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stuff on jihad (anyone plss......urgently wanted)
ahmer
09/21/01 at 10:07:29
[slm] If anyone can please help me with a well thought stuff on jihad. i can do it but i dont have anyyyyyy time to write one:( due to everything, actually we wrote those "thank you" emails to the people who sent messages of support to the ICNA website. i got a lot of replies which i will share shortly with you all. but this gentleman wants to know about jihad. If anyone can write a detailed but concise stuff that can fit in an email. You can pick up chunks from different sources explaining different types of jihad, their reason and all. Insha'Allah as i see and look here, this is creating a good oppurtunity for dawah and explaining Islam. Just keep on praying and growing!! :-) please post one asap. jazaka'Allah Khair [wlm] ahmer Here you go! [quote] Dear Mr. Husain: Health and Peace to you and those you love. I have received your email regarding the heart ache shared by all Americans, such as you and I.  I was comforted by your wise words and those words of Shaiki Islahi.         My resolve to support and defend Islamic-Americans as fellow citizens for peace remains steadfast. I don't wish to offend you, but pain and frankly ignorance do not equip me with the words to enlighten others about the inherently peaceful tenants of Islam.  I want to help calm those in fear and educate those in ignorance.  To do that I must learn.       Currently, I am wrestling with the notion of a Jihad or holy war.  What is it?  Has it happened before?  Who participates in such a war?   Those are the biggest questions that I have for now. Peace -Geoff McInroy [/quote]

Re: stuff on jihad (anyone plss......urgently wanted)
morning_mist
09/21/01 at 10:54:55
assalaamu alaikum, I don't know how much detail you want but here's an answer from USA Today's Q and A about Islam... [url]http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/islam.htm[/url] Q: What is Jihad? A: Jihad does not mean "holy war." Literally, jihad in Arabic means to strive, struggle and exert effort. It is a central and broad Islamic concept that includes struggle against evil inclinations within oneself, struggle to improve the quality of life in society, struggle in the battlefield for self-defense or fighting against tyranny or oppression. These may help also: Interview with Sheikh Hamza Yusuf [url]http://www0.mercurycenter.com/local/center/isl0916.htm[/url] Explanation from Sheikh Qaradawi [url]http://www.jannah.org/qaradawi.html[/url]

Re: stuff on jihad (anyone plss......urgently wanted)
se7en
09/22/01 at 00:19:56
as salaamu alaykum, Here's a decent article on jihad:[url]http://www.unn.ac.uk/societies/islamic/jargon/jihad1.htm[/url]

Re: stuff on jihad (anyone plss......urgently wanted)
slime
09/22/01 at 14:00:22
here's an article that came in the toronto star yesterday http://thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1001023862678&call_page=TS_AttackOnAmerica_Day11&call_pageid=1000732592735&call_pagepath=News/World/US-Bombings Jihad and fatwa - Arabic words, and we're pretty sure what they mean. Holy war and death sentence, right? Wrong. They may be the two most misunderstood Arabic words in popular use in the Western world and the most misused by terrorists. Jihad, in its purest sense, means to strive or struggle. A fatwa is a religious opinion given by a qualified scholar. ``I'm offering $1 million for anyone who can show me a single place in the Qur'an that has ever used the Arabic equivalent of holy war,'' said Jamal Badawi, a leading Islamic scholar and professor at St. Mary's University in Halifax. ``The concept of holy war is nonsense and only the ill-informed would use it. And, by the way, there is nothing holy about war.'' Jihad is used in the Qur'an as the basic struggle of a community against evil. It's common to use the expression, ``He is making jihad with his pen or tongue,'' Badawi said. Toronto media consultant Raheel Raza spoke to a reporter to dispel misconceptions about Islam, saying: ``My role is to educate people. Jihad is what I am doing right now.'' Islam does allow for jihad in the battlefield in defence against oppression. According to the Qur'an, ``persecution is worse than slaughter'' but ``let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.'' ``Jihad is a noble term that has been twisted in the minds of some to justify a personal agenda,'' said Badawi. ``This is not use of religion, but abuse.'' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- `Jihad is a noble term twisted . . . to justify a personal agenda' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Islamic Internet sites have many fatwa inquiries from people looking for rulings on personal ethical matters that range from mundane to complex issues. Can a wife who has been beaten get a divorce? What is the proper inheritance for grandchildren? What should you do when you arrive late for prayers? Is navel-piercing like piercing ears? Badawi is a member of the Juristic Council of North America, which arrives at rulings by consensus. It recently issued a ruling on stem-cell research. Osama bin Laden issued a fatwa three years ago declaring death to Americans. ``Is he a top Islamic scholar qualified to issue fatwa?'' Badawi asked. ``My understanding is that he is an engineer.'' Badawi said a fatwa must be based on the Qur'an and the Hadith, the traditions of the prophet Muhammad. Any interpretation must include historical context and cannot quote one citation from the Qur'an while ignoring others. ``So if you say Americans are fair targets, you must also go to Chapter 5 which states clearly: if you kill one soul who is innocent, you have killed all of humanity.''

