Jihad in Islam (the violent confrontation of the enemy) is the fighting movement that aims at preventing the enemy from forcing its hegemony over the land and the people by means of violence that confiscates freedom, kills the people, usurps the wealth and prevents the people's rights in self-determination and running their own affairs. Therefore, Jihad is confronting violence by means of violence and force by force, which makes it of a defensive nature at times and a preventive one at others. And this is what the Glorious Qur'an has maintained in the following verses. Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loves not aggressors. (02:190); Sanction is given unto those who fight because they have been wronged; and Allah is indeed Able to give them victory (22:39 ) and “If thou fears treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms” (08:58)
Obviously, such a defence of the downtrodden is not arbitrary. It is carefully studied, and starts by peaceful means, in coordination with the nations and organizations that defend the rights of the downtrodden. Force is only turned to as a last resort, following the failure of all other means. The Qur'an describes this situation as such:
Jihad in Islam is not using violence against the unbeliever, but against the fighting aggressor. The Glorious Qur'an differentiated between two kinds of people who are of a different religion, the peaceful kind and the aggressive fighting kind: Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice.
Such a dialogue that aims at solving problems should, according to Islam, be conducted in the way that turns enemies into friends. Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate! (41:34). This suggests that the Muslims should befriend the world by cooperating in solving the problems without conceding their spiritual and intellectual authenticity.
As for those suicidal bombers who kill innocent people as well those who accuse others of unbelief, just because they differ with them in some sectarian views even within the same religion… or those who explode car bombs, killing women children, elderly and youth who have nothing to do with any war of aggression.
To those we say that their inhuman brutal actions have nothing to do with Islam whatsoever, and that what they are doing will lead to God's wrath and not His satisfaction.
It also undermines the image of Islam and Muslims and gives others a wrong idea about Islam and Muslims. *
In the light of this, Jihad is no different than any human and civilized concept of self-defence. It expresses the innate human nature of self-defence, or preventing the others from building the ability for a sudden aggression. Islam meets in this with all human values of all civilizations. There is also the case of defending the downtrodden who are prosecuted by the arrogant and who have no means of defending themselves. Muslims have to defend these people if they ask them to. The humanitarian content of Islam makes it responsible for facing the injustice the downtrodden are subjected to by freeing them of this injustice.
Obviously, such a defence of the downtrodden is not arbitrary. It is carefully studied, and starts by peaceful means, in coordination with the nations and organizations that defend the rights of the downtrodden. Force is only turned to as a last resort, following the failure of all other means. The Qur'an describes this situation as such:
And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper. (04:75)Using force against the others in any other case is an illegal aggression, even it they are of different religion, race or other such differences. The Holy Qur'an repeats several times that but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loves not aggressors. (02:190), thus emphasizing the rejection of Islam of any aggression that is represented by terrorizing persecuting, and killing people unjustly.
Jihad in Islam is not using violence against the unbeliever, but against the fighting aggressor. The Glorious Qur'an differentiated between two kinds of people who are of a different religion, the peaceful kind and the aggressive fighting kind: Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice.
Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong. (60:8-9)The force Islam wishes its adherents to use is not a terrorist aggressive one, but a humanitarian defensive and value-oriented one. Islam wants Muslims to sign peace agreements with those they differ with on the basis of right justice and preserving human rights. O you who believe! enter into peace (Silm in Arabic) one and all and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan; surely he is your open enemy. (02:208 ) and “And if they incline to peace, then incline to it” (08:61) . It also called on Muslims to pursue a dialogue with Jews and Christians using the best cultural and civilized methods And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; (29:46).
Such a dialogue that aims at solving problems should, according to Islam, be conducted in the way that turns enemies into friends. Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate! (41:34). This suggests that the Muslims should befriend the world by cooperating in solving the problems without conceding their spiritual and intellectual authenticity.
As for those suicidal bombers who kill innocent people as well those who accuse others of unbelief, just because they differ with them in some sectarian views even within the same religion… or those who explode car bombs, killing women children, elderly and youth who have nothing to do with any war of aggression.
To those we say that their inhuman brutal actions have nothing to do with Islam whatsoever, and that what they are doing will lead to God's wrath and not His satisfaction.
It also undermines the image of Islam and Muslims and gives others a wrong idea about Islam and Muslims. *
~sayyed Muhammad-Hussein Fadlullah
* = Newsweek and the Washington Post asked several Muslim spiritual leaders and personalities some questions about the attitude of Islam towards basic issues that were posted on their joint website ON Faith. Above are the answers of the Religious Authority, sayyed Muhammad-Hussein Fadlullah, that provides an Islamic objective and contemporary conceptualization towards such issues as Jihad, apostasy, and women. The sayyed believes that Jihad is mainly a defensive means, while apostasy becomes dangerous when it violates the general order of the nation. As for the woman, the sayyed asserts that they are equal and independent human beings.
source: http://english.bayynat.org.lb/Issues/Jihad.htm
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