05-25-2006 Imam JobanMSA –UW presentation

Jihad in Islam

Islam is not just Islam is not just a religion.a religion.

It is a way of life.It is a way of life. There are 1.3 billion Muslims in There are 1.3 billion Muslims in

the World.the World. Only 15% are Arabs.Only 15% are Arabs.

1 out of every 5 people is a 1 out of every 5 people is a Muslim.Muslim.

•What is the meaning of Islam?What is the meaning of Islam?• Linguistic meaningLinguistic meaning• Surrender – purity - peace.Surrender – purity - peace.• MUSLIM = A Person who MUSLIM = A Person who

submits to Godsubmits to God

• Islam is perfect, but Islam is perfect, but Muslims are notMuslims are not

Very Important and contemporary Very Important and contemporary issues:issues:

HijabHijab Status of Women Status of Women JihadJihad DemocracyDemocracy

Human RightsHuman Rights

•HijabHijab

•

Oh ! Such a deeply, religious, spiritual, peaceful, soul ! God bless her !

Muslim Girl Muslim Girl Oppressed by Oppressed by

father who is a father who is a misogynist, misogynist, huh ? huh ?

05-25-2006 Imam JobanMSA –UW presentation

JIHADJIHADLinguistic meaning Linguistic meaning

Striving - Struggling.Striving - Struggling.

Islamic meaningIslamic meaning

A- Non-violent struggling within A- Non-violent struggling within oneself for a life of virtue.oneself for a life of virtue.

B- Fighting to establish justice, B- Fighting to establish justice, which is a supreme goal.which is a supreme goal.

The word jihadThe word jihad The word jihad has its origin in the The word jihad has its origin in the

verb verb jahada jahada which means to struggle, which means to struggle, to fight. The word has a few different to fight. The word has a few different connotations, since struggle can occur connotations, since struggle can occur on several levels.on several levels.

So, there are 3 types of JihadSo, there are 3 types of Jihad 1. Jihad with the holy Qur’an (Verbal 1. Jihad with the holy Qur’an (Verbal

Jihad)Jihad)

2. Jaihad bin Nafs (intimate 2. Jaihad bin Nafs (intimate struggle to purify the soul)struggle to purify the soul)

3. Jihad Fi-sabilillah 3. Jihad Fi-sabilillah (Military Jihad for the sake (Military Jihad for the sake

of God)of God) DefensiveDefensive OffensiveOffensive

• Verbal JihadVerbal Jihad•According to the Quran, the According to the Quran, the

Holy War, called Holy War, called JihadJihad, is in , is in reality a holy campaign which reality a holy campaign which uses the help of the Quran to uses the help of the Quran to bring about a spiritual bring about a spiritual revolution in the world.revolution in the world.

•Fight against them by means Of Fight against them by means Of it (the Quran) a great fightit (the Quran) a great fight (Q:Ch. 25: 53)(Q:Ch. 25: 53)

The Prophet Muhammad (S) said, "The Prophet Muhammad (S) said, "The most The most excellent jihad is the speaking of truth in the excellent jihad is the speaking of truth in the face of a tyrantface of a tyrant." He encouraged raising one's ." He encouraged raising one's voice in the name of Allah on behalf of justice.voice in the name of Allah on behalf of justice.

Example : Fighting for social Justice, equality, Example : Fighting for social Justice, equality, prevnting oppression etc. prevnting oppression etc.

Maybe Boston Tea Party could be a form of Maybe Boston Tea Party could be a form of jihadjihad

2. Jihad bin Nafs (intimate 2. Jihad bin Nafs (intimate struggle to purify the soul)struggle to purify the soul)

The most excellent jihad is that of The most excellent jihad is that of the soul. This jihad, called the Jihad the soul. This jihad, called the Jihad bin Nafs, is the intimate struggle to bin Nafs, is the intimate struggle to purify the soul of satanic influence--purify the soul of satanic influence--both subtle and overt. It is the both subtle and overt. It is the struggle to cleanse one's spirit of sin. struggle to cleanse one's spirit of sin. This is the most important level of This is the most important level of jihad. jihad.

• To tame one's rebellious nature into complete submission to God is another form of Jihad which is infact the greater Jihad, according to the Holy Prophet of Islam. On returning from a battle, he (S) is reported to have said:

• “We are returning from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad.”

