MIRAGE
The Love Language of Islam
By: David Ibrahim
CHAPTER SEVEN
Some Misunderstood Subjects
Jihad, The Expansion of Islam, The Crusades, Present Day Jihad/War on Terror
The Yale Centre for Faith and Culture’s Reconciliation Program in “Loving God and Neighbor Together…”
“We want to begin by acknowledging that in the past (e.g. in the Crusades) and in
the present (e.g. in the excesses of the “war on terror”) many Christians have been
guilty of sinning against our Muslim neighbors.”
It is very obvious that our Yale scholars and the over three hundred signatories did not know the true meaning of “jihad,” nor the teachings of “jihad” found through the Quran and the Hadiths. They knew very little or nothing about the origin of jihad, and jihad’s intrinsic connection to the expansion of Islam. They forgot their history lesson on the spread of Islam and the origin, purpose and history of the Crusades (which by the way began 464 years after the spread of Islam began). They are pursuing a “mirage” of Loving God and Neighbor Together as they ignore and refuse to look at the present day “jihad” in correlation to the “war on terror.”
Understanding Jihad from Its Beginning
The Arabic nouns juhd, mujahid, jihad, and ijtihad mean endeavor, training, exertion, effort, diligence, and fighting. “Traditionally jihad was understood to be justified for three reasons: to repel invasion or its threat, to punish those who had violated treaties, and to guarantee freedom for the propagation of Islam.” A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural muhahideen.
The Arabic root of the word is jahada “to strive for” (The Arabic word for war is “harb.”) Of the two types of jihad, the lesser type is the struggle against religious or political oppression, the second and greater is the soul’s struggle with evil.
Jihad is an Islamic legal term meaning fighting in the way of Allah in order to establish a just system, which upholds the laws of the Sharia and seeks to realize the aims of Islam on earth.
Muhammad made himself known and feared by using the teachings of the Quran. He associated “warfare” with being “in the way of Allah.” The only way he could prove that he was a superpower and to make people follow him was by the power of the sword.
“Jihad” according to the Quran: (Page 103)
In the Quran, jihad is mentioned most frequently with the meaning of “warfare”, and is often coupled with “fi sabil Allah” meaning “in the way of Allah.” Jihad as warfare is a fundamental principle in the Quran.
In reality, jihad is the 6th pillar of Islam. It is the second greatest command of Muhammad.
What is the best deed for Muhammad to perform? The best deed for Muhammad to perform is to believe in Allah and his Apostle.
More Meanings, Categories, and Methods of Jihad Greater Jihad (Jihad-i-Kabir)
Within Islamic belief, Muhammad is said to have regarded the inner struggle for faith the “greater jihad,” prioritizing it over physical fighting in defense of the Ummah, or members of the global Islamic community.
The following Arabic phrase and its meanings sheds light on the reason why the Muslims are so easily incited to carry out “jihad” throughout history and even today:
Arabic words “Jihad-i-Kabir” meaning “The Great Jihad” entailed three meanings:
1. To exert one’s utmost for the cause of Islam.
2. To dedicate all one’s resource to this cause and
3. To fight against the enemies of Islam on all possible fronts with all one’s resources in order to raise high the “word of Allah.” This will include Jihad with one’s tongue, pen, wealth, life and every other available weapon.
Lesser Jihad (Jihad bil Saif)
Within Islamic jurisprudence jihad is the only form of warfare permissible under Islamic law, and may be declared against apostates, rebels, highway robbers, violent groups, non-Islamic leaders or non-Muslim combatants, but there are other ways to perform jihad as well, including civil disobedience. The primary aim of jihad as warfare is not the conversion of non-Muslims to Islam by force, but rather the expansion and defense of the Islamic Faith.
Two Types of Religious Warfare
According to the Quranic teachings there are two types of armed religious warfare in Islam, namely the defensive jihad and the offensive Jihad.
Two Types of Religious Warfare (continued)
Offensive Jihad
Offensive jihad occurs when the Muslims launch an offensive attack on non-Muslims (Kafir). This means armed combat and not spiritual or other forms of non-violent striving. Offensive jihad means to attack the Kafir who have previously received the message of Islam, but have rejected it.
However, if the message of Islam has not reached them, then the unbelievers will be invited to accept Islam. If they reject the true faith, then they will have to pay Jizyah (Kukfr tax). If they refuse to submit to the payment of Jizyah then the Muslims are to fight against them.
The Quran has called upon Muslims to undertake the offensive Jihad; and when this obligation is satisfactorily fulfilled, there would be no apparent need for the defensive jihad. Offensive jihad mandates attacking the enemy in his own territory. The religious authorities have mentioned that this type of jihad is for maintaining the payment of Jizya.
“Muslims were permitted to fight, then they were command to fight against the aggressors; and finally they were commanded to fight against all the polytheists.”
