LAW
Law – Jihad Is Striving For The Good
See our Commentary titled as Islaam – 303 – Jihad is no road to Peace which is the hub-post and refers to about a dozen other Commentaries related to different aspect of Jihad. Really the Holy War (Jehaad-il-oolaa) is striving with one’s wealth, self and pen, and not with the sword.
The Holy Qor-aan never mandated murdering anyone. Its best precedent-setter, the Holy Prophet Mohammad s.a.w., never hurt anyone except when attacked in a war. Yet criminals sacrilegiously defiling the name of Islam (See Commentary Islam, Qor-aan, Mohammad, Relationship) keep killing the innocent.
While allowing war to end hostilities, the Holy Qor-aan never permitted killing the innocent. Its teaching to practically end all wars has been misinterpreted to have instead promoted wars (See our Commentary Law of War).
The Qur’an declared that the intentional killer of a believer would go to hell (004:094). It deprecated the ‘killing of one person as tantamount to killing the whole mankind’ (005:033).
The Holy Qor-aan laid down Commandments by mostly using several derivative words flowing out of the two roots ق ت ل (See our Commentary Jihad, Is It Fighting) and ج ه د (See our Commentary Jihad, Prohibited As A War). The basic concept of a root stays intact in every word derived from it, and these two roots are often translated in English to ‘fight’ and ‘strive.’
‘Fighting’ is defined by Merriam-Webster as “to use weapons or physical force to try to hurt someone, to defeat an enemy, etc.; to struggle in battle or physical combat; to be involved in (a battle, struggle, etc.); or to argue in an angry way.”
In sharp contrast, ‘Striving’ is defined by the same source as simply “to try very hard to do or achieve something.”
The Holy Qor-aan has used the term ‘Je-haad’ almost exclusively as striving in God’s cause with one’s wealth, or self — but not violence. It clearly gave preference to those who “strive with their wealth and their persons” over those who remain sitting down (004:096), without taking action.
The Commandments in the Holy Qor-aan allowed believers to ‘Fight’ (047:021) against infidels (004:090, 009:029) and urged to ‘Strive in God’s cause with wealth and self ‘ in many places (including 009:041). The repetition of this theme is like showing an object in a dark field with flood-lights from many angles so that none of its sides remain left in the dark, unlit.
Israelites were initially allowed to fight (002:247 to 002:252) and helped despite their numerous disobediences. Moslem were extended that same permission, but only for God’s causes (002:217, 002:245, 004:085). (See our Commentary Islam,Qor-aan, Jews Moslems alike? 002:046).
Fighting is specifically disallowed in many enumerated instances: when hostilities end (002:192/194), when the disorder (conditions warranting war) ends (008:40), and when enemy accepts subjugation and pays taxes (009:029).
Fighting is allowed in self-defense when attacked (002:191-192), , for those who were wronged (022:040) or thrown out of their homes (022:041), and in obedience to Allah’s messenger if he orders going out for a war (024:054). Spoils of war are for those who fight (048:016 / 020 / 021).
Fighting is allowed in God’s cause (004:075) and to rescue the week, women and children (004:076). Believers fight in God’s cause and disbelievers for evil things (004:077). Believers are commanded to strike hard when striking in God’s cause (004:095) and fight against idolaters as they fight you (009:036).
Finally, fighting is allowed against an enemy who starts hostilities after being pardoned and told to desist (008:039 to 041), or one who breaks a truce.
The Qur’an establishes rules for fighting. For instance:
- 20 righteous people would prevail over 200 opponents (008:066).
- God helped believers in skirmishes when unjustly drawn in (009:025).
- Strike hard in war, take captives, and then accept ransom or free them gratuitously (047:005).
- Painful punishment is prescribed for those who opt out of fighting without just cause (048:017) or receiving an exemption (009:091/092, 048:018).
- Secret arrangements with an enemy are prohibited when proceeding to strive in God’s cause (060:002).
Ignoring the contextual reference of verses like the following confused some translators.
- Jaa-he-dil-koof-faa-ra-wul-mo-naa-fe-quee-na [Strive infidels and hypocrites] (009:073).
- Ta-huj-jud from the same root is a prayer recognized and respected by Moslem of every school.
- Jaa-he-do-fil-laa-hay-huq-qua-je-haa-de-hee [Strive in God’s cause a true striving] (022: 079).
- Jaa-hid-hoom-bay-hee-je-haa-dun-ka-bee-raa [Argue with them with big argument] (025:053).
