Is Jihad something like an internal spiritual struggle?

[Interpreter]

An American film produced by an amateur recently incited Muslims' furore and lead to a death of an U.S. official in Libya.

Recently,in New York subway station an ad was put up by an anti-Muslim group,the ad reads "In any war between the civilized man and the savage.Support Israel.Defeat jihad."

What exactly is the jihad?I've once heard the answer from VOA which says:"To many Muslims,jihad means an internal spiritual struggle."But what I can't understand is how come the internal spiritual struggle is transformed into rage,violence or something like a car bomb?In my country religion means peace and amity.For an instance,Buddism,the most influential religion in China,it teaches us to be a person kind-hearted,it also stresses that people shouldnot kill lives.

As an infidel I just can't understand the jihad.Could it be said that it is,as what the ad reads,a savage jihad?

 

[Hasbara Buster]

Oh no "jihad". First, forget everything you have read and heard in the media so far, ok?

Jihad literally means to struggle. But struggling against what? First, going to war is just one aspect (and very last resort) of jihad. It means defending freedom of religion, freedom in general and thus ending oppression and persecution. Of course also defending your country when attacked. Jihad is a universal value, even non-Muslims should wage "jihad" when faced with oppression, religious oppression, invasions whatever. It's so incredibly simple and so just and humane.

 

[Hasbara Buster]

Jihad has absolutely nothing to do with forcing people to accept Islam, grabbing their lands or taking their resources. It's forbidden to attack a state that hasn't attacked you. It's entirely defensive.

Now, if you were to ask me whether Muslims have ALWAYS followed this just principle I have to say NO. But then, which civilization has? God will certainly judge the aggressors throughout history, whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim. Nobody can get away with it.

 

[Hasbara Buster]

Interpreter, there are some Islamic scholars who believe that Buddha might have been a prophet of God. Islam means all the original (unaltered) teachings (revelations) sent to men by God's prophets. Unfortunately, human beings have always corrupted the original religious teachings that were sent.

 

[Cloakedvessel]

Jihad as explained by tolerant, modern, liberal or reformist Muslims:

#18 - Jihad Explained | Institute of Islamic Information and Education

Jihad as explained by a critic of Islam:

Jihad in the Qur'an

Jihad as propagated and carried out by Islamists, extremists and terrorists:

Jihad: The forgotten obligation

The real question is: which type of understanding of Jihad, as perceived and acted upon, is more prevalent in the Muslim masses?

 

[SQ8]

Jihad as explained by tolerant, modern, liberal or reformist Muslims:

#18 - Jihad Explained | Institute of Islamic Information and Education

Jihad as explained by a critic of Islam:

Jihad in the Qur'an

Jihad as propagated and carried out by Islamists, extremists and terrorists:

Jihad: The forgotten obligation

The real question is: which type of understanding of Jihad, as perceived and acted upon, is more prevalent in the Muslim masses?

Sadly, its the last one that is usually taken up when the word Jihad is mentioned.
Since most muslims rarely bother with actually understanding their religion and prefer to have a guy who never had primary education decipher a deeply intellectual scripture (Quran) for them... you cannot expect better results.

 

[ephone]

Internal spiritual struggle???

You must be either be too naive or simply out of your mind.

Internal spiritual struggle produces those many terrorists and causes those many external damages???

An American film produced by an amateur recently incited Muslims' furore and lead to a death of an U.S. official in Libya.

Recently,in New York subway station an ad was put up by an anti-Muslim group,the ad reads "In any war between the civilized man and the savage.Support Israel.Defeat jihad."

What exactly is the jihad?I've once heard the answer from VOA which says:"To many Muslims,jihad means an internal spiritual struggle."But what I can't understand is how come the internal spiritual struggle is transformed into rage,violence or something like a car bomb?In my country religion means peace and amity.For an instance,Buddism,the most influential religion in China,it teaches us to be a person kind-hearted,it also stresses that people shouldnot kill lives.

As an infidel I just can't understand the jihad.Could it be said that it is,as what the ad reads,a savage jihad?

 

[KingMamba]

Interpreter, there are some Islamic scholars who believe that Buddha might have been a prophet of God. Islam means all the original (unaltered) teachings (revelations) sent to men by God's prophets. Unfortunately, human beings have always corrupted the original religious teachings that were sent.

