Linda Sarsour’s use of the word jihad at the recent convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) raised quite a few eyebrows, with many non-Muslims claiming that Sarsour was calling for a “holy war” against the Trump administration.
Many Muslims immediately responded by stating that those non-Muslims misunderstood the true meaning of the word jihad. One Muslim, Imam Kifah Mustapha ElMera’bi [sic], went even farther. He recently wrote this about Sarsour’s use of the word jihad:
Following verbal attacks against Linda Sarsour from Islamophobes and remarks from concerned Muslims that she should have used a different term than Jihad, I say this: Jihad is NOT Holy War. “Holy War” is not an Islamic term…
Imam ElMera’bi is one of the imams of the Mosque Foundation, located in Bridgeview, Illinois. The Mosque Foundation wants to become
the leading mosque in the United States in providing Islamic guidance and services to the community.
With this lofty goal in mind, one would think that Imam ElMera’bi has to be correct in his assertion that jihad is not “Holy War,” and that “Holy War” is not an Islamic term.
But if that is true, then that misunderstanding of the word jihad is rampant in the Muslim community, e.g.:
- Jihad: Striving, holy war. (Dictionary of Islamic Words & Expressions, Darussalam publishers in Saudi Arabia.)
- …the earliest (and therefore fundamental) Qur’anic reference to the question of jihad, or holy war… (The Message of the Qur’an, n. 167, p. 51. This is the translation of the Koran endorsed and distributed by CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.)
- …he was taken prisoner in a jihad – that is, a holy war… (The Message of the Qur’an, n. 72, p. 284.)
- …a woman taken captive in a “holy war” (jihad)… (The Message of the Qur’an, n. 58, p. 727.)
- And He (Allah) said: Jihad (Islamic holy war) is ordained for you (Muslims)… (Sheikh ‘Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Humaid, “The Call to Jihad (Fighting For Allah’s Cause) in the Qur’an,” Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Qur’an (Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam, 1994), p. 1046.)
- …the Prophet nevertheless said to his companions that they had returned from the lesser holy war to the greater holy war, the greater jihad being the inner battle… (Seyyed Hossein Nasr, The Spiritual Significance of Jihad)
- The holy war (jihad) is a collective duty… (The Mainstay Concerning Jurisprudence (Al-Umda fi ‘l-Fiqh), in a chapter titled “The Book of the Holy War (Kitab al-Jihad), p. 313.)
- “Holy War.” See Jihad. (Subject Index to Reliance of the Traveller (‘Umdat al-Salik), A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law, p. 1162.)
Perhaps Imam ElMera’bi will contact CAIR, and the authors and publishers of these works, and let them know that they are perpetuating an un-Islamic understanding of the word jihad. I’m sure a trip to Saudi Arabia to visit with the folks at Darussalam publishers about this could be very enlightening for the Imam.
Dave says
Linda and “moderate” Muslim job is to keep the Kuffars ignorant till they gain power to impose sharia law kill them more Leisurely.
Annie Oakley says
Fine. Then she’s using it for sedition & calling for a generic war against Trump.
Arrest her. Try her. Punish her. Deport her. Permanently ban her from the US.
Emilie Green says
“The Mosque Foundation wants to become the leading mosque in the United States in providing Islamic guidance and services to the community”
and finest purveyor of Taqiyya to the kafir.
Diane Harvey says
Excellent essay on,
Taqiyya about Taqiyya
by Raymond Ibrahim
http://raymondibrahim.com/2014/04/12/taqiyya-about-taqiyya/
Diane Harvey says
Raymond’s opening paragraph,
I ]RI] was recently involved in an interesting exercise—examining taqiyya about taqiyya—and believe readers might profit from the same exercise, as it exposes all the subtle apologetics made in defense of the Islamic doctrine, which permits Muslims to lie to non-Muslims, or “infidels.”
somehistory says
It isn’t “holy war”…it is *Unholy war*…like everything else moslums do. Unholy is the way they live and unholy is what they believe and unholy and ungodly is what islum is all about.
And moslums have made up a different dictionary, so they never agree with the meaning that any word has for the rest of the world of mankind.
JW_Reader says
Muslims will keep lying in the hope that some people will believe them. And they are right. There are all these SJW that believe this lying muslims and jump at the opportunity of protecting the minorities. If muslims truly focus on inner jihad and forget the holy war, then we will not be talking about all these!
