What is Jihad?
Jihad is derived from the root word ‘jahada’ which means to strive, to be diligent. From that comes another specific verb ‘jaahad’ which refers to striving, struggling or to fight against. It refers to the struggles and things we strive for. One should recognize that anything they want to achieve or work on will come with tests- this is a form of Jihad. Islam wants us to progress as individuals, not be idle, and strive for truth and justice.
What are the types of Jihad?
Jihad is a religious duty for Muslims and it is of two kinds: minor jihād (jihad al-asghar) and major jihād (jihad al-akbar).
The greater Jihad is the struggle against oneself, controlling desires in order to fulfil our duties towards Allah (swt).
Examples of this include:
- Jihad of patience- Knowing when to control our emotions and respond at the right time and in the correct manner.
- Jihad against Ignorance- striving to acquire knowledge and spread it further.
- Jihad against the wrong desires- controlling and reflecting our feelings to ensure we are acting lawfully.
- Jihad of spiritual development (Jihad al Nafs)- striving towards raising our levels of spirituality and improving to avoid religion becoming a ritual.
Jihad in the Holy Quran
There are various verses that point to the action of Jihad, one of them being:
﴾9﴿ ٨﴾ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّاهَا ﴿٧﴾ فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا ﴿وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا
… By the soul and (by) Him who made it perfect, and then inspired it to understand what is wrong and what is right for it. Truly is successful the one who purifies (his soul). (Holy Qur’an, 91:7-9)
FAQ:
What are the misconceptions about Jihad?
The biggest misconception about Jihad, is that Jihad means physically fighting for Islam. While it is true that Jihad refers to standing up for what is right, and to fight against oppression, the greater Jihad is actually to purify one’s soul.
Fighting against oppression does not mean that we as Muslims are allowed to hurt others. We must ensure that while we are fighting for the truth, we must not trample on anyone’s rights, hurt them or commit actions that are against the law.
