'Jihad'
The Quranic Definition
By: A. Mohamed
One of the most manipulated concepts in Islam today is the concept of Jihad. The Quranic definition of the word Jihad has sadly been replaced by a false bloodthirsty definition. The false version of Jihad violates numerous clearcut Quranic verses and is being used by various terrorist organisations to spread their various terrorist acts in the name of Islam. These terrorist acts, which occur all over the world, are ones of indiscriminate killing of innocent people. They are being undertaken in the name of Jihad. Ultimately, these totally non-Islamic criminal acts have gone a long way towards distorting the image of Islam throughout the world.
As with any religious concept, its correct definition can only be derived from the Scripture and not from the interpretations or teachings of humans. To fully understand the Quranic concept of Jihad, it is essential to address the following issues:
1- The Quranic definition of the word Jihad
2- What is 'The cause of God'?
3- Are the brainwashed youths who explode themselves in 'suicide bombings' really going to Paradise as they have been led to believe?
4- Does the concept of a 'holy war' have Quranic authorisation?
FIRST: The Quranic definition of the word Jihad
The literal definition of the word Jihad is: striving to achieve a goal, while the Quranic definition of the word is: striving with one's self and one's money in the cause of God. This definition is confirmed in a number of Quranic verses such as:
Rather, the believers are those who believe in God and His messenger, then have no doubt and strive (jahadu) with their money and themselves in the cause of God. Those are the truthful ones. 49:15
Those who believed, emigrated, and strove (jahadu) in the cause of God with their money and themselves hold the greatest rank with God, and those are the triumphant. 9:20
But the messenger and those who believed with him, they strove (jahadu) with their money and themselves. Those will have good things, and those are the successful ones. 9:88
p.s. the word 'jahadu' is the past tense verb from the noun Jihad.
SECOND: The cause of God
After establishing that Jihad means to strive with one's self and one's money in the cause of God, it is necessary to determine what is the Quranic meaning of the phrase: the cause of God?
Striving to uphold the cause of God simply means striving to uphold all of God’s commandments and all of God's prohibitions. Jihad is to preach and uphold God’s path and God’s Law.
Does the Quranic Jihad support violence and killing innocent people in the name of Islam? This matter can be resolved by consulting a number of relevant Quranic verses.
1- First, it is important to always be aware of a principle Quranic proclamation which states that God never advocates sin:
Say, "God does not command immorality. Are you saying about God what you do not know?" 7:28
2- The Quran states categorically that killing any innocent soul is a gross sin:
Do not kill any person; God has prohibited that except in the course of justice. 6:151 and 17:33
The prohibition against the killing of any innocent soul has always been the law of God, in the Quran and in all previous Scriptures:
We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a person, unless for the killing of another person, or causes corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he has killed all the people. 5:32
3- God does not allow war except in the case of self-defence:
If they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then God gives you no claim against them. 4:90
If they should incline to peace, so shall you be inclined, and put your trust in God. Indeed, He is the Hearer, the Knowledgeable. 8:61
Do not transgress. Indeed, God does not like the transgressors. 5:87
4- God commands that there will be no compulsion in religion:
There shall be no compulsion in religion. 2:256
For you is your religion, and for me is my religion. 109:6
Had your Lord willed, all the people in the earth, in their entirety, would have believed. Are you to force the people into becoming believers? 10:99
The commands in the above verses are very clear. Faith and religion cannot be enforced on any person but is the voluntary decision of each person. This truth is once again confirmed in the following verses:
Say, "The truth is from your Lord", so whoever wills shall believe and whoever wills shall disbelieve." 18:29
So remind, for you are but a reminder. You are not a controller over them. 88:21-22
The message of no compulsion in religion is clear in all the above verses.
5- The Quran advocates pardon, forgiveness and tolerance towards those who do not choose to follow Islam:
Tell those who believe to forgive those who do not seek the days of God. He will repay people for what they used to earn. 45:14
The Quran condemns the killing or even the persecution of people merely because they embrace a different religion. The Quran mandates absolute freedom of religion among all people. Respect and mutual co-existence must be exercised with those of other religions. The Quran urges Muslims to treat such people kindly and equitably:
With regards to those who have not fought you because of religion, nor driven you out of your homes, God does not forbid you from treating them kindly and being equitable towards them. God loves the equitable. 60:8
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The above verses establish the clear truth that the Quran prohibits all violence, unlawful killing and forcing others into Islam.
