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The Concept of Jihad

he books (the Quran, the Pentateuch, the Zabur, and the Injil), that of the prophets, and that of the resurrection on the last day (Soper, 1951, 215-216).

The concept of jihad as explained by Muhammad makes reference to the importance of the holy struggle of Islam against that which is not Islam. The jihad was not the sort of aggressive holy war envisioned by many of the faithful today, for Muhammad expressly proscribed beginning hostilities, stating that "Allah loveth not aggressors" (Gumley and Redhead, 1992, 74). Once challenged, though, the Muslim is called upon to slay the enemy wherever they are found. This tenet of the faith has had long-term consequences for the way the rest of the world views Islam:

It is a fact of world politics that Islam is perceived not as a creed of peace-making compassion, but as an excuse for antique savagery and manic extremism. Muslims have to face the implications of the truth that for many non-Muslims the very word Islam conjures up images of contemporary horror. . . These images have more to do with the odd amalgam of fear and envy which have for so long characterized relations between the west and the Arab world than with the theology of Islam (Gumley and Redhead, 1992, 75).

The term jihad is often translated as holy war and has been called the unofficial sixth pillar of Islam. In truth, the term has only been half understood. In Islam, jihad is a very sensitive technical term. It actually has two branches, the lesser jihad and the greater jihad. The greater jihad is the jihad of the individual's soul. According to the Quran, man was created primarily for the worship of God, and the individual must therefore strive to achieve this. In Arabic, striving or struggle is jihad. Struggling to worship God is the greater jihad, and this means working to live a monotheistic life according to the moral principles in the Scriptures. The lesser jihad involves the use of arms or other f...

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The Concept of Jihad. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 07:03, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1687014.html