Chapter 7

Concept of Holy War

Muslim Perspective

Jihad is one of the most misunderstood religious concepts of our time. A concept so central to a positive personal and social development is unfortunately reduced to a violent struggle by some Muslims. This and media coverage of international events has led many non-Muslims to identify the word jihad with violence and terrorism. In this section, we are going to examine jihad from within its broad religious context.

Jihad means to "endeavour" or "strive"

Literally, the Arabic word "jihad" means to "endeavour" or "strive" and applies to any effort exerted by anyone. In this sense, a student strives to get an education to pass her exams. A businessman strives to make money and expand his business. An employee strives to do his job as best he can. A mother endeavours to bring up her children to be good citizens. An activist strives to save the ecological environment. In other words, jihad means doing one's best to proactively to overcome the obstacles preventing the realisation of a desired goal.

In the religious context, the word jihad is defined as the proactive endeavour against inner and outer adverse circumstances. It is a spiritual struggle against evil in one's self and in various forms outside the self. One of its many manifestations includes the defence of one's life and country. Its practitioners (mujahidin) are those who devote themselves in this struggle against adversity.

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There is no "Holy War" in Islam

The word "jihad" does not mean "holy war". It does not even mean "war". The word for "war" in Arabic is "harb" and the word for fighting is "qital". The phrase "holy war" has been used in European literature in association with the Crusades. This may have influenced various Western translators of the Qur'an to use the phrase "holy war" when they translated the word jihad into English. Today, it is to a large extent the same circles that keep using the phrase "holy war" in association with conflicts involving Muslims. Unfortunately, a minority of Muslims unwittingly used the term "holy war" as well.

The phrase "holy war" has been used in European literature in association with the Crusades. This may have influenced various Western translators of the Qur'an to use the phrase "holy war" when they translated the word jihad into English. Today, it is to a large extent the same circles that keep using the phrase "holy war" in association with conflicts involving Muslims.

The Qur'an sometimes talks about "fighting in the way of God". The prophet Muhammad and Muslims throughout ages did not understand this as "to fight with people of other religions", rather they have understood it to mean establishing justice and ensuring freedom of religion for all people irrespective of their religious backgrounds.

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The Greater and Lesser Aspects of Jihad

Although jihad is a holistic concept and should not be compartmentalised, in the words of the Prophet Muhammad, there are greater and lesser aspects of jihad. What makes this statement significant is that it was said returning from the first major battle that the fledging Muslim community had to fight. The Prophet said "we are returning from the lesser struggle (jihad) to a greater struggle." His dismayed companions asked: "What could be greater than this?" Muhammad replied: "the struggle with the self (nafs)". The greater jihad comprises fighting superstition, wrong convictions, carnal desires and evil inclinations of the self in the pursuit of intellectual and spiritual enlightenment. This is the greater jihad as it is constant and has many invisible facets. The lesser jihad involves encouraging others to follow this path. While usually understood in a military sense, the lesser jihad is much more comprehensive. It consists of every action done by a believer or a believing community to advance the cause of Islam through lawful channels.4

The Prophet combined and balanced these two aspects of jihad. Testimonials to his unequalled courage and resolve in defending the emerging faith and the community of Muslims are found in numerous history books. We also find many accounts of his spiritual battles during nights and while fasting. When his wife A'isha questioned his persistence in prayer as being excessive, he replied "Shall I not be a servant grateful to God?" A'isha would often wake up to find him supplicating in prostration in the pitch black of the night.

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All forms of endeavouring are classified as jihad

For Muslims, the word jihad is used in conjunction with all forms of striving and has developed various special meanings over time. Two of the most important sources in Islam, the Qur'an and the Hadith (sayings) of the Prophet Muhammad, use the term jihad in quite a few different contexts as listed below. All of the behaviours or actions listed below are included under the wide scope of jihad.

  • Recognising the Creator and loving Him above all else (Qur'an, 9:23-24).
  • Resisting the harmful influences of parents, peers and society (Qur'an, 25:52).
  • Staying steadfastly on the straight path of faith and balance (Qur'an, 22:78), (Qur'an, 3:142).
  • Striving for righteous deeds (Qur'an, 29:69).
  • Having courage and steadfastness to convey the message of Islam (Qur'an, 41:33).
  • Defending Islam and the community (Qur'an, 22:39-40) as well as helping allied people who may not necessarily be Muslim.
  • Removing treacherous people from power (Qur'an, 8:58).
  • Gaining freedom to inform, educate and convey the message of Islam in an open and free environment (Qur'an, 2:217).
  • Freeing people from tyranny and oppression (Qur'an, 4:75).

The Prophet Muhammad advised a man who was seeking to join the army to start his jihad (striving) by serving his parents (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 5972). On another occasion, to a man who wanted to know a better form of jihad, the Prophet responded "a word of truth in front of an oppressive ruler." (Sunan Al-Nasa'i, 4209).

