JIHAD
J.H.D.

meaning striving, struggling, endeavoring. Commonly translated as Holy War.

Good introductory articles on this complex issue:

- Jihad in Islam: Is Islam Peaceful or Militant?
- Jihad: The Teachings of Islam from its primary sources - the Qur'an and Hadith
- Jihad: The truth about the rules of Islamic warfare

- Further Resource links on "Jihad"

- Book Review: The Legacy of Jihad: Islamic Holy War and the Fate of Non-Muslims

- Jihad in Islam is a short book by the influential Muslim writer Abul A'la Maududi

The purpose of jihad influences or should influence even the most intimate aspects of a Muslim's life, e.g. the question whom he should or should not marry. Muhammad put considerable emphasis on marrying women who are able to give birth to many children in order to increase the power of Islam, see BIRTH RATE.

Other keywords in the Quran and hadith:

- best Jihad for women is Hajj Mabrur, Sahih Bukhari 2.595

- fight till they (i.e. the infidels) confess Islam,

  see fought those who refused to pay tax under ABU BAKR.

- greater vs. lesser jihad (striving against inward desires vs. fighting in battles) is a distinction based on a weak hadith, cf. *, *

- non-believing parents persuading believer to polytheism, al-`Ankabut 29:8; Luqman 31:15,

- martyrs go to paradise,

  > Narrated Abu Huraira:
  > The Prophet said, "The person who participates in (Holy battles) in Allah's cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His Apostles, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise (if he is killed in the battle as a martyr). Had I not found it difficult for my followers, then I would not remain behind any sariya going for Jihad and I would have loved to be martyred in Allah's cause and then made alive, and then martyred and then made alive, and then again martyred in His cause." (Sahih Bukhari 1.35, also Sahih Bukhari 4.386)

  It is therefore not difficult to understand why some extremist Muslims (eg. the Hamas) were willing to die for their terrorist acts all around the world. They believed that as long as they are fighting Allah's cause, they die for it, they are assured a place in Paradise. However, believing that it is for God's cause does not automatically mean that it really is God's cause.

  > [Jesus said:] "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive you out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:21)

- second best deed, see DEED

- striving hard against disbelievers, at-Taubah 9:73; al-Furqan 25:52; at-Tahrim 66:9

- striving hard in God's cause, al-Baqarah 2:218; Âl 'Imran 3:142; an-Nisa' 4:95; al-Ma'idah 5:35,54; al-Anfal 8:72,74-75; at-Taubah 9:16,19-20,24,44,86,88; al-Hajj 22:78; al-`Ankabut 29:6,69; al-Hujurat 49:15; al-Mumtahanah 60:1; as-Saff 61:11

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