Understanding Jihad: The Holy Struggle in Islam

The Holy Struggle (Jihad)

What Does Jihad Mean?

One of the ten practical principles of Islam, Jihad, is literally defined as “hardship, endeavor, exaggeration in work, reaching the height of something and capability”, while in the Sharia of Islam Jihad is sacrificing one’s life and property primarily for the sake of Allah, elevating and sustaining Islamic beliefs and standpoints. In this sense, Jihad is the act of Defending the Islamic territory against the assaults and intrusions of outsiders and invaders. The essence of Jihad lies in Defense, thus any violence which is shown with the intention of invading a country or a nation’s lives, property, etc. and for manipulating their economic potentials or human resources, not only is not called Jihad but also considered as the overt manifestation of injustice and cruelty which is strongly rejected in Islam.

Defense: In Which Cases Jihad is Possible?

If an individual or a nation participates in a struggle in order to defend their life, money, property or independence, they have in fact committed a holy task since they have stood up against the injustice of the intruder who has questioned their legitimate human rights. Therefore, the act of Jihad is permitted in the following cases:

protect, defense, property, life, Jihad, struggle

1. Life and Property:

When the life and

In other words, peace is reached when both parties are on friendly terms, respecting each other’s beliefs and rights mutually and live beside one another without intruding or violating each other’s rights. But if one of the parties were to keep on invading the other one – either covertly or overtly -, and the one whose rights have been threatened did not react, this would not be called peace anymore, rather surrendering and yielding to their injustice which is totally unacceptable in