Muslim, please explain Lesser Jihad

[GeorgeTwo]

I know what the Greater Jihad is; please explain the Lesser Jihad.

Thanks.

 

[DennisTate]

I know what the Greater Jihad is; please explain the Lesser Jihad.

Thanks.

Sufi Muslims, and Islamic Mystics, from what I have read,
almost never engage in terrorist acts.

From what I have read, many Islamic Mystics would tend to place certain
verses in the Koran into a high position of validity, much like an Orthodox Jew would
do with the ten commandments or the words of Moses......
or like a Christian might do with the Sermon on the Mount.

Here are several examples......
from author Robert Mendelson:

God's Peace Plan

Next, we come to Islam and most Palestinians.

Sura 29:46;

Dispute not…with people of the Book;

And say ye, "We believe in what hath been sent down to us [Qur’an]

and what hath been sent down to you. [Old & New Testaments]

Our God and your God is one,..."

Sura 2:136;

Say ye: "We believe in God,

and that which hath been sent down to us [Qur’an],

and that which hath been sent down to Abraham

and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes [Joshua],

and in that was given to Moses, and to Jesus,

and that which was given to the prophets, from their Lord.

No difference do we make between any of them."

There are many other instances in which Muhammad told his people that

the books of the Bible were confirmed. Again, one can argue theology, but

Muslims have a choice as to whether they wish to read the Qur’an for life or

for death. Making use of the Old Testament for a solution meant for the

members of both tribes currently in the Holy Land in no way places Muslims

in other lands under any constraints in their own land. The following passage

is quite specific regarding the value of the Old Testament—properly applied;

Sura 46:12;

But before the Koran was the Book of Moses, a rule and a mercy;

and this Book confirmeth it (the Pentateuch)—in the Arabic tongue—

that those who are guilty of that wrong may be warned,

and as glad tidings to the doers of good."

“glad tidings” to “doers of good”. Muslims are supposed to be “doers of good”.

Using Old Testament Law for the descendents of those it was originally given to

in the same land in which it was originally received doesn’t violate shariah in the

least. Muhammad recited a verse including a reference to David (from the Bible)


Sura 6:85;

And we gave him Isaac and Jacob, and guided both aright;

and We had guided…among the descendants of Abraham, David …”

If these verses from the Koran......
are put on a high level of value..... such as with these verses in the Christian Bible.....

Mark 12:29

¶
"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

My understanding of lesser jihad.... is that
Muslims want to see people turn to the G-d of Abraham with their whole heart.....
and love and understanding is the weapon to use number one.... Sufi Muslims and
Islamic Mystics seem to go by this general rule of a hierarchy of scriptures........

 

[smaneck]

Terrorist acts are neither the greater or the lesser jihad, they are explicitly prohibited in the shariah.
The purpose of the lesser jihad (literally the "lesser struggle") is a religious sanctioned war to establish a just government where people are free to live as Muslims. But there are strict rules for how this war can be waged:

"Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful. Slay not any of the enemy's flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them alone."

 

[Robban]

Terrorist acts are neither the greater or the lesser jihad, they are explicitly prohibited in the shariah.
The purpose of the lesser jihad (literally the "lesser struggle") is a religious sanctioned war to establish a just government where people are free to live as Muslims. But there are strict rules for how this war can be waged:

"Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful. Slay not any of the enemy's flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them alone."

 

[smaneck]

Actually tomorrow's my birthday. I don't know why they have that thing up today.

 

[Robban]

Actually tomorrow's my birthday. I don't know why they have that thing up today.

Dateline?

Go West is best,
go East is least.

 

[GeorgeTwo]

A Muslim once gave me an Islamic article to read. This is what it said about Jihad.

