To muslims only: What is the real meaning of Jihad? Is it part of the teaching of Islam?

Question

Who was the one who taught this? Because if every muslim will believe in this I think the whole world will be in chaos because every nonbeliever is a target and all muslim will become a terrorist. But I know there are many good muslim and peaceloving but are tainted by the bad image of these terrorists. Can anybody clarify about jihad?

Answer 1

One of the greatest misconceptions about Islam, not only amongst the non-Muslims but even amongst the Muslims, is that concerning the concept of Jihad. Non-Muslims as well as Muslims think that any war fought by any Muslim for whatever purpose, be it good or bad, is Jihad.

‘Jihad’ is an Arabic word derived from ‘Jahada’, which means to strive or to struggle. For example. if a student strives to pass in the examination he is doing jihad.

In the Islamic context, ‘Jihad’ means to strive against one’s own evil inclination. It also means to strive to make the society better. It also includes the right to fight in self-defence or to fight in the battlefield against oppression and against aggression.


Jihad is not holy war:

Not only non-Muslim scholars, but even some Muslim scholars mistranslate the word ‘Jihad’ as holy war. The Arabic word for ‘holy war’ is ‘harabum muqaddasah’ and this word is not to be found anywhere in the Qur’an nor in any hadith. The word ‘holy war’ was first used to describe the crusades of the Christians who killed thousands of people in the name of Christianity. Today, this term ‘holy war’ is used to falsely describe Jihad, which merely means ‘to strive’. In an Islamic context, Jihad means ‘to strive in the way of Allah for a righteous cause’. i.e. Jihad fi Sabilillah.

Answer 2

Just like when you ask a Christian a question it depends on who you ask. Some will talk about an internal struggle. Some will talk about a literal Holy war. Read about the History of Islam and how it spread to Spain in no time flat. Read about what happened to the people who did not convert during Mohammad's life and you will have the real answer. It is not pretty. Just like in Christianity judge it not by it's so called followers judge it by what the founder lived, anyone who lives out their like contrary to what the founder lived isn't really the faith they claim.

Answer 3

a group contain the same ppl atleast same perseptions and acts, especially best friends? and neighbourhood does effect to personality and perceptions. in this case, if your muslim friend have not much fundamental knowledge about his religion then he cud tend to be more like his friends. with all atheist sight and thoughts he facing real challenge. tell him that the prophecies was true,that Muhammad-im been told in Bible tell him that the earth is in the shape of ostrich egg been told 1400 years ago and other scientific proved saying of the Prophet (saw). and it's true when a muslim start to questions his religion and found some atheist arguments sounds make sense does make a muslim depressed why?? his heart knew the religion was true but in the brain his arguments has been conquered by some arguments coz some knowledges lack and other wronged perceptions about his religion. being depressed is a terrible feeling, may Gd protect us from misguided amen. suggest him to commune with other muslim youth and do research to the religion. establish the 5 times prayer coz it's the pillar of his religion. may Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala guides us all, amen

Answer 4

hello, jihad mean's to fight against the unmuslim people who targeted them by the same way. this is only in just one situation: if the muslims have been targeted.
now in Iraq or middle east the muslims targeting the americans because the americans still killing the muslims.
now about bin laden and his organisation (alqaida) I have to tell you that he is really sick . and the muslims now are suffering from the 9/11 they say muslims are terrorists this is not true.

Answer 5

Jihad doesnt mean only fighting with weapons and war.Suppose any attack you our country and to İslam we must make jihad with weapons right.But during the peacetime we must make jihad by working by teaching Koran to our childeren,teaching İslam to nonmuslims so they can be saved from hell.

Answer 6

Whenever people talk about Jihad, they undersands that to fight and kill others but it is not really like this.
First of all, understand the real meaning of Jihad. The word "Jihad" comes from another word "Johad" and its meaning "to struggle", Struggle for what? struggle for religion to be on top by any means. It may be sword, it may be weapons, it may be pen, it may be protecting oursleves from sins, it may be spending money to others and yes it is a part of Islam.
So, Jihad means not only fighting with others, it is also fight with myself to control my heart, not to be involve in different sins and it is a big Jihad.
Writing religious books on different topic of Islam to clarify the concepts of other peoples is also a Jihad.
Now, I tell you, when can muslims fight with non-muslims, I mean when this fighting Jihad is allowed. Islam teaches us, first to convey the message of The All Mighty ALLAH (God) (briefly it is to accept and worship only the one God The ALL Mighty ALLAH) to non-muslims;
If they accept this message, then they are brother of muslims and in this case no need to fight with them.
If they don't accept this message, then put a charge on them and make them a servant and fulfill all their requirements.
If they are not agree for this charge also, then fight with them.
This message is for all human being because The God is only the one The All Mighty ALLAH and He is The Creator of all human being and His message is also for all human being.
Adopting this message in our lives and conveying to others is the main responsibility of each and every muslim.
Without conveying this message of The All Mighty ALLAH, muslims can not fight and kill non-muslims.
In the period of the last prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), one of his follower conquor a country ( I don't know exactly the name of country at the moment) without conveying this message, and citizen of that country complaint the Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), your peoples have occupied our place without conveying the message of The All Mighty ALLAH. Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) orders his peoples to vacant the place at the earliest and they did it. So this is the example from our islamic history for you to understand.
So, the muslims in the world is not only for fighting but the main purpose is to link all human being with The All Mighty ALLAH and every one should accept and worship to The All Mighty ALLAH.
I hope that your concept would now be clear.

Answer 7

My personal Jihad is saying La Illahe Ilallah - there is no place for murder in Jihad (exception is self-defence during a war)

Answer 8

Jihad means to stand up against cruel treatment towards Islam. However, many pple make use this as a reason to fight or wage war with other countries or states... Nevertheless, pple will think it's a terrorist agenda. Thanks to these pple who leads the country..... Let's take this as an example..
i) Bush attacks Iraq
ii) Bush 'captures' Iraq
iii) The pple of Iraq fight back
iv) Bush called them Insurgents/terrorist.. calling them jihadist..

Is this fair for the pple of Iraq?

Answer 9

the meaning of jihad is to fight in the way of allah.& for allah.

these terrorist activities have nothing to do with jihad. this is not jihad. it is TERRORISM.& suicide is not allowed in islam it is one of the greatest sins.& the one who commits suicide, is not a muslim .islam is totally against terrorism.the word islam itself means ",peace:"it does not allow the mass killing of innocent public.

Answer 10

jihad has many meanings
there is jihad that means holy fight or holy war
there is self jihad wich mean resisting your wants l
there is jihad that means spreading the islamic theaches and faith