Yes, I also believe Buddha was a prophet of the lord. There are two instances where he is mentioned in the Qur'an. Although it is definitively up for healthy debate as some people say it is not referring to him. You have to remember though that the Qur'an says God has sent Prophets to ALL the people.

 

[Audio]

a guy who never had primary education decipher a deeply intellectual scripture

This is the problem.

Can anyone tell me, do clerics get paid? or get food/clothes from believers?
If that is so, they actually have no interest in removing the status quo, in which they preach intolerance and spread hate.
They must drum up a big crowd so they give more and more to him and his (presumably) family. And over the years a person gets used to freeloading like that and there is no reason to start preaching anything else. And repressed emotins he had managed to get excited pile up.....

I could be wrong with this theory though.

 

[KingMamba]

An American film produced by an amateur recently incited Muslims' furore and lead to a death of an U.S. official in Libya.

Recently,in New York subway station an ad was put up by an anti-Muslim group,the ad reads "In any war between the civilized man and the savage.Support Israel.Defeat jihad."

What exactly is the jihad?I've once heard the answer from VOA which says:"To many Muslims,jihad means an internal spiritual struggle."But what I can't understand is how come the internal spiritual struggle is transformed into rage,violence or something like a car bomb?In my country religion means peace and amity.For an instance,Buddism,the most influential religion in China,it teaches us to be a person kind-hearted,it also stresses that people shouldnot kill lives.

As an infidel I just can't understand the jihad.Could it be said that it is,as what the ad reads,a savage jihad?

Jihad is seperated into two categories.

There is what is referred to as the Greater Jihad which is the struggle within oneself against Sin.
Then there is the lesser Jihad which is physical and can be both violent and non-violent. This is supposed to be a defensive method to combat those who attack the Muslims. If Muslims are attacked physically they can defend themselves by declaring a jihad however if they are attacked through words they can react with words known as "jihad of the pen". Both are physical reactions but one is violent and one is not.

Unfortunately the Talibaboons and Al Qaeda want people to believe there is only one Jihad and uneducated people who don't know any better take their word for it.

 

[KingMamba]

This is the problem.

Can anyone tell me, do clerics get paid? or get food/clothes from believers?
If that is so, they actually have no interest in removing the status quo, in which they preach intolerance and spread hate.
They must drum up a big crowd so they give more and more to him and his (presumably) family. And over the years a person gets used to freeloading like that and there is no reason to start preaching anything else. And repressed emotins he had managed to get excited pile up.....

I could be wrong with this theory though.

You are right clerics live off of donations for the most part. It is different here in the states, you will find some clerics here are educated (my cleric and the clerics of 3 other mosques I have attended all hold degrees) although it is not the universal case here. So you can see why they would want people to keep coming back to them.

 

[Cloakedvessel]

Yes, I also believe Buddha was a prophet of the lord. There are two instances where he is mentioned in the Qur'an. Although it is definitively up for healthy debate as some people say it is not referring to him. You have to remember though that the Qur'an says God has sent Prophets to ALL the people.

I just did a crash course on Buddha and the Qu'ran. Buddha in the Quran? by Sh Hamza Yusuf

I must say, it's not very convincing. The hypothesis is based upon a redefining of the word Sabians, as it's never understood in this way historically, the treatment of Buddhist minorities by their Muslim rulers in history and trying to find similarities, that are far-fetched, in both Islamic and Buddhist stories, which themselves are presumed to be historical accurate and authentic.

That said, there is no problem if a Muslim acknowledges Buddha as a prophet of Islam based on his religious belief, but their is no indication that Buddha was seen as one of their own by Muhammad on historical grounds.

 

[Kompromat]

Jihad = Struggle which could be personal or social depending on the threat. Muslims are taught not to submit to anyone, that they can not be dominated and oppressed. Jihad can be as trivial as quitting smoking or as big as liberating one's nation from an invasion force. In Islam, one has the right to self defense and vengeance, eye for an eye [But compassion and forgiveness has always the highest value. Taking Vengeance is allowed for people who ain't strong enough to forgive]. This also applies to a nation, if the country is invaded by a foreign force, Muslims are instructed never to surrender and fight the invaders by all means possible. When the war begins, Islam has a "clear" set of "Rules of engagement".

