Concepts And Practices Of Islam

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The term "Jihad" literally means 'struggle or strive'. In the Islamic term it means the perfect degree of endeavor which is not for personal motives but in the path of righteousness and truth.

The term "Jihad" has very vast meanings in Islamic world and it includes struggle against poverty, ignorance, crime, misdeeds, Injustice, racism, bigotry and by force domination.

Muslims believe that there are two major categories of Jihad (war). One is in the way of God which involves either spiritual or personal effort or material resources. The other Jihad is the inner struggle which everyone wages against egotistic desires, for the sake of attaining inner peace. The two major categories can be further divided into four following categories,

The Jihad with knowledge meant propagation of Islam, combating erroneous superstitions and beliefs to protect society from evil, to spread virtues and to struggle for bringing about peace and harmony. It is made clear that each and every Muslim by his words and deeds is a preacher. His every word is a guide line for reforming society and his every action becomes a model of Divine commands for bringing about peace.

The importance of this obligation can be understood from the saying of Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him). He said: 'The best fighting (Jihad) in the path of Allah is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler, without fear.'

Islam has never raised its sword against any soul, unless people transgress the bounds of humanity and join the legion of Satan and cruelty, who wish to upset peace and mutual co-existence priding themselves on the might of their arms, then it has been permitted to meet weapon with weapon and force with force.

Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock. As Muslims see it, injustice would be triumphant in the world if good men were not prepared to risk their lives in a righteous cause.

The Quran says:
'Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors.' (2.190)

According to Islamic teachings all the Muslims of the world are brothers to one another and are one nation irrespective to race, language, color or region. In Islamic ideology the world is divided into two major parts i.e. Muslims and Non-Muslims. Therefore all the Muslim countries/states/populace are sovereign units of the Islamic world and the defense of each and every unit is an Islamic obligation to all the Muslims.

Regarding defense there is a clear command if non Muslim armed force attacks an Islamic state or Muslim population, then one after another, it is compulsory for all the Muslims in the world that they rise to defend the Islamic state or Muslim Populace as the case may be.

In this manner peaceful citizens will be given protection, and the pride of those who employ material might against humanity will be humbled. However once the enemy is defeated or surrenders, it is not permissible to harm them for the purpose already been attained.

Those people who participate to achieve the goal or are slain in the path of Jihad have a greater honor in the eyes of God and the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him).

The Quran says: "And say not of those slain in God's Way, they are dead rather they are living but you are not aware."

The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'By Allah! If it were possible I would desire to be killed in the path of Allah , be given life again, again killed, again be raised to life and again be killed so that the pleasure and bliss of sacrificing my life to Allah would not be confined to one time.'

There are categories of persons who are exempted at all stages of Jihad with arms but such if they have means are not exempted from monetary participation in war. People who are physically disable can participate in Jihad earning the will of Allah and contributing to the glory of Islam by giving their wealth or riches.

Such Muslims spending their wealth become the source of satisfaction and strength of other members of community.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: 'In such times if the Muslim who did not leave his adobe but helped in Jihad with his wealth, he will receive the recompense of seven hundred dirhams for each dirham he has spent.'

The weight of deeds rest on intentions. These intentions can never be salutary unless intentions are pure and unless one has control over his passion. This drives the moral that striving with ones self is the deed having the highest stature. The correction of the spirit is the most important and necessary of deeds performed. The purity of intent can not be attained without accountability of the spirit, the washing of the spirit and control over personal desire.

The accountability and training of the spirit is important to such degree that on returning from a battle the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, 'We have returned to the greater striving from the lesser striving.' These words of Prophet (Peace be upon him) contain such manifestations of the purity of intent because without conquering animal passions purity and Godliness can not be attained.