Re: stuff on jihad (anyone plss......urgently wanted)
ahmer
09/23/01 at 07:49:11
jazaka'Allah to u all who have helped me on this. Just pray that the person who asked about it, May Allah turn him to Islam. Insha'Allah slm ahmer

Re: stuff on jihad (anyone plss......urgently wanted)
*sofia*
09/23/01 at 10:48:29
Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah, I got this fwd'd article in the Baltimore Sun from a friend, whose husband fwd'd it to coworkers, which resulted in a positive response from the company's HR dept...there may be some differences over detail, but overall, a good article for non muslims. ------------------------------------------------------------ No basis for attacks in Islam -------------------- Notion of jihad warped by terrorists, scholars claim John Rivera Sun Staff September 13, 2001, 9:19 PM EDT What would possess a man to strap explosives onto his body, turning himself into a walking bomb? Or to steer a commercial aircraft filled with passengers into a building, causing untold death and destruction? Suicide bombers claim they do it in the name of God. But how legitimate is that claim? The question is of vital importance to approximately 7 million Muslims living in the United States. Although no one has claimed responsibility for Tuesday's terrorist attacks, authorities strongly suspect that it was carried out by supporters of Osama bin Laden, the exiled Saudi living in Afghanistan. That information, combined with rising anger at the terrorist attacks, has resulted in a number of threats against Muslims and attacks on mosques and Muslim businesses. But the notion of a Muslim waging jihad on the United States is an extreme, even distorted understanding of Islam, according to Muslim scholars and academics who study Islam. "It hurts me that these people misunderstand religion and say that they represent our religion," says Imam Khalil Majdalawi, spiritual leader of the An-nur Mosque in Carney. "We believe in the Quran that Allah has sent [the prophet Muhammad] to be an emissary to all human beings, bringing them a message of mercy and a message of peace. If he has been sent like this, how do they understand that in his religion, there is something that is known as violence or extremism?" As for suicide bombing, "There is no real Islamic basis for it," says John L. Esposito, director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. "In Islam, the notion of suicide is as heinous or unacceptable as it's been historically in Catholicism." But the beliefs of suicide bombers are rooted in passages of the Quran that scholars say are misinterpreted. The key concepts are jihad, which has often been translated as "holy war," and martyrdom, particularly the belief that martyrs immediately enter heaven. The meaning of the Arabic word jihad is actually benign. It means to struggle or to strive. "In whatever you expend effort, you are waging jihad," says Majdalawi. "If you are making effort in order to earn your living, this is called jihad. If you are spending effort in order to learn, this is called jihad. If you are teaching others the way to truth and good things, this is called jihad." A person's internal struggle to do what is right, controlling one's base desires, is known as jihad akbar, or the greater jihad. "It is the war in your own soul, against your own baser instincts, trying to cultivate the seed of moral authority so you become a moral force in human society," says Sulayman S. Nyang, a Howard University professor specializing in Islamic studies. "That is the greater jihad." There is also a lesser jihad that involves a defense of Islam. "Jihad also can take on a dimension that, in the struggle to be a good Muslim, there may be times where one will be called upon to defend one's faith and community. Then it can take on the meaning of armed struggle," Esposito says. "In Islam, this is a perfectly legitimate response to aggression." Jihad in this context is the Islamic equivalent of the Christian theory of the "just war," the idea that although violence is evil, it may be used morally to overcome a greater evil, as long as it is used proportionately. "With jihad, as with 'just war' in Christianity, the problem is when somebody takes the notion and distorts it and does not use in it in a defensive manner, but in an aggressive manner," Esposito says. "The question is legitimate versus illegitimate use of armed force or violence." Indiscriminate killing of innocents would never be legitimate in the Quran, says Nyang of Howard University. "Look at all the historical accounts of jihad, they were all waged