THE QURANIC CONCEPT OF JIHAD AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF JIHAD Jihad is to achieve the complete freedom for all people to accept Islam as a way of life. Therefore, the purpose of Jihad is two- fold. Negatively speaking, it is to eradicate the mischief of Taghut and positively, the purpose is to establish a state of affairs wherein all obedience is rendered to God alone [7]. Keep on fighting against them until mischief ends and the way prescribed by Allah prevails. (Quran 2:193) We sent aforetime our messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the book and the balance (of right and wrong), that men might stand forth in justice. And we sent down iron in which there is material for mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind that Allah may test who it is that will help unseen . . . (Quran 57:25) Further, the aim of Jihad is to test the Believers. Muslims must go through the process of Jihad in order to prove that they are worthy of Allah’s blessing.4 . . . But if it had been Allah’s will, he would certainly have exacted retribution from them himself; but he lets you fight in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the way of Allah - He will never let their deeds be lost. (Quran 47:4) MISCONCEPTIONS OF JIHAD The true meaning of Jihad has been obscured by many false interpretations, both regarding the meaning of Jihad and its application. The difference between Jihad and Qital Jihad is often taken to mean merely war, which is caused by conflicting national interests, from the stresses and strains of monopolistic Capitalism, from philosophical conflicts, and so on. For example, it is asserted that the Futuhat campaigns were made in order to unite and maintain the internal cohesion of the Muslims, or that they were carried out mainly to gain economic prosperity. However, in Islam, Qital can only be undertaken for the sake of Allah, and carried out according to the instructions of the Quran and Sunnah. And thus, these economic or geo-political reasons may explain some positive results and wisdom behind the legislation of Jihad, but they are not the real impetus of Jihad. Qital is only one of the forms of struggle to achieve the ideal of the overall establishment of Islam. It relies heavily on this broader definition of Jihad (the overall strategy) for its effective application, and thus the ideal application of Qital can only occur if there is a fully functioning Islamic state to carry it out. War for worldly gains is strictly forbidden in Islam. The majority of the Quranic verses which relate to Jihad, refer to Qital (killing) which is strictly conditional.5 The development of the concept and practice of Qital, in the Quran is as follows: O you who believe, . . . do not kill (or destroy) yourself. (Quran 4:29) . . . And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirement of justice. (6:152)6 Whoever slays a soul, unless it be for manslaughter, or for spreading mischief in the land, it is as if he had slayed the whole people (Quran 5:32) Allah has purchased the lives of the believers . . . They fight (Qatl) in his cause, and slay and are slain . . . (Quran 9:111) From these Quranic Ayat it is clear that killing is strictly forbidden for Muslims, whether the victim in question is ones own self, from the Muslim nation, or from other nations. In fact, the killing of one person is perceived to be equivalent to killing all the people. However, as verse (9:111) illustrates, both killing others, as well as getting oneself killed is commanded when it is in the cause of Allah.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 02:05:06 +0000
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