Ja-ha-da, Jaa-hid and Jaa-he-doo are words derived from one root ج ه د and frequently accentuated by adding fee-sabeel-il-laah ending all doubts that the action contemplated is striving hard in God’s cause with wealth as it is good for you (061:012). Those who strive that way are better than those who don’t (004:096), are friends of believers (008:073), are real believers (008:075) even if they came later (008:076), are shown by Allah (009:016), are better than those offering water to pilgrims (009:019) and have great ranks with Allah (009:020). They love Allah more than their family and friends (009:024). We guide those who strive for Us (029:070). Those who shun striving with their wealth in the causes of God will face hell fire (009:081).
Law – Jihad Is Striving For The Good
LAW
Law – Jihad Is Striving For The Good
See our Commentary titled as Islaam – 303 – Jihad is no road to Peace which is the hub-post and refers to about a dozen other Commentaries related to different aspect of Jihad. Really the Holy War (Jehaad-il-oolaa) is striving with one’s wealth, self and pen, and not with the sword.
The Holy Qor-aan never mandated murdering anyone. Its best precedent-setter, the Holy Prophet Mohammad s.a.w., never hurt anyone except when attacked in a war. Yet criminals sacrilegiously defiling the name of Islam (See Commentary Islam, Qor-aan, Mohammad, Relationship) keep killing the innocent.
While allowing war to end hostilities, the Holy Qor-aan never permitted killing the innocent. Its teaching to practically end all wars has been misinterpreted to have instead promoted wars (See our Commentary Law of War).
The Qur’an declared that the intentional killer of a believer would go to hell (004:094). It deprecated the ‘killing of one person as tantamount to killing the whole mankind’ (005:033).
The Holy Qor-aan laid down Commandments by mostly using several derivative words flowing out of the two roots ق ت ل (See our Commentary Jihad, Is It Fighting) and ج ه د (See our Commentary Jihad, Prohibited As A War). The basic concept of a root stays intact in every word derived from it, and these two roots are often translated in English to ‘fight’ and ‘strive.’
‘Fighting’ is defined by Merriam-Webster as “to use weapons or physical force to try to hurt someone, to defeat an enemy, etc.; to struggle in battle or physical combat; to be involved in (a battle, struggle, etc.); or to argue in an angry way.”
In sharp contrast, ‘Striving’ is defined by the same source as simply “to try very hard to do or achieve something.”
The Holy Qor-aan has used the term ‘Je-haad’ almost exclusively as striving in God’s cause with one’s wealth, or self — but not violence. It clearly gave preference to those who “strive with their wealth and their persons” over those who remain sitting down (004:096), without taking action.
The Commandments in the Holy Qor-aan allowed believers to ‘Fight’ (047:021) against infidels (004:090, 009:029) and urged to ‘Strive in God’s cause with wealth and self ‘ in many places (including 009:041). The repetition of this theme is like showing an object in a dark field with flood-lights from many angles so that none of its sides remain left in the dark, unlit.
Israelites were initially allowed to fight (002:247 to 002:252) and helped despite their numerous disobediences. Moslem were extended that same permission, but only for God’s causes (002:217, 002:245, 004:085). (See our Commentary Islam,Qor-aan, Jews Moslems alike? 002:046).
Fighting is specifically disallowed in many enumerated instances: when hostilities end (002:192/194), when the disorder (conditions warranting war) ends (008:40), and when enemy accepts subjugation and pays taxes (009:029).
Fighting is allowed in self-defense when attacked (002:191-192), , for those who were wronged (022:040) or thrown out of their homes (022:041), and in obedience to Allah’s messenger if he orders going out for a war (024:054). Spoils of war are for those who fight (048:016 / 020 / 021).
Fighting is allowed in God’s cause (004:075) and to rescue the week, women and children (004:076). Believers fight in God’s cause and disbelievers for evil things (004:077). Believers are commanded to strike hard when striking in God’s cause (004:095) and fight against idolaters as they fight you (009:036).
Finally, fighting is allowed against an enemy who starts hostilities after being pardoned and told to desist (008:039 to 041), or one who breaks a truce.
The Qur’an establishes rules for fighting. For instance:
Ignoring the contextual reference of verses like the following confused some translators.
Ja-ha-da, Jaa-hid and Jaa-he-doo are words derived from one root ج ه د and frequently accentuated by adding fee-sabeel-il-laah ending all doubts that the action contemplated is striving hard in God’s cause with wealth as it is good for you (061:012). Those who strive that way are better than those who don’t (004:096), are friends of believers (008:073), are real believers (008:075) even if they came later (008:076), are shown by Allah (009:016), are better than those offering water to pilgrims (009:019) and have great ranks with Allah (009:020). They love Allah more than their family and friends (009:024). We guide those who strive for Us (029:070). Those who shun striving with their wealth in the causes of God will face hell fire (009:081).
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