From: d89-gsk@nada.kth.se (Gani Skepi)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Jihad in Islam (was Re:Islam Revealed #1
Date: 10 Jan 93 13:03:29 GMT
Organization: Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden


Jihad means *STRUGGLE* in arabic.

Jihad consists in exerting oneself to the utmost in order to personally 
follow the teachings of Islam. A Muslim therefore expends all the powers of 
body and soul, his wealth, possessions and even life in the fight against the 
evil forces of the world in order that injustice, oppression and contumacy are 
annihilated and God's just order is established.

When Europeans/Westerners  hear someone talking about a holy war we
automatically connect it whith our own as the crusaders, conquistadors etc.
But the holy war in Islam is totally different.

So what is Jihad as a holy war?

The pen is always stonger than the sword, but when nobody is interested in
what you are saying or writing then you have only the sword left.
But the question is when can you say that you are fighting in a holy war?

God explains it by saying: 
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
(4:75-76)" And why should ye not Fight in the Cause of Allah and of those, 
being weak, are illtreated (and oppressed)?
Men women, and children, whose cry is: 'Our Lord! Rescue us from this town,
whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from Thee one who will protect;
and raise for us one who will help!' Those who do believe Fight in the cause
Allah, and those who reject Faith fight in the cause of Evil:
So fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of
Satan."

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
(22:39-41)"To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to 
fight) because they are wronged;- And verily, Allah is most powerful 
for their aid; (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes 
in defiance of right,(For no cause) except that they say:'Our Lord is 
Allah'.  Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, 
there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synago-
gues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant 
measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid his(cause); for verily 
Allah is full of Strength, Exalted in Might.(They are) those who, if we 
establish them in the land, establish Regular prayer and give Regular 
charity, enjoin the right and forbid wrong; Whith Allah rests the end 
(and decision) of (all) affairs."

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
(2:190-193)" Fight in the Cause of Allah, those who fight you, but do not
transgress limits; For Allah loveth not transgressors. And slay them wher-
ever ye catch them, and turn them out from where ever 
they have turned you out; For tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; 
But fight them not at the Sacred Mosque (Mecka), unless they (first) fight 
you there: But if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those 
who suppress Faith. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
And Fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there
prevail Justice and Faith in Allah; But if they cease, let there be no
hostility except to those who practise oppression."

Jihad as a holy war is permitted in selfdefense as you can read above.

In an Islamic state, it is the Caliph who orders jihad when certain
circumstances prevail.
Or if there are a righteouss Muslim schoolar calling for it.
When there is no Islamic state, when certain conditions are met, it is a
duty for Muslims to do jihad no matter who calls for it.

The reason why we call it for a holy war is because only that kind of
war is permitted by God, other kind of wars are against the laws of the
Only One.
And a holy war must be done in a special way (there are certain rules for
it).
A soldier no matter if he is fighting in a jihad or not will be judged
according to what he has done. If he has done something that is  against
the laws of God regarding war then he will be responsible for it on the
day of Judgment.
If it is a true Jihad and the soldier refuses then he will be responsible for
it on the day of Judgment.
If it is not a true Jihad and he follows it, he will be responsible for that
too.

Many westeners walk around believing that the holy war in Islam (Jihad) is a
religious one in the way that its goal is to destroy other religions and 
convert all to Islam. 
But what does God say about that in the Quran:

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
(2:256)"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out Clear 
from Error: whoever Rejects Evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the 
most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and 
knoweth all things."

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
(45:14)"Tell those who believe, to forgive those who do not look forward to 
the Days of Allah; It is for Him to recompense (for good or ill) each People 
according to what they have earned."

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
(50:39)" Bear, then, with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the 
praises of thy Lord, ..."

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
(28:56)" It is true thou wilt not be able to guide everyone whom thou lovest: 
but Allah guides those whom He will: and He knows best those who recieve gui-
dance."

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
(27:80-81)"Truly thou canst not cause the Dead to listen, nor canst thou 
cause the Deaf to hear the call,(especially) when they turn back in retreat.
Nor canst thou be a guide to the Blind, (to prevent them) from straying; only
those wilt thou get to listen who believe in our signs, and they will bow in
Islam."

