Peaceful Warrior and Jihad in Islam
Its sad how the true meaning of a particular concept is so badly put into another context to mean something totally opposite, full of negative connotation and misleading from its original theme.In present day, because of some literalist (those who interpret religion in dry, literal way denying any intellectual engagement), misleading people by hijacking the peaceful religion of Islam - we are in this position of seeing totally negative and wrong meanings introduced to a number of purely peaceful religious terms. Sadly enough, following the same footstep, the media has also hijacked the word 'Jihad' from islamic terminology.
Just today when i came up the word, Peaceful Warrior, the thought just occured to me that a Jihadist can most suitably called a Peaceful Warrior.
How?!! - you wonder with disbelief perhaps. Be assured, i don't blame you for your disbelief, given the current world reality, relentless propaganda and media stunt.
Well check the true meaning of Jihad. It purely means inner struggle. And ask any realized person 'what is the most tough and difficult war to engage with', and you will get the answer that its against our very illusory self (nafs, ego: our 'i').
I quote from USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts: "Jihad is an Arabic word the root of which is Jahada, which means to strive for a better way of life. The nouns are Juhd, Mujahid, Jihad, and Ijtihad. The other meanings are: endeavor, strain, exertion, effort, diligence, fighting to defend one's life, land, and religion.
Jihad should NOT be confused with Holy War; the latter does not exist in Islam nor will Islam allow its followers to be involved in a Holy War. The latter refers to the Holy War of the Crusaders.
Not only in peace but also in war Islam prohibits terrorism, kidnapping, and hijacking, when carried against civilians. Whoever commits such violations is considered a murderer in Islam, and is to be punished by the Islamic state. during wars, Islam prohibits Muslim soldiers from harming civilians, women, children, elderly, and the religious men like priests and rabies. It also prohibits cutting down trees and destroying civilian constructions."
Since Jihad truly and foremostly means this inner struggle, the effort - so a Jihadist or the person who engage in Jihad is definitely a warrior. Infact a warrior of higher rank. Also there is recorded tradition by Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who mentions internal Jihad or inner struggle as the foremost struggle or al-Jihad-al-Akbar.
Now why the other word, peaceful?
Because the inner struggle itself leads to purification of self. and surely, the person who purifies himself or herself is the abode of peace. Once we are at peace with ourself, we can be peace with others, with world. Unless one have something within, one can not give it back to others. So peace within is a pre-requisite to share it.
Remember the beautiful words of Jesus Christ, blessed be his soul, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
Now inner struggle, the Jihad transforms one to achieve this inner peace. and one of the meaning of Islam is also peace. Thus a Jihadist in its true essence and meaning is the Peaceful Warrior.
I hope soon the terms Jihad and Jihadist regain back its true essence of meaning, coming out of the dark shadow of this obsessed so called terrorist and terrorism terms. And for that its the Muslims who have to work hard to demonstrate in their life this Jihad, this inner struggle and by raising words of awareness about those people who try to hijack the religion and distort its meanings as they wish.
May we all become a Peaceful Warrior and overcome our illusory self or ego before we cry and lament unto Lord on the Day of Judgement by uttering, Ya nafs! Ya nafs! and accuse our illusory ego for our sorrowful state. May that Peace Divine reside in us at the end of our struggle. Amen!
November 2006| Singapore
The post's title, peaceful warrior is inspired from an inspirational movie by the same name Peaceful Warrior.
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| posted by Sadiq Alam @ 1:25 AM
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8 Comments:
A brilliant post :) This is the best and most coherent explanation of Jihad I have read so far. The greater struggle is indeed struggle with the nafs.
Ya Haqq!
What you have described is one particular type of jihad, the jihad e akbar or greater jihad. It is the most important and no other jihad (i.e. the type of actual physical fighting described in the definition you linked)is valid or accepted without this form first.
Amen!
