What's jihad?

Answer 1

Jihad is a verbal noun with the literal meaning of striving or determined effort. The active participle mujahid means someone who strives or a participant in jihad.

The term jihad in many contexts means fighting (though there are other words in Arabic that more unambiguously refer to the act of making war, such as qital or harb). In the Qur’an and in later Muslim usage, jihad is commonly followed by the expression fi sabil Illah, “in the path of God.”[6] The description of warfare against the enemies of the Muslim community as jihad fi sabil Illah sacralized an activity that otherwise might have appeared as no more than the tribal warfare endemic in pre-Islamic Arabia.

After the Qur’an, the Hadith (reports on the sayings and acts of the prophet) is the second most important source of Islamic law (Shari`a). In Hadith collections, jihad means armed action; for example, the 199 references to jihad in the most standard collection of hadith, Sahih al-Bukhari, all assume that jihad means warfare.[7] More broadly, Bernard Lewis finds that “the overwhelming majority of classical theologians, jurists, and traditionalists [i.e., specialists in the Hadith] . . . understood the obligation of jihad in a military sense.”[8]

These figures formed one distinct interpretation of jihad as war and Ibn Taymiya and his followers formed another. For the jurists, jihad fits a context of the world divided into Muslim and non-Muslim zones, Dar al-Islam (Abode of Islam) and Dar al-Harb (Abode of War) respectively. This model implies perpetual warfare between Muslims and non-Muslims until the territory under Muslim control absorbs what is not, an attitude that perhaps reflects the optimism that resulted from the quick and far-reaching Arab conquests. Extending Dar al-Islam does not mean the annihilation of all non-Muslims, however, nor even their necessary conversion. Indeed, jihad cannot imply conversion by force, for the Qur’an (2:256) specifically states “there is no compulsion in religion.” Jihad has an explicitly political aim: the establishment of Muslim rule, which in turn has two benefits: it articulates Islam’s supersession of other faiths and creates the opportunity for Muslims to create a just political and social order.

Jihad cannot imply conversion by force.

Answer 2

Struggle, war is the lowest of Jihad. Debating in defense of Islam is Jihad. Struggling to do good deeds under threat of life is Jihad. Fighting evil in your soul is the highest Jihad.

Holy war idea is untrue.

Answer 3

Jihad- means to wage was against something.

A real Quran reader knows that Islam actually talks about Jihad against BAD Qualities in One'self.
Like Jihad against Anger and internal evil even :)

unfortunately, crazy Muslim clerics (who should'nt even be considered Muslim anymore), use "Jihad" for their own reasons.
Just like the corrupt Popes centuries ago, corrupt Hindu leaders of modern Indian who use their power for money and selfish ends -- These Muslims abuse their positions for power.

By Declaring war against other they shift blame from themselves and their governments to other people (Mainly the west)
They tell Poor Muslims that the world is hell due to the west, who abuse them and keep them poor. Being religious leaders, their word in unquestionable, and eventually people get brainwashed into believing it's true.

Jihad today, isn't just Holy War, it's become Holy War against anything that offends irritable and corrupt Muslims, who are a disgrace to their faith.

Islam and Christianity are almost one... you are all children of the same god... Just to stubborn too see that.

Answer 4

Jihad: The Arabic word Jihad is derived from the root word Jahada (struggle). Jihad has come to mean an offensive war to be waged by Muslims against all non-Muslims to convert them to Islam on the pain of death. Jihad is enjoined on all Muslims by the Quran.

Answer 5

Jihad is a holy war. see more information on www.hukmyazaan.blogspot.bom

Answer 6

Holy war, can only be declared by an elected official and only to defend, so all these fights are not jihad at all.

Answer 7

Jihad is often misinterpreted (thanks to the media) to mean "Holy War". A more accurate translation of the world is "striving" or "struggle", interpreted by old-school, conservative muslims to mean the struggle against non-muslims, but thought of my progressive muslims to mean the struggle to live a good muslim life, or striving to be a good Muslim.

Answer 8

It's the Arabic word for "struggle."

Answer 9

I'm not sure... That's what the guy at the deli always says when I tell him I don't want alot of fat on my corned beef sandwich...

Answer 10

JIHAD IS A FIGHT FOR RELIGION. STRUGGLE FOR RELIGION. HOLY WAR YOU CAN SAY. AND THAT RELIGION IS ISLAM. MUSLIMS HAVE A DUTY OF JIHAD THATS IS TO FIGHT FOR HIS RELIGION IF THE OTHER OPPONENT CRITICIZE OR INSULT OR FIGHTING AGAINT ISLAM.