What is Jihad?

[Joyousperson]

And islam is always an enemy of truth, of life, against the one true gospel of Jesus, and against (with deadly motives, purposes, intentions and force) all of the followers of Jesus.

In his early preaching days, Muhammad was very positive to Jews and Christians re their religion and scriptures as marketing ploy to win them over.

When Muhammad failed to convert the Jews and Christians but instead faced heavy criticisms and rejection of his religion, Muhammad condemned the Jews and Christians terribly and turned on them violently - killing many.

Thereafter, the Jews, Christians and all non-Muslims were deemed an eternal threat [fasad] to Islam and Muslims.

9:34. O ye [Muslims], who believe! Lo! many of the (Jewish) rabbis [HBR: l-aḥbāri] and the (Christian) monks [wal-ruh'bāni] devour the wealth [MWL: amwāla] of mankind wantonly [bil-bāṭili] and debar (men) from the way of Allah. .... ...​

For being a threat [fasad,] Allah permit Jews and Christians to be killed where necessary;

5:33. The only reward [punishment] of those [infidels] who

1. make war [HRB: yuḥāribūna] upon Allah and His messenger and
2 strive [S3Y: wayasʿawna ] after corruption [FSD: fasādan; threats] in the land​

- will be that they [infidels] will be killed or crucified, or have their [infidels'] hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their [infidels] degradation [KhZY: khiz'yun] in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs [infidels] will be an awful doom;​

Fact is, conservatively [based on polls] a likely 20% of Muslims [a frightening pool of 320 millions!!!] are agreeable and will condone and comply what is stated in 5:33. If God sanctioned killing, obviously SOME Muslims will comply to please Allah to be ensured of a passage to paradise with eternal life.

The consequences of fatality from 5:33 is glaringly evident around the world since 1400 years ago till the present and will continue in the future.

 

[DamianWarS]

What is gay?
99% of people at present will most likely answer 'homosexual' [esp. man].
Definition of gay | Dictionary.com
Somewhere 30 years ago and prior, the term 'gay' was commonly referred to as "light-hearted and carefree" till it was habituated to be commonly known as 'homosexual' [esp. man].​

The same thing happened with the term 'jihad' in Arabic linguistic and etymology hundred of years ago where its literal meaning 'striving' was hijacked to something else, i.e. armed struggle.

Jihad [JHD] etymologically means striving or struggling.
However when one look at the current Arabic dictionaries, the first meaning is 'warring and striving against unbelievers', thus its default meaning.

If we are to analyze all the verses with the root J-H-D [50+] in the 6236 verses of the Quran, 23 [as below] are related to striving and fighting against unbelievers in an aggressive mode. (nb: verses are truncated)

8:72 struggled with their wealth and their lives in
9:20 believed and emigrated and struggled in the
9:88 with him struggled with their wealth and their
49:15 they were not in doubt and they struggled with
9:44 they struggle with their wealth and their lives.
9:81 of God and they disliked struggling with their
61:11 in God and His Messenger and struggle in the
9:41 Move forward light and heavy, and struggle
4:95 God gave advantage to the ones who struggle
2:218 those who emigrated and struggled in the way [sabil]
8:74 who believed and emigrated and struggled in
8:75 afterwards, and emigrated and struggled
9:16 be left before God knows those who struggled
9:19 in God and the Last Day and struggled in the
9:73 O Prophet! Struggle with the ones who are
25:52 the ones who are ungrateful and struggle
66:9 O Prophet! Struggle against the ones who are
9:24 than God and His Messenger and struggling in
60:1 If you had been going forth struggling in My
47:31 you until We know the ones who struggle​

The first 11 relate to jihad in terms of striving with money and one's life in the cause of Allah.
This is obviously related to warring and armed struggle against unbelievers and to kill them where the opportunity arise. As for jihad with 'lives' that is where Allah promotes suicide bombing [an approved war tactic].

Many Muslims and apologists will insist the term 'jihad' in the Quran refer to the inner struggle against various temptations. There are only a few verses related to personal struggle for oneself for various reasons.

Why the Arabic dictionaries interpret the meaning of 'jihad' as the defaulted to the ethos of Islam, i.e. the hatred and war against non-believers. This common meaning is establish as the default meaning under the influence of the 55% or 3400++ verses that are contemptuous against disbelievers.