I agree with Irving darvish. In fact the relevance to peace seems so beautifully illustrated by the very nature of your post. Arguments with political relevance, when they come from worldly people, usually exude hatred and negative tendencies. But here one sees love for everyone and an introspective attitude. Truly spirituality is the only means for real peace. Thank you very much, Sadiq.
Amen!
sf
I find it interesting that the author chooses to defend the popular concept of Jihad with a quote of Christ (rather than Muhammad), as Jesus was denigrated to merely a "prophet" by Muhammad, and selectively quoted by Muslims only when convenient. Christ also taught "If you do not believe that "I AM" [i.e. God in the flesh, and the meaning of the Hebrew name of God Himself - YAHWEH], you will die in your sins." A Biblically central teaching which all Muslims discard.
But I digress.
When one tries to define Jihad, the only proper place to look is to the author himself - Muhammad, who by action and word (i.e. "Sunnah"), defined and commanded Jihad as unending war against unbelievers. If one wishes to know who Muhammad was, we should refer to the three legged stool supporting Islam: the Koran, the strong Hadith, and Muhammad's earliest biography by Ibn Ishaq (devout Muslim scholar and earliest Hadith collector). All depict divinely mandated murder, rape, torture and slavery. NONE of these sources is repudiated by ANY Islamic jurisprudence.
Perhaps the clearest picture of Muhammad's character (who was allegedly infallible), is found in his treatment of Kinana (from Ibn Ishaq's biography), the Jewish chieftain of the tribe in Khaybar, which was largely destroyed by Muhammad. Follow that excerpt by the numerous entries from the Koran and Hadith (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and Abu Dawood),and better yet, follow these teachings with an honest reading of the Bible.
I would eagerly entertain the author's defense of the following "peaceful" examples and commands (assuming he has the courage and intellectual honesty to print this).
I can be reached at todd@cfacr.org
"The apostle asked Kinana, 'Art thou prepared to die if we find thou knewest where the treasure was?' And he replied, 'Yes.' So the apostle ordered the ruin to be dug up, and some of the treasure was found. After that Kinana was asked again about the remainder, but he still refused to tell. The apostle of Allah handed him over to alZubayr, saying, 'Torture him until he tells what he knows', and alZubayr kindled a fire on his chest so that he almost expired; then the apostle gave him to Muhammad b. Maslama, who struck off his head."
From the Koran and Hadith ("Sunnah"):
Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle..."Sahih Bukhari 1.2.24
"We are clear of you [renounce you] and whatever you worship besides Allah [idols, etc.]: we have rejected you and there has arisen between us and you enmity and hatred forever unless you believe in Allah and him alone." Koran 60.4 [Note - this is allegedly a quote of Abraham, and directed at all who refuse to profess allegiance to Allah]
A man came to Allah's Apostle and said, "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." He replied, "I do not find such a deed." Then he added, "Can you, while the Muslim fighter is in the battle-field, enter your mosque to perform prayers without cease and fast and never break your fast?" SB 4.52.44
The Prophet said, "A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah's Cause in the forenoon or in the afternoon is better than the world and whatever is in it." SB 4.52.50
I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The example of a Mujahid in Allah's Cause-- and Allah knows better who really strives in His Cause----is like a person who fasts and prays continuously. Allah guarantees that He will admit the Mujahid in His Cause into Paradise if he is killed, otherwise He will return him to his home safely with rewards and war booty." SB 4.52.46
Allah's Apostle said, "Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords” SB 4.52.73
The Prophet said, "Allahu-Akbar! Khaibar is destroyed, for whenever we approach a (hostile) nation (to fight), then evil will be the morning for those who have been warned." Then the inhabitants of Khaibar came out running on the roads. The Prophet had their warriors killed, their offspring and woman taken as captives. Safiya was amongst the captives…[and] later on she belonged to the Prophet .. SB 5.59.512
"Fight with them [forever] until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah." Koran 8:39
‘O Prophet! Urge the believers to war…if there are a hundred of you, they shall overcome a thousand of unbelievers…” K 8.65
"Slay the idolaters [non-Muslims] wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush." Koran 9:5
“…seize [unbelievers] and kill them wherever you find them, and do not take from among them a friend or helper.” K 4.89
"O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).” Koran 9:123
“O Prophet, fight hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be firm against them. And their abode is hell, and evil is their destination” (9:73).
