Jihad - Types of Jihad

"Meaning of Jihad"

Jihad is a religious duty of a Muslim. In Arabic, the word Jihad translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad is struggling or striving in the way or sake of  Allah.

 Jihad takes a very important status in the doctrine of Islam.  A person engaged in Jihad is called Mujahid. Jihad appears 41 times in the Qur'an.

"Narrated Anas bin Malik"

The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:

"A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah's cause  in the forenoon or in the afternoon is better then the world and whatever is in it."

 

"Forms of Jihad"

Jihad has many forms,

"Jihad of the heart/soul (jihad bin nafs)"

"Jihad against Satan (jihad ash_shaitaan)

"Jihad by the tongue (jihad bil lasan)" 

"Jihad by the sword (jihad bis saif)"

 "Jihad by the pen/knowledge (jihad bil qalam)"

 

"JIHAD OF THE HEART/SOUL" 

Jihad bin nafs is the most important and greatest Jihad in Islam.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) said:

"The best Jihad is for one to perform Jihad against his  own self and against his  desires".

Jihad bin nafs means struggling against your own self and desires  and forcing your self to follow the orders of Allah and stay away from what Allah has ordered us to stay away from.

Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:

"Jihad against one's own self in the cause of Allah is the  best Jihad"             

"JIHAD AGAINST SATAN"

 Struggling against the Satan means to defend yourself  from his evil whisperings, his doubtful matters  and his temptations. Satan is our big enemy.

Allah says in Qur'an:

"Surely, Shaitan is an enemy to you, So treat his as an enemy." [35:6]

This type of jihad is an obligations for all individual and no one can do it on another one's behalf.  We should understand that Satan's whispering will never go away, and therefor,  we must keep struggling throughout our lives.

Allah says in Qur'an:

"Oh you who believe!  do not follow the steps of shaytan. Whoever follows the footsteps of shaytan. then indeed  he commands Al-fahsha ( indecency etc.) and Al-munkar (evil deeds) . And  had it not been for the grace of Allah and His Mercy upon you, none of you would  be pure from sins. But Allah purifies whom He will, and Allah is Al-Hearer and Al-knower."[ 24:21]

"JIHAD BY THE TONGUE"

Jihad by the tongue is concerned with speaking the truth and spreading the word of Islam with one's tongue.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) said:

"Strive in Jihad with your hands, your tongues and your wealth". 

"JIHAD BY THE SWORD"

This form of Jihad is referred as "the lesser Jihad". Jihad of the hand includes struggle by the sword (Jihad bis saif), as when one fights the aggressor who attack you in combative war. This Jihad is not to misuse of arms to create violence. There are only two situations where Jihad by the sword is allowed to be undertaken.

1)For self defense.

2)Fighting against evil and unjust.

 Allah says in holy Qur'an:

"And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly Allah likes not the transgressors". (Surah Al-Baqarah)     

 

"JIHAD BY THE PEN/KNOWLEDGE"

This form of Jihad involves scholarly research of Islam in aiding the spread and defense of Islam. Messenger of Allah once stated that the ink of a scholar is holier than the blood of a martyr and one who who is reading looks handsome in front of Allah.    

 

"WHAT JIHAD IS NOT" 

  -Jihad is not killing innocent people-

-Jihad is not blowing up one's self-

-Jihad is not fighting out of anger and hatred- 

-Jihad is not killing others just because they don't agree with you-

- Jihad is not killing others just because they are not Muslims-

-Jihad is not flying a plane into a building packed with civilians-