Within Islam the term jihad refers to a large category of meanings. Today, however, there are attempts to isolate this term to only one form of jihad to the exclusion of all others. This includes a conception of jihad that at best refers only to armed struggle, and at worst to a barbaric form of warfare that seeks to destroy whatever peace may still remain in the world. This could not be farther from the concept of jihad as understood by Muslims throughout history and the world over. For Muslims, jihad is much more than armed struggle against an enemy from the outside for it includes constant struggle within both oneself and one's own society. When Jihad actually does take the form of armed struggle, Muslims are aware that it can only be done for the sake of a just cause.
Once upon returning from a battle, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said to his companions, "We have returned from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad; the Jihad of the soul." Here the term Jihad refers to the spiritual exercise of opposing the lower self. This referred to as the greater Jihad since people spend their lives struggling against the base desires within them that can harm both themselves and those around them.
Jihad is also used to refer to the pilgrimage to Mecca. When Aishah, the wife of the Prophet (SAW), was asked about the Jihad of women, she said, "Your Jihad is to make the pilgrimage." Here the pilgrimage is the lesser Jihad of women and the elderly who are not members of the armies that fight in defense of the country, so pilgrimage, which is a journey that is comprised of great difficulties due to the crowds and the physically demanding nature of its practices, is called Jihad. The term Jihad is also used to refer to speaking truth to those in power, so in Islam government oversight is a form of Jihad.
In addition to these meanings, the term Jihad refers to the defense of a nation or a just cause. This is what Jihad was legislated for, and it must be differentiated from indiscriminate killing by the condition that it be "in the way of God" meaning to struggle in self-defense, to alleviate tyranny, or to prevent aggression. These are the characteristics that differentiate Jihad from killing, which is a crime. These characteristics that amount to "in the way of God" are summed up in the Quran, " Fight in the way of God against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression - for, verily, God does not love aggressors," [Quran, 2:190]. This verse summarizes everything that has been agreed upon concerning guidelines of warfare, including the first and second Geneva Conventions.
As for suicide bombing, Islam forbids the taking of one's life. Ind addition, Islam forbids aggression against others. Attacking civilians, women, children and the elderly by blowing oneself up is absolutely forbidden in Islam. No excuse can be made for the crimes committed in New York, Spain and London and anyone who tries to make excuses for these acts is ignorant of Islamic law (shari'ah), and their excuses are a results of extremism and ignorance.
Once upon returning from a battle, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said to his companions, "We have returned from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad; the Jihad of the soul." Here the term Jihad refers to the spiritual exercise of opposing the lower self. This referred to as the greater Jihad since people spend their lives struggling against the base desires within them that can harm both themselves and those around them.
Jihad is also used to refer to the pilgrimage to Mecca. When Aishah, the wife of the Prophet (SAW), was asked about the Jihad of women, she said, "Your Jihad is to make the pilgrimage." Here the pilgrimage is the lesser Jihad of women and the elderly who are not members of the armies that fight in defense of the country, so pilgrimage, which is a journey that is comprised of great difficulties due to the crowds and the physically demanding nature of its practices, is called Jihad. The term Jihad is also used to refer to speaking truth to those in power, so in Islam government oversight is a form of Jihad.
In addition to these meanings, the term Jihad refers to the defense of a nation or a just cause. This is what Jihad was legislated for, and it must be differentiated from indiscriminate killing by the condition that it be "in the way of God" meaning to struggle in self-defense, to alleviate tyranny, or to prevent aggression. These are the characteristics that differentiate Jihad from killing, which is a crime. These characteristics that amount to "in the way of God" are summed up in the Quran, " Fight in the way of God against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression - for, verily, God does not love aggressors," [Quran, 2:190]. This verse summarizes everything that has been agreed upon concerning guidelines of warfare, including the first and second Geneva Conventions.
As for suicide bombing, Islam forbids the taking of one's life. Ind addition, Islam forbids aggression against others. Attacking civilians, women, children and the elderly by blowing oneself up is absolutely forbidden in Islam. No excuse can be made for the crimes committed in New York, Spain and London and anyone who tries to make excuses for these acts is ignorant of Islamic law (shari'ah), and their excuses are a results of extremism and ignorance.