“Muhammad is God’s Apostle. Those who follow him are harsh against the unbelievers but merciful to one another” (48:29).
"So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until you have overcome them…" Koran 47:4
"…Make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them. " Koran 8:12
“Fighting [Jihad] is obligatory to you, even if you hate it. But you may hate a thing although it is good for you…” Koran 2.216
“The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this: that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned.” Koran 5:33
"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day…nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book [Jews and Christians], until they pay the Jizya [punitive tax on Non Muslims] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. Do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them." Koran 9:29, 5:51
Fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you…, kill them wherever you find them…for persecution is worse than slaughter…such is the recompense of the unbelievers. And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah. K 2.190-193
“Lo! The worst of beasts in Allah's sight are the ungrateful who will not believe.” Koran 8.55
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves. K 48.29
O Prophet! Strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites, and be hard against them; and their abode is hell; and evil is their resort. Koran 66.9
Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject Faith Fight in the cause of Evil. Koran 4.76
Believers who stay behind, having no injury, are not equal to those who fiight in the way of Allah with their wealth and their souls... K 4.95
And know that whatever ye take as spoils of war, lo! a fifth thereof is for Allah, and for the messenger (Muhammad) and for the kinsman (who hath need) and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer… K 8.41
When We decide to destroy a population, We (first) send a definite order to those among them who are given the good things of this life and yet transgress; so that the word is proved true against them: then (it is) We destroy them utterly. K 17.16-17
(REWARDS FOR FIGHTING FOR ALLAH)
Let those fight in the way of Allah, who sell this world's life for the hereafter; and whoever fights in the way of Allah, then be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward. K 4.74
Booty
(48:20) [48: 20] Allah promised you many acquisitions which you will take, then He hastened on this one for you and held back the hands of men from you, and that it may be a sign for the believers and that He may guide you on a right path.
O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allâh (i. e. Jihâd) you cling heavily to the earth? If you refuse to march forth, He will punish you with a painful torment. K 9:38-9
No Need To warn/invite to Islam before Attack:
Ibn 'Aun reported: I wrote to Nafi' inquiring from him whether it was necessary to extend (to the disbelievers) an invitation to accept (Islam) before meeting them in fight. He wrote (in reply) to me that it was necessary in the early days of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) made a raid upon Banu Mustaliq while they were unaware and their cattle were having a drink at the water. He killed those who fought and imprisoned others. On that very day, he captured Juwairiya bint al-Harith. Nafi' said that this tradition was related to him by Abdullah b. Umar who (himself) was among the raiding troops. Sahih Muslim Book 019, Number 4292:
You may believe the "inner struggle" interpretation but the three leading Hadith collections deal extensively with jihad as armed struggle in the cause of Islam. Ibn Khaldun likewise. They are not the hijackers of the term - you are.
I have yet to see the actual citation of the "recorded tradition" which favours the primacy of the "inner struggle". It must be of dubious authority if no one is willing to go on record. Even so, if authentic, it runs directly counter to the authoritative collections of Bukhari, Muslim and Dawud.
Please enlighten us by citing the tradition precisely, with a comment on its authority, and how you explain away the traditions mentioned.
Of course there is no "Holy War" in Islam. It would be a tautology - exactly as in the term "free gift". Struggle in the cause of Islam, as advocated dozens of times in the Qur'an, is assumed to be holy by its very nature.
A no-brainer.
Thank you for this insight into Islam and Jihad. I do not follow a particular religion but my faith is based on the way of the Peaceful Warrior. It is nice to here that Islam follows the path of peace as well. RavenWolf
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