09-29-2004, 03:00 AM
From what I understand, there are two Jihads, the lesser Jihad and the greater Jihad.
Jihad means to "struggle" or "strive". The translation of Holy War is not accurate.
The lesser Jihad, (al-asrar) is against external forces. The GREAT jihad is the Jihad an Nafs, the internal struggle with weakness, bad habits, etc.
Here are some suras....
Fight for the Cause of God
Those who fight you
But do not transgress limits,
For God loveth not transgressors. (Sura 2.190)
Notice the last line. The last two lines for that matter. Moving on......
Those who believe, and suffer
Exile and strive with might
And main, in God's cause,
With their and their persons,
Have the highest rank
In the sight of God:
They are the people
Who will achieve salvation.
Their Lord doth give them
Glad tidings of a Mercy
From Himself, of His good pleasure,
And of Gardens for them,
Wherein are delights
That endure.
(Sura 9.20-21)
Here is another popular yet misunderstood verse in the Qur'an.
And slay them
Wherever yee catch them
And turn them out
From where they have
turned you out;
For tumult and oppression
Are worse than slaughter;
But fight them not
At the Sacred Mosque,
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,
God is Oft-forgiving,
Most merciful.
This was in referance to the fighting that was going on in Mecca.... at the time of Mohammad, they were fighting fiercly with the local Pagans.... The first line to this Sura is when you are actually in hand to hand or full combat..... it just means simply FIGHT BACK. It does not mean however, to go hunt people down first.
The Quran prohibits the use of Jihad except for the use of self defense. IT CANNOT BE USED FOR AN ATTACK OR TO FORCE CONVERSION.
Let's look at Surah 2.256
Let there be no compulsion
In Religion.
And also how about Surah 5.32
On that account, We ordained
For the children of Israel
That if any one slew
A person, unless it be
For murder or for spreading
Mischief in the land
It would be as if
He slew the whole people..........
So there you have your Jihad, the do's and don'ts, and a couple of why's.
Peace!!!