Jihad
Religious Studies A: AQA GCSE Religions, topic 4.3.10
Jihad
Jihad means struggle, or ‘striving’. It is one of the ten obligatory acts in Shi’a Islam, and is also a part of Sunni Islam.
Origins of Jihad
- Life in Muhammad's time involved waging war against polytheistic Arab tribes in order to consolidate his Islamic state in Medina.
- This was in a context where the Muslims were marginalised and threatened.
- It is important to apply this historical context to modern interpretations of the Qur’an.
Greater Jihad
- The struggle of every Muslim to obey Allah.
- Individual, inner struggle.
- The more important struggle - without greater jihad one cannot strive outwardly to make the world better.
Lesser/outer Jihad
- Concerned with fighting injustices (e.g poverty and illness) and the struggle to defend Islam against outside threats.
- This may be peaceful, e.g. evangelising to strengthen the Islamic community (umma).
- Non-peaceful jihad warfare can only be used as self-defence against combatants (those who pose an active threat).
- Jihad against civilians (non-soldiers; i.e. children, the sick or the elderly) is unlawful.
Terrorist groups
- E.g. al-Qaeda attack civilians in countries they deem to be oppressors.
- They think this is lawful, as each person contributes to the running and decisions of the state (particularly in democratic countries).
- The majority of Muslims condemn the actions of such groups and think that they are not Muslims.
- Jihad does not allow or prescribe violence against the innocent.
Test yourself on Jihad
What is Greater Jihad?