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Jihad
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Explicates the meaning of the Arabic word "jihad," which is a pillar of the Islam religion & not just a holy war. Examines the jihad as used by contemporary Arab groups in the Middle East.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Explicates the meaning of the Arabic word "jihad," which is a pillar of the Islam religion & not just a holy war. Examines the jihad as used by contemporary Arab groups in the Middle East.
Paper Introduction:
Introduction:
The concept of the jihad is often misunderstood in the West, and the image of the holy war is probably the most common one held by the West with reference to Islam. The advent of Islamic fundamentalism and extremism against the West in recent years has only increased our tendency to identify Islam with the jihad or holy war. The concept of the jihad is actually more complex than this, though it has become a tool in international politics as well as a philosophical and religious concept.
The concept of jihad was first given by Muhammad, along with the other important concepts, or the pillars of Islam. In Islam, Muhammad stands as the example of perfection to which the faithful are to aspire. Those who achieve near perfection are highly revered as saints or holy men. The living holy men are accorded
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However, this was turned into a religious waragainst Christianity and other non-Muslims. Yet the fundamentalist surge in the Islamic world hasbeen far more extensive than a handful of kidnappers. Militant Islam. Most Muslims condemn these acts as counter tothe teachings of the Quran, but some Muslims do support the radicals. We dream of martyrdom and hoor al-ain[virgins of paradise]." This attitude can, as noted, be traced incontemporary times to the Iranian Revolution. Islamic extremists have increasingly made Jihad a way of life and thecenter of foreign and military policies in places like Sudan. New York: Harper and Row, 1979."Jihad: Sudan." The Economist (August 7, 1993), 42-43.Parrinder, Geoffrey. Thegreater jihad is the jihad of the individual's soul. Of course, this jihad was on a small scale, waged by a group ratherthan a government. The Five Pillars of Faithconstitute the practical duties of the Muslim, while a secondary divisioninvolves the doctrines to be believed, of which there are also five--thatof God, that of the angels as servants of God, that of the books (theQuran, the Pentateuch, the Zabur, and the Injil), that of the prophets, andthat of the resurrection on the last day (Soper, 1951, 215-216). In the course of the revolution there was a movement from a desirefor political change to an attitude of religious fervor--not only would thegovernment be changed, but the government would represent the power of Godin the world and would fight the infidels. The concept of the jihad isactually more complex than this, though it has become a tool ininternational politics as well as a philosophical and religious concept. The government went all out to smashthe Brotherhood. The Iranian Revolution developed as it did, in part, because of thenature of the conflict between the Shah and Khomeini dating back to the196 s. Inaddition, three schools of law considered the jihad an obligation ifcertain conditions were fulfilled. This anti-Israeli effort has come to be called the Intafada and is waged by a groupcalled the Islamic Jihad. One such instance occurred in the 197 s when Assad of Syriaintervened in the Lebanese war. Introduction to Asian Religions. London: BBC Books, 1992.Hiro, Dilip. In Arabic, striving or struggle isjihad. Yet such radical groupsare precisely what draw the attention of the West. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989.----------------------- 12 The list of religiously inspired conflicts goes on and on (Brooks, 1994, 4 ). In the second phase of the jihad the Brotherhood's military unitsattacked police stations, Baath Party offices, army units, and governmentbuildings with large-scale demonstrations and strikes. In time, the Islamic rebellion collapsed: In short, in the early stages Islamic resistance grew where government repression produced martyrs, and the cycle of opposition's terrorism and the regime's violence escalated. The inflexibility of the regime derived fromKhomeini's Islamic views; compromise was not to be allowed because hebelieved that Iran was leading the charge for God. According to theQuran, man was created primarily for the worship of God, and the individualmust therefore strive to achieve this. . Prayer is anessential duty and has a specific method, time, and place. The concept of jihad was first given by Muhammad, along with theother important concepts, or the pillars of Islam. The concept of jihad as explained by Muhammad makes reference to theimportance of the holy struggle of Islam against that which is not Islam.The jihad was not the sort of aggressive holy war envisioned by many of thefaithful today, for Muhammad expressly proscribed beginning hostilities,stating that "Allah loveth not aggressors" (Gumley and Redhead, 1992, 74).Once challenged, though, the Muslim is called upon to slay the enemywherever they are found. Almsgiving is aduty of all Muslims and is seen as a mark of piety. Moreover, it led to a sweep in which some 3 Brotherhoodactivists were arrested and an anti-Brotherhood campaign was mounted.After several more efforts on both sides, Assad took an iron hand anddispatched troops to Aleppo to cordon off the city. However, . These images have more to do with the odd amalgam of fear and envy which have for so long characterized relations between the west and the Arab world than with the theology of Islam (Gumley and Redhead, 1992, 75).Definitions: The term jihad is often translated as holy war and has been calledthe unofficial sixth pillar of Islam. The last time the call to jihad was seriously made