JawsV says
“Sarsour” means “Cockroach” in Arabic.
ed cox says
And she looks almost as good as one .
JawsV says
Heh!
Transmaster says
Wouldn’t it be ironic if Linda Sarsour was blown to pieces by a Islamic Jihadist that was sent to my a cleric who considered her an apostate. Wonder who the MSM would blame then.
gravenimage says
Actually, this sort of thing happens all the time, as “Slow Jihadists” are slaughtered by their impatient “Fast Jihadist” co-religionists for being “insufficiently Islamic”.
God, I hate Islam.
montedoro44 says
Call to arms! We’re exploding with rage!
Oppressed Muslims, break out of your cage!
Down with tyranny! God
Will reward our jihad!
(It is thus that hot words set the stage.)
Jerry says
“Holy War.” See Jihad.
lol, I believe this imam has been successfully rebutted.
Following verbal attacks against Linda Sarsour from Islamophobes…
Ya notice how readily they call us “islamophobes,” it’s become as disparaging as the “n” word for black people. They accuse us of bigotry but they talk like racist bigots themselves. As much as I dislike the hateful and violent ideology of islam I still have enough respect for muslims to call them “muslims.” I don’t have to use terms like “raghead” or “sandn*gger.” My argument doesn’t depend on childish name calling, but on reason and good morals. But this is how muslims and their leftist allies roll, the whole universe is wrong and they are always right. And if you disagree then you’re a racist bigot islamophobe. Remarkable that people who base their entire lives on a 7th century ideology with few morals and so little intellect can think they are fit to rule the world. Excuse me while I laugh myself silly.
https://youtu.be/4PNEdH0PxAw
Westman says
Perhaps Imam ElMera’bi could get together with Bill Clinton and help him determine what the meaning of “is”, is. It sounds like an agreeable match that could stretch the English lexicon.
Steve k says
Even if (and that is a huge if) Jihad can be interpreted differently. You still don’t go around using a term that could easily be construed as threatening the president (which is illegal)
I would suggest the secret service interview her extensively to make certain of exactly what she meant, and deal with her accordingly.
Westman says
It seems rather certain that she used the term, puposefully, knowing that it would lead to both controversy and some taqiyya from appologists who would clear her of any threat to the POTUS.
She is using controversy to build her brand. She is a very smart political animal who knows that Muslimas don’t get anywhere in the male world of Islam unless they have political capital to push Islam forward or can play the victim. When she is no longer useful, they will elbow her aside; so she must continue to be seen, and is now a slave to her own notoriety.
gravenimage says
Agreed, Westman.
traci94 says
It would be great if somehow those 8 quotes in the article about Jihad, as well as others, could somehow be published in the New York times or somewhere where they would be seen by a lot of people and then a challenged issued to Linda and all the Islamic apologists, something like, “hey Linda, what about these quotations? Are you going to argue with the Koran, these Islamic scholars or Imams?” They need to be confronted with all of the evidence publicly. Somehow this stuff needs to get out, and I know Robert, Pam and others are doing their absolute best. But, it needs to get out, quote after quote after quote and then the question issued, “how can these quotes be interpreted any other way?” They can’t.
warren raymond says
Sarsour didn’t say “holy war”, she said jihad.
Imam Kifah Mustapha ElMera’bi knows that, but he still insists that stupid infidels heard it wrong.
IQ al Rassooli says
I have for ever asserted that it is IMPOSSIBLE for any Muslim to be a LOYAL citizen among non Muslims. Linda Sarsour proves my point every time she opens her hate filled sewer mouth.
Linda Sarsour is the most perfect example of Stealth Jihad. She is a Muslima who PRETENDS to be part and parcel of the American Dream but is actually Sharia Compliant and hence a TRAITOR to both the American Constitution and the American people as I shall prove forthwith
The word Jihad in the Arabic language has its root in JAHADA which does mean Struggle/ Endeavour/ Strive
Unfortunately, those who explain it in SPIRITUAL terms (like Linda Sarsour) are deliberately deceiving and misleading the public about its actual meaning based entirely upon the Arabic language of the Quran and Hadiths.