The killing of innocent people around the world at the hands of terrorist groups is a violation of all the verses quoted above.
THIRD: Are the ones who explode themselves in 'suicide bombs' really going to Paradise as they have been led to believe?
Suicide is a state of disbelief and loss of faith that is condemned by God throughout the Quran. In the Quran, God commands the believers never to despair or lose hope but instead have faith in God and work for a brighter future:
"None despairs of God's grace other than the disbelieving people." 12:87
Sadly, many youths who get drafted into one of the terrorist groups, are completely brainwashed into believing that upon exploding themselves they die as martyrs and are sent directly to Paradise! Young male youths, who are easy prey for the devious politically motivated preachers, are totally brainwashed into believing that beautiful virgins are waiting for them in Paradise!
Those who kill innocent people in the name of Islam or in the name of God, and who think of themselves as martyrs, should think twice. Their act is categorically condemned by God as per the Quranic verses below. These people are disobeying God's commandments by upholding the sinister teachings of their leaders!
And spend in the cause of God and be not thrown, by your own hands, into destruction. And do good; indeed, God loves the good-doers. 2:195
O you who believe, do not consume each other's money illicitly, but only engage in mutually acceptable trade. And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, God is Merciful towards you. Whoever does that out of aggression and injustice, We will roast him in a Fire. And that is easy for God. 4:29-30
As per all the Quranic verses presented, we can thus conclude the following:
1- Killing an innocent soul is a great sin in the sight of God (6:151, 17:33).
2- Suicide in any form is condemned by God (4:30).
3- The Quran does not promise Paradise to those who commit suicide but rather warns of great retribution (4:30).
FOURTH : Is the concept of 'Holy War' endorsed in the Quran?
Various terrorist groups portray Jihad as a 'holy war'. The media in the West has unfortunately been sucked up into accommodating or at least reporting this false interpretation.
In Quran terminology, the phrase 'holy war' does not exist anywhere in the Book. The Quran promotes peace rather than war. The word Islam is a derivative of the word 'salam' which means peace.
The option of war is allowed only in the case of self-defence. This stems from the fact that the Quran instructs opposition to aggression and oppression. Whenever there is a possibility to avoid war, that possibility must be pursued.
Prepare for them all the power and cavalry that you can muster, and with which you may terrify the enemies of God, and your enemies, and others besides them whom you do not know, but God knows them. Whatever you spend in the cause of God will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged. If they should incline to peace, so shall you be inclined, and put your trust in God. Indeed, He is the Hearer, the Knowledgeable. 8:60-61
Permission (to fight) has been granted to those who are being attacked since they have been treated unjustly. Indeed, God is Capable of granting them victory.
They are the ones who have been evicted from their homes unjustly and for no reason other than saying, "Our Lord is God." If it were not that God repels people by means of one another, monasteries, churches, synagogues and masjids, where the name of God is frequently mentioned, would have been destroyed. Absolutely, God will support those who support Him. Indeed, God is Powerful, Dignified. 22:39-40
The case made in the Quran for war as seen is in the case of self-defence. Fighting an oppressor or aggressor is fighting against oppression or aggression, thus, it is fighting for justice. Therefore, in this sense only, it is fighting in the cause of God.
And fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not aggress. Indeed, God does not like the aggressors. 2:190
Fighting oppression 'in the cause of God' is also the subject of 4:75
So let those who buy the Hereafter at the cost of the worldly life fight in the cause of God. Whoever fights in the cause of God, then gets killed or attains victory, We shall grant him a great reward.
What is the matter with you that you do not fight in the cause of God when there are oppressed men, women and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this village whose people are oppressive, and grant us from You an ally, and grant us from You a supporter." 4:74-75
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To conclude, it is quite clear that the word Jihad has been badly manipulated by those with a hidden agenda and their own political aims. They are acting in violation of Quranic law. The word 'holy' has never been used in the Quran in connection with war. There simply is no reference anywhere in the Quran for what they call 'holy war'.
There are times when war is permitted, but as we have seen in all the Quranic words, it is only permitted as a practice of self-defence, and even in such circumstances, it is not called a 'holy war'. Islam revolves around the concept of peace:
If they should incline to peace, so shall you be inclined, and put your trust in God. Indeed, He is the Hearer, the Knowledgeable. 8:61