Muslims as both individuals and Muslims as both individuals and members of Islamic society must carry members of Islamic society must carry out out jihadjihad, that is, they must exert , that is, they must exert themselves at all moments of life to themselves at all moments of life to fight a battle both inward and outward fight a battle both inward and outward against those forces that if not against those forces that if not combatted will destroy that equilibrium combatted will destroy that equilibrium which is the necessary condition for which is the necessary condition for the spiritual life of the person and the the spiritual life of the person and the functioning of human society.functioning of human society.

On the more external level, the On the more external level, the lesser lesser jihadjihad also includes the socio- also includes the socio-economic domain. It means the economic domain. It means the reassertion of justice in the external reassertion of justice in the external environment of human existence environment of human existence starting with man himself. To starting with man himself. To defend one's rights and reputation, defend one's rights and reputation, to defend the honour of oneself and to defend the honour of oneself and one's family is itself a one's family is itself a jihadjihad and a and a religious dutyreligious duty. .

From the spiritual point of view all the From the spiritual point of view all the ''pillarspillars' of Islam can be seen as being ' of Islam can be seen as being related to related to jihadjihad. The fundamental . The fundamental witnesses, 'There is no divinity but witnesses, 'There is no divinity but Allah' and 'Muhammad is the Allah' and 'Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah', through the Messenger of Allah', through the utterance of which a person becomes a utterance of which a person becomes a Muslim are not only statements about Muslim are not only statements about the Truth as seen in the Islamic the Truth as seen in the Islamic perspective but also weapons for the perspective but also weapons for the practice of inner practice of inner jihadjihad..

• To perform the prayers with regularity and concentration requires the constant exertion of our will and an unending battle and striving against forgetfulness, dissipation and laziness. It is itself a form of spiritual warfare. 

• In the same way that with every breath the principle of life which functions in us irrespective of our will and as long as it is willed by Him who created us, exerts itself through jihad to instill life within our whole body, at every moment in our conscious life we should seek to perform jihad in not only establishing equilibrium in the world about us but also in awakening to that Divine Reality which is the very source of our consciousness.

The Prophet said, The Prophet said, 'Man is asleep and 'Man is asleep and when he dies he awakenswhen he dies he awakens''. Through inner . Through inner jihadjihad the spiritual man dies in this life in the spiritual man dies in this life in order to cease all dreaming, in order to order to cease all dreaming, in order to awaken to that Reality which is the origin awaken to that Reality which is the origin of all realities, in order to behold that of all realities, in order to behold that Beauty of which all earthly beauty is but a Beauty of which all earthly beauty is but a pale reflection, in order to attain that pale reflection, in order to attain that Peace which all men seek but which can Peace which all men seek but which can in fact be found only through the inner in fact be found only through the inner jihadjihad. .

• 3. Jihad Fi-sabilillah (Military Jihad for the sake of God)

• Physical Jihad: This is combat waged in defense of Muslims against oppression and transgression by the enemies of Allah, Islam and Muslims. We are commanded by Allah to lead peaceful lives and not transgress against anyone, but also to defend ourselves against oppression .

• “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors.” 2:190

• This portion of the Qur'an was revelaed in about 606 C.E., when the Prophet Muhammad and his followers were under attack in the city of Medinah.

• The passage actually refers to a defensive war. "You fight back. You go as far as it takes to stop the aggression but you do not go beyond that. So if you have to, you go as far as fighting verbally to get someone out of your home--but you don't shoot him after he is out. You don't keep going on with it--only if you are attacked, if there is an oppression applied to you.”

Jihad orders as in the Jihad orders as in the traditions of Prophet traditions of Prophet Mohammad:Mohammad:NeverNever Injure Prisoners of Injure Prisoners of

WarWarNeverNever Kill Animals Kill AnimalsNeverNever Destroy Crops Destroy CropsNeverNever Destroy Destroy

InfrastructuresInfrastructures

NeverNever Mutilate Bodies of Mutilate Bodies of Enemies dead or aliveEnemies dead or alive

All Prisoners Given Fair All Prisoners Given Fair TreatmentTreatment

Women & Children Women & Children Protected From HarmProtected From Harm

Always Bury All Dead With Always Bury All Dead With RespectRespect

Note:Note: 1,400 Years 1,400 Years BEFOREBEFORE Geneva ConventionGeneva Convention

Thankyou for your patience !Thankyou for your patience !

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