was in 1914 when the last of the real pan-Islamic caliphs, the Sultan of Turkey, called on his co-religionists to join the war on the side of Germany, Turkey's ally: it was a total failure. Itactually has two branches, the lesser jihad and the greater jihad. News & World Report (July 6, 1987), 33-35.Wright, Robin, In the Name of God. However, the concept of jihad has motivated groups ofall sizes in recent years, from sects like the Muslim Brotherhood tosocieties such as Iran after the Revolution, but a full-scale jihad has notbeen mounted-- only threatened. Holy Wars. However, countrieslike Egypt and Algeria have accused Sudan of training Islamic extremists totake up arms against secular Arab governments, and the Sudanese counterthat these countries are "jealous" of its brand of Islamic rule. In truth, the term has only beenhalf understood. This tenet of the faith has had long-termconsequences for the way the rest of the world views Islam: It is a fact of world politics that Islam is perceived not as a creed of peace-making compassion, but as an excuse for antique savagery and manic extremism. The religiousrevival is rather a broad-based movement, embracing both Sunni and Shiitesects, that serves as an outlet for social and political frustrationsacross the Moslem world. With the act of hostage taking,the Iranian revolutionaries were able to paralyze even the massive power ofthe United States. But when the state pressed into action the full armory of its awesome coercive machine-- causing popular disarray, fear and consternation--Islamic opposition declined sharply (Hiro, 1989, 99). Where there isoppression, it is incumbent upon Muslims to remove it. Indeed, the Iranian Revolution can be seen as havingrevived the concept of jihad. "Islam: seek the future in the past." U.S. Unhappy with the failings of Western capitalismand Eastern socialism, millions of Muslims have been reaching for theirroots: Islam as expressed in the true word of the Quran. The anti-westernspeeches are described as "retaliation" for the West's "war against Islam;"this is in keeping with the general tendency of Islamic fundamentalists todemonize the West as a political and religious enemy. What is more to the point is that there is no Muslim army today that could or would undertake jihad. Forexample, the governments of Iran and Sudan have been accused by the U.S. Some Islamic groups turning to the jihad in this time of tension aredoing so using a mistaken definition of the term; they see themselves asreturning to the true Islam after a period of stagnation and retreat.There are actually different forms of this fundamentalist strain, and onlya portion of it is dedicated to the violent jihad. The jihad is a convenient rallying point for such a movement, andit must be admitted that it is generally easier to fight the infidel of thelittle jihad than the inner demons of the greater jihad, no matter how muchmore important the Prophet may see the latter battle. Sudanese Christians, however, arestruggling to stop the suppression of their communities. In spite of phenomenal growthin size, the Islamic organizations maintained extreme secrecy about theirmembership and structure even as their leaders remained shadowy figures. In the 198 s, at the center of the conflict in the Middle East,Israel was the target of continued jihad. Fasting is enjoined aswell at different times of the year. Introduction: The concept of the jihad is often misunderstood in the West, and theimage of the holy war is probably the most common one held by the West withreference to Islam. ofgiving support to Islamic extremist groups around the world; bothgovernments rule by Islamic law after Islamic revolutionaries won politicalcontrol (Sudo, 1993, 4-5). In Bosnia, Muslims are undergoing "ethnic cleansing" - an antiseptic euphemism for mass murder! In turn, the Muslim Brotherhood decided towage a jihad against his regime. The advent of Islamic fundamentalism and extremismagainst the West in recent years has only increased our tendency toidentify Islam with the jihad or holy war. The living holy men are accorded great respect: Their blessing and touch has almost magical power. Iran was at war withthe West symbolically, if not actually, and at war with Iraq during much ofthis period (Wright,1989). . The Islamic Movement has been active since the beginning of theIntifada. Muslims have to face the implications of the truth that for many non-Muslims the very word Islam conjures up images of contemporary horror. Conversion becameof less importance once the Muslim home base of Arabia was converted frompaganism and consolidated. Israelis and Palestinians die in strife between religious visions of the Holy Land. Khomeini and the ruling mullahs set new standards for the return to akey principle of the minority Shiite sect's Islam: Martyrdom as salvation.Year after year, they sent teenage boys charging into Iraqi mine fields toclear the battle zone with their lives, in the name of Allah. The governmentresponded with its internal security apparatus and the Defence Brigades tocatch the assassins and their accomplices. The Brotherhood's militaryunits attracted a large number of recruits. The leadership which may know better uses this beliefto stir enmity for political gain. New York: Routledge, 1989.Jansen, G.H. In Islam, Muhammadstands as the example of perfection to which the faithful are to aspire.Those who achieve near perfection are highly revered as saints or holy men. Thousands werearrested, and hundreds were executed. The jihad passed through two phasesbefore it collapsed. Khomeini'sversion of Islam was imposed in Iran, however, and this was not necessarilycompatible with the Islam of other parts of the Middle East or even ofgroups within Iran. In countries such asEgypt and Georgia (the former Soviet republic), small, loosely knit groupshave embraced the concept of jihad as a "holy war against Westerninfluences" and seek to upset the established order of government