Jihad has three characteristics. The first form is jihad of the heart, or jihad of the self. This is the internal struggle to acquire the correct creed, and to remove from one’s self all doubts and misconceptions concerning this creed, and also the commands and prohibitions enjoined on the believer. It further more encompasses the purifying of the soul from base desires and acquiring noble qualities. The second level is the jihad of the tongue. This is the struggle against evil, and wrong beliefs and actions through preaching and writing books and the like. This form of jihad is characterized by its use against the deviants from among the Muslims, but also extends to the unbelievers. The final form of jihad is that of the hand, or sword, where one expends life and property. It is characterized by its use against unbelievers, but can also be used against deviant groups under the authority of the Muslim ruler. This jihad of the hand, often termed "Holy War", is further compartmentalized into three stages. The first is that of it being forbidden, as it was in the early days of Muhammad’s prophethood. If the Muslims are weak, and fighting is liable to cause only harm and no benefit, then they should desist. Such is the case of those dwelling in non-Muslim lands. The second stage is that of self-defense, or restricting the fight to "those who fight you" (2:190), and releasing the lands of the Muslims from the control of their enemies. This is the condition of the Muslims today. The final stage is that of fighting in order to open the path for establishing Allah’s rule in the lands of the unbelievers, as was done by the Prophet’s companions and the Muslim rulers after them. "And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah when there are weak and oppressed, old men, women and children whose cry is ‘Oh Lord save us from those who oppress, and send to one who will aid and send to us one who willhelp!’" (Surah an-Nisa’ 4:75). Thus one the Prophet’s companions, Rab’ia ibn Amer, went to meet Rostrum, the famous Persian general, at his request and the general offered camels, and women and asked them to return to the desert. Rab’ia refused, and Rostrum asked him why then were they fighting. Rab’ia replied: "We have come to take mankind from the darkness to the light and from the worship of the false gods to the worship of Allah, from the narrowness of this world the wide expanse of this world and the next, and from the injustices of man made religions to the justice of Islam."

 

[DennisTate]

Terrorist acts are neither the greater or the lesser jihad, they are explicitly prohibited in the shariah.
The purpose of the lesser jihad (literally the "lesser struggle") is a religious sanctioned war to establish a just government where people are free to live as Muslims. But there are strict rules for how this war can be waged:

"Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful. Slay not any of the enemy's flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them alone."

Wow!

Great answer on this topic Smaneck!

I got a reply yesterday from my friend Mr. Robert Mendelson on this subject:

Robert Mendelson:

re: Greater & Lesser Jihad: the greater has to do with the battle for self control. the lesser has to do with struggle with other people.

The second one is the problematic one. The Qur'an not only permits armed struggle in defense of Muslims, it requires it if peaceful means of struggle fail. The second part of that sentence is the biggest key to peace between Islam and others. IMHO, all possible peaceful methods are rarely, if ever, employed due to Muslims having learned their religion in a win/lose manner, just like most Christians do. They don't understand the Great Circle, so they read their books in a way where they clash and are mutually exclusive...

Way back when the Qur'an was written, it permitted Muslims to defend themselves against local warlords and the Byzantine Empire if they were attacked.

It didn't allow for armed invasions of neighboring states without some major attack on their religion or their homeland.

The only valid pretext for the armed spread of Islam is in defense of people in other lands who'd become Muslims and were now being persecuted because of it. A Muslim army could go into that land and defend those people.

A Muslim army could not attack, say, France, where there wasn't a Muslim population. That's not at all to say that people who called themselves Muslims didn't attack and invade other countries, only that the Qur'an itself doesn't support it.

The misuse of the Qur'an and the Bible is the real problem.

It's just that Creator needs to create the proper situation for that information to spread widely... Isaiah 11:9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Jeremiah 31:34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Robert Mendelson)

 

[DennisTate]

A Muslim once gave me an Islamic article to read. This is what it said about Jihad.

Jihad has three characteristics. The first form is jihad of the heart, or jihad of the self. This is the internal struggle to acquire the correct creed, and to remove from one’s self all doubts and misconceptions concerning this creed, and also the commands and prohibitions enjoined on the believer. It further more encompasses the purifying of the soul from base desires and acquiring noble qualities. The second level is the jihad of the tongue. This is the struggle against evil, and wrong beliefs and actions through preaching and writing books and the like. This form of jihad is characterized by its use against the deviants from among the Muslims, but also extends to the unbelievers. The final form of jihad is that of the hand, or sword, where one expends life and property. It is characterized by its use against unbelievers, but can also be used against deviant groups under the authority of the Muslim ruler. This jihad of the hand, often termed "Holy War", is further compartmentalized into three stages. The first is that of it being forbidden, as it was in the early days of Muhammad’s prophethood. If the Muslims are weak, and fighting is liable to cause only harm and no benefit, then they should desist. Such is the case of those dwelling in non-Muslim lands. The second stage is that of self-defense, or restricting the fight to "those who fight you" (2:190), and releasing the lands of the Muslims from the control of their enemies. This is the condition of the Muslims today. The final stage is that of fighting in order to open the path for establishing Allah’s rule in the lands of the unbelievers, as was done by the Prophet’s companions and the Muslim rulers after them. "And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah when there are weak and oppressed, old men, women and children whose cry is ‘Oh Lord save us from those who oppress, and send to one who will aid and send to us one who willhelp!’" (Surah an-Nisa’ 4:75). Thus one the Prophet’s companions, Rab’ia ibn Amer, went to meet Rostrum, the famous Persian general, at his request and the general offered camels, and women and asked them to return to the desert. Rab’ia refused, and Rostrum asked him why then were they fighting. Rab’ia replied: "We have come to take mankind from the darkness to the light and from the worship of the false gods to the worship of Allah, from the narrowness of this world the wide expanse of this world and the next, and from the injustices of man made religions to the justice of Islam."

