,


see p. 283 for the Battle of Dhat Al-Riqa’.


6. Haykal, pp. 284, 327, 366, 387, 393, 443 and 515 for the Battles of Dawmat


Al-Jandal, Banu Al-Mustaliq, Khayber, Mu’tah, Dhat Al-Salasil, Tabuk and


the Campaign of Usama Ibn Zayd, respectively.


7. Hitti, Philip K., HISTORY OF THE ARABS, St. Martin’s Press, New York,


1970, p. 153.


8. Arnold, Sir Thomas W., THE PREACHING OF ISLAM, A HISTORY OF THE PROPAGATION


OF THE MUSLIM FAITH, Westminister A. Constable & Co., London, 1896, p.


80.


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