Thus when we see and hear of the term 'jihad' in relation to Islam, the default meaning means to war against and the killings of disbelievers.
If any other meaning of 'jihad' are to be used, they would have to be qualified to the specific context, if not, then it is the default meaning.

So is jihad both? Representing internal and external struggles?

 

[dzheremi]

Yes, DamianWarS. The word "jihad" as a word means "struggle", and hence can be used with either or both of those meanings, as well as others.

You can find it used in a positive sense in popular Christian songs in Egypt, like this one about St. George of Lydda:

تيجي و تحرسنا بصلواتك
لما نقتدي بك في جهادك

Come and guard us with your prayers
as we follow you in your struggle. (More literally, "as we imitate you in your jihad")

St. George was of course famously a soldier, so there's no reason to exclude armed combat from this definition, though he never fought to force others to follow the Christian faith. He just killed a dragon and did other stuff like that. Now he's famous in every church. The Ethiopians even named a very good beer after him.

 

[Joyousperson]

So is jihad both? Representing internal and external struggles?

Jihad, literally mean struggle in general, thus applicable to whatever actions and efforts toward a purpose.

In the context of the whole of the ideology of Islam;
Islam in its core is represented by 6236 verses of the Quran which is the direct words of Allah revealed to Muhammad via angel Gabriel.

There are only 40 [corrected] verses with the term 'jihad' [roots J.H.D] in the Quran.
23 of the 40 verses relate to striving and warring against non-Muslims as threats to the religion.
11 of these verses relate to striving with money and lives to war against non-Muslims. This is where motivation for war and suicide bombings come in.

There are ONLY 3 verses where 'jihad' is related to internal personal struggle.

Yes, jihad relate to both internal and external struggle, but one can infer objectively, jihad related to warring against non-Muslims [23/40] has a heavier weightage against jihad relating to internal struggle [3/40].

As such over the 1400 years to the present, and with salvation at stake, the term 'jihad' has naturally gravitated to mean 'holy war against non-Muslims' as the default meaning. This is confirmed in the Arabic dictionaries.

 

[Joyousperson]

Yes, DamianWarS. The word "jihad" as a word means "struggle", and hence can be used with either or both of those meanings, as well as others.

You can find it used in a positive sense in popular Christian songs in Egypt, like this one about St. George of Lydda:

تيجي و تحرسنا بصلواتك
لما نقتدي بك في جهادك

Come and guard us with your prayers
as we follow you in your struggle. (More literally, "as we imitate you in your jihad")

St. George was of course famously a soldier, so there's no reason to exclude armed combat from this definition, though he never fought to force others to follow the Christian faith. He just killed a dragon and did other stuff like that. Now he's famous in every church. The Ethiopians even named a very good beer after him.

The term 'jihad' etymologically is 'struggle' 'striving' and the likes.
But for the purpose of Islam, we need to consider the context and emphasis the term 'jihad' is used in the Quran. Note my points in my prior last post.

 

[dzheremi]

The term 'jihad' etymologically is 'struggle' 'striving' and the likes.
But for the purpose of Islam, we need to consider the context and emphasis the term 'jihad' is used in the Quran. Note my points in my prior last post.

Yes, I agree. I thought the poster was asking about the word itself, not just the word in Islam. If I'm wrong, then apologies for intruding. Continue on.

 

[DamianWarS]

Jihad, literally mean struggle in general, thus applicable to whatever actions and efforts toward a purpose.

In the context of the whole of the ideology of Islam;
Islam in its core is represented by 6236 verses of the Quran which is the direct words of Allah revealed to Muhammad via angel Gabriel.

There are only 40 [corrected] verses with the term 'jihad' [roots J.H.D] in the Quran.
23 of the 40 verses relate to striving and warring against non-Muslims as threats to the religion.
11 of these verses relate to striving with money and lives to war against non-Muslims. This is where motivation for war and suicide bombings come in.

There are ONLY 3 verses where 'jihad' is related to internal personal struggle.

Yes, jihad relate to both internal and external struggle, but one can infer objectively, jihad related to warring against non-Muslims [23/40] has a heavier weightage against jihad relating to internal struggle [3/40].

As such over the 1400 years to the present, and with salvation at stake, the term 'jihad' has naturally gravitated to mean 'holy war against non-Muslims' as the default meaning. This is confirmed in the Arabic dictionaries.

so I'm confused, are you trying to affirm this modern meaning, reject it... or merely tweak it saying "it's mostly external but it's also sometimes internal"

is it incorrect to say a physical struggle against non-Muslims is an aspect of jihad affirmed in the Quran?

