Almost everyone in the world today has heard the word Jihad, thanks to the media.This word has a very broad meaning and does not mean 'Holy War' as many people believe.
The meaning of the word Jihad is 'Striving'.It applies to any sort of activity made by any person because of love of God.It covers every aspect of a muslim's life. It is Jihad when a muslim is called upon to make an extra effort - for example, to get up before dawn in order to pray, to fast during Ramadan abstaining from all the things which would invalidate the fast.It is jihad when a person helps another, and goes out of their way to be a friend etc (the intention being to please God alone and not for anything else, if it is done with any other motive, it is NOT Jihad).For example, a person can lay down his life for his country without being religious at all - this is NOT Jihad.
It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) said: *"The most excellent jihad is that for the conquest of oneself." The soul is tempted to do certain things which are prohibited(haraam) at times and a person who strives to eradicate such thoughts and seeks refuge with God is doing Jihad by controlling his/her desires.
* Hadith from Bukhari
2007-07-27 07:01:38 · 22 answers · asked by Nourhan 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Actions speak louder than words.
Whatever you try to say cannot convince me that 9/11 , Madrid Bombings and London Bombings never happened.
2007-07-27 07:05:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 4⤋
As long as the crazed muslims are screaming that they declare a jihad on whoever and then start killing innocent people, you can say whatever you want but the meaning smacks us right in the face.
And we all know it is perfectly acceptable for muslims to lie to anyone who doesn't believe as they.
P.S. Our liberal media doesn't show the real truth you have to dig deeper to see the true face of Evil. When did you see these videos listed below on prime time news?
2007-07-27 07:41:20 · answer #2 · answered by FishEater 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's intresting. It's one more example of how the media can distort any religion.
Thanks for the info.
Edit. What the original poster said has nothing to do about terrorism. Because of different religions, at one point in time or another, people have done the most inhumane acts in the name of God. Some leaders just take some parts or verses of any religious book, distort them and manipulate their followers to do whatever they want them too.
It has happened before to christians and jews, I don't know about eastern cultures.
I'm catholic, but I don't think that any religion by itself is evil. But some followers of each can be evil. Education is what makes us free, and also teach us how to read and hear what other opinions are.
2007-07-27 07:05:29 · answer #3 · answered by Roberto 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, most Christians make the mistake of thinking it means holy war. It doesn't necessarily even have to do with physical violence.
And I just love how some bigoted and illiterate Christians (like turntable above) think they can decide what an Arabic word used by another religion 'really means' for Muslims everywhere. Yeah turntable, words change, but this one hasn't. If you took the time to speak with a few Muslims, you'd know that, but obviously you live a sheltered life. Also, you need to learn English first. It's 'vocal' not 'focal', 'day and age' not 'day in age', and finally 'caused by' not 'cause by'. I refuse to listen to someone give a language lesson for a foreign language when they have problems with their own.
Jihad means 'strive' or 'struggle', regardless of what you've heard on Fox News, from your drinking buddies, or from your pastor.
2007-07-27 07:15:24 · answer #4 · answered by gaelicspawn 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Sadly, I think many of these Muslim extremists actually believe they are pleasing God when they perform their various terrorists acts, either because someone has brainwashed them or they think this is what the Koran (I'm not sure that's the proper spelling.) is telling them to do. Obviously, these people have a more skewed view of their religion and their God than you do.
2007-07-27 07:07:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
It is the Muslims themselves that use this word to mean holy war. everyone else is just following suit.
Is strapping a bomb to ones self and murdering innocent civilians just a form of "striving"?
If alleged Moderate Islamics claim they are not extreme then they need to step up and do something about the extremists of their religion. However most support the extremists by just sitting back and letting them cause people to dislike Muslims.
Doing nothing IMO is support. As a Christian, if Christians started doing stuff like this you can bet we of the Faith would do something to put an end to it.
2007-07-27 07:11:00 · answer #6 · answered by m_c_m_a_n 4 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Thank you for the explanation. I am engaged to a Muslim man and am beginning to read the quran and learn more about Islam. I so wish the media would get things right, but we all know they only want to portray the bad for ratings. They know they are fueling the anger of Americans and they do not care to tell the truth, only what will get them ratings, thus they have turned many Americans against all Muslims.
2007-07-27 07:07:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
Feeding the poor is a Jihad
Helping the orphan is a Jihad
The mother carrying a child is a Jihad
Helping the oppressed is a Jihad
Any effort to do promote the good and oppose the evil is a Jihad.
2007-07-27 07:04:41 · answer #8 · answered by Haroon 3 · 6⤊ 6⤋
So Islamic jihad gave themself that name because they wanted to pray, fast and conquer themselves, not the "zionist entity".... So what was with all the weapons?
2007-07-27 07:05:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
you need to be updated...meaning of words can change over time...in this day in age it means Holy War...or kill all non-muslims...beside if you are trying to convince non-muslims you are peaceful...it will never work...why don't you be more focal to your fellow believers...start denouncing the killing in the world cause by your religion and jihad...
2007-07-27 07:11:37 · answer #10 · answered by turntable 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