I came across an article in the Kuwait Times and just HAD to share it with you all as I know many of my readers are in the west.
A reporter from Kuwait Times felt that he needed to share the true meaning of the word Jihad to you idiots that think it means something else.
”The word jihadophobia is a neologism formed from jihad and phobia, referring to irrational fear of the concept of jihad in Islam. An increase in jihadophobiarelated events is gradually erupting in the west. Some recent examples of these events are: an advertisement that reads “Support Israel. Defeat Jihad” that went on display in 10 New York City subway stations; and a statement delivered by United States representative Michele Bachman calling for a ban on what she calls “jihadi” foods in school lunches in the US. Thus, I found it exceedingly significant to illuminate the true meaning of jihad in Islam. Undoubtedly, jihad is one of those hotly disputed Islamic concepts, having generated so much disagreement and diametrically opposed interpretations.”
”The word jihad stems from the Arabic root word J-H-D, which means “struggle” and “strive”. Jihad is an effort to struggle against evil thoughts, actions and aggression against a person, family, society or country. In Islam there are two categories of jihad: an inner spiritual struggle (jihad el nafs) and an outer physical struggle (jihad bel seif ) also known as the “jihad of the sword”. Since the first category of jihads concerns only the spiritual side of Muslim beliefs and have no external interference, I will directly tackle the second kind of jihad. “Jihad of the sword” means struggling against those who are non-Muslims. But mark my words, “jihad of the sword” in Islam is not merely a ‘struggle’; it is a ‘struggle for the Cause and in the way of Allah’. This is the most crucial condition for ‘jihad’ in Islam. Allah says in his book (Quran): “Those who believe fight in the way of God and the unbelievers fight in the way of Taghut (devil)”. (4:76) The expression “Taghut” is derived from ‘Tughian’ (the deluge) that means ‘to cross the limit’. When the river crosses its boundaries we say ‘the deluge has come’. Correspondingly, when man transgresses all the legitimate Islamic restraints and exerts himself to assume a position above the law of Allah arrogating himself the right to kill innocent people and destruct their homes unduly, this is called as ‘fighting in the way of Taghut’.”
Absolutely FANTASTIC article. You can read much more here.