In innumerable verses in Muhammad’s Quran and Hadiths JIHAD means only ONE thing:
” WARFARE for the sake of Allah” which in Arabic: “Jihad fi Sabil^Allah”
Contrary to all the falsified assertions by politically correct westerners, aided and abetted by Muslims (Linda Sarsour, CAIR, ISNA etc)) who have every reason to hide the truth, Jihad is not a SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE for excellence but a CONTINUOUS WAR against all so called Infidels/ Kuffar until all non Muslims (80% of humanity) is either converted to Muhammadan Islam, subjugated to Sharia or EXTERMINATED.
In fact, among Muslim scholars, Jihad constitutes the unwritten SIXTH PILLAR of Islam.
Not ONCE in the Quran or Hadiths (the foundations of Sharia) can anyone find the word JIHAD mentioned by itself meaning SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE. All the derivatives of the word JIHAD in the Quran and Hadiths represent ACTS of WAR and AGGRESSION
Dear Americans, to be able to INDOCTRINATE any human being, to be so prepared as to willingly die for a belief, thus becoming a martyr [shaheed] who would be rewarded with eternal sexual, sensual & carnal pleasures in the AFTERLIFE than in LIFE on earth in Muhammad’s Whorehouse version of Paradise should be considered among the most DIABOLICAL weapons of war ever conceived.
This IDEOLOGICAL ‘weapon’ has been used throughout ‘Islamic’ history both against the ‘infidels’ as well as against other ‘unbelieving’ sects of Islam.
In reality, there is no SECULAR WAR in Muhammadan Islam because from the very beginning of the Islamic polity, war and aggression were the means by which Muhammad and his followers built up their empire.
Jihad became a perpetual HOLY DUTY of warring against ALL infidels/ Kuffar; that is a continuous war of aggression against ALL those who do not believe as they do; in
“Allah and his messenger, Muhammad”
These wars were NEVER in defence of ‘Islam’ but to gain territory, economic wealth, slavery, booty, rape and plunder. Converting these peoples to ‘Islam’ was last on the agenda of Muhammad’s followers but became a very important by-product of these wars of aggression.
It is a cruel irony – if not actually divine justice – that among the largest victims of Jihadi terror were, and continue to be OTHER MUSLIMS. Each side of the conflict between two or more of the warring ‘Muslim’ factions or sects, accuse their opponents of Kufr and or Unbelief, turning them into ‘Enemies of Allah’ and hence subject to ‘divinely’ sanctioned destruction.
In this manner and according to Muhammad’s Quran, their ungodly book, since all are Muslims killing other Muslims, none will ever be received in Paradise but will assuredly end up in Allah’s Hell.
Sahih Al-Bukhari 4.50 Narrated by Anas bin Malik
“The Prophet said, ‘A single endeavor of fighting in Allah’s Cause {Qital fi Sabil Allah} (JIHAD) is better than the world and whatever is in it.’”
Sahih Muslim Hadith 4631 & 4626 Abu Huraira
“I heard Muhammad say: … I love that I should be killed in Allah’s Cause [Jihad]; then I should be brought back to life and be killed again in Allah’s Cause [Jihad].’”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.73 Narrated by Abdullah bin Abi Aufa
Allah’s Apostle said, “Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords.”
There are HUNDREDS more of similar verses in the Quran and the Hadiths for those who have the appetite for blood and gore
I wish Linda (or any member of CAIR) would debate me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTuFA1fQ-yg&feature=youtu.be&a
IQ al Rassooli
Kafir & Proud!
gravenimage says
“Holy War” is not an Islamic term?
……………….
Linda Sarsour lies like a rug.
Richard says
Ooops!
FYI says
Linda’s shopping list…
1 zucchini
lots of Sour grapes
Lemons
definitely no wines from Israel
“special pills” for Robert Spencer
Uncle Mo’s camel juice tonic(“the prophet’s choice”)
2 halal chickens
salt-flavored candy treats for kids
6 camel dung chocolate patties
{100% non-Zionist} Arafat cola
Sheikh shakes
French Infidel Oven Fries
Wahhabi sauce
holy jihad cheese sticks
dave de la Rond says
notice how the left wing Press never mentions this witches convicted Felon Father.A so called Imam, her 300 pound Disgusting Imam father has been convicted 7 times for insurance and welfare and food stamp Fraud
Tom says
It does not matter that some muslims say that the word jihad does not mean a holy war.