as conventional war, not the invisible guerrilla tactics we see in modern times," he says. "Nor is jihad identified with any kind of indiscriminate killing of innocent people. There are strict rules of engagement." Those rules of engagement include prohibitions against harming monks; violating women; killing the sick, weak or lame; and cutting down trees. Closely linked with jihad as armed struggle is the concept of martyrdom. "This notion of martyrdom is found very clearly in the Quran," says Charles Kimball, a Wake Forest University religious studies professor and the author of three books on Islam. "Those who die struggling in the way of God are promised immediate passage to paradise. No waiting until judgment at the end of time. "The question is, who determines what martyrdom is, what is legitimate? This comes back to the question, can a suicide bomber be a martyr?" Kimball says. "The overwhelming number of Muslims would view this negatively. But there are people in Islam on the extremes who certainly have embraced this view. And who have been able to recruit others." As some Muslims see it, the world would be better off if all embraced Islam, just as many Christians would like to see all become followers of Christ. "From the beginning, Muslims have seen Islam as a civilizational system. It's not just a religion, it's a way of life," Kimball says. "There is this theme running through the Islamic world, including many who are not violent extremists, in the dream or ideal that somehow Islam can emerge from a difficult century and we can provide a way for an Islamic world civilization." For the past three centuries, Kimball notes, most of the Muslim world has lived under the control of outside powers: the European colonialists and the superpowers. Now, the United States is the only world superpower, and for many Muslims, it represents the decadence of the West preventing emergence of a true Islamic society. "That's the general notion someone like Osama bin Laden can build upon," Kimball says. "'We don't have to take it. We don't trust our leaders because they're corrupt, so we have to fight this war on whatever terms we can fight it.'" But he warns that "you'd find a whole range of Muslims -- even people who want an Islamic state, who don't agree with the United States -- who wouldn't take that approach at all." The American Muslim community quickly and unambiguously denounced Tuesday's attacks. Two hours after the first plane hit the World Trade Center, the American Muslim Political Coordination Council, an umbrella of four national Muslim groups, issued a statement saying: "We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts." Those who study Islam say it is important that Muslims not be demonized by the acts of a few terrorists. Muslims could be your neighbors, they point out, as they are on the verge of becoming the second-largest religious group in the United States. "If it isn't already, it soon will be," Kimball says. "There's a good chance your pharmacist, your physician or other people in your community are Muslims." Copyright (c) 2001, The Baltimore Sun Link to the article: http://www.sunspot.net/bal-journal13.story
NS

Re: stuff on jihad (anyone plss......urgently wanted)
se7en
09/23/01 at 17:02:45
I have some AWESOME stuff on jihad I'll post up soon inshaAllah.. (just went to an amazing class on it..) wasalaamu alaykum

Re: stuff on jihad (anyone plss......urgently wanted)
se7en
09/26/01 at 02:15:02
It's up!  Check out [url=http://www.jannah.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=masjid&action=display&num=4798]Notes from a Q & A[/url] wasalaamu alaykum :)

Re: stuff on jihad (anyone plss......urgently wanted)
amatullah
09/26/01 at 16:16:43
Bismillah and salam, Two articles: Jihad Explained M. Amir Ali, Ph.D. The Institute of Islamic Information & Education In the linguistic sense, the Arabic word "jihad" means struggling or striving and applies to any effort exerted by anyone. In this sense, a student struggles and strives to get an education and pass course work; an employee strives to fulfill his/her job and maintain good relations with his/her employer; a politician strives to maintain or increase his(1) popularity with his constituents and so on. The term strive or struggle may be used for/by Muslims as well as non-Muslims; for example, Allah, the One and Only True God says in the Qur'an: "We have enjoined on people kindness to parents; but if they strive (Jahadaka) to make you ascribe partners with Me that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not..." (The Holy Quran, 29:8; also see 