1_The True Meaning of "Jihad"
Jihad is usually associated with Islam and Muslims, but in fact, the concept of Jihad is found in all religions including Christianity, Judaism and political/economic ideologies, such as, Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, etc. Islam defines Jihad as striving and strugglingfor improvement as well as fighting back to defend one's self, honor, assets and homeland.Also, Jihad is interpreted as the struggle against evil, internal or external of a person or a society.Jihad, in Islam, means doing any or all but not limited to the following:
Learn, teach, and practice Islam in all aspects of one's life at all times to reach the highest and best education in order to benefit oneself, family and society.
Be a messenger of Islam everywhere, in every behavior and action.
Fight evil, wrongdoing, and injustice with all one's power by one's hand (action), with one's tongue (speech), or at least with one's heart (prayer).
Respond to the call for Jihad with money, effort, wisdom and life;yet, never fight a Muslim brother, a Muslim country, or a non-Muslim society that respects its treaties and harbors no aggressive designs against Islam or Muslims.
Suicide under any pretext is not condoned as Jihad in Islam.
Converting people to Islam by force or coercion is never Jihad but a crime, punishable by law.
The word Jihad does not mean “Holy War”.It means “struggle” or “striving”.The word for war in the Qur'an is “Harb” or “Qital”.Jihad means serious and sincere struggle on the personal as wellason the social level.It is a struggle to do good and to remove injustice, oppression and evil from the society.This struggle should be spiritual as well as social, economic and political.Jihad is to work hard to do right things.Inthe Qur'an this word is used in its different forms 33 times.It often comes with other Qur'anic concepts such as faith, repentance, righteous deeds and migration.
Jihad is to protect one's faith and one's human rights.Jihad is not a war always although it can take the form of war.Islam is the religion of peace, but it does not mean that Islam accepts oppression.Islam teaches that one should do one's utmost to eliminate tension and conflict.Islam promotes non-violent means to bring change and reform.Actually, Islam urges that one should eliminate evil through peaceful means without the use of force as much as possible.In Islamic history from the time of theProphet(peace and blessings be upon him) until now, Muslims most of the time resisted oppression and struggled for liberation in non-violent and peaceful manners.
Islam teaches proper ethics in the situation of war also.The war is permissible in Islam, but only when other peaceful means such as dialogue, negotiations and treaties fail.It is a last resort and should be avoided as much as possible.Its purpose isnotto convert people by force, or to colonize people or to acquire land or wealth or for self-glory.Its purpose is basically: defense of life, property, land, honor and freedom for oneself as well as defense of others from injustice andoppression.
Prophet Muhammad , peace and blessings be upon him said something amazing which i'd like all non muslims to know:
"Whoever killed a person having a treaty of protection with the Muslims, and who enjoys the guarantee of Allah and His Messenger, he will have spoiled the guarantee of Allah [for him]. He shall not smell the scent of Paradise though its smell is perceived from a distance of seventy years."
Source: Sahih Bukhari 6516
"On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land. (Noble Quran 5:32)"
2_Jihad is not terrorism:
It is to be emphasized that terrorism against the innocent civilians, whether through aggression or suicidal means, is under no circumstances permissible in Islam. Islam encourages the oppressed people to struggle for their liberation and it commands other Muslims to help those who are oppressed and suffering, but Islam does not allow, under any circumstance, terrorism against non-combatants and innocent people. Terrorism is not Jihad, it is Fasad (mischief). It is against the teachings of Islam. There are some people who use their twisted arguments to justify terrorism for their causes, but it has no justification: Allah says: (When it is said to them: ‘Make not mischief on the earth,’ they say: ‘Why, we only want to correct things.’ Indeed they are the mischief doers, but they realize (it) not.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 11-12)
Islam wants to establish a world order where all human beings – Muslims and non-Muslims – can live with justice in peace, harmony and good will. It gives its followers full guidelines to find peace in their personal and social lives, but it also tells them how to extend the good will on the basis of human relations towards others. Muslims worked under these principles for centuries. People of many faiths lived with them and among them. Islamic societies were known for their tolerance, generosity and humanity.