Thank you for this obviously excellent answer GeorgeTwo.

I have a theory that when Christians, Jews and Muslims......
begin to show more, and more, and more basic respect for each other......
and begin to comprehend each others view point.......
extreme skepticism such as that displayed by Richard Dawkins Ph. D. will
virtually disappear from the earth.

John 13:35

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

In his audience as Rabbi Yeshua - Jesus spoke these words were Rabbinic Jews,
Messianic Jews, Messianic Gentiles and some Gentiles who were seeking answers.

The Tsvi Misinai research indicates that a significant percentage of the great, great grandchildren of the Messianic Jewish
and Messianic Gentile community of the Second Century eventually converted to Islam and became the grandparents of the modern Palestinians.

I believe that the extreme application of John 13:35.... is that when the great, great, great, great... grand children of Rabbinic Jews, Messianic Jews, Messianic Gentiles and Palestinians get together...... then anybody will realize that a miracle has occurred...... and so surely a major outpouring of the Holy Spirit / Ruach ha Kodesh, must have happened!

So..... the G-d of Abraham must be real...... and must have real power to change how people think!

How the number 400,000 can alter Middle East political formula?

 

[Arthra]

I posted the following on the subject of Jihad a few weeks ago and offer it here as relevant:
The BBC has a good summary:

What can justify Jihad?
There are a number of reasons, but the Qur'an is clear that self-defence is always the underlying cause.

Permissable reasons for military Jihad:

• Self-defence
• Strengthening Islam
• Protecting the freedom of Muslims to practise their faith
• Protecting Muslims against oppression, which could include overthrowing a tyrannical ruler
• Punishing an enemy who breaks an oath
• Putting right a wrong

What a Jihad is not
A war is not a Jihad if the intention is to:

• Force people to convert to Islam
• Conquer other nations to colonise them
• Take territory for economic gain
• Settle disputes
• Demonstrate a leader's power

Although the Prophet engaged in military action on a number of occasions, these were battles to survive, rather than conquest, and took place at a time when fighting between tribes was common.

BBC - Religions - Islam: Jihad

 

[Landon Caeli]

I posted the following on the subject of Jihad a few weeks ago and offer it here as relevant:
The BBC has a good summary:

What can justify Jihad?
There are a number of reasons, but the Qur'an is clear that self-defence is always the underlying cause.

Permissable reasons for military Jihad:

• Self-defence
• Strengthening Islam
• Protecting the freedom of Muslims to practise their faith
• Protecting Muslims against oppression, which could include overthrowing a tyrannical ruler
• Punishing an enemy who breaks an oath
• Putting right a wrong

What a Jihad is not
A war is not a Jihad if the intention is to:

• Force people to convert to Islam
• Conquer other nations to colonise them
• Take territory for economic gain
• Settle disputes
• Demonstrate a leader's power

Although the Prophet engaged in military action on a number of occasions, these were battles to survive, rather than conquest, and took place at a time when fighting between tribes was common.

BBC - Religions - Islam: Jihad

The 2nd permissible reason for waging military jihad is -- "strengthening Islam"... That seems like it could be pretty broadly interpreted.

Could that include establishing governance and policing for Sharia law? By force?

 

[Landon Caeli]

Sufi Muslims, and Islamic Mystics, from what I have read,
almost never engage in terrorist acts.

From what I have read, many Islamic Mystics would tend to place certain
verses in the Koran into a high position of validity, much like an Orthodox Jew would
do with the ten commandments or the words of Moses......
or like a Christian might do with the Sermon on the Mount.

Here are several examples......
from author Robert Mendelson:

God's Peace Plan



If these verses from the Koran......
are put on a high level of value..... such as with these verses in the Christian Bible.....

Mark 12:29

¶
"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

My understanding of lesser jihad.... is that
Muslims want to see people turn to the G-d of Abraham with their whole heart.....
and love and understanding is the weapon to use number one.... Sufi Muslims and
Islamic Mystics seem to go by this general rule of a hierarchy of scriptures........

