Jihad

[Lux]

Hi everyone!

For a while now I've seen people use "jihadists" as interchangeable with extremists or even terrorists, not only in this forum, but also in real life (and even the media).
However, it was my understanding that the word Jihad can be interpreted in many different ways and it doesn't relate to extremism at all. I'm curious about the real meaning. What is Jihad? Does it vary from one denomination and/or person to another?

[Darias]

In the most traditional sense, Jihad means "struggle."

I liken the term to the Christian's spiritual struggle against spiritual evils, putting on the armor of God - etc.

Jihad does not mean holy war.

The Arabic word for war and conflict is Harb.

Jihad has been interpreted by modern extremists as "holy war" as in a literal holy fight to expel infidels from Muslim lands.

Holy war is only thought to be holy or justified if it is a war of self-defense.

And in the mind of radicals, the war against the West is just that.

Yes, radicals wish to conquer the world under the banner of their extreme concept of Sharia Law, but that doesn't make them see themselves as the aggressors in their mind.

No one sees themselves as the enemy in their own mind.

Trust me, it takes a lot of justification and brain washing to be willing to strap a bomb to yourself and kill others -- and think that this is martyrdom, when in fact it is suicide and murder (both of which are forbidden in the Qur'an).

[Goat]

Hi everyone!

For a while now I've seen people use "jihadists" as interchangeable with extremists or even terrorists, not only in this forum, but also in real life (and even the media).
However, it was my understanding that the word Jihad can be interpreted in many different ways and it doesn't relate to extremism at all. I'm curious about the real meaning. What is Jihad? Does it vary from one denomination and/or person to another?

One meaning I have seen is that at least some moderate groups consider Jihad with the inner struggle of oneself with God.. to do right. A more common claim that I have seen has Jihad being self defense.

[Murad]

In the most traditional sense, Jihad means "struggle."

I liken the term to the Christian's spiritual struggle against spiritual evils, putting on the armor of God - etc.

Jihad does not mean holy war.

The Arabic word for war and conflict is Harb.

Jihad has been interpreted by modern extremists as "holy war" as in a literal holy fight to expel infidels from Muslim lands.

Holy war is only thought to be holy or justified if it is a war of self-defense.

And in the mind of radicals, the war against the West is just that.

Yes, radicals wish to conquer the world under the banner of their extreme concept of Sharia Law, but that doesn't make them see themselves as the aggressors in their mind.

No one sees themselves as the enemy in their own mind.

Trust me, it takes a lot of justification and brain washing to be willing to strap a bomb to yourself and kill others -- and think that this is martyrdom, when in fact it is suicide and murder (both of which are forbidden in the Qur'an).

Wow you deserve all my tokens as a donation.
Glad to see there are unbiased Christians on this forum when it comes to Islam.
___________


Jihad is a beautiful yet greatly misunderstood Islamic Concept. The Arabic word "Jihad" is derived from the root word "Jahada" which means "to strive - to struggle, to strain, to exert, to endeavor, to persevere and to defend"

Contrary to popular opinion, Jihad is not a means of forcing Islam on others. It should never be viewed as an expansionist, proselytizing movement. However, historically, and even in today's times, some Muslims have taken it as such. This distortion of the virtuous concept of Jihad is in total contradictions to authentic Islamic teachings.

Jihad is the noble effort of improving oneself, one's family and community, one's nation and the world at large. Jihad is the struggle that a mother undergoes during pregnancy, child-birth, and the raising of her child; it is the years of hard work that a student puts towards a good education; its the sacrifice that a firefighter makes when risking his own life to save another; and it is the courage that a soldier has on the battlefield in the defense of his life, his country, his freedom and beliefs.

[Lux]

Thank you all for your input. It would seem that muslims who use Jihad as a banner for extremism are wrong, and so is everyone who uses "jihadist" as a synonym for terrorist. That's what I figured, but I wanted to know what Jihad actually meant (in part so I could contradict them, but mostly out of personal interest).

Glad to see there are unbiased Christians on this forum when it comes to Islam.

By participating in the "Should an islamic mosque be built at Ground Zero?" thread, I learned that there are many christians on this forum who are unbiased when it comes to Islam. Rhonan is certainly one of them.