31:15) In the above two verses of the Qur'an , it is non-Muslim parents who strive (jahadaka) to convert their Muslim child back to their religion. In the West, "jihad" is generally translated as "holy war," a usage the media has popularized. According to Islamic teachings, it is unholy to instigate or start war; however, some wars are inevitable and justifiable. If we translate the words "holy war" back into Arabic, we find "harbun muqaddasatu," or for "the holy war," "al-harbu al-muqaddasatu." We challenge any researcher or scholar to find the meaning of "jihad" as holy war in the Qur'an or authentic Hadith collections or in early Islamic literature. Unfortunately, some Muslim writers and translators of the Qur'an, the Hadith and other Islamic literature translate the term "jihad" as "holy war," due to the influence of centuries-old Western propaganda. This could be a reflection of the Christian use of the term "Holy War" to refer to the Crusades of a thousand years ago. However, the Arabic words for "war" are "harb" or "qital," which are found in the Qur'an and Hadith. For Muslims the term Jihad is applied to all forms of striving and has developed some special meanings over time. The sources of this development are the Qur'an (the Word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad(S) [(S) denotes Sall-Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam, meaning peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]. The Qur'an and the Hadith use the word "jihad" in several different contexts which are given below: 1. RECOGNIZING THE CREATOR AND LOVING HIM MOST: It is human nature to love what is seen with the eyes and felt with the senses more than the unseen reality. The Creator of the Universe and the One God is Allah. He is the Unseen Reality which we tend to ignore and not recognize. The Qur'an addresses those who claim to be believers: "O you who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for protectors if they love disbelief over belief; whoever of you takes them for protectors, such are wrong-doers. Say: if your fathers, and your children, and your brethren, and your spouses, and your tribe, and the wealth you have acquired, and business for which you fear shrinkage, and houses you are pleased with are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way: then wait till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah does not guide disobedient folk." (The Holy Quran 9:23, 24) It is indeed a struggle to put Allah ahead of our loved ones, our wealth, our worldly ambitions and our own lives. Especially for a non-Muslim who embraces Islam, it may be a tough struggle due to the opposition of his family, peers and society.   2. RESISTING PRESSURE OF PARENTS, PEERS, AND SOCIETY: Once a person has made up his mind to put the Creator of the Universe above all else, he often comes under intense pressures. It is not easy to resist such pressures and strive to maintain dedication and love of Allah over all else. A person who has turned to Islam from another religion may be subjected to pressures designed to turn him back to the religion of the family. We read in the Qur'an: "So obey not the rejecters of faith, but strive (jahidhum) against them by it (the Qur'an) with a great endeavor." (The Holy Quran, 25:52)   3. STAYING ON THE STRAIGHT PATH STEADFASTLY: Allah says in the Qur'an: "And strive (Jadihu) for Allah with the endeavor (Jihadihi) which is His right. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you in the deen (religion) any hardship..." (The Holy Quran, 22:78) "And whosoever strives (Jahada), strives (yujahidu) only for himself, for lo! Allah is altogether independent of the universe." (The Holy Quran, 29:6) As for those who strive and struggle to live as true Muslims whose lives are made difficult due to persecution by their opponents, they are advised to migrate to a more peaceful and tolerant land and continue with their struggle in the cause of Allah. Allah says in the Qur'an: "Lo! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wronged themselves, (the angels) will ask: 'In what you were engaged?' They will way: 'We were oppressed in the land.' (The angels) will say: 'Was not Allah's earth spacious that you could have migrated therein?'" (The Holy Quran, 4:97) "Lo! Those who believe, and those who emigrate (to escape persecution) and strive (Jahadu) in the way of Allah, these have hope of Allah's mercy..." (The Holy Quran, 2:218) Allah tests the believers in their faith and their steadfastness: "Or did you think that you would enter Paradise while yet Allah knows not those of you who really strive (Jahadu), nor knows those (of you) who are steadfast." (The Holy Quran, 3:142) "And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and fruits; but give tidings to the steadfast." (The Holy Quran, 2:155) We find that the Prophet Muhammad (S) and his clan were boycotted socially and economically for three years to force him to stop his message and compromise with the pagans but he resisted and realized a moral victory(2).   