JihadJihad

in Islamin Islam

AWARE CenterAWARE Center

Testimony of Faith:Testimony of Faith:“I bear witness that there is no god “I bear witness that there is no god

but the One God and that but the One God and that Muhammad is His Messenger.”Muhammad is His Messenger.”

No false gods: No false gods: human human material material ideologicalideological selfself

Implications of One God:Implications of One God:

One peopleOne people EqualityEquality RespectRespect CooperationCooperation ProtectionProtection

JihadJihad Unending struggle for human perfection in Unending struggle for human perfection in

self-discipline, reason, morals, self-discipline, reason, morals, behavior, and integrity.behavior, and integrity.

Knowledge Knowledge TruthfulnessTruthfulness

Sobriety Sobriety Courage Courage Moderation Moderation Chastity Chastity CharityCharity

HumilityHumility PatiencePatience FaithFaith CompassionCompassion Forgiveness Forgiveness PurityPurity GentlenessGentleness

JihadJihad Unending struggle for social perfectionUnending struggle for social perfection

LifeLifeLiberty Liberty EqualityEqualityDignity Dignity Justice Justice

PEACE

lifelife “…“…do not kill yourselves...”do not kill yourselves...” (4:29)(4:29)

““Do not kill your children out of fear of poverty…”Do not kill your children out of fear of poverty…” (17:31)(17:31)

““Do not kill any person Allah has made inviolate, Do not kill any person Allah has made inviolate, except with the right to do so.”except with the right to do so.” (17:33)(17:33)

- self defense- self defense

- capital punishment - capital punishment - combatants in war- combatants in war

LibertyLiberty (freedom from subjugation)(freedom from subjugation)

“ “Say, ‘People of the Scripture! Say, ‘People of the Scripture! Come to a proposition which is the Come to a proposition which is the same for us and you – that we same for us and you – that we should worship none but God, and should worship none but God, and not associate anything with Him and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords not take one another as lords instead of God.’” (3:64)instead of God.’” (3:64)

equalityequality

The prophet Muhammad repeatedly said, The prophet Muhammad repeatedly said, “I bear witness that all people are “I bear witness that all people are brothers.”brothers.”

He told his followers that “an Arab is not He told his followers that “an Arab is not superior over a non-Arab, nor a white over superior over a non-Arab, nor a white over a black… the most honored of you is the a black… the most honored of you is the most righteous of you.”most righteous of you.”

dignitydignity ““The alms are for the poor, the destitute, those The alms are for the poor, the destitute, those

who collect it, reconciling people’s hearts, who collect it, reconciling people’s hearts, freeing slaves, those in debt, spending in the freeing slaves, those in debt, spending in the way of Allah, and travelers. It is a legal way of Allah, and travelers. It is a legal obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (9:60)Wise.” (9:60)

““Do not consume one another’s property by false Do not consume one another’s property by false means, but only by means of mutually agreed means, but only by means of mutually agreed trade.” (4:29)trade.” (4:29)

““Women have rights similar to men.” (Women have rights similar to men.” (

JusticeJustice The foundation of peace and progress.The foundation of peace and progress.

“…“…be upholders of justice… even against be upholders of justice… even against yourselves or your parents and relatives. yourselves or your parents and relatives. (4:135)(4:135) (i.e. don’t let the love of a people prevent you (i.e. don’t let the love of a people prevent you from being just.)from being just.)

“…“…bear witness in justice, and do not let bear witness in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.” righteousness.” (5:8)(5:8)

What is Jihad?What is Jihad?

The struggle for self-perfectionThe struggle for self-perfection

The struggle for social perfectionThe struggle for social perfection

Ultimately, the struggle for peaceUltimately, the struggle for peace

DoesDoes

JihadJihad

= = voilencevoilence

??????????

Do Muslims Love Violence?Do Muslims Love Violence?

