Insights into Islam, part 1
what is Jihad??
Jihad is a beautiful, yet greatly misunderstood Islamic concept. the Arabic word Jihad is derived from the root word ”jahada” which means to strive, to protect, to exert, to endeavour, to preserve and to do your best.
God states in the Quran, the Muslim holy book: ” O you who believe, shall I show you a trade that will save you form a great punishment? you should believe in God…. and you should strive to the best of your ability in the way of God, with you possessions and yourself. that is better for you, if only you know (61:10-11).
Jihad must not be confused with ‘Holy war’, an idea that does not have a place in Islam. the concept of holy ware doesn’t not exist anywhere in the Quran, nor is it found in classical Islamic teaching. It is a foreign concept introduced by the Crusaders who waged holy war against mulish ”infidels” in the holy Land.
Contrary to popular opinion, Jihad is not a means of forcing on others. It should never be viewed as an expansionist, proselytizing movement. However, historically, and even in today’s times, some Muslims have taken it as such. This distortion of the virtuous concept of Jihad is in total contradictions to authentic Islamic teachings.
Jihad is the noble effort of improving oneself, one’s family and community, one’s nation and the world at large. Jihad is the struggle that a mother undergoes during pregnancy, childbirth and the raising of her child; it is years of hard work that a student puts towards a good education; it is that sacrifice that a fire-fighter makes when risking their own life to save another; and it is the courage that a solider has on the battlefield in the defence of his life, his country, his freedom and his beliefs.
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