4. STRIVING FOR RIGHTEOUS DEEDS: Allah declares in the Qur'an: "As for those who strive (Jahadu) in Us (the cause of Allah), We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good doers." (The Holy Quran, 29:69) When we are faced with two competing interests, it becomes jihad to choose the right one, as the following Hadith exemplify: "Aisha, wife of the Prophet (S) asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, we see jihad as the best of deeds, so shouldn't we join it?'  He replied, 'But the best of jihad is a perfect Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah).'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, No. 2784) At another occasion, a man asked the Prophet Muhammad (S): "'Should I join the jihad?' He asked, 'Do you have parents?' The man said, 'Yes!' The Prophet (S) said, 'Then strive by serving them!'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, No. 5972) Yet another man asked the Messenger of Allah (S): "'What kind of jihad is better?' He replied, 'A word of truth in front of an oppressive ruler!'" (Sunan Al-Nasa'i , No. 4209) The Messenger of Allah(S) said: "...the Mujahid (one who carries out jihad) is he who strives against himself for the sake of Allah, and the Muhajir (one who emigrates) is he who abandons evil deeds and sin." (Sahih Ibn Hibbanm, No. 4862)   5. HAVING COURAGE AND STEADFASTNESS TO CONVEY THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM: The Qur'an narrates the experiences of a large number of Prophets and good people who suffered a great deal trying to convey the message of Allah to mankind. For examples, see the Qur'an 26:1-190, 36:13-32. In the Qur'an, Allah specifically praises those who strive to convey His message: "Who is better in speech than one who calls (other people) to Allah, works righteous, and declares that he is from the Muslims." (The Holy Quran, 41:33) Under adverse conditions it takes great courage to remain a Muslim, declare oneself to be a Muslim and call others to Islam. We read in the Qur'an: "The (true) believers are only those who believe in Allah and his messenger and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their selves for the cause of Allah. Such are the truthful." (The Holy Quran, 49:15) 6. DEFENDING ISLAM AND THE COMMUNITY: Allah declares in the Qur'an: "To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to defend themselves), because they are wronged - and verily, Allah is Most Powerful to give them victory - (they are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right - (for no cause) except that they say, 'Our Lord is Allah'..." (The Holy Quran, 22:39-40) The Qur'an permits fighting to defend the religion of Islam and the Muslims. This permission includes fighting in self-defense and for the protection of family and property. The early Muslims fought many battles against their enemies under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (S) or his representatives. For example, when the pagans of Quraysh brought armies against Prophet Muhammad (S), the Muslims fought to defend their faith and community (3). The Qur'an adds: "Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress limits. Lo! Allah loves not aggressors. ...And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against transgressors." (The Holy Quran, 2:190, 193)   7. HELPING ALLIED PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE MUSLIM: In the late period of the Prophet Muhammad's (S) life, the tribe of Banu Khuza'ah became his ally. They were living near Makkah which was under the rule of the pagan Quraysh, Prophet Muhammad's (S) own tribe. The tribe of Banu Bakr, an ally of Quraysh, with the help of some elements of Quraysh, attacked Banu Khuza'ah invoked the treaty and demanded Prophet Muhammad (S) to come to their help and punish Quraysh. The Prophet Muhammad(S) organized a campaign against Quraysh of Makkah which resulted in the conquest of Makkah which occurred without any battle (4).   