I've talked to many mainstream Muslims online, and unfortunately, they tend to look down on Sufis. They make the mistake of thinking that "mystic" and "contemplative thought" are bad qualities.

It's a shame, because the twirling dervishes are very prayerful people.

 

[Arthra]

The 2nd permissible reason for waging military jihad is -- "strengthening Islam"... That seems like it could be pretty broadly interpreted.
Could that include establishing governance and policing for Sharia law? By force?

I'm not an authority on Islam so my response here is a personal one:

My understanding is that Shariah law can vary in Islam as there are different schools of jurisprudence. The general understanding is that Jihad is called for when there is an aggressive attack on the Umma or community.

If you read the second part of that article it suggests what Jihad is not...

A war is not a Jihad if the intention is to:

• Force people to convert to Islam
• Conquer other nations to colonise them
• Take territory for economic gain
• Settle disputes
• Demonstrate a leader's power

 

[habibii zahra]

I know what the Greater Jihad is; please explain the Lesser Jihad.

Thanks.

let me explain first that the greater Jihad is not what terrorists are doing...greater Jihad is to defend oneself not to kill innocent people... prophet Mohammad didn't call to kill innocent people yet he said fight those who fought you and fight to defend yourselves...Jihad has nothing to do with those terrorist who are even killing us as muslims
the lesser Jihad is to fight yourself...greater Jihad is to fight the enemies...lesser Jihad is to fight yourself..take it from the door of the ten commandments..prophet Mohammad wanted to say fight yourselves facing sins..try not to make adultery, to make sex without marriage..if you are poor fight yourself facing stealing don't steal anything ...fight yourself and doing lie to anybody...fight yourself and don't look at your husband's wife..fight yourself infront of sins...this is the lesser Jihad

 

[habibii zahra]

Thank you for this obviously excellent answer GeorgeTwo.

I have a theory that when Christians, Jews and Muslims......
begin to show more, and more, and more basic respect for each other......
and begin to comprehend each others view point.......
extreme skepticism such as that displayed by Richard Dawkins Ph. D. will
virtually disappear from the earth.

John 13:35

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

In his audience as Rabbi Yeshua - Jesus spoke these words were Rabbinic Jews,
Messianic Jews, Messianic Gentiles and some Gentiles who were seeking answers.

The Tsvi Misinai research indicates that a significant percentage of the great, great grandchildren of the Messianic Jewish
and Messianic Gentile community of the Second Century eventually converted to Islam and became the grandparents of the modern Palestinians.

I believe that the extreme application of John 13:35.... is that when the great, great, great, great... grand children of Rabbinic Jews, Messianic Jews, Messianic Gentiles and Palestinians get together...... then anybody will realize that a miracle has occurred...... and so surely a major outpouring of the Holy Spirit / Ruach ha Kodesh, must have happened!

So..... the G-d of Abraham must be real...... and must have real power to change how people think!

How the number 400,000 can alter Middle East political formula?

god is one for all of us...he is unique he is one he is all mercy and kindness..see we are not so much different

 

[MissRowy]

It does say in the Qur'an that Allah is All Great and All Merciful

 

[habibii zahra]

Terrorist acts are neither the greater or the lesser jihad, they are explicitly prohibited in the shariah.
The purpose of the lesser jihad (literally the "lesser struggle") is a religious sanctioned war to establish a just government where people are free to live as Muslims. But there are strict rules for how this war can be waged:

"Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful. Slay not any of the enemy's flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them alone."

lesser Jihad has nothing to do with war..it is between the Muslim and himself to restrain from doing bad deeds and doing good ones

 

[habibii zahra]

Wow!

Great answer on this topic Smaneck!

I got a reply yesterday from my friend Mr. Robert Mendelson on this subject:

Robert Mendelson:

You have misunderstood it…lesser Jihad is with the struggle of oneself..greater Jihad is the struggle with the others

 

[habibii zahra]

The 2nd permissible reason for waging military jihad is -- "strengthening Islam"... That seems like it could be pretty broadly interpreted.

Could that include establishing governance and policing for Sharia law? By force?

Artha stated for you which is acceptable and which is not in the name of Jihad

Yet Jihad cannot come to force people to apply Sharia but it comes when people are prohibited from applying their Shiria..you are free to follow anything or any Sharia..but you are not allowed to prohibit Muslims from applying their Sharia and here may be a struggle

 

[habibii zahra]

It does say in the Qur'an that Allah is All Great and All Merciful

yes it does