What "Jihad" really means

[Herman Beun]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

Ter info (zie hieronder). Nu nog zo'n tekst over het begrip
"kruistocht'...

/Herman

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FACTBOX-"Jihad" in Islam - a look behind the
myths
    CAIRO, Sept 18 (Reuters) - A senior Afghan cleric said on
Tuesday the ruling Taliban would launch a "jihad" against the
United States, but officials of the Islamic movement quickly
said he was in no position to declare a holy war.[EP]
    The final decision lay with a council of clerics due to
convene this week, officials said.[EP]
    Afghanistan, which hosts Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, the
top U.S. suspect in last week's devastating attacks in New
York and Washington, could be a target in case of a U.S.
military reprisal, possibly sparking a Taliban "jihad" in
retaliation.[EP]
    But what does "jihad" really mean?[EP]
[EP]
    WHAT JIHAD IS:[EP]
    - The Arabic word "jihad" is often translated as "holy
war", but a more accurate translation is "holy struggle".
Islamic scholars say the term "holy war" was actually coined
in Europe during the Crusades to mean a war against the
Muslims.[EP]
    - In a purely linguistic sense, the word "jihad" means
struggling or striving. There are two different, unrelated
words which mean war.[EP]
    - In a religious sense, as described by the Koran and
teachings of the Prophet Mohammed, jihad means striving for
the benefit of the community or the restraint of personal
sins. It can refer to internal as well as external efforts to
be a good Muslim, or believer. Scholars say it primarily
refers to efforts to improve oneself.[EP]
    - Jihad is a religious duty.[EP]
    - If jihad is required to protect the faith against
others, it can be performed using anything from legal,
diplomatic and economic to political means. If there is no
peaceful alternative, Islam also allows the use of force, but
there are strict rules of engagement. Innocents -- such as
women, children, or invalids -- must never be harmed, and any
peaceful overtures from the enemy must be accepted.[EP]
    - Military action is therefore only one means of jihad,
and is very rare. To highlight this point, the Prophet
Mohammed told his followers returning from a military
campaign: "This day we have returned from the minor jihad to
the major jihad," which he said meant returning from armed
battle to the peaceful battle for self-control and betterment.[EP]
    - In case military action appears necessary, not everyone
can declare jihad. The religious military campaign has to be
declared by a proper authority, advised by scholars, who say
the religion and people are under threat and violence is
imperative to defend them. The concept of "just war" is very
important.[EP]
    - The concept of jihad has been hijacked by many political
and religious groups over the ages in a bid to justify various
forms of violence. In most cases, Islamic splinter groups
invoked jihad to fight against the established Islamic order.
Scholars says this misuse of jihad contradicts Islam.[EP]
    - Examples of sanctioned military jihad include the
Muslims' defensive battles against the Crusaders in medieval
times, and before that some responses by Muslims against
Byzantine and Persian attacks during the period of the early
Islamic conquests.[EP]
[EP]
    WHAT JIHAD IS NOT[EP]
    - Jihad is not a violent concept.[EP]
    - Jihad is not a declaration of war against other
religions. It is worth noting that the Koran specifically
refers to Jews and Christians as "people of the book" who
should be protected and respected. All three faiths worship
the same God. Allah is just the Arabic word for God, and is
used by Christian Arabs as well as Muslims.[EP]
    - Military action in the name of Islam has not been common
in the history of Islam. Scholars says most calls for violent
jihad are not sanctioned by Islam.[EP]
    - Warfare in the name of God is not unique to Islam. Other
faiths throughout the world have waged wars with religious
justifications.    REUTERS

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