8. REMOVING TREACHEROUS PEOPLE FROM POWER: Allah orders the Muslims in the Qur'an: "If you fear treachery from any group, throw back (their treaty) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms. Lo! Allah loves not the treacherous." (The Holy Quran, 8:58) Prophet Muhammad (S) undertook a number of armed campaigns to remove treacherous people from power and their lodgings. He had entered into pacts with several tribes, however, some of them proved themselves treacherous. Prophet Muhammad (S) launched armed campaigns against these tribes, defeated and exiled them from Medina and its surroundings (5).   9. DEFENDING THROUGH PREEMPTIVE STRIKES: Indeed, it is difficult to mobilize people to fight when they see no invaders in their territory; however, those who are charged with responsibility see dangers ahead of time and must provide leadership. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (S), had the responsibility to protect his people and the religion he established in Arabia. Whenever he received intelligence reports about enemies gathering near his borders he carried out preemptive strikes, broke their power and dispersed them (6). Allah ordered Muslims in the Qur'an: "Fighting is prescribed upon you, and you dislike it. But it may happen that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that you love a thing which is bad for you. And Allah knows and you know not." (The Holy Quran, 2:216) 10. GAINING FREEDOM TO INFORM, EDUCATE AND CONVEY THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM IN AN OPEN AND FREE ENVIRONMENT: Allah declares in the Qur'an: "They ask you (Muhammad) concerning fighting in the Sacred Month. Say, 'Fighting therein is a grave (offense) but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its inhabitants. Persecution is worse than killing. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith, if they can..." (The Holy Quran, 2:217) "And those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, (are not cowed but) fight back." (The Holy Quran, 42:39) To gain this freedom, Prophet Muhammad(S) said: "Strive (Jahidu) against the disbelievers with your hands and tongues." (Sahih Ibn Hibban, No. 4708) The life of the Prophet Muhammad(S) was full of striving to gain the freedom to inform and convey the message of Islam. During his stay in Makkah he used non-violent methods and after the establishment of his government in Madinah, by the permission of Allah, he used armed struggle against his enemies whenever he found it inevitable.   11. FREEING PEOPLE FROM TYRANNY: Allah admonishes Muslims in the Qur'an: "And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? - Men, women, and children, whose cry is: 'Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You, one who will protect; and raise for us from You, one who will help.'" (The Holy Quran, 4:75) The mission of the Prophet Muhammad (S) was to free people from tyranny and exploitation by oppressive systems. Once free, individuals in the society were then free to chose Islam or not. Prophet Muhammad's(S) successors continued in his footsteps and went to help oppressed people. For example, after the repeated call by the oppressed people of Spain to the Muslims for help, Spain was liberated by Muslim forces and the tyrant rulers removed. After the conquest of Syria and Iraq by the Muslims, the Christian population of Hims reportedly said to the Muslims: "We like your rule and justice far better than the state of oppression and tyranny under which we have been living."(7) The defeated rulers of Syria were Roman Christians, and Iraq was ruled by Zoarastrian Persians.   WHAT SHOULD MUSLIMS DO WHEN THEY ARE VICTORIOUS? Muslims should remove tyranny, treachery, bigotry, and ignorance and replace them with justice and equity. We should provide truthful knowledge and free people from the bondage of 'associationism' (Shirk, or multiple gods), prejudice, superstition and mythology. Muslims remove immorality, fear, crime, exploitation and replace them with divine morality, peace and education. The Qur'an declares: "Lo! Allah commands you that you restore deposits to their owners, and if you judge between mankind that you judge justly. Lo! It is proper that Allah admonishes you. Lo! Allah is ever Hearer, Seer." (The Holy Quran, 4:58) "O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah's witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to Piety and fear Allah. And Allah is well acquainted with all that you do." (The Holy Quran, 5:8) "And of those whom We have created there is a nation who guides with the Truth and establishes justice with it." (The Holy Quran, 7:181) "Lo! Allah enjoins justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbids lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorts you