The Arabic term "jihad" is one of those words that has entered the ordinary lexicon. As with many words, it is used without much regard as to its original meanings and textures. Even the venerable Encyclopedia of Islam, published by E. J. Brill, identifies the term as "holy war." It goes on to explain exactly to whom the war is to be directed. The first target of such a war is oneself.
Originally, the words means "to strive," that is, to strive to be a good Muslim (or Jew, Christian, Buddhist, for that matter), and it is this meaning that all references to the term in Quran address. As such, the struggle occurs on the personal, spiritual, internal plain. For Muslims, this means keeping the Five Pillars (briefly: faith, prayer, alms, fasting and the hajj), and behaving in a proper manner. "Behaving in a proper manner" brings us to the five different types of deeds: necessary (the pillars), good, neutral, reprehensible but not sinful, and sinful. This is the basis of Muslim ethics, and ethical conduct. It is a wide-ranging list of ethical constructs, which is one of the reasons that Islam has been so successful throughout the centuries of its existence.
So, after one has striven with a degree of adeptness in the pillars and other behaviors, one must bring the striving person into the outside world. For most Muslims, the outside world is a Muslims society, and thus, filled with people who share the same concerns and strive within their own abilities. However, more and more Muslims live outside the Muslim world and come into contact with people of other ethnicities and faiths. Most of the time, the striving Muslim interacts smoothly with non-Muslims. However, human nature being what it is, there are occasional conflicts. This is when jihad is directed at other targets.
Muslim Law clearly states that, for those who actively oppose Islamic practice, that is, prevent a person from being a good Muslim, their blood is lawful. "Blood" can mean anything from a good tongue-lashing to, if necessary, armed combat.
In the modern world, jihad has come to mean only armed combat against anyone with whom the combatants disagree. Certainly, there are States that have curtailed Islamic behavior, such as forbidding participation in the hajj, or have supported regimes that have done the same. Such countries may be legitimate political targets. However, countries that have interfered in the political, social and cultural lives of Islamic countries (but leaving Islamic practice alone), are also targets. Unscrupulous Imams have re-tooled the term jihad to target such countries. Thus, the modern world is faced with dozens of militant cells that style themselves, "Islamic Jihad, seeking to strike fear in the hearts of the people they oppose.
Such a response to this ancient concept has cheapened the very heart of Islamic theology and practice. This is not to say that Muslims do not have legitimate gripes against powerful States, they certainly do. However, the use of jihad to condone mass-murder is just as bad as the use of the term "national Security" to do the same.
Solutions? Rapprochement is one. Don't hold your breath.
Originally, the words means "to strive," that is, to strive to be a good Muslim (or Jew, Christian, Buddhist, for that matter), and it is this meaning that all references to the term in Quran address. As such, the struggle occurs on the personal, spiritual, internal plain. For Muslims, this means keeping the Five Pillars (briefly: faith, prayer, alms, fasting and the hajj), and behaving in a proper manner. "Behaving in a proper manner" brings us to the five different types of deeds: necessary (the pillars), good, neutral, reprehensible but not sinful, and sinful. This is the basis of Muslim ethics, and ethical conduct. It is a wide-ranging list of ethical constructs, which is one of the reasons that Islam has been so successful throughout the centuries of its existence.
So, after one has striven with a degree of adeptness in the pillars and other behaviors, one must bring the striving person into the outside world. For most Muslims, the outside world is a Muslims society, and thus, filled with people who share the same concerns and strive within their own abilities. However, more and more Muslims live outside the Muslim world and come into contact with people of other ethnicities and faiths. Most of the time, the striving Muslim interacts smoothly with non-Muslims. However, human nature being what it is, there are occasional conflicts. This is when jihad is directed at other targets.
Muslim Law clearly states that, for those who actively oppose Islamic practice, that is, prevent a person from being a good Muslim, their blood is lawful. "Blood" can mean anything from a good tongue-lashing to, if necessary, armed combat.
In the modern world, jihad has come to mean only armed combat against anyone with whom the combatants disagree. Certainly, there are States that have curtailed Islamic behavior, such as forbidding participation in the hajj, or have supported regimes that have done the same. Such countries may be legitimate political targets. However, countries that have interfered in the political, social and cultural lives of Islamic countries (but leaving Islamic practice alone), are also targets. Unscrupulous Imams have re-tooled the term jihad to target such countries. Thus, the modern world is faced with dozens of militant cells that style themselves, "Islamic Jihad, seeking to strike fear in the hearts of the people they oppose.
Such a response to this ancient concept has cheapened the very heart of Islamic theology and practice. This is not to say that Muslims do not have legitimate gripes against powerful States, they certainly do. However, the use of jihad to condone mass-murder is just as bad as the use of the term "national Security" to do the same.
Solutions? Rapprochement is one. Don't hold your breath.
4 comments:
Internet certainly has contributed to the confusion brewing in the minds of many muslim youth. Define "crusade," interesting in its tent-revival meanings
I wonder, though, how many of the poorer Muslim youth -- the seedbed for hotheadedness and terror recruitment -- have daily access to the Web. As for "crusade," we await MFoDs elucidation with bated breath.
Due to popular demand: "Crusade" shall appear in due course. The web can open up the world or close it down, depending on who receives its many messages. Certainly, a young man who's been told that anything outside of his culture is evil may not be able to look at the web and experience opening, such as those that exist in lovely blogs about fragrance! Many thanks for the comments.
If anything, Muslim culture should be terribly interested in fragrance. I should hope for a few blogger views from the Arabian peninsula!
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