Defensive Jihad
Islamic tradition holds that when Muslims are attached, then it becomes obligatory for all Muslims to defend against the attack; to participate in jihad. Muslims consider armed struggle against foreign occupation or oppression by domestic government to be worthy of defensive jihad. Indeed, the Quran requires military defense of the besieged Islamic community.
Defensive jihad took place during Colonial time when the Muslim populations rose up against the colonial authorities under the banner of jihad.
Contemporary Defensive Jihad
When the Soviet union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, the prominent militant Islamist, Dr. Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, issued a fatwa, Defense of the Muslim Lands, the First Obligation after Faith, declaring that both the Afghan and Palestinian struggles were jihads in which military action against Kuffar (unbelievers) was fard ayn (a person obligation) for all Muslims.
Contemporary Defensive Jihad in Muslim countries
In certain Muslim countries, secular governments oppose or ban Islam as a political movement, and militant Muslims often see it as their duty to oppose these governments. Though such anti-statist activity may be considered as acts of aggression, it is considered in the ideology of jihad to be a defensive act since it is warfare in a Muslim land.
Different methods of Jihad (Pages 108-109)
1 – Jihad of Words: To use oratory, in a war of nerves to inspire their own side in order to intimidate the opponent and to demoralize the self-esteem of the Kafir (infidel).
2 – Jihad of Deception: To confuse the enemy, it is acceptable to tell a lie, even if one is under oath.
3 – Jihad of the Sword: To kill the enemy, loot his possessions and take hostages for ransom.
4 – Jihad of Taxation: To have extra financial burden on non-Muslims, so that they are pressured to leave the land or convert to Islam.
5 – Jihad of slavery: To use as a weapon to subjugate non-Muslims and to have men as labor and woman and young boys for sexual pleasure.
6 – Jihad of Sharia Law: To degrade non-Muslims to a lower status, deny them equal access to the law because the testimony of the non-Muslim is considered invalid. It’s having a half witness.
7 – Jihad of Polygamy: A Muslim has permission to have four legal wives (Surah 4:3, 4). That is if he is able to provide food and shelter, and treat them equally. That’s how Islam is propagating itself.
8 – Jihad of the Spirits: A Muslim is to fight on Muhammad’s behalf both in his life and after his death.
The Expansion of Islam (Pages 109-113)
After the death of Muhammad in 632 AD, Islam was practiced only in Saudi Arabia, a country bordered on the west by the Red Sea and containing the cities of Mecca and Medina.
In less than a hundred years, Muhammad’s followers conquered Syria in 637 AD, Armenia in 639, Egypt in 639, Persia from 633-651, North Africa from 652-665. After enslaving the above territories, they turned their focus on Europe and other parts of the world.
“The Forgotten Holocaust of Armenia” and Turkey’s Dark Past (Page 113)
Beginning in the 14th century, during “The Forgotten Holocaust of Armenia,” Turkey conquered Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Romania. Turkey was stopped only as it laid siege to Vienna.
For hundreds of years thereafter Turks oppressed and engaged in the periodic slaughter of their Christian subjects. The Turks alone massacred over 1.5 million American Christians.
Holy War (Jihad) in Islamic History
In Islamic history, more than 80% of the texts of the Quran are filled with Holy War (Jihad). Early Islam was spread in the Arabian Peninsula, solely by jihad. Islam was propagated as a religion by a series or war/battles-both defensive as well as offensive.
The Crusades (Pages 114-115)
From reading about the cruel, ruthless and determined expansion of Islam by the sword, we can understand to a degree the origin and purpose of the crusades. The word “crusade” does not appear in the Bible, nor is it at all commanded or referenced to in the teachings of Jesus Christ. However, in order to protect Christendom from Islamic invasions, the Roman Catholic Church initiated the Crusades.
Would You Stand By While Your Home and Family are Being Violated?
Would You Defend Them: Would You Drive Out the Invader?
The crusades were launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II, with the primary goal of reclaiming the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. An additional goal was also the freeing of the Western and Eastern Christians from Islamic rule. Both peasants and knights from many Western European nations travelled over land and sea towards Jerusalem and captured the city on July 1099, establishing the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
When, in 1096, the Crusades were launched, the Islamic Jihad had already been in action against Christendom for nearly five hundred years.
One could see that the Crusades contradicts totally the teaching of Christ. While the Crusades ended many centuries ago, Islamic jihad is still carried out to this day. The Crusades, eight in number, were concentrated on the Holy Land while Islam’s motives, through jihad, were far grander. When it comes to inhuman acts toward mankind, The Crusades were like an ant compared to the Islamist Jihadists being like an elephant.
Present Day Jihad/The War on Terror (Page 116)
In Their Own Words (Pages 116-118)
“Whoever says that Islam is free from terrorism or wants to differentiate between Islam and terrorism is committing Al Juhoud and that is Kufr Akbar-and will take them out of the fold of Islam. The one who says “we should fight against terrorism’; he is fighting against Islam.