in order that you may take heed." (The Holy Quran, 16:90) "Those who, if We give them power in the land, establish prescribed prayers (salah) and pay the poor-due (zakah) and enjoin right conduct and forbid evil. And with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs." (The Holy Quran, 22:41)   DID ISLAM SPREAD BY FORCE, SWORDS OR GUNS? The unequivocal and emphatic answer is No! The Qur'an declares: "Let there be no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error." (The Holy Quran, 2:256) Here is a good study of the question of the spread of Islam by a Christian missionary, T. W. Arnold: "...of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestantism penal in France, or the Jews were kept out of England for 350 years. The Eastern Churches in Asia were entirely cut off from communion with the rest of Christiandom throughout which no one would have been found to lift a finger on their behalf, as heretical communions. So that the very survival of these Churches to the present day is a strong proof of the generally tolerant attitude of Mohammedan [sic] governments towards them"(8). Islam does not teach, nor do Muslims desire, conversion of any people for fear, greed, marriage or any other form of coercion. In conclusion, jihad in Islam is striving in the way of Allah by pen, tongue, hand, media and, if inevitable, with arms. However, jihad in Islam does not include striving for individual or national power, dominance, glory, wealth, prestige or pride.   REFERENCES: 1. For the sake of simplicity and easy reading, masculine pronouns have been used throughout this brochure. No exclusion of females is intended. 2. Haykal, M. H., The Life of Muhammad, Tr. Ismail R. Faruqi, American Trust Publications, 1976, p. 132. (back) 3. Haykal, pp. 216, 242, 299 and 414 for the Battles of Badr, Uhud, Al-Khandaq and Hunayn, respectively. (back) 4. Haykal, p. 395 for the conquest of Makkah. (back) 5. Haykal, pp. 245, 277, 311 and 326 for campaigns against the tribes of Banu Qaynuqa', Banu Al-Nadir, Banu Qurayzah and Banu Lihyan, respectively. Also, see p. 283 for the Battle of Dhat Al-Riqa'. (back) 6. Haykal, pp. 284, 327, 366, 387, 393, 443 and 515 for the Battles of Dawmat Al-Jandal, Banu Al-Mustaliq, Khayber, Mu'tah, Dhat Al-Salasil, Tabuk and the Campaign of Usama Ibn Zayd, respectively. (back) 7. Hitti, Philip K., History of the Arabs, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1970, p. 153. (back) 8.Arnold, Sir Thomas W., The Preaching of Islam, a History of the Propagation of the Muslim Faith, Westminister A. Constable & Co., London, 1896, p. 80. (back) Source: The Institute of Islamic Information and Education (III&E) is dedicated to the cause of Islam in North America through striving to elevate the image of Islam and Muslims by providing the correct information about Islamic beliefs, history and civilizations from the authentic sources. Enquiries are welcome. The Institute of Islamic Information and Education P.O. Box 41129 Chicago, Illinois 60641-0129 U.S.A. http://www.iiie.net ************************************************************* War & Conflict: Islamic Perspective Yahiya Emerick What is the position of Islam on war and conflict? From "What Islam Is All About" Allah has said in the Qur 'an that He does not love those who create trouble in the Earth. (16:90, 9:111) He also said that people who do wrong will be punished. Now this doesn't mean that Islam is against fighting or defending one's self. Allah said, "And those who, when they are oppressed wrongly, help and defend themselves." (42:39) What Islam is against is random violence and senseless killing. According to the Qur'an, "If you kill a life it is as if you killed all life." Of course the life in question is of an innocent person. (See 190,2:229 and 16:90 for example.) Now the word Jihad literally means, to struggle or strive, or to work for something with determination. It does not mean war. The Arabic word for war is Harb and the word for fighting is Qital. This is important to know, because making Jihad is any action which is done to further the cause of Allah. Even giving da'wah in a tough place, going to learn knowledge or donating money when it's a hardship can be a type of Jihad. (4:81) However, the word jihad is most often associated with the act of physically confronting evil and wrong-doing, hence, it can be applied to the act of fighting as well. (3:110) But the goal of a physical Jihad is not to have a big war, gain riches or kill people, it is to further the cause of Allah and to create justice on Earth. (5:0) Then, when the evil is removed, or the other side wants peace, we are to make peace as well. (8:61) A person came to the Blessed Prophet and asked, "A man fights for treasure, another for fame and a third for bravery. Whose fighting is for the Cause of Allah?"  