Jihad | Religion, Philosophy & Ethics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Introduction

• Jihad signifies the endeavor to combat evil, whether on an individual level or as a collective expression of the Islamic faith.

‘This is my way, a straight path, so adhere to it’ (Qur’an 6:153)

‘Counter evil with something better, and your adversary will turn into a friend’ (Qur’an 41:34)

• Muslims are encouraged to enhance their personal lives and the communities they inhabit in a manner that aligns with Allah’s approval.
• For Muslims, jihad is fundamentally a vital spiritual discipline that fosters a closer connection to Allah.
• Jihad is one of the Ten Obligatory Acts for Shi’a Muslims, but it is also an integral part of Sunni Islam.

Greater and Lesser Jihad

Muslims recognize two forms of Jihad: the Greater and the Lesser.

Greater Jihad

• The internal personal struggle to align one’s life with the teachings of Islam.
• Considered more significant than Lesser Jihad.
• Observing the Five Pillars is a mandatory component of Greater Jihad.
• It involves a continuous effort to cleanse one’s heart of all negative traits.
• Some Muslims dedicate themselves to memorizing the Qur’an, which demands significant discipline and practice.
• Muslims strive to deepen their bond with Allah and resist temptations and distractions.
• Many make substantial efforts to enhance the quality of life for others in their community.

Lesser Jihad

• The external effort to protect Islam from threats.
• Considered less significant than Greater Jihad.
• In the early days of Islam, this was crucial when Muslims faced persecution and needed to safeguard their right to practice their faith.
• ‘The most excellent jihad is speaking truth in the presence of an unjust ruler’ (Muhammad).
• Muslims facing persecution are encouraged to defend their freedom to practice their faith.
• The Qur’an occasionally permits extreme violence under Lesser Jihad: ‘Permission to fight is granted to those who are being attacked’ (Qur’an 22:39).
• Some believe that violent actions are justifiable in the context of war, but this does not extend to terrorism targeting innocent civilians.
• Fighting for a religious cause is sometimes referred to as a Holy War.

Origins, Influence, and Conditions for Declaring Lesser Jihad

Islam and Just War

• Lesser Jihad is regarded by Muslims as less critical than the inner struggle that all Muslims undertake.
• However, Muslims believe that physically defending their faith can be justified in certain situations.
• This belief stems from the experiences of early Muslims and the teachings found in the Qur’an and Hadiths.
• In the early days of Islam, Muslims faced persecution from other religious groups, necessitating a fight for survival.
• The Qur’an addresses this struggle, with verses dedicated to defending Islam against adversaries: ‘Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits’ (Qur’an 2:190).
• The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) permitted his followers to engage in combat against the Makkans who sought to eradicate all Muslims.
• Many argue that Jihad was exemplified when Muslims battled Christians during the Crusades.
• Some Islamic terrorists claim that the Qur’an endorses violence to protect Islam from oppression.
• However, the vast majority of Muslims denounce Islamic terrorists, asserting that they do not represent true Muslims.

Conditions for Declaring Lesser Jihad

Just War refers to the belief that war, though tragic, can be justified under specific circumstances.
For a war to be considered just in Islam, it must meet the following criteria:

• It must be initiated and led by a religious authority, not merely a political figure.
• It must be fought for a clearly just cause, in the name of Allah, and in accordance with His will.
• It must be a last resort, pursued only after all other methods to resolve the conflict have been exhausted.
• It must not be driven by aggression or a desire to conquer territory.
• Innocent people must not be harmed.
• Trees, crops, and animals must be protected.