13 May: What is Jihad? What is Holy War? Who is the Ennemy?

[X-press]

This question is for the muslims and every members is free to comment.

@~ To your understanding, what is the real meaning of Jihad and Holy War? Are they the same or different?

@~ Focusing on the current war between America and Iraq.
Who is the ennemy and does a jihad or holy war allow killing of innocent civilans simply because they belong from one side or the other?

[Black-Cobra79]

Jihad can be anything for exampel if you had to leave your country and now your living far away from it that can be considered jihad by suffring a wound in your body that can be Jihad there are so many different meaning and understanding for Jihad.... and yes people fighting for your country is considered
Jihad too.. when you see the enemy coming to your land what are you suppose to do...stand and watch them destroying everything infront of your eyes... i dont think anybody can handel that . Now when your in a Holy war.. that means you have no other choice because its hard to convince people in what they believe in and what you believe in. Actually Its not hard to convince them but they just refuse living with out doing sins.

I really really think that was really wrong what they did to Nick.

Peace

[Enigma]

Unfortunately of late the term 'jihad' has been coined as an excuse for terrorism. People are forgetting what the basic and most important Jihad is: jihad ilnifs (struggling against thyself).

It is being able to abstain from all that is tempting and haram. From the kinds of food you eat to what you say to another person.

I like to think of jihad as a war of peace. Its so easy to give in and blow up a person (sucide bombers for instance) than it is to make life long jihad in trying to make peace with your religion and its enemies.

I'm not to sure about what Holy War is but it probably has to do with fighting for Allah's name, land and faith.


@Who is the ennemy and does a jihad or holy war allow killing of innocent civilans simply because they belong from one side or the other?

I'll reply with a verse (a verse so many extremists seem to over look!):

"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not the transgressors" (2:190).

If anyone slays a person- unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew all people. And if anyone saves a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all people.
Qur'an 5:32

So the 'enemy' are those who 'fight us' and 'spread misjif in the land'.

Holy war DOES NOT allow the killing of ANY civilians! It was CLEAR in Mohammed's days that the only ones to fight were the soldiers. Killing anyone else is prohibited.