What is Jihad? From the Islamic point of view the concept of the Jihad is as old as the advent of Islam itself. When we talk about jihad, the only thing which strikes our minds is violence. The killing of innocent people irrespective of their religion in the name of Islam using by misinterpreting the term Jihad cannot be justified. Islam is a religion of peace; It derives its meaning from the root word ‘slm’ meaning peace. There are numerous verses in the Quran which debar a Muslim from killing innocent people with few exceptions. The Quran says: “whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely” (5:32). From the Islamic point of view, Jihad is purely a Quranic concept. And in order to understand the concept of Jihad and its unalloyed meaning, we need to renege to original sources of Islam i.e, the Quran and Hadith which is very faintly done. The word ‘Jihad’ derives its meaning from the Arabic word ‘Jhud’ which literally means ‘effort’. Therefore, jihad can simply be defined as the exercising of the best efforts by someone for a particular objective. The other word which can be employed in understanding the pure meaning of the word Jihad is ‘Ijtihad’ which in its literal meaning means working hard and assiduously. The objective may be linked to one’s religion, society, and establishment of power to overcome injustice. The word Jihad has been used in the Holy Quran in 28 verses with the phrase Fi-Sabili-Allah following it which means ‘for the sake of Allah’. Thus the word Jihad which has been misunderstood simply means to exert the best efforts in achieving a particular goal not exclusively fighting in the way of Allah.
Jihad can be used in various forms and contexts. It can be used as an armed response to resist an enemy. It can be used by an individual against his own evil designs, ill motives, and selfishness. Helping any needy or poor person in any form whether physically or economically can also be called a form of jihad. Thus Jihad is struggle for achieving politico-religious and socio-economic goal. The Quran mentions Jihad in general in various verses and also sheds the light on different forms of it. The Quran says( 49:15) “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 truthful”. The preaching of the message of Allah in a very antagonistic environment to achieve a good goal can be also attributed to being as Jihad. The Quran says (20:130) “[O Muhammad] Be patient with what they say, and glorify your Lord by praising him before the rising 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”.
About the violent form of Jihad which refers to the fighting in the way of Allah is called qatalu according to the Quran(Fight). This is the ultimate and culmination of this form of Jihad. The qital as a form of Jihad is only justified when there has been aggression by the enemy towards your land or your property and also for the help of the people who are under oppression, tyrant and evil ruler. Allah has granted permission to fight for all the causes which have been mentioned above. The Quran says: (Nisa 4:75) “Why, then, should you not fight in the cause of God and of the oppressed, helpless men, women, and children, who cry out: ‘O Lord! Bring us out of this land whose people are oppressors, and appoint for us from Your Presence a protector, and appoint for us from Your Presence a helper!'”. Therefore it is obvious from the above all verses that Allah has ordained the muslims to do both forms of Jihad discussed above in every walk of life, But it is for us as a Muslim Ummah to understand the situations at any particular time and decide which form of Jihad is necessary and acceptable to Allah. It is very clear that Jihad has always been for the cause of Allah whether it is peaceful or violent but in the modern times Jihad has been misinterpreted to mere fighting ‘in the way of Allah’ leading to the killing of innocent people. Therefore as we muslims should always plummet ourselves to the vey original resources of knowledge in Islam in order to understand the basic message of this concept and achieve our goals so that we may be successful here and hereafter.
(The author is a freelancer. Views are his own, [email protected] )