What matters is what that word has become synonymous with Islamic Terror attacks on the west, through muslim directed terror and terrorist attacks and the use of that word to describe those terror activities committed by mostly muslims.
We in the west have been forced to associate the name “jihadi” as an Islamic terrorist individual or organization, and “Jihad” as the way in which a “jihadi” fulfilles his or her obligation to their religion to violently or subversively force the non believer to be subjugated to Islam.
Sorry muslims, you can’t have it both ways, Jihad means to the west “Violent or subversive holy war on infidels until they either convert and accept Islam as their religion or are subjugated as slaves to Islam”
If you don’t like what you have shown us as Jihad, then do something to change that image by eradicating the violence and violent teachings from Islam.
Until then we in the west will only know it as meaning violence against us, and all the takkiya and victimimhood claiming in the world won’t change that.
Carolyne says
It is my opinion that since Ms. Sarsour used the term “Jihad” to urge Muslims to attack Mr. Trump, she was inciting her followers to violence against the President of the United States. I believe this to be against the law and that the Secret Service should be investigating Ms. Sarsour and her followers who agree with her. There is ample proof above from Islamic sources to reasonably assume that “Jihad” means war–violence against one’s chosen targets.
Brian Hoff says
There is no threat against trump. trump will go down as the worst president in America history. You are than uneducated person who doesnot know the meaning of jihad.
gravenimage says
Why–because he tried to protect Americans against “Brian Hoff’s”–really, “DefenderofIslam’s”–violent coreligionists?
As pious Muslims see it, the “filthy Infidels” have no right to defend against Jihad.
Bob Connors says
Linda Sarsour is a Muslim Brotherhood operator who wishes to rage jijad on non-believers and is targeting President Trump for jihad because he is calling for extreme vetting for Muslims coming from 6 Muslim majority countries that have little, no government or anti-American governments. Sarsour’s defenders say jijad is an inner struggle and not violent however a closer look shows she in engaged in taqiyya which means deception or lying to all practicing Muslims. The most followed Hadith of Bukhari gives all of the details of jihad. A simple counting method shows that 3% of the hadiths are about inner struggle, whereas, 97% of the hadiths are about jihad as war against non-believers. Any Muslim following Mohammed’s words and actions understand she is telling them to go to war against the President of the United States. She should be arrested and charged with sedition following by going to jail.
Donald R Laster Jr says
Islamics lie all the time when it is convenient to hide the facts – especially when it will aid the advancement of Islam and its imposition on the non-Islamic. Islamics have been waging a war on the non-Islamics since Mohammad’s lies about his god were rejected by Jews, Christians, and even those who worshiped Hubal (allah – the god) the god Mohammad was a follower of.
WPM says
I can call a fish a bicycle ,but I still cannot ride it .Ms Sansour can said Jihad is not violence committed daily all over the world, but the evidences shows it is violence as per the Koran and the perfect man Mohammed committed it many times in his life. Ms Sansour said that 100k was raised to fix Jewish cemeteries {in her name} in her hometown of Brooklyn why has the money not gone there? She has received a lot of taxpayers money in the last 3 years of Mayor Deblasio,s administration where has that money gone? Could the Nazi party or the KKK get the taxpayer,s money and love of the progressives as Sansour has, she and her followers are on the same page as these groups were in the 1920s and 1930s in America.
Michael Copeland says
“Where is your weapon? Where is your weapon? Come to the jihad!”
Omar Bakri
Lynn says
I took a class on Islam after 9/11 in the know your enemy sense. The teacher, a charming and and attractive young woman told us the holy war is not a Muslim term but rather a Christian term one that Muslims learned from the Christians who fought in the crusades.
gravenimage says
Sickening–but hardly surprising, Lynn.
Donald R Laster Jr says
And it important to remember that in the Qur’an that which was written earlier is superseded by that which is written later. Then keep in mind the Qur’an is normally ordered longest chapter to shortest chapter. It is not order based upon when it was written or said. This is believed to be part of the deception practice to allow for Islamics to use deception for advancing Islam.
Henner720 says
Purposeless ideology. Only fed by oil money. Desperate to engolf every weak person in universal pointless destruction in allahs coverup alibi religious entity. Unlikely marked for twisted person like cocroach, paving loyer billions spend on further destruction.stop pretending. The war is funded by iran & saudi and proxies.for no other reason than they are gangstas , they wanna destroy us, badly.with ideology.