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Strict limits apply when a military campaign becomes unavoidable

A military jihad is a last resort set within the limits of the Qur'an (Qur'an, 2:190) and the practice of the Prophet Muhammad. Peaceful solutions to disputes are preferred over military ones. Muslims should never be the aggressors. In the event of unavoidable war, every opportunity to end the war must be pursued. "War is only justified in defence of the country and freedoms" (Qur'an, 22:39-40, 60:8). The Qur'an directs, "But if the enemy inclines towards peace, then you must also incline towards peace..." (Qur'an, 8:61). The following rules were set and practised 14 centuries ago by Muslims:

  • War can only be declared by nations, not by individuals.
  • Jihad cannot include offensive action or war for personal ambition or nationalistic or ethnic disputes.
  • Muslims cannot wage war on nations that have no hostility towards them.
  • They cannot engage in indiscriminate killing and pillage.
  • Women, children or the elderly cannot be deliberately killed in war.
  • Corpses cannot be mutilated in a battle.
  • Land and crops cannot be destroyed.

Today, the concept of jihad in Islam has been one of the most misused and misunderstood concepts. It is quite clear that the concept of jihad has a very wide scope in Islam and includes personal struggle, intellectual endeavour, and social activism; and when necessary military defence. Unfortunately, a few individuals willingly or unwillingly have reduced this very important concept in justification of their violent actions. Some political leaders in countries with prominent Muslim populations have wrongly exploited the concept of jihad to meet their political ends and to gain public support. The global media has jumped on this opportunity in order to sell using sensationalism and controversy while ignoring the explanations and clarifications of Muslim intellectuals.

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Muslims Can Only Be Advocates of Peace, Not Terrorism

Islam does not permit, nor does it show any kind of tolerance towards, terrorism. Even in the literal definition of the word "Islam" we find connotations of peace. We have mentioned before that literally the word "Islam" means submission or surrender and the word "Muslim" means one who has surrendered. The word "Islam" also comes from the root word "seleme", which means peace. Thus, in the religious context, a Muslim is defined as a person who has surrendered himself or herself to God in deep faith and who has as a result found peace within and with his or her social and natural environment.

On the other hand, a "terrorist" is defined as someone who generates terror in people, causes disorder and triggers chaos in society. The words "Muslim" and "terrorist" have diametrically opposite meanings. Hence, a true Muslim cannot be a terrorist nor can a terrorist be a Muslim. The words "Muslim" and "terrorist" cannot be used together in the same phrase. It is extremely offensive to innocent Muslims when these two words are used together.

Unfortunately, the media often uses the expression "Muslim terrorist", compounding the misunderstanding and the false imagery people already associate with Islam and Muslims through centuries of misinformation. When the phrase "Muslim terrorist" is used in conjunction with a terrorist attack, more than a billion Muslim people are placed under suspicion. All of a sudden a Muslim in Australia finds herself in a position to explain herself, when a crime is done at the other end of the globe by someone she does not even know. A proven terrorist may be a person of Muslim background. He should just be called a terrorist. We never hear about "Christian terrorists" in Ireland or "Jewish terrorists" in Palestine. A terrorist is a terrorist. Terrorism does not have a religion.

Islam promotes justice and instructs its followers to adhere to absolute justice, to such a degree that it does not allow the sinking of a whole ship full of criminals if there is even one innocent person on board. It certainly does not condone throwing an innocent person overboard as a result of anger towards the criminals. We are informed by the Qur'an that killing a single person unjustly would be as if the whole of mankind were exterminated (Qur'an, 5:32). Therefore, it is inconceivable and impossible that Islam or Muslims would justify the killing of innocent civilians in violence.

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Was The Prophet Muhammad an Extremist?

Since Muslims follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad and Muhammad fought a number of battles in his lifetime, was the Prophet Muhammad an extremist? Could it be that people who are committing acts of terror in the name of Islam are simply following their Prophet?

Misconceptions about Islam today might give that impression, but despite the misinterpretations of some militant Muslim groups, Muhammad himself was a religious and political moderate. Struggling to stay alive after 13 years of oppression in Mecca, a fledging Muslim community was established in the new city of Medina. Their former oppressors and many tribes wanted to exterminate Muslims. Naturally, Muhammad being the Prophet and the leader of Muslims, staunchly defended the Muslim community against agression in order the ensure the very survival of his followers and Islam. In this struggle for survival Muhammad initiated no wars although he sometimes acted in pre-emptive self-defence based on evidence that a party was getting ready to attack. In all, his time spent in battle does not add up to 1 1/2 days out of his 23-year mission.

More often than not Muhammad tried to resolve conflict through diplomacy and signed many treaties with tribes and other neighbouring states. He honoured all treaties. To ensure peace he sometimes even signed disadvantageous treaties (such as the treaty of Hudaybiyah) much to the surprise and dissension of his followers.

The Prophet Muhammad guaranteed minority rights in a document which served as the first constitution in human history that defined citizenship rights irrespective of the religious convictions of the citizens belonging to the state. Jews, for example, were allowed to practice their faith freely and even have their own laws. They were exempted from the application of Islamic law and military service.

Prophet Muhammad called his followers to respect the rights of women. He championed a deliberate education campaign. He continuously warned Muslims that nations were destroyed when people went to extremes. He even forbade people from excessive praying and fasting, pointing out that life should include family and recreation. As a testament to the tolerance he preached, Islamic history has had no forced conversions, Holocausts, Inquisitions, waging war on other religions or other large scale tragedies in its record.