Islamic Military jurisprudence: Islamic military jurisprudence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are multiple levels of jihad and they could vary between different interpretations of different school of thought. The most important and valuable amongst them is Jihad bil nafs [Jihad against ones own self ie self improvement and quitting bad habits, not being a criminal etc]. Jihad will be called by the highest authority in that certain country ie Government. If it is not declared, it will not be Jihad, ie terrorist groups acting on their own will.

For instance an invasion happens by a foreign army, Muslims are asked not to submit to the invader by any means. There are different levels of Jihad, so that every Muslim can participate depending on their own personal situation and capability. I' will try to explain it, in this scenario.

1: Jihad bil ilm [Jihad by Knowledge]

People with situational awareness and knowledge,educate others regarding the attack and its implications through all means possible in that time.

2: Jihad bil mal[Jihad by Wealth]

People with financial resources,provide money for the resistance and defense. [Could be taxes]

3: Jihad bil qalam[Jihad by writing]

If someone does not have above resources, they can participate in Jihad by writing. Ie journalism against the aggressor.

4: Jihad bil nafs [Jihad against one's own self ]

Self improvement, fighting against one's own self against for example social evils, drugs and improving one's spiritual awareness. "This is the greatest form of Jihad"

5: Jihad bil qalab [Jihad by heart]

If, someone doesn't have enough resources or knowledge to stand up to the aggression force i.e disabled people, should believe that the aggression is wrong in their hearts.

6: Jihad bil saif [Jihad by sword]

When, all above options run out then Muslims are allowed to respond to the call to join the armed struggle.



In, Islam Jihad is well defined, and so are the autonomously acting terrorist groups. Who are known in Islam as "Kharijis" -
If, anyone wants to read about the terrorism and their claim for jihad should read this very well articulated fatwa by a leading Pakistani Scholar.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Jihad is birth right of any Muslim

a) Protection of Rights
b) Protection of Freedom
c) Protection of Liberty
d) Protection of Code of Life (Rules which govern how you live your life)

Jihad is a Armed resistance , when someone feels that there is injustice they have right under Islamic code to do something about it. The weakest form of this is "accepting something wrong is being done" acknowledge it with out taking part in actual resistance.

Suicide Bombing, killing innocent by standers , or bombing schools are not Jihad these are acts of uneducated warlords who are paid by disruptive elements to destabalize governments example CIA does this financing

example: Financing of armed resistence vs Russians in 70's
Libyan rebels , destabalizing a peaceful Libya
Iraqi sectarian violence post US induced destabalization
Providing weapons and funds to TPP (Pakistani Taliabans) in order to destabalize Pakistan

Also Jihad does not means killing unarmed people

Its against Islamic rules to kill an unarmed man/women and if you kill a child you are pretty much
f*** up ..

This is why , when US drones kill People (Man / Women/ Children/Elderly) its against Islamic code of war , and even against Humanity itself which is why we all "Are against Drone attacks in Pakistan)

Note:
This is no different then Samurai Code in Japan of old where Samurais were sorta like protector of people
This is no different then the people in USA who who faught for freedom for US because they believed in some values

Jihad is "SELF DEFENCE" its always a act of self defence after someone else initiates the Aggression

In Islamic code , its stated never draw out your sword first because if you do any blood shed will be marked against you in day of judgement

Which is why Leaders like Salah Din Ayyubi etc and others always prefered to dialog and resolve
conflicts as oppose to mindless "Bloodshed" and war on terror like ideas

 

[Kompromat]

I just did a crash course on Buddha and the Qu'ran. Buddha in the Quran? by Sh Hamza Yusuf

I must say, it's not very convincing. The hypothesis is based upon a redefining of the word Sabians, as it's never understood in this way historically, the treatment of Islamic rulers of their Buddhist minorities in history and trying to find similarities, that are far-fetched in both Islamic and Buddhist stories, which themselves are presumed to be historical accurate and authentic.

That said, there is no problem if a Muslim acknowledges Buddha as a prophet of Islam based on his religious belief, but their is no indication that Buddha was seen as one of their own by Muhammad on historical grounds.

There were around 124,000 messengers of Allah according to Islamic theology of which a handful are mentioned in Quran.
Prophets in the Quran - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are quite a few, Muslim scholars who do have strong opinion about Budha as a possible prophet of Allah. We, would have no confirmation of that from the Quran and Sahi'h Hadith. However the strongest case made is that a very reasonable number of Buddhist and Islamic teachings are alike.

Check the last few minutes by Hussain Yee [A former Buddhist] about Budha and if or not he could be a prophet.