 

[Joyousperson]

so I'm confused, are you trying to affirm this modern meaning, reject it... or merely tweak it saying "it's mostly external but it's also sometimes internal"

is it incorrect to say a physical struggle against non-Muslims is an aspect of jihad affirmed in the Quran?

I stated above,

As such over the 1400 years to the present, and with salvation at stake, the term 'jihad' has naturally gravitated to mean 'holy war against non-Muslims' as the default meaning. This is confirmed in the Arabic dictionaries.​

'Default' in the sense that the norm, standard and common meaning of "jihad" as used within Muslims in our modern times meant 'holy war against non-Muslims.'

Just like the word 'gay' losing its original meaning as 'joy' the term 'jihad' is not instantly recognized as 'struggle' but taken to mean 'holy war against non-Muslims' within the Muslims community.

The term 'jihad' is also not commonly taken in reference to an internal struggle against lusts and sins.

Therefore whenever the term 'jihad' is brought up within the Muslim community and even non-Muslims, it meant 'holy war against non-Muslims'.
To use 'jihad' for other meanings like struggle, internal struggle, one will have to qualify and be specify one's intention to mean as such.

These days, when we hear of the word 'jihadist' the first meaning or the only meaning to that word is 'an Islamic terrorist'. Surely not referring to one who is struggling against lusts and sins.

 

[Robban]

From a chip on the shoulder to "My struggle" is not far it seems.
Hitler wrote a book about it.


What is needed is a chip on the other shoulder too,
so there would be balance

 

[Joyousperson]

From a chip on the shoulder to "My struggle" is not far it seems.
Hitler wrote a book about it.


What is needed is a chip on the other shoulder too,
so there would be balance

They are birds of feathers.
Hitler was inspired by the genocides of the Jews by Muhammad in the early battles.
Banu Qurayza - Wikipedia

Photo showing Hitler meeting with the Mufit of Jerusalem:
Video footage shows Jerusalem Grand Mufti doing Nazi salute with Hitler

Hitler hatred for the Jews was due to his accusation of the Jews had shortchanged him in some business dealings.

Muhammad hatred of the Jew is basically his accusation the Jews changed/deleted verses in the original Torah which had prophesized his coming as a Mesiah.

2:59. But those [Jews ] who did wrong changed [BDL: fabaddala] the Word which had been told them for another saying, and We sent down upon the evil-doers wrath from Heaven for their evil doing.

Quran 5:82. Thou wilt find the most vehement [zealous] of mankind in hostility [3DW; ada'wah] to those [Muslims] who believe - (to be) the Jews and the idolaters. ...

4:160. Because of the wrongdoing of the Jews We forbade them [Jews] good things which were (before) made lawful unto them, and because of their [Jews] much hindering [SDD; saddun] from Allah's way
​

 

[Robban]

They are birds of feathers.
Hitler was inspired by the genocides of the Jews by Muhammad in the early battles.
Banu Qurayza - Wikipedia

Photo showing Hitler meeting with the Mufit of Jerusalem:
Video footage shows Jerusalem Grand Mufti doing Nazi salute with Hitler

Hitler hatred for the Jews was due to his accusation of the Jews had shortchanged him in some business dealings.

Muhammad hatred of the Jew is basically his accusation the Jews changed/deleted verses in the original Torah which had prophesized his coming as a Mesiah.

2:59. But those [Jews ] who did wrong changed [BDL: fabaddala] the Word which had been told them for another saying, and We sent down upon the evil-doers wrath from Heaven for their evil doing.

Quran 5:82. Thou wilt find the most vehement [zealous] of mankind in hostility [3DW; ada'wah] to those [Muslims] who believe - (to be) the Jews and the idolaters. ...

4:160. Because of the wrongdoing of the Jews We forbade them [Jews] good things which were (before) made lawful unto them, and because of their [Jews] much hindering [SDD; saddun] from Allah's way
​

Antisemitism goes way back,
it does not go away.

Arabs/Ishmaelites belong to the goyim,

Goy/nation, Goyim/nations,

"It is a people that dwell alone,
and shall not be reckoned among the nations."

(The Moabite prophet Balaam on the people of Israel.
Numbers 23:9)

Therefore there is a vacuum among antisemites that try as they may, cannot fill.