Your interepretation?
Dear Cool-Dude, the best way to commence a deabate/discussion is to lay out your own thoughts, initially. This kind of attitude provides a base for a constructive debate.
Surah Anfal* (The Spoilers of War)*
This Surah defines the fundamentals of Jehad. From the question of war booty to the victory against all odds. Jehad should be fought in the cause of Allah (SWT), and His help will only come if the military virtues are devoted towards the sacred cause of Allah(SWT). The clear example emerges in the Ghazw-e-Badr when Allah's help bestowes upon the believers and hence results in an all out victory.
Obedience and intellegent discipline, zeal and most important of all; gratitude towards Allah are the true passports to success and protection from the assaults of evil. Evil will be piled up with evil and destroyed [8:20]
The battle of of Badr was a testing time, and showed how virtue and valour can conquer against odds. Steadfastness and obedience; faith, courage, and fearlessness; due preparation and free expenditures of resources and energy- **these are expected from you by Allah, and His help is all-sufficient. [8:38-64]*
Even tenfolds odds against you do not count if you are fighting for truth and faith against enemies of truth and faith; but remmember clemency and consideration in the hour of victory.**[8:65-75]*
Fight the good fight, but dispute not about the prize: that is for Allah To give. Men of faith act and obey. It is nobler to fight for the truth than to seek wordly gain. To the pure in faith Allah will give the mind and the resources to conquer. They but fight, with no though of ever turning back: the victory should be ascribed to Allah and not men. [8:1-19]
[This message has been edited by outlaw (edited September 20, 2000).]
I know it's good to provide my own thoughts first, but I thought i'd do it the other way round for a change!!
To me, Jihad means struggle.
I was told this hadith once, please do correct me if it is wrong:
A man came to the prophet during one of the battles and asked him how he could prepare and fight for Islam. The prophet replied that the man had elderly parents at home and his Jihad would be to look after them. That was his struggle.
I think people misinterpret Jihad as just physical fighting.. but I think it is a lot more than that.
Jehad is a struggle against all injustices and the biggest injustices in the ummah today are:
Poverty
Illiteracy
Ignorance
Racism
etc.
The muslims are easily coalesced, united, under the banner of Jehad, in a physical war against the enemies of Islam; but are we or have we ever been similarly united in a war against Poverty & Ignorance, for example?
The answer is No! Why?
Imagine the impact that would have, for example in Pakistan, if a Jehad against Poverty was launched and everyone got united in the true spirit of Islam!
For women wareing a scarf is Jehad and for men living a life in the way of Islam is Jehad(honest living).
yes Jehad is not only physical fighting its fighting angainst the enemies of Islam. Be it hand-to-hand combat or just fighting the urge to go corrupt!! or just not watching the wrong stuff!!
Salam Cool Dude,
**
An in depth discussion started by Brother Cool Dude.
Brother Cool Dude,
The term Jihad is commonly referred to fight in a holy war but its "NOT" only that.
The harder kinda Jihad is Jihad-e-bin-nafs, where a Momin fight against his/her ego, evil desires, ugly thoughts, wrong ideas, bad environment, surroundings, and so forth.
To control our anger is the best kinda of Jihad.
Refrain from doing gheebat (back-biting) is jihad.
Keeping ourselves away from lies is a Jihad.
These are the "tougher" kinds of Jihads where one need to have full control over nafs (soul) and mind.
The same jihad-e-bin-nafs thus becomes the basis of Jihad-e-bil-qalam and jihad bis-saif. There comes the most important situation. Its so easy to kill an enemy standing right in front of me, but to decide whether to proceed or stop, for this we again refer to jihad-e-bin-nafs.
Where we need to proceed, we should proceed; and more importantly where we need to stop, we should stop. No matter if the whole world tells me to kill another Muslim brother, I wont do that because my "aql" and "faith (iman)" tells me not to do it.
The pure inner feelings of husn-e-ikhlaq prompt us to do jihad-e-bin-nafs.
Another significant aspect here is that "Riyah" in jihad is a terrible disease. While doing Jihad-e-bin-nafs or jihad-e-bis-saif, one needs to ask himself/herself, Am I doing it to gain favor of Allah? or Am I doing it to achieve the Maulana's favor? Is this fight for worldly gains? Am I careful enough to make sure that I dont kill any of my Muslim brother mistakenly? It is very important to seek guidance from aql as well while doing Jihad. That makes some of the fights these days around the world as "Not Jihads", though people call them Jihad, but in actuality they are not jihad.
A very good question!!!!!
May Allah bless you in the sadqa of Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.w) and his ahlebait (a.s)
**
your bro,
Humble
Exactly what brother humble said. There are two kinds of jihad. The first type is within oneself. That means fighting within yourself to keep away from evil. The other type of jihad is on the warfield. That is fighting in the way of Allah.
It is very important that we do not transgress after victory. This means killing the enemy after they have surrendered, mutilating bodies, etc.
Also we should not be greedy for the spoils of war.
Allah Hafiz.
I agree brother Shakir.
Humble
Making every effort to convince every person in the world that there is no God but Allah and Mohammed (pbuh) is his prophet. Those who can not be convinced should be killed.
That is 'Jihad'
[quote]
Originally posted by tauba tauba:
**Making every effort to convince every person in the world that there is no God but Allah and Mohammed (pbuh) is his prophet. Those who can not be convinced should be killed.
That is 'Jihad' **
[/quote]
THAT IS NOT JIHAD!!!!!!!!!
we muslims in India should separate and form our own Islamic state. Hindus are not the loved people of Allah. Every thing they do is evil.
300 years ago when India was ruled by the Muslims, it was the golden age of India. I think, even now all the muslims in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India should claim their Islamic Empire back and all of the Indian subcontinent should be ruled by the muslims. All the hindus can either convert to Islam or.....!!!!
Yes that will be a 'Jihad'
Are You insane tauba? I know you are NOT a muslim, pretending to be one and giving bad name to us.
Ashee!
[quote]
Originally posted by AishaKhan:
**Are You insane tauba? I know you are NOT a muslim, pretending to be one and giving bad name to us.
Ashee!**
[/quote]
I second your notion Ayesha, I think Tauba is a deprived hindu pretending to be a Muslim..
Who gives you the right to say that I'm not a muslim, Aisha meri bachi?
You are the one who has forgotton the duty of a true muslim.
Remember, as true muslims, we must continue the struggle (Jihad) and make sure that there are no non believers left in this world.
We are not going to reach our goal by doing khushamad of the hindus or the christian and jewish west. I know, one day they will all be glad that they accepted Islam, the only true religion of Allah.
The opinions expressed by tauba tauba are indeed esposed by number of muslims of the 'extremist' variety.
The reactions of AlishaKhan & Outlaw are naive; are stated with all good intentions but let's not forget - there are muslims who believe that those who disagree with their version of Islam can be put to the sword!
To change the world, first you need to accept the hard facts!
Faceup/Logical be more precise!! Who are you referring to?
[quote]
Originally posted by tauba tauba:
**Making every effort to convince every person in the world that there is no God but Allah and Mohammed (pbuh) is his prophet. Those who can not be convinced should be killed.
That is 'Jihad' **
[/quote]
Please refrain from making such extreme comments.
Outlaw,
You asking me or logical?
[This message has been edited by faceup (edited September 20, 2000).]