The Blessed Prophet answered, "The one who fights so that the Word of Allah becomes supreme, his fight is for Allah. (Agreed) A physical Jihad may only be initiated for three reasons: 1) To defend the Muslim community against aggression. 2) To eliminate an evil force which is oppressing people. And 3) To remove any barrier to the free flow of Islamic da'wah. (8:39) The first two are easy to understand. The third would be necessary if for example, there was a Country which forbade the practice of Islam or its preaching. Obviously they are wrong-doers and are attempting to stop the truth from being preached. It's interesting to note that the Prophet once mentioned to a companion of his after a battle that "You have left the lesser Jihad, now you are coming to the greater jihad. The struggle against yourself."  (Meaning your own soul and the temptations which affect it.) If Muslims are being oppressed or victimized, then we can fight back. (16:41-42) If anyone dies in a Jihad they automatically will go to Paradise. A Shaheed or Martyr, is described this way by Allah, "Don't think that those who were killed in Allah's Cause are dead. No, they are alive, finding their bounty in the presence of their Lord." (3:169) A person who engages in Jihad is called a Mujahid, or Struggler for Allah. Allah also explained for us the reasons why fighting is sometimes a part of Jihad. He said: "Let those fight in the Cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the next life. To the one who fights in the Cause of Allah, whether he is Killed or achieves victory, We shall soon give him a great reward. And why shouldn't you fight in the Cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are mistreated, the men, women and children whose only cry is 'Our Lord! Save us from this land whose people are oppressors and bring to us from You someone who will protect us and bring to us from You someone who will help.' Those who believe fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who reject faith fight in the cause of evil. So fight against the friends of Shaytan. Weak is the plan of Shaytan." (4:74-76) We can declare a Jihad, or struggle against an evil oppressor. (8:65-66) But commanding the Ummah to do Jihad can only be done by the Amir, or leader of the Ummah. (4:59) We don't have one right now. Muslims are settled all over the world and are quite comfortable, especially in non-Muslim lands. But after building countless Masjids and schools and social networks, we never even bothered to elect a Kilalifa or Amir. And we dare to even talk about Jihad? The Blessed Prophet commanded Muslims to make a leader even if there were only three people present. We're not even following that rule, so who are the people who want to declare a Jihad? If we did have a leader, elected by the community, then he could look after the affairs of the Ummah and declare a Jihad if necessary. If a real Jihad was declared, then we, as Muslims, must obey and follow the rules of Islam in our conduct. (9:38-41,7:56) According to Islamic teachings, a Muslim army should only fight against those who are fighting us. (22:3940) We are not allowed to hurt women, children, innocent people, old people, farmers, the sick, nor are we allowed to harm plants, homes, property or animals. Anyone who declares a Jihad, but then doesn't follow these rules, is a wrong-doer and must be stopped. If we were called upon to participate in a true Jihad, declared by our chosen leader, then we must give our all in the effort. (3:142-143) Allah has promised at those who struggle (make Jihad) with their strength, property and lives will be rewarded with the highest rank near to Him. (9:20 & 3:195 & 49:15)) There is no such thing as terrorism in Islam. 16:90). Nor can a Muslim ever be a fundamentalist because there is only one way to follow Islam - the right way. And the non-Muslim media is controlled by people who like to make Islam and Muslims look bad. (48:55-56) But never forget, there are misguided Muslims who seem to do everything in the world to make themselves, and Islam, look bad as well. (2:19))) We must correct our own understanding of Islamic teachings by studying them for ourselves, directly from the Qur'an and Sunnah. Only then can we properly carry out the duty of Jihad and stand out for justice and ????
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