FIGHTING IN THE WAY OF ALLAH Armed Jihad ( Jihad al-saif ) the lesser or greater Jihad? Introduction Jihad of the sword or armed jihad is sometimes called the lesser” or “minor” jihad ( jihad al asghar) , in contrast to the spiritual form of jihad or struggle with the lower self, called “greater” or “major” ( Jihad al-akbar) . To the contemporary mind, with its emphasis on peace and its general instinctive aversion for war, this distinction is perfectly understandable and readily accepted. When we hear of acts of violence perpetrated in the name of God and Islam in the west we accept this distinction with a sigh of relief. But is that sigh of relief well-founded? Is the distinction valid? Is it supported by the sources? What follows is a tentative answer to these questions. Any discussion of the above distinction necessarily involves reference to modern writers and to the importance and accuracy of what they assert. We should also need to ascertain any possible development of the concept of jihad from the time of Muhammad to today that could possibly support this distinction. Furthermore, the source of this distinction must be examined to determine if it is warranted and if, it is compatible or not with the canonical sources of Islam, the Qur’an , Hadith and Sira . This will inevitably lead to a consideration of the importance of armed jihad , and the implications of this distinction for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Some modern writers It is difficult to imagine why this distinction should be accepted as valid by academic non-Muslims without providing any sort of evidence. Contemporary writers are surely aware of the general implications of such a distinction, not only for Islamic theology, but also in shaping relations between Islam and the non-Muslim world. Writers do not generally deem it necessary to refer to the source of such a distinction and the general tendency is to mention it en passant and proceed as though it were perforce true and valid. This is an unjustifiable omission given the important implications involved and important conclusions regarding the doctrine and practice of jihad might well be vitiated if not faced honestly and objectively. One such example is John L. Esposito who, in his Unholy War, Terror in the Name of Islam , writes: The two broad meanings of jihad, nonviolent and violent, are contrasted in a well-known prophetic tradition. It is said that when Muhammad returned from battle he told his followers, “We return from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad.” The greater jihad is the more difficult and more important struggle against one’s ego, selfishness, greed, and evil. 1
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 13:03:12 +0000
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