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
(26:10-11)"The same is it to them whether thou admonish them or thou do not
admonish them: they will not believe.
Thou canst but admonish such a one as follows the Message and fears the
meeting of the Lord unseen; Give such a one, therefore, Good tidings, of
forgiveness and a reward most generous."

In the name of God. Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
(29:46)"And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means
better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict
wrong (and injury); But say:"We believe in the Revelation which has come 
down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is 
One; and it is to him we bow(in Islam)."

Some comments by Non-Muslims concerning Jihad:

M.K. GANDHI:
".. I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that 
won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the 
rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the prophet, the scrupu-
lous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and 
followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in 
God and in his own mission. *THESE, AND NOT THE SWORD, CARRIED EVERY-
THING BEFORE THEM AND SURMOUNTED EVERY TROUBLE*." Youg India 1924.

A.S. TRITTON:" The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a 
sword in one hand and the Quran in the other is *QUITE FALSE*." 
Islam, London, 1951 - page 21.

DE LACY O'LEARY: " History makes it clear, however, that the legend 
of fanatical Muslims, sweping through the world and forcing Islam at 
the point of the sword upon conqured races is *ONE OF THE MOST 
FANTASTICALLY ABSURD MYTHS THAT HISTORIANS HAVE EVER REPEATED." 
Islam at Crossroads, London 1923 page 8.

K.S RAMAKRISHNA RAO: "My problem to write this monograph is easier 
because we are not generally fed now on that (distorted) kind of 
history and much time need not to be spent on pointing out our
 misrepresentations of Islam. *THE THEORY OF ISLAM AND SWORD, FOR 
INSTANCE, IS NOT HEARD NOW IN ANY QUARTER WORTH THE NAME*. The 
principle of Islam that 'there is no compulsion in religion' is well 
known." Mohammed the Prophet of Islam, Riyadh 1989-page 4.

JAMES A. MICHENER: " No other religion in history spread so rapidly 
as Islam... The West has widely believed that this surge of religion 
was made possible by the sword. But *NO MODERN SCHOLAR ACCEPTS THAT 
IDEA*, and the Quran is explicit in support of the freedom of 
conscience." Islam - The Misunderstood Religion, Readers Digest 
(American Edition) May 1955.

LAWRENCE E. BROWNE: "Incidentally these well established facts 
*DISPOSE OF THE IDEA* so widely fostered in Christian writings that 
the *MUSLIMS, WHEREVER THEY WENT, FORCED PEOPLE TO ACCEPT ISLMA AT 
THE POINT OF THE SWORD.*"The Prospects of Islam, London 1944.

"THEY (Muhammed's critics) SEE FIRE INSTEAD OF LIGHT, UGLINESS INSTEAD 
OF GOOD. THEY DISTORT AND PRESENT EVERY GOOD QUALITY AS A GREAT VICE. IT 
REFLECTS THEIR OWN DEPRAVITY... THE CRITICS ARE BLIND. THEY CANNOT SEE 
THAT THE ONLY "SWORD" MUHAMMED WIELDED WAS THE SWORD OF MERCY, COMPASSION, 
FRIENDSHIP AND FORGIVENESS- THE SWORD THAT CONQUERS ENEMIES AND PURIFIES 
THEIR HEARTS. HIS SWORD WAS SHARPER THAN THE SWORD OF STEEL."
Pandit Gyanandra Dev Sharma Shastri, at a meeting in Gorakhpur (India). 1928.

"HE PREFERRED MIGRATION TO FIGHTING HIS OWN PEOPLE, BUT WHEN OPPRESSION 
WENT BEYOND THE PALE OF TOLERANCE HE TOOK UP HIS SWORD IN SELF-DEFENCE. 
THOSE WHO BELIEVE RELIGION CAN BE SPREAD BY FORCE ARE FOOLS WHO NEITHER 
KNOW THE WAYS OF RELIGION NOR THE WAYS OF THE WORLD. THEY ARE PROUD OF 
THIS BELIEF BECAUSE THEY ARE A LONG, LONG WAY AWAY FROM THE TRUTH." 
A Sikh journalist in "Nawan Hindustan." Delhi, 17 Nov. 1947.

Peace
Gani Skepi
d89-gsk@nada.kth.se
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,alt.pagan,alt.religion.computers