??The basic rules of war in Islam are:
1. Be strong so that your enemy fear you and should not attack you.
2. Do not begin the hostilities. Work for peace as much as possible.
3. Fight only those who fight, no collective punishment; non-combatants should not be harmed. Weapons of mass destruction should not be used.
4. Stop hostilities as soon as the other party is inclined to peace.
5. Observe the treaties and agreements as long as the enemy observes them.
Allah says very clearly: (Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not do aggression, for Allah loves not the aggressors.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 190)
(The prohibited month, for the prohibited month, and so for all things prohibited, there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 194)
??The reason for "Jihad" Noble Verses:
The so-called "Jihad" Noble Verses came for specific times and places.They don't apply for all times and everybody!I can't slay you, a non-Muslim, just because you're not a Muslim.The pagan Arabs were very hostile people and only knew the sword as an answer.Many wars were imposed upon the Muslims, and thus, it is only normal and natural to find Noble Verses that deal with these specific hostile situations.But the Message of the Noble Quran is PEACE, as clearly proven in Noble Verses 2:190, 8:61 and 5:28 above.
3_Peace and War in Islam:
First of all, Islam is the religion of peace, mercy and affection as Allah the almighty said: "And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. (21:107)" Al-Anbiyaa
Quran ordered Muslims not to fight those who don't fight and it didn't prevent us to treat them well. God the almighty said:
"Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.(8)Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion - [forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers".(9)
Almumtahana(60:8-9)
So, it's clear that people who don't have the intention to fight Muslims must be treated fairly and kindly. Beside that, Islam legislated that if those who fight Muslims incline to peace, then Muslims also must incline to peace too and stop fighting them and to rely upon Allah.
Allah the almighty said: "And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing. Al-Anfal(8:61).
Islam ordered to fight those who try to undermine the sacredness of Islam and those who try to prevent disseminating the message of Islam with force.
By this act they are declaring war against Muslims. In this case, fighting them is a religious obligation on every Muslim.
Islam also stated some laws of war that were known and applied by Muslims only. Ethics of war which were legislated by Islam, were never mentioned or stated in any other religion or nation. ??Only Islam forbade the killing of women who are not involved in fighting and it also forbade the killing of children and elderly people??
The Prophet PBUH said: "Go in Allah's name, aided by Allah, and adhering to the religion of Allah's Apostle. Do not kill a decrepit old man, or an infant, or a child, or a woman; do not be dishonest about booty, but collect your spoils, do right and act well, for Allah loves those who do well".
They mentioned that a woman was killed in one of the prophet's military expedition so prophet Mohammad PBUH forbade killing women and children.
Islam also ordered to treat prisoners of war kindly and not to kill them.
Mercy and forgiveness in Islam were highly demonstrated in the prophet's attitude towards the people of Mecca who expelled him from Mecca, he only said to them when he triumphed
over them again what prophet Joseph had said to his brothers:
"No blame lies on you today". Go, you are free!!
4_War and Peace in Christianity:
If you want to know the most violent examples of treachery, barbarity and sadism then Christianity would be the perfect example. Here is some of what Jesus of love said.
Luke 12:49-53 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five persons in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Luke 19:27 " But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me".
Ezekiel 9:6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark.
Hosea 13:16 "The people of Samaria must bear their guilt,
because they have rebelled against their God.
They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open.”[b]
Deuteronomy 3:6-7 "We completely destroyed[a] them, as we had done with Sihon king of Heshbon, destroying[b] every city—men, women and children. 7 But all the livestock and the plunder from their cities we carried off for ourselves".
Deuteronomy 2:31-34 "31 The Lord said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his country over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.”
32 When Sihon and all his army came out to meet us in battle at Jahaz, 33 the Lord our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army. 34 At that time we took all his towns and completely destroyed[c] them—men, women and children. We left no survivors".
Jos 6:21 "They turned over everyone in the city for destruction and executed them, including both men and women, young and old, and oxen, sheep, and donkeys".