Jihad in Islam

West Island School

 Outline of the Powerpoint

What is Islam about?

What is Jihad?
The Significance of
Jihad
 What is Islam about?
Islam= s-l-m; Peace, Submission,
Salvation
Order, Harmony, and Integrity
Within one’s soul and society

The idea is that you are at one with the

universe and at one with yourself….
 Definition of Jihad

Jihad=J-h-d; to strive, to achieve a goal

 Jihad in Islam

To strive in the way of God

To use all physical,
intellectual, and spiritual
resources for God
To struggle to win God’s
pleasure and love
 Aim of Jihad

To be purified of sins
To attain true humanity
To achieve order peace and
harmony within the soul and
society
The main Elements of Jihad

Spreading the Word of God

and getting rid of evil….
 Significance of Jihad
Sixth pillar of Islamic practice
There are Problems in translations
“O you who believe! Do your duty to Allah and
fear Him. Seek the means of approach to Him,
and strive hard in His Cause as much as you can.
So that you may be successful.” (Maide, 35)
 War in Islam
War= Only when inevitable, when
preaching is prevented, when Muslims are
oppressed

War should only be when it is

ABSOLUTELY necessary
 Jihad and Taking of life
Killing one person = killing all humanity.
Suicide is forbidden.
Many fundamentalists have abandoned these
ideas and follow their own paths
 Greater and Lesser
Greater Jihad means a struggle with ones
self. A struggle against any temptation, or
bad idea that we might be attracted to.
For example, a struggle against alcohol.
Lesser Jihad is about battle. It is seen as
not being as important as Greater Jihad.
Lesser Jihad is about a group struggle to
defend Islam, or the Muslim community.
For a battle to be Jihad it has to follow the rules
of the Muslim community.
Lawful Authority – started by accepted religious
leader
Last Resort – all other methods have been tried
first
War is declared in defence
Effort made to protect innocent life
Muslims are not being allowed to practice
religion

HOW IS THIS SIMILAR TO JUST WAR ?

 Dialogue in Kuran
“Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow
the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the
Sabians, - any who believe in Allah and the Last Day,
and work righteousness, shall have their reward with
their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve
(2:62)”
Call to the People of the Book
“Say: -O people of the Book! Come to
common terms as between us and you:
that we worship none but God; That we
associate no partners with Him; That we
erect not, from among ourselves, lords
and patrons other than God”(3:64)
Jihad does not promote war- as
it always results in great
suffering
 Questions

-1- What have YOU learned about Jihad?

-2- What have YOU learned from the previous
slides? Does this change your view about Jihad?
-3- When do YOU think it is right to fight?