Jihad in the Quran is a term that signifies striving and endeavouring. The root of that word in Arabic is Jahd, which means spending energy and potential for a certain cause. It covers up practically four areas in the Islamic cause:
1) Teaching people the message of Islam: Any plans or steps of making Da’wah (propagation) is a kind of Jihad.
Allah, Most High, says: “O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey’s end.” (Attawbah: 73)
We know that addressing the hypocrites in this verse never means combating, but means Da’wah because a hypocrite is still a Muslim and a Muslim cannot combat another Muslim.
2) Disciplining one’s soul: Any disciplinary work for improving one’s faith and behaviour is Jihad. Refraining from wrongdoing and following stannic ways is Jihad.
3) Spending money in the cause of Islam: Jihad with money is mentioned in many verses of the Glorious Quran. Sometimes, it comes before Jihad with the soul. This type of Jihad is strategic in any plan for working in the cause of Islam.
4) Combating the enemy: The Quran uses another term for combating. In Arabic, the term is Qital. So Qital in the Quran (combating) is the fourth implementation of Jihad.
One of the meanings of Jihad, of course, is the physical struggle against enemies, but it means much more than that. Jihad also means a spiritual struggle against ones lower desires called “Jihad Annafs”. It is mentioned in several authentic hadiths.
The other types of Jihad are mentioned in the Quran itself. The Quran says: “And those who strive (jihad) in Our cause. We will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily Allah is with those who do right.” (Al Ankabut: 69)
This verse was revealed during the Makkan phase of the Prophet’s life (peace and blessings be upon him). During the Makkan phase there was no physical Jihad. So, what does this verse mean then? It is clear that the verse does not mean “physical struggle”.
There is another verse which says: “Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness, with the Quran.”
(Al Furqan: 52).
Again, this verse is referring to another type of Jihad, the Jihad of Da’wah and spreading the knowledge of the religion. Making Jihad with the Quran is spreading its message and living by its Truth.
So, Jihad is not limited to one type or one meaning. In fact, these other meanings are the ones that we deal with every day. What is the point of the physical Jihad if it is not for the sake of Allah and for the defence of His religion? Even during the physical Jihad one must have an internal Jihad. How can you be effective if you can’t even control your own desires? We have to worry about ourselves before we can worry about others.
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