With all that is going on in the Gulf since BP has launched the latest “terrorist” attack on our country and that it has come from a “friendly” nation; it seems the Islamic terrorists haven’t found the need to work too hard lately. At least not at trying to destroy us…they are getting plenty of assistance. I personally think we should invade and occupy BP headquarters; but I’m going to let other bloggers tackle BP today, and give a little reminder of our other, less understood enemies. We should never forget that these people who wish to destroy us are bringing new terrorists into the world every day. We should never get "side-tracked" too far away from this because you can rest assured it is not over.
My husband and I attended a seminar at which a Professor of Middle-Eastern Studies lead a session on why we should never use the term “Jihad” when referring to terrorists. Jihad is one of the words that has been misused due to misunderstanding its true meaning.
The word “Jihad” is derived from the Arabic word “Jahd” which means fatigue: or the word “Juhd” which means effort. A Mujahid is he who strives in the Cause of Allah and exerts efforts which make him feel fatigued. The word “Jihad” means exerting effort to achieve a desired thing or prevent an undesired one. In other words, it is an effort that aims at bringing about benefit or preventing harm.
It is a struggle for something. Those who die while engaging in Jihad are considered to be martyrs. Jihad is also done to avert aggression on home countries and on all that is held sacred, or in order to face those who try to hinder the march of the call of truth.
The definition of Jihad is “To struggle to the utmost of one's ability and to make great efforts at striving to please Allah (S.W.T.), and to uphold His word.”
Every time we use the word, especially in the media, we confirm to the Islamic world that we accept this term. They do watch cable television, and when the Islamic people hear us use jihad to describe the “war on terror” we are confirming that their suicide bombers are heroic and doing the work of Allah.
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim has said in his Book Zaadul Ma'aad : “Jihad can be classified into four categories:
- The first type of jihad is to struggle against one's own self and desires.
- The second type of jihad is to struggle against the temptation of Satan.
- The third type of jihad is to struggle against the disbelievers.
- The fourth type of jihad is to struggle against the hypocrites.
Struggling against one's self desires means forcing yourself to follow the orders of Allah and to stay away from whatever Allah has ordered us to stay away from. This includes performing the obligatory and the voluntary, and to abandon all acts that are Haram (unlawful) or Makrooh (disliked). This type of jihad also includes forcing oneself to behave with the best manners, the best morals, and to stay away from bad behavior at a time when our desires tell us the opposite. Struggling against Satan means to defend yourself from his evil whisperings, his doubtful matters, his temptations, and his lustfulness. This type of jihad is an obligation for all individuals and no one can do it on another’s behalf.
The struggle against the disbelievers and the hypocrites has four levels, which are:
In the heart, the tongue, one's wealth and one's soul. When struggling with the disbelievers, more than likely, we will use our hands or physical strength. On the other hand, when struggling against the hypocrites, we will make jihad by using our tongue to preach to them.
These two types of Jihad are called Fard Kifayah, which basically means if some Muslims successfully perform these two types of jihad, then it will no longer be obligatory for other Muslims to perform it. Otherwise, it remains obligatory upon all Muslims until the goal of Jihad is achieved.”
I found the seminar to be interesting and informative. Most of us have precious little knowledge of the belief system of our “enemies.” It is much more complicated than this post will allow, or that was covered in the notes I jotted down in my notebook.
I did take away a clear understanding that we need to be more informed, and that we definitely should not, albeit unknowingly, give credence to terrorist by using the very word they have given us to use to describe their mission. We should:
NEVER USE THE WORD JIHAD.
Reference: Personal notes from seminar; various web sites.
Image; from sheikyermami
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Comments
Rated with hugs and for brilliance
I mean, I was born into the Catholic church and spent 12 years in Catholic schools. And yet, what I don't know about Catholicism could fill many books. So how can any of us assume that we know or understand much of anything about Islam?
Jim K
Lezlie
{[R]}
I think it behooves us to think beyond our own minimal world and find out more about these people we live in fear of on the other side of the world. I was watching the news today about the number of towns and cities who are so fearful of Muslims they are preventing the building of new mosques and centers for learning. This is just sad.
As a country built on escape from religious intolerance, we are some of the MOST small-minded people on the globe. Learning promotes understanding. (Rated)
I think that an open discussion with Muslim communities over the use of the term "jihad" to reference violent attacks would be a spectacular way build connections. The vast majority of Muslims would never use such a term to describe the murders that extremist terrorists commit. Let's open our ears to what the Muslim majority believes "jihad" is. Such a discussion could only promote mutual understanding and respect.
Next: I read extensively on Arab and Muslim history, as a subset of all history. To do this thoroughly means reading across the spectrum, from conservatives like Kagan and Bernard Lewis, to religious writers like Armstrong, to modern Muslim parses like Nasr's and Hourani's, to broad works of scholarship like Susan Bauer's astonishing new history series.
I would politely dispute most of your points about the definition and history of Holy War and Jihad in Islamic history, citing all of the authors and works above. I emphasize politely. You make a valid argument up to a point, and there is plenty of room for discussion, but the use of war by holy decree by any name is a near-constant in Islamic history. See just Northern Berber tribes and the two times those fundamentalists over-ran Andalusia and then the Caliphate of Cordoba. Contemporary sources are rife with references to Jihad and Holy War used to justify their slaughter of even fellow Muslims.
But my last and more important quibble is with the very idea of "we should never say..." anything. The point you are making does not require framing in this way. To declare a term as forever defined and thus unavailable for other use is not consistent with science and scholarship. I know I sound like a Big Jerk here, daring to re-state you, but here goes: "Why 'Jihad' does not apply to terrrorism", or 'Jihad' -- Doesn't mean what you think it means", or "Use Jihad correctly!", even. All of these suffice in making your point forcefully, without removing your points from normative language and history discussion
I will accept all brickbats and complaints, humbly.