“Islamic Holy war [jihad] against followers of other religions, such as Jews, is required unless they convert to Islam or pay the poll tax.
“The ultimate objective of Islam is to abolish the lordship of man over man and bring him under the rule of the one God (Allah).’
Hudna – a temporary ceasefire
On Israel (Page 118)
“All of the agreements entered ‘into [with Israel] are temporary, until the decree comes from Allah and until the destiny from Allah is realized.”
On Islamic Dominion (Page 118 – 120)
“Allah is the only one that must be worshipped on Earth, and the only way to guarantee this is to control all the land masses, air and sea and give Islam the proper channel to be heard by the people.”
“Once the Islamic state is established, the current rulers will be prosecuted, some will flee to the West but the West will not help them. This is the end of every agent.”
No Muslim writing in a non-Western language (such as Arabic, Persian, Urdu) would ever make claims that jihad is primarily nonviolent or has been superseded by the spiritual jihad. Such claims are made solely by Western scholars, primarily those who study Sufism and/or work in interfaith dialogue, and by Muslim apologists who are trying to present Islam in the most innocuous manner possible.
Fooling The West (Pages 121-122)
In the Arabic language the word Jihad literally means “to strive,” and “to struggle.” “Some Islamists are trying to fool the western readers by the deceitful and elusive meanings of Jihad.”
Here in America, people are clueless when it comes to really knowing who the extremists or terrorists are. Because of their teachings, the devoted ones are emotionally driven by the spirit of Islam to kill and hurt those who do not follow their ideology. They are merely obeying what they truly believe.
Two groups of Muslims who work in two different ways, yet for the same cause of promoting Islam: (Page 122)
The radical, extremists of fundamentalists uses every means they have to convey their message. They use their position and connections, all their wealth and resources. They will deceive, lie, commit violence, kill others, and even kill themselves in order to spread Islam throughout the world.
The educated and intellectual are the people who work with the above people but indirectly. The goal is the same, but the methodology is different. “Whatsoever they say, ‘they are the apples from the same tree!’
“House of Peace” and “House of War”
An ideology proposal for the Islamic world-tow divisions:
“Dar ul Islam” meaning “House of Peace” (the Land of the Believers) in which Muslim governments rule and Muslim law (Sharia law) prevails and “Dar ul Harb” meaning “House of War” the Lands of the Infidel (the “House, Domain, Abode of War”) which are non-Islamic states. He explained that, when the Muslims are a minority community, they need temporarily to adopt a peaceful attitude in order to deceive their neighbors, but the final objective is “Dar ul Islam” (House of peace”) where Muslims rule and infidels are forcibly converted or massacred. Al-Mawardi made it clear that Jihad was an obligation of every Muslim. Muslims have a duty to strive in any way of Jihad. Thus they are devoted and determined to transform Dar al-Harb into Dar-al-Islam.
“He who does not learn from history must be condemned by history.”
Are we living in denial? We in America, are actually living in the division called “House of War.” America is considered to be the great Satan and the Muslim world is willing to destroy her from all possible fronts. Is the war “on terrorist” or “on terror?” I believe the war is “on terror” because their dead prophet still inspires and captures their minds and hearts to commit these acts of terror.
In Our Own Backyard (Pages 123-125)
The Jihad constituent is not only vigorous in the Middle East but also here on our own American soil. One should keep in mind that jihad is not limited to one kind or type of individual, but is magnetizing people from all walks of life. One analysis showed that the radicals are better educated, have better jobs, and are more hopeful with regard to the future.
The “Islam,” which is being proclaimed in the west is totally different from the one that is being practiced in the Muslim world.
While living in a Muslim country, I never heard any peaceful proclamations given to minorities. As a matter of fact, all we knew was that we had to live in fear as the sword of Islam was always hanging over our heads, and we never knew when it would drop.
Today in many Muslim countries in the East, the revival of the “Islamic Golden Age” is the goal of Islam. The time is also known as the “Islamic Renaissance.” This was a time from the 7th to 13th centuries AD, where Sharia Law, which is based on the Quranic teachings and the Hadiths, was followed to a “T”. Would you believe that this is Islam’s agenda and objective for the entire world.
Muslims are taking advantage of the freedoms uniquely found in the West. They are speaking out and demanding their rights. We are being victimized!
In Our Own Backyard (continued) (Pages 123-125)
If they gain the majority in the West, they will revert to the agenda and objective that is in the West, where everything is “followed to a T!” In the West there will be no way except the “way of Allah”!
Yesterday it was the Sword and the Quran
Today it is the Gun and the Quran
Tomorrow it will be Nukes and the Quran
Quran 8:60 states: “The infidels should not think that they can get away from us. Prepare
against them whatever arms and weaponry you can muster so that you
may terrorize them. They are your enemy and Allah’s enemy.”
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