First 13 years, Muslims were not allowed to fight, First 13 years, Muslims were not allowed to fight, even when they were tortured, imprisoned, even when they were tortured, imprisoned, exiled, and killed.exiled, and killed.

““Permission to fight has been granted to those Permission to fight has been granted to those against whom war is wrongfully waged… against whom war is wrongfully waged… (22:39)(22:39)

““Fighting is prescribed for you even (though) it is Fighting is prescribed for you even (though) it is hateful to you. It may be that you hate hateful to you. It may be that you hate something when it is good for you… God knows something when it is good for you… God knows and you do not know.” and you do not know.” (2:216)(2:216)

When is violence justified?When is violence justified?

When necessary to restore peace:When necessary to restore peace:

““If two parties of the believers fight, make If two parties of the believers fight, make peace between them. But if one of them peace between them. But if one of them attacks the other unjustly, fight the attacks the other unjustly, fight the attackers until they revert to God’s attackers until they revert to God’s commands. If they revert, make peace commands. If they revert, make peace between them with justice, and be fair. between them with justice, and be fair. God loves those who are fair.” God loves those who are fair.”

(49:9)(49:9)

When is violence justified?When is violence justified?

When necessary to restore liberty, dignity:When necessary to restore liberty, dignity:

““What reason could you have for not fighting in What reason could you have for not fighting in the Way of God – for those men, women and the Way of God – for those men, women and children who are oppressed and say, ‘Our children who are oppressed and say, ‘Our Lord, take us out of this city whose inhabitants Lord, take us out of this city whose inhabitants are wrongdoers! Give us a protector from are wrongdoers! Give us a protector from You! Give us a helper from You!’” You! Give us a helper from You!’”

(4:75)(4:75)

When necessary as self-defense:When necessary as self-defense:

“ “Fight, in the way of God, against those who Fight, in the way of God, against those who fight you, but do not go beyond the limits. God fight you, but do not go beyond the limits. God does not love those who go beyond the limits.” does not love those who go beyond the limits.”

(2:190)(2:190)

“… “…expel them from where they expelled you.”expel them from where they expelled you.”

(2:191)(2:191)

When is violence justified?When is violence justified?

1978 UN General Assembly Resolution 1978 UN General Assembly Resolution reaffirmed:reaffirmed:

“ “the legitimacy of the struggle of the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence… from... peoples for independence… from... foreign occupation by all available foreign occupation by all available means, particularly armed struggle.”means, particularly armed struggle.”

When is violence justified?When is violence justified?

Retaliation for aggression:Retaliation for aggression:

““And fight in God’s cause against those who And fight in God’s cause against those who initially wage war against you, but do not initially wage war against you, but do not initiate aggression for, verily, God does not initiate aggression for, verily, God does not love aggressors… Thus if anyone commits love aggressors… Thus if anyone commits aggression against you, attack him just as aggression against you, attack him just as he attacked you – but remain conscious of he attacked you – but remain conscious of God, and know that God is with those who God, and know that God is with those who are conscious of Him.” (2:190, 194)are conscious of Him.” (2:190, 194)

When is violence justified?When is violence justified?

JihadJihad Mohammed’s rules of engagement:Mohammed’s rules of engagement:

Never kill innocent peopleNever kill innocent people Never torture prisoners of warNever torture prisoners of war Never kill animals or destroy crops, except for foodNever kill animals or destroy crops, except for food Never mutilate the deadNever mutilate the dead Don’t destroy infrastructuresDon’t destroy infrastructures Protect women, children, the elderlyProtect women, children, the elderly Bury the dead of both sidesBury the dead of both sides Provide prisoners’ needsProvide prisoners’ needs

see see www.un.orgwww.un.org

What is Jihad?What is Jihad?

The struggle for self-perfectionThe struggle for self-perfection

The struggle for social perfectionThe struggle for social perfection

The struggle for peaceThe struggle for peace

LifeLifeLiberty Liberty

EqualityEqualityDignity Dignity

Justice Justice

PEACE