0
Jihad is different than the known English words war and/or terrorism (or terror).
Jihad is an Arabic word that means struggle for a cause. Struggle to earn money, struggle with illness to get recovered, struggle to get higher scientific degree or higher post, struggle to marry with whom you love, ... etc.
In Islam, Jihad comes under two categories:
- greater (major or self) jihad, and
- lesser (Minor or military) jihad.
Greater or self Jihad means self struggle to obey the Creator and avoid sins as well as working for the benefit of yourself, your community, your religion, your family, your neighbors, your environment, etc.
Lesser or Military jihad is licit only when you fulfill the following conditions:
o - Fight only in self defense or against oppression
o - Never Kill Innocent People
o - Never Injure Prisoners of War
o - Never Kill Animals
o - Never Destroy Crops or Infrastructures
o - Never Mutilate Bodies of Enemies dead or alive
o - All Prisoners Should be Given Fair Treatment
o - Women & Children Should be Protected From Harm
o - Always Bury the Dead With Respect
If the above conditions are met, then the lesser or military jihad is licit and justified. The lesser Jihad means fighting for a just cause. A just cause is defined in Islam as a person who protects:
1- His life
2- His family, honorable justice and collective wealth and/or welfare
3- His Religion and country.
Jihad is a very important part of Islam. Unlike Christians, Muslims do not believe in the idea of "love thy enemy" or turning the other cheek attacked. Instead, Muslims believe in the divine principle, "fight those who fight you and be fair. However, if your enemy tends to peace, Muslims should go for peace."
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago"Jihad" means to struggle or strive, and Islam means submission to the will of God. Jihad is an Arabic word that means struggle. Accordingly, it is defined as exerting your best and greatest effort to achieve something. It is not the equivalent of war, that is called in Arabic 'Harbl' , not equivalent of killing that means in Arabic 'Qatl', and not equivalent for terrorism, that means in Arabic 'Irhab'. Jihad embraces every kind of striving in God's cause. A mujahid or jihadist is the one who practices Jihad. He is the one who uses all physical, intellectual, and spiritual resources to serve his/her cause; who confronts any power that stands in its way; and, when necessary, dies for this cause.
In the early beginning of Islam, the nonbelievers in Mecca (a city currently belongs to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) tried to assassinate Prophet Muhammad and waged wars against Prophet Muhammad and his followers. That is why Islamic Jihad was legalized at that time to allow Muslims to defend themselves and their religion.
Afterward, when Islam religion spread in the area and no more hostilities happened, Prophet Muhammad (peace upon him) said what means "finished the smallest Jihad (defending yourselves against enemies) and started the greatest Jihad (defending yourself against the forbidden pleasures such as drinking alcohol, gambling, prostitution, cheating, terrifying the innocents, stealing money and properties, false witness, etc..).
Accordingly, Jihad is defined under two categories:
- The smallest jihad (or the Minor Jihad or military jihad), and
- The greatest (or major jihad or self jihad.
In the smallest jihad (or military jihad), you are licit to practice it only in two cases:
- First: to defend religion, home, land, and people against any invaders and attackers.
- Second: to provide help and support to other people who are oppressed and unable to practice their own will and freedom of choice.
In both cases of the smallest (or the military) jihad, Muslims are commanded, by Quran and prophet teachings, to be fair and just. You should not kill an innocent, a woman, a child, an old man, or any civilian. You are commanded not to be excessive in using force and not to terrify civilians.
In the greatest jihad (or major jihad or self jihad), you must always practice it (and strive) to:
- forbid yourself from any action against God commands and against His prophet (PBUH) teachings as what to do and what not to do
- do good for yourself, your family, your community, mankind , and nature.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is the correct name for a religious war?
Crusade or Jihad.
Why are some religious practices prohibited in the US?
The Government can limit religious practices if the practices are harmful to others.
How do you show respect for the religious practices of different religious sects?
how do you show respect for the religious practices of different religious sect
What is another word for religious trip?
pilgrimage crusade jihad
What were the religious practices associated with the Mayas?
they sacrificed people as one of their main religious practices
Why jihad movement was failed?
No one can claim that Jihad failed. Jihad means in Arabic struggle. Jihad is a normal practice in our lives irrelevant to gender, race, or face. Every practices Jihad but could be for different reasons as getting better education, better job, a good wife or husband, good position, etc... Refer to question below.
How did Aztec religious practices influence warfare?
The connection between warfare and religious practices was that warriors (who did warfare) fought fiercely to capture victims for religious sacrifices in religious cermonies
What does religious practices mean?
They mean to follow religious customs
What was the body of rules and regulations governing religious practices such as marriage?
what was the body of rules and regulations governing religious practices such as marriage
What is the nonviolent interpretation of jihad that is accepted by most Muslims?
Jihad (English pronunciation: /dʒɪˈhɑːd/; Arabic: جهاد‎ ǧihād [dʒiˈhæːd]), an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God (al-jihad fi sabil Allah)". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is mujahideen. Jihad is an important religious duty for MuslimsJihad of the heart (jihad bil qalb/nafs) is concerned with combatting the devil and in the attempt to escape his persuasion to evil. This type of Jihad was regarded as the greater jihad (al-jihad al-akbar).Jihad by the tongue(jihad bil lisan) is concerned with speaking the truth and spreading the word of Islam with one's tongue.Jihad by the hand (jihad bil yad) refers to choosing to do what is right and to combat injustice and what is wrong with action.Jihad by the sword (jihad bis saif) refers to qital fi sabilillah (armed fighting in the way of God, or holy war), the most common usage by Salafi Muslims and offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood. (THIS IS A VIOLENT FORM OF JIHAD, BUT COMMONLY ACCEPTED.)
What were the religious practices of the Inca!?
sacrefices
What do religious practices mean to different people?
Given the great variety of religious practices, and the great variety of people who engage in those practices, and the great variety of interpretations which that great variety of people make about the great variety of religious practices that they practice, the answer is, it can mean just about anything.
