Jihad in Islam

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Jihad in Islam??????

• Originally by Dr. Jamal Badawi
• Some minor changes were by the person who
  received this presentation. The original is still
  being looked for.

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What we will cover

• The meaning of the word Jihad
• The purpose of Jihad
• Islamic attitude towards the use of force
• The etiquette of the battlefield
• Post victory era
• But first, the beliefs of Islam

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Beliefs in Islam

• Belief in Allah
• Belief in the angels
• Belief in the revelations (books)
• Belief in the prophets
• Belief in the Day of Judgment
• Belief in Divine Destiny

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Vision and Mission

• Vision
• To attain the pleasure of Allah on the Day of
  Judgment
• To enter Paradise and avoid the Hellfire
• Mission
• To worship Allah in this world

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The Popular understanding

• Misrepresented
• Belief compulsion or pay with life
• Religious intolerance of other beliefs
• Verses about aggressors interpreted
  out-of-context as Kill all infidels
• Kill all different than you, or have right to
• Terrorism connected to Jihadsince some commit
  it, organizations called Islamic Jihadneither
  Islamic/Jihad

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Connotations

• Incorrectly translated as Holy War
• Connotations
• Crusades
• Hereticseliminating those who differ with
  religious institutions
• The inquisition
• Mutual killings
• None of these have to do with Islam or Jihad

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Back to Etymology

• Islam
• Is not derived from a persons name
• Means submission and peace
• Attainment of peace through
• Submission to the will of God
• Following His guidance
• Salam (the root of Islam)
• One of Allahs names/attributes
• ParadiseDar Assalam
• GreetingsAssalamu Alaikum

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Etymology of Jihad

• Jihad from Juhdeffort or struggle for excellence
• Three levels in Islam
• Struggle against evil inclinations of the self
  and desires
• Struggle against evil in societyforbidding evil,
  enjoining good
• Struggle in the battlefielddefense or removal of
  human tyranny

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Jihad?Not!

• Fighting to force people into Islam
• Let there be no compulsion in the matter of
  religion Quran 2256
• For personal ego to rule over larger areas
• For asserting the superiority of one group over
  another (ethnic, national)
• For wealth or war booty

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Valid reasons for Jihad

• Self defense
• As in the days of the prophet
• Includes armed resistance to occupation
• Removal of human tyranny
• Prevention of exercise of religious freedom
• Prevention of peaceful communication of the
  message of Islam

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Lessons from the Prophet

• 13 years of persecution in Mecca
• Fight not but perform prayers
• Not for personal revenge, but a clear cause
• First verse to allow fighting back was because of
  oppression
• Later revelations clarified
• Tolerate, be kind, equitable to others
• That do not fight your religion
• Do not expel you from your homes

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If there is war

• Give refuge to those that seek it
• Respect all treaties, unless abrogated
• Declare the warno surprises
• Except ongoing battle or occupation
• Offer peace before joining battle
• Strictly spare those not fighting
• Women, children, old men
• Religious devotees of prayer, teaching

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If there is war

• No unnecessary destruction
• Animals, vegetation, buildings
• Spare injured enemy combatants
• Do not torture or kill prisoners
• Provide them best of food (in Quran)
• End bondage of prisoners of war
• As an act of charity
• As a ransom (losses of war or prisoner exchange)
• Allow dead to be buried in dignity

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When war is over

• Avoid arrogance and gloating
• Shoulder the responsibility
• Establish justice
• Help the needy
• Prevent exploitation
• Of people
• Of land, wealth
• Provide situations for
• the good in people to manifest
• the evil to diminish

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Teachings versus Reality

• Distinguish between Islam and Muslims
• Teachings are established 1400 years ago based on
  the revelations and the Prophets application
• Teachings were applied for centuries with many
  examples

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Thank You