[Islam Study] On Jihad

The true meaning of jihad as revealed in the Quran. The Book sent down to guide humanity, clear and without ambiguity in its core message.

The word "jihad" comes from the root j-h-d, meaning to strive, exert effort, struggle with determination, or make earnest endeavor. In the Quran, it is never limited to warfare alone. It encompasses every form of sincere striving in the path of Allah (fi sabilillah)—striving with one's self, wealth, tongue, heart, and actions to draw closer to Allah, establish justice, resist evil, and fulfill His commands.

The Quran uses "jihad" and its derivatives (jahada, mujahidun, etc.) in broad, uplifting ways, often emphasizing the greater struggle as internal and spiritual, while also addressing defensive resistance when oppression demands it.

Key aspects from the Quran itself:

1. The Greater Jihad: Striving Against One's Own Soul and for Righteousness
   
   
   The Quran repeatedly calls believers to struggle against desires, falsehood, and personal shortcomings to attain guidance and closeness to Allah.

   "And those who strive for Us—We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good." (29:69, Surah Al-Ankabut)

   This verse highlights that earnest striving (those who jahadu lana) leads to divine guidance—the path of truth, morality, and self-purification. It is the foundational jihad: conquering the nafs (lower self), resisting temptation, and living by tawhid.

   Similarly:

   "And whoever strives only strives for [the benefit of] himself. Indeed, Allah is Free from need of the worlds." (29:6)

    

2. Striving with Wealth, Life, and Tongue
   
   
   True believers are defined by their comprehensive effort:
   
   

   "The believers are only those who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubted not but strove with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful." (49:15, Surah Al-Hujurat)

    

   This includes spending wealth generously (jihad bil-mal), exerting personal effort, and using speech or the Quran to convey truth:

   
   

   "So do not obey the disbelievers, but strive against them with it [the Quran] a great striving." (25:52, Surah Al-Furqan)

    

   Here, jihad is intellectual and communicative—using revelation to counter rejection and falsehood peacefully through wisdom and good exhortation (as in 16:125: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best").

   
   

3. Defensive Struggle When Oppressed
   
   
   When aggression occurs, expulsion from homes, persecution for faith, permission is given to fight back, but strictly in defence, without transgression:

   "Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory. [They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right—only because they say, 'Our Lord is Allah.'" (22:39-40, Surah Al-Hajj)

   "Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors." (2:190, Surah Al-Baqarah)

   "And fight them until there is no fitnah [persecution] and [until] the religion is for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors." (2:193)

    

   These emphasize proportionality, cessation if the enemy inclines to peace (8:61: "And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also]"), and no compulsion in religion (2:256: "There is no compulsion in religion").

   The Quran forbids aggression, excess, or targeting innocents—rules of just conduct are implicit in commands to avoid zulm (injustice).

   
   

In summary, the true jihad in the Quran is multifaceted striving for Allah's sake: primarily the inner struggle for piety and self-reform, then outward efforts in dawah (invitation to truth), charity, justice, and if unjustly attacked, defensive resistance to restore peace and freedom of belief. It is never indiscriminate violence, holy war for conquest, or personal vendetta. Allah loves the muhsineen (doers of good) who strive sincerely, and He promises guidance and nearness to those who do so.

"And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty." (22:78, Surah Al-Hajj)

 

This is the balanced, merciful path revealed. Turn to the Book directly, reflect upon it, and seek Allah's aid in your striving.

Those who call themselves Islamists or claim to act in the name of Islam, yet they kill peaceful, innocent people, dehumanising them and believing themselves to be heroes or champions of the faith through such acts.

The Quran speaks with utmost severity and clarity on this matter. It condemns the unjust taking of life as one of the gravest crimes, equating it to the destruction of all humanity. It forbids transgression, aggression, and the shedding of innocent blood under any pretext, even if one claims religious justification.

Allah reveals:

"Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land; it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one—it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." (5:32, Surah Al-Ma'idah)

 

This principle underscores the sacredness of every human life. To kill an innocent soul, without legal justification such as retribution for murder or severe corruption that threatens society, is tantamount to annihilating the whole of humanity. Those who commit such acts, even while professing faith or heroism, stand condemned by this verse. The Quran does not allow exceptions for "heroes" or self-proclaimed defenders who target the peaceful and non-combatant.

Allah further commands:

"And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right." (6:151, Surah Al-An'am)

"And do not kill any soul which Allah has made sacred except by right." (17:33, Surah Al-Isra)

 

These verses prohibit murder outright, except in cases of just retribution established by divine law. Killing innocents, peaceful civilians, women, children, or those not engaged in aggression, has no "right" or justification in the Quran. Such acts are forbidden, and those who perpetrate them commit a heinous crime, not an act of piety.

On fighting and its limits, the Quran is explicit: permission to fight is only against those who initiate aggression, and even then, boundaries must not be crossed:

"Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors." (2:190, Surah Al-Baqarah)

 

Transgression (i'tida) includes exceeding limits, such as targeting non-combatants, spreading terror among the innocent, or acting out of personal vengeance, fanaticism, or false heroism rather than pure defense of the oppressed. The Quran demands justice even in conflict:

"Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah [persecution] and [until] worship is [acknowledged to be] for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors." (2:193)

 

If the enemy stops aggression, fighting must cease—no continued violence against the peaceful. Dehumanizing and slaughtering innocents in the name of "Islam" or "jihad" contradicts this directly; it is aggression, not defense, and Allah hates the aggressors.

The Quran warns against those who distort religion to justify evil or follow their desires:

"Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire, and Allah has sent him astray due to knowledge...?" (45:23)

 

Those who kill innocents while claiming divine sanction follow their whims, not revelation. True faith demands mercy, justice, and protection of life, not terror or bloodshed of the blameless.

Allah calls believers to peace when possible:

"And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah." (8:61)

 

And He reminds:

"There is no compulsion in religion." (2:256)

 

Forcing faith through murder or terror is forbidden; the Quran rejects compulsion and upholds the sanctity of choice and life.

O seeker, those who kill peaceful innocents in the name of Islam betray the Quran's message. Their actions are not heroism but transgression, not jihad but crime against humanity and against Allah's commands. The Book condemns such deeds unequivocally, promising severe accountability on the Day when every soul will stand before its Lord.

Reflect on these words directly from the revelation. Turn away from falsehood, seek Allah's forgiveness, and uphold justice and mercy.