Muslims, what Jihad means to you?

Question

In response to Islamic intolerance toward "Kalif" ( infidels ), some moderate Muslims are promoting the interpretation of Jihad differently than some others. Tell me what version of Jihad you promote?

Answer 1

Their bible (qu'ran) instructs them to kill unbelievers and not feel bad about it because it was actually God that killed for them:

Sura 8:12,13 Muslims are instructed to cut the necks and fingers of those who opposed God and to never turn their back on unbelievers: "Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): 'I am with you: give firmness to the believers. I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. Smite ye above their necks and smite all their fingertips off them. This because they contended against God and His Apostle. If any contend against God and his Apostle, God is strict in punishment ... O ye who believe! When ye meet the unbelievers in hostile array, never turn your backs to them. If any do turn his back to them on such a day –unless it be in a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own) – he draws on himself the wrath of God, and his abode is hell, – an evil refuge (indeed)! It is not ye who slew them; it was God."

Answer 2

Jihad has two meanings:
1- Major Jihad : it is the Jihad against urself ( i mean against the sins that u can do )
2- Minor Jihad : It is the Jihad as a holly war against the enemies

By the way, The Major Jihad is more important to a Muslim than Minor Jihad, why ??
Because the Major Jihad ( against sins ) must be done by EVERY muslim
But when we talk about the Minor Jihad ( holly war ) , if some Muslims did it, others have the ability NOT to do it, no problem

Answer 3

This is probably the best time to ask as through Ramadan, a Muslim can't lie. The Muslims believe that Jihad is a struggle. The greatest struggle being your inner struggle with temptation.

The reason it's got the link with terrorists and violence is because it can also be used to describe a struggle against oppression. The extremists state that whoever they blow up is "oppressing" them or other Muslims so it's allowed. The majority of Muslims condemn this behaviour as unIslamic because it goes beyond limits set down in the Qu'ran (Surah 2:190). There is a concept in Islam that is about the same as the Christian "Just War" concept.

As an aside - during Ramadan, any religious and spiritual advancement gained during the fast of Ramadan is believed to be negated by arguing, lying, being greedy, committing violence or gossiping. So any Muslims willing to answer questions in this time are the real deal.

Answer 4

In Islam there is what we call Jihad al nafs. This is the big Jihad. This has to do with a hardship you must overcome in your life. Lets say for example you were laid off from work and you still had a family to feed, this is your jihad al nafs. The other Jihad which is holy war, is the smaller Jihad, and there are MANY rules to it, so its not just open murder, there are things that the enemy must do before it becomes ok to DEFEND yourself.

Answer 5

Okay. I am Western non-Muslim, but I've studied Islam extensively, and I lived in a Middle Eastern Muslim country for a while. So I understand it from a Western point of view. To MOST Muslims jihad has to do with a spiritual war. It is the struggle to chose the right path when we are so often lured onto the wrong path. Christians use a similar word/phrase to describe it, and I can't remember what it is. Another form of jihad is to defend the Muslim holy lands from invaders, and it is only justified when Islam has been attacked. To Muslim fundamentalists it means to get the infidels to either convert to Islam or submit to it. But out of the eight billion Muslims in the world a very small portion of them are fundamentalists. If you are wondering...Muslims don't hate non-Muslims. When you are living in a Muslim land they only ask that you respect their beliefs, and their customs. Out of the time I've spent there, and the people that I had gotten to know-I never came across one who wasn't kind to me. They are pretty decent people, but our media portrays them in a really false light. Don't believe what you hear. Don't believe what that other guy said either. He is attempting to understand Islam from a Western context, and you can't do it. That is the one passage derived from a religious text that so many Westerners use to thrash Islam. I know, I used to do it to until I spent time there, actually got to know a lot of Muslim people, and to see how they live and really think. No. They don't hate us. But they are not to thrilled about Bush, but than neither are most Americans.

Answer 6

Kalif?

Im guessing you meant the word 'Kaafir'

which can be translated as: person who rejects belief

not as 'infidel'

as for your question, Jihad means to put forth a struggle in the way of pleasing God

there is inner and outer struggle

inner struggle takes place when one tries to discipline their ego and desires of the flesh

outer struggle takes place when one is faced with oppression and hate and struggles to maintain their faith in God no matter how the people around them force them to do other wise.

This is the understanding they teach kids in standard Islamic education in Saudi Arabia.

Answer 7

Jihad is not a means of promotion of any falsehood, the true meaning of jihad is struggle. Having to patiently be kind to those who say bad things about me and my faith, having to tolerate a lot of people on here who don't know anything about Islam, having to tolerate people who spread hatred is my jihad. Jihad is anything I have to do, in the way of Allah, and struggling while I do it.

That is the true meaning, not my own interpretation but what is meant to be.

Answer 8

its a holy war and it has to be proved by religous guys and the gov(leaders) and it has alot of conidtions
states that if ppl from diff religoiin attack muslim countries cause of their religoin,2) leaders agree . 3)religoin men agree too . so smipely. bin ladin n his followers think that number 2 and 3 arent really giving the best they can and they cheaters(cheat on the muslim nation) they r just scared to lose their positions. GOT IT NOW ? . good :) lol now 10 points please?

Answer 9

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/jihad

Answer 10

i am an iranian and i am shia .I am sorry that some sunni(not all)kill people and call it jihad. jihad means defence not killing .i can say you some tv channels and web:webs:www.al-shia.com channel :sahar, presstv,..