and giverise to an Islamic revolution. The threat itself is a political weapon ofconsiderable power. They are akin to the members of religious orders which have convents here teaching is given and hospitality is available (Parrinder, 1957, 18-19).The primary tenets of Islam are found in the pillars of faith, upheld byconforming to the laws of God as explained in the Quran. The jihadis extended to Arab neighbors as well as to non-believers ("Jihad: Sudan,"1993, 42).Conclusion: It would appear that much of the populace in Islamic countries takesthe same sort of view of jihad as does the West, that it is a holy waragainst the enemy. There is also a core of young peopleattracted by the message of the Prophet and dedicated to the idea that thefundamentals of Islam must be revived, practiced, and protected. The holy war in which Moslemsons accept an early, blessed death, as can be seen in the followingstatement by a Lebanese teenage fighter: "When we attack the Israelis, wedon't talk of worldly matters. Brooks (1994) points out that the increase in Islamic fundamentalismand in the violence of the jihad is less an aberration in the world than aparticular manifestation of a world-wide phenomenon: Religious hatred and violence run rampant throughout the entire civilized world. In thelatter case, this has enabled the country to impose Islamic law on everyaspect of political and social life. "Kindred Enemies." The Progressive (March 1994), 28-32.Brooks, Roger. Among these conditions were that theunbelievers should begin hostilities and that there should be a reasonablehope of success: In almost all the wars, or rather raids, launched by Muhammad from Medina the pagan tribes attacked were indeed given no other choice but conversion or death, because in those early years Muhammad could not accept submission and an alliance unless it was cemented by, proven by, conversion to his faith (Jansen, 1979, 28).Jews, Christians, and members of other monotheistic religions were giventhe option of becoming a "protected community" under the Islamic state,with the payment of an annual tribute in money or kind. The lesser jihad involves the use of arms or other formsof struggle, and it is justified to fight oppression. The first was from July 1976 to May 1979, and thesecond from June 1979 to August 198 . The Pillars of Islam. Pilgrimage to Mecca is a duty thatmust be carried out at least once in a lifetime. There have been several calls for jihad since then, especially against Israel, none of which have been effective (Jansen, 1979, 29). ReferencesAmrani, Israel. "Why do we hate each other?" USA Today (March 1994), 4 - 42.Gumley, Frances and Brian Redhead. New York: Oxford University, 1957.Range, Peter Ross. The fifth pillar of faithis the profession of faith in Allah and his Apostle, Muhammad (Parrinder,15-16). The sentiments on both sides are, in part, due to the concept ofjihad (Gumley and Redhead, 1992, 77-78).Historical Uses of the Term: One of the earliest of the extreme sects of Islam was the Kharijis;they tried to make jihad the sixth pillar of Islam and failed. Ireland remains torn by fighting between Protestants and Catholics. the image of the Muslim armies converting as they advanced has sunk so deeply into the Western mind that no amount of repetition of the truth is likely to dislodge it. Khomeinialso deployed more than 1, Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon where theycreated the radical Hezbollah, or Party of God, that has been suspected inmany kidnappings and other terrorist acts. Manyreturned from overseas schooling disillusioned by what they perceived asWestern decadence (Range, 1987, 33-34). The actions against the UnitedStates in particular were motivated by the support the U.S. The attack on theAleppo Artillery School created a climate of crisis and fear in thecountry. Definingoppression, and how the jihad is conducted to fight it, is a difficultproblem. . The Quran is the chief foundation of Islam and stands as the highestauthority on doctrine, ethics, and customs. Some of these groups also target the stateof Israel, whose land they believe belongs to Palestinian Arabs. India's Sikhs and Hindus routinely clash, burning houses of worship and killing one another. . Thisimpetus has been seen in Islam before, notably with the beginning of theWahhabbi movement also dedicated to a return to the "true" Islam of formertimes. Struggling to worship God is the greater jihad, and this meansworking to live a monotheistic life according to the moral principles inthe Scriptures. Western concern about Islam has deep historical roots, and thepresent Islamic anger against the West has also been developing for manyyears. The Sudanese case shows how the concept of the jihad has been used asa political weapon against any political opponent. Actually tensions between the two extend back even further; theShah disrupted the kind of community life from which Khomeini emerged andwhich he clearly valued. Khomeini's return had been supported by the U.S.and others in theWest, but soon these supporters were turned into enemies. gave to theShah during his reign. Both sides in the conflict over Palestine also have their extremistfactions. The teachings ofthe Prophet Muhammad found particular resonance with the young. In Islam, jihad is a very sensitive technical term. They are appealed to in time of war as arbitrators. According to recent estimates, its numbers have increased from anegligible few to just about half the Palestinian population in the WestBank and the Gaza Strip. Its factions, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, represent,along with the Jewish settlers, the most serious threat to peace (Amrani,1994, 3 ). In the first phase, theBrotherhood's military units carried out assassinations of Baathistofficials, Alawi leaders, security agents, and informers, all with an eyeto highlighting the minority status of the regime.
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