The Concept of Jihad in Islam: Its True Meaning
The idea of jihad is often misconstrued in Islam. Jihad is commonly misconceived of as violence and terror but in reality is far more subtle and peaceful than it is believed to be. In this article, we set out to reveal the true meaning of jihad in Islam, its definition, and its role in a Muslims life.
What is Jihad?
Jihad is derived from the Arabic word that means “struggle” or “striving”. Within Islam, jihad is the struggle to live upright, protect Islam, and make a positive change in the world. Most people perceive Jihad as a call to fight while in reality, it is an assortment of efforts to grow spiritually and extricate oneself and the world from challenges.
The Two Types of Jihad
There are two major categories that can be used to explain the concept of jihad in Islam; greater jihad and lesser jihad.
- Greater Jihad (Jihad al-Akbar)
The greater jihad manifests itself as a struggle that Muslims face daily. Developing a kind of thinking means that one must sacrifice personal desires, vanity, and shortcomings to exist in a more virtuous life. This form of jihad includes:
- Overcoming bad habits like greed, envy, and anger.
- Working on self-discipline, such as praying regularly, fasting, and giving charity.
- Striving to maintain patience and humility.
The emphasis of Allah on this inner jihad is according to verse 63 of Surah Al-Furqan as true believers are portrayed to be those that “walk on the earth humbly”. It shows that the actual jihad is about polishing one’s character and manners.
- Lesser Jihad (Jihad al-Asghar)
Lesser jihad refers to the general struggle outside the self; protecting Islam against oppression and pursuing justice. Even though lesser jihad is generally associated with the practice of fighting, it is necessary to understand that Islam gives the right to fight if and only if a set of particular circumstances exists, e.g. Muslim society under the threat.
The Quran goes ahead to give instructions on legitimate warfare in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 190. “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.” It is apparent from this verse that involvement in war is only justified to protect; and must be done following moral limits.
The Spiritual Struggle of Jihad
Although there is physical resistance as part of the jihad process, the spiritual one is definitely the most significant aspect. It means striving to do better, doing the righteous acts, and not doing what Allah has made forbidden. This effort goes on for a lifetime and continues until the person dies.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, "The best jihad is the one in which the believer strives against his own soul." (Sahih Muslim). According to this Hadith the essence of jihad would reside in self-improvement as well as upholding moral standards. Personal discipline is as important as battles.
Jihad and the Defense of Islam
Jihad has been a very important player in the Islamic history because it has been used as a way of ensuring the Muslim community remained safe against the outer threats. Still, it is worth appreciating the fact that jihad is not intended to dominate nor to be violent but to obtain the right to worship and to ensure justice.
When given a conflict, Muslims are asked to fight in a bid to defend their faith and also fight both the oppressed and those that oppress. Jihad in this form is only permitted after every peaceful way to resolve the matter has been explored.
The Quran, in Surah Al-Hajj, verse 39, states: “Permission to fight has been given to those who are being oppressed.” It is obvious that the efforts are aimed at wrongdoers, not at innocent individuals.
Exploring Jihad in Modern Society Nowadays, the term jihad is distorted by extremist groups, who explain their aggressive actions in reasonable ways. It is essential to clarify the real essence of jihad in Islam because its frequent misuse is made by those who promote violence and intolerance.
Jihad genuinely is an endeavor to ensure peace, justice and communally welfare in the society. It encourages positively Muslims to contribute into the society through kindness, generosity and self development. The Quran encourages Muslims to be ambassadors of peace: “And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in Allah.” (Surah Al-Anfal, 8:61).
How Muslims Practice Jihad in Everyday Life
Jihad is not limited to acts of war; it extends to everyday actions that contribute to a better world. Muslims practice jihad in their daily lives through: Helping those in need by giving charity (Zakat). Spreading kindness and helping others without expecting anything in return. Striving for self-improvement and following the teachings of Islam.
Promoting peace and justice in their communities. By following these guidelines, the Muslims attempt their jihad in the most peaceful and fruitful manner. An effective approach to practice jihad at home is to concentrate on increasing our knowledge of Islam. By using platforms including online Quran academy, you can easily study and fully understand the Quran while at home.
Misconceptions About Jihad
There are many misconceptions that people have about jihad particularly in Western societies. There is a widespread belief that all kinds of jihad involve violence or terrorism which is a myth. Islam strongly condemns terrorism and killing innocent people, as stated in the Quran: “Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption done in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:32).
The misapplication of jihad by extremist organizations is in total contradiction to Islamic tenets. Real Jihad lays particular emphasis on peace, justice, and improvement in individual and communal life.
The Role of Jihad in Islamic History
At the beginning of Islam, jihad was an effective defensive measure to ensure the Muslim community was safeguarded from the people who planned its extermination. When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Muslims took engagements, it was only with the aim of defending Islam. Their goal was to preserve religious freedom and the ecology under which Muslims could be able to worship freely.
However, it is important to point out that the early Muslims performed warfare only as a last resort and always behaved properly as concerns their conflicts. The early Muslims taught how to guard non-combatants, avoid destruction of plants and restrain from killing animals. From these standards, one can clearly see that jihad was not marked by a violent nature, but by the fact of protecting oneself while having strict moral regulations.
Fundamentally, jihad means personal growth, keeping fairness, and upholding faith in the name of Allah. Jihad does not mean violence or terrorism rather peace and righteousness. Jihad is an Islamic practice that instructs people to overcome their imperfections, serve other beings and practice Islamic values in their daily life.
Jihad as it should be sticks to peace and teaches Muslims to strive for their good and for good in society. It is a lifelong effort to make the world a better place, in line with the teachings of the Quran and the example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
