Jihad
jihadPersonal individual struggle against evil while following the way of Allah. It can also be collective defence of the Muslim community. has two meanings for Muslims. It is both a struggle for faith and a struggle against evil.
Greater jihad
greater jihadA Muslim's personal struggle with their faith. is about making the effort to be a good Muslim through a personal struggle to improve spiritually. It is a duty and an act of worship.
To do this Muslims should:
- follow the Five Pillars of IslamThe five observances which must be followed by all practising Muslims, eg Salah - to pray five times a day.
- forgive others
- work for social justice
- study the Qur’an
- help those in need
- avoid negative qualities, eg greed
- avoid temptations, eg alcohol
Lesser jihad
lesser jihadA war which is justified according to a set of rules within Islam. is about defending Islam from threat. Some people still take up arms against anybody they see as an enemy of Islam. However, many Muslims believe that lesser jihad is of less relevance today than in the past, when Muslims were being persecutionTo ill-treat people for their religious or political beliefs..
Lesser jihad is sometimes called a holy war. It must be approved by a religious leader, fought in self-defence and not used to either convert people to Islam or gain land.
Islam teaches that lesser jihad can never be used to justify terrorist attacks.
The Qur’an states:
Fight in the way of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress