I was taught by my Maulana that Jihad has nothing to do with holy war, but was about internal spiritual struggle. I assumed that warfare was just something that Muhammad and his followers participated in for sake of protecting the Muslim community from persecution, rather than the purpose of spreading and forcing Islam on people. I assumed that Muhammad’s participation in warfare was only meant for that time, but then I learned that Jihad is also about holy war, not just spiritual struggle, so when that happened, I shifted the goalpost and assumed that Jihad in the context of holy war, was only defensive warfare. But I eventually learned that Jihad in discussed in the context of holy war, isn’t only defensive warfare. It’s also offensive warfare that is waged for the purpose of making Islam prevail over all other ideologies and establishing Islam as supreme over all. Where did I get this idea of offensive Jihad being a means of spreading Islam from? Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan, a renowned Muslim scholar and translater of the Quran, says this very clearly his commentary on the summarised edition of Sahih al-Bukhari:
“[1] Al-Jihad (the holy fighting) in Allah’s Cause (with full force of number and weaponry) is given the utmost importance in Islam and is one of its pillar (on which it stands). By Jihad Islam is established, Allah’s Word is made superior, [His Word being La ilaha Ill-Allah (which means: none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)] and His Religion (Islam) is propagated. By abandoning Jihad (may Allah protect us from that) Islam is destroyed and the Muslims fall into an inferior position; their honour is lost, their lands are stolen, their rule and authority vanish. Jihad is an obligatory duty in Islam on every Muslim, and he who tries to escape from this duty, or does not in his innermost heart wish to fulfil this duty, dies with one of the qualities of a hypocrite.
[2] Of course, nobody can offer Salat (prayer) and observe Saum (fast) incessantly, and since the Muslim fighter is rewarded as if he was doing such impossible good deeds, no possible deed equals Jihad in reward.” — Summarized Sahih Al-Bukhari, translated by Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan, page 580.
Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan’s commentary sums it up accurately enough. Jihad is a fundamental religious duty in Islam that is prescriptive and obligatory for all Muslims to carry out in the form of defensive and offensive warfare. Muslims who do carry this out, will be guaranteed reward in paradise, which is echoed in these Hadiths:
“It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Allah has prepared (reward) for those who go out (to fight) in His cause: ‘And do not go out except (to fight) for Jihad in My cause, out of faith in Me and belief in My Messengers, but he has a guarantee from Me that I will admit him to Paradise, or I will return him to his dwelling from which he set out, with the reward that he attained, or the spoils that he acquired.’ Then he said: ‘By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, were it not that it would be too difficult for the Muslims, I would never have stayed behind from any expedition that went out in the cause of Allah. But I could not find the resources to give them mounts and they could not find the resources to follow me, nor would they be pleased to stay behind if I went. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, I wish I could fight in the cause of Allah and be killed, then fight and be killed, then fight and be killed.” — Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 2753.
“It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The one who fights in the cause of Allah has a guarantee from Allah. Either He will raise him to His forgiveness and mercy, or He will send him back with reward and spoils of war. The likeness of the one who fights in the cause of Allah is that of one who fasts and prays at night without ceasing, until he returns.” — Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 2754.
“It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Going out in the morning in the cause of Allah, or in the evening, is more virtuous than the world and what is in it.” — Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 2755.
“It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever dies being prepared in the cause of Allah, will be given continuously the reward for the good deeds that he used to do, and he will be rewarded with provision, and he will be kept safe from Fattan,* and Allah will raise him on the Day of Resurrection free of fright.” — Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 2767.
“It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The dust (of Jihad) in the cause of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never be combined in the interior of a Muslim.” — Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 2774.
“Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The person who participates in (Holy battles) in Allah’s cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His Apostles, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise (if he is killed in the battle as a martyr). Had I not found it difficult for my followers, then I would not remain behind any sariya going for Jihad and I would have loved to be martyred in Allah’s cause and then made alive, and then martyred and then made alive, and then again martyred in His cause.” — Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith 36.
“Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Allah guarantees him who strives in His Cause and whose motivation for going out is nothing but Jihad in His Cause and belief in His Word, that He will admit him into Paradise (if martyred) or bring him back to his dwelling place, whence he has come out, with what he gains of reward and booty.” — Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith 3123.
“Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Allah guarantees to the person who carries out Jihad for His Cause and nothing compelled him to go out but the Jihad in His Cause, and belief in His Words, that He will either admit him into Paradise or return him with his reward or the booty he has earned to his residence from where he went out.” — Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith 7457.
“Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Allah guarantees (the person who carries out Jihad in His Cause and nothing compelled him to go out but Jihad in His Cause and the belief in His Word) that He will either admit him into Paradise (Martyrdom) or return him with reward or booty he has earned to his residence from where he went out.” — Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith 7463.
It’s also alluded to in the Quran too:
“Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] – other than the disabled – and the mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to both Allah has promised the best [reward]. But Allah has preferred the mujahideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward – Degrees [of high position] from Him and forgiveness and mercy. And Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.” — Quran 4:95-96 (Sahih International translation).
There is even a Hadith that tells us what the best type of Jihad is:
“It was narrated that ‘Amr bin ‘Abasah said: “I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, which Jihad is best?’ He said: ‘(That of a man) whose blood is shed and his horse is wounded.” — Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 2794.
When I learned about this, I was very surprised at the amount of emphasis on how important it is for Muslims to wage Jihad. Jihad is so important and praiseworthy in Islam that Muslims who don’t contribute to it are basically hypocrites, and the Quran says that the hypocrites receive the worst punishment in hell:
“Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them.” — Quran 4:145 (Muhsin Khan translation).
The thought of me being a hypocrite by not participating in Jihad caused me so much fear of Allah’s wrath, and the best way to be free of Allah’s wrath was to participate in Jihad because that would guarante me a place in paradise. Speaking of paradise, I also learned about the 72 Houris. The 72 Houris are Virgins in the Islamic paradise, and Muslim men that die in Jihad are guaranteed to have them as a reward, as well as several other rewards.
Sidenote: There rewards for Muslim martyrs are explained in detail in this fatwa: https://islamqa.info/en/answers/8511/the-six-blessings-of-the-martyrs
Learning about the rewards for the martyrdom in Jihad and the consequences of not participating in Jihad began to make me realise part of why there might be so many Jihadist groups that are fighting, subjugating and killing non-Muslims in the name of Islam; they want complete assurance of their salvation and gain all the rewards that Allah promises for martyrdom. Hamas for example, made this clear in their writings:
“Allah is its target, the Prophet is its model, the Quran its constitution: Jihad is its path and death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes.” — Hamas Covenant 1988; The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement.
I didn’t want to be a hypocrite and die as a hypocrite, but I was also reluctant at being a Mujahid and participate in Jihad. I couldn’t make up my mind, I was of 2 minds: Either I should condemn Jihad and have no interest in participating in it because it would lead to me becoming an extremist, which would mean I would be identified as a hypocrite – or I should be a Mujahid who fights in Allah’s cause or help others fight in Allah’s cause, which would also mean I would be identified as an extremist. Either way, I was in a dilemma because Jihad isn’t just defensive warfare, it’s also offensive warfare. Here is a Muslim scholar explicitly confirming that offensive Jihad is permitted:
“Today, our honorable Islamic scholars talk about defensive Jihad. “Fight for the sake of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress, for Allah does not like transgressors.” In other words, you should always be polite, never go against anyone, and never point your weapon at anyone, unless someone attacks you. In all other cases, everything must be peaceful. No! When you face a polytheist enemy, you should give him three options: They must convert to Islam, or pay the jizya poll tax, or else, you should seek the help of Allah and fight them. You should fight them even if they do not fight you. Seek the help of Allah, and fight them. Let the scholars hear this: You should seek the help of Allah and fight them. Only when they fight you? No! When they refuse to convert to Islam, and refuse to pay the jizya. In such a case, it is meaningless [to let them] keep enjoying their life in this world, eating from the sustenance bestowed by Allah, yet disbelieving in Him. No! against their will, we shall subjugate them to the rule of Allah, without forcing them to convert to Islam.” — Issam Amira, Al-Aqsa Mosque Address: We Should Fight Polytheists who Refuse to Convert to Islam or Pay Jizya.
Issam Amira unambiguously and unequivocally preaches offensive Jihad to his Muslim audience and says that they must fight non-Muslims even when if they are not attacking the Muslims, even lambasting other Muslim scholars who only talk about defensive Jihad.
rubiconcrest says
Thank you for those quotes which dispel the myth quite convincingly of jihad being an ‘internal struggle’ or if not at most only defensive. I assume the Quran verses, (Quran 4:145 (Muhsin Khan translation AND Quran 4:95-96 (Sahih International translation) ) have not been abrogated?
H North says
No, you are correct: it is the original “peaceful” verses from Mecca that were all abrogated by the later jihad verses from Medina. Apparently, a LOT of muzzies don’t understand the Doctrine of Abrogation, and how it applies to the koran to nullify all of the “peaceful” verses. Usually, that doctrine is only taught and understood by educated imams, leaving a very large contingent of ignorant muzzies still reading and believing that the peaceful verses are still applicable, which continues to perpetuate the lie that “islam is a religion of peace”.
mortimer says
Many thanks to AHMED ANWAR for his courageous testimony. His article demonstrates clearly that the mullahs are LYING to their too-trusting congregations about JIHAD and JIHADISM (the ideology that makes jihad the ‘highest’ deed in Islam).
Many Muslims today are realizing HOW MANY LIES their mullahs have been telling, because for the first time in history, ordinary Muslims may read the ORGINAL, PRIMARY, ISLAMIC SOURCE TEXTS on the internet anonymously and for themselves. The internet is what is killing Islam, and the mullahs cannot find a way to stop it.
The mullahs no longer have a way to fight the truth by lying about the cruel barbarity that Islam truly teaches. Islam is a Death Cult, and many Muslims are now realizing that, including Mr. Anwar.
Islam will experience a rapid drop off of adherents in the next decades with tens of millions leaving the cult each year. Ex-Muslims are more and more prepared to speak out and lead others out of this Death Cult.
In private, the mullahs call this ‘A TSUNAMI’ of apostasy.
H North says
It took muhammad 12 years in Mecca preaching “peaceful” islam before the Hijrah to Medina, where he started preaching defensive jihad, and only after the “hypocrites” were subdued, then the offensive jihad was called, which was continued for the last 1,400 years, as long as there was a caliph to call for it. With the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire in ~1936, there is now no caliph to call for offensive jihad, so jihadis are only “legally” bound to fight “defensively” for previously controlled muhammedan lands, like “Andalusia” (Spain), or against any kuffar in muhammedan lands.
Since it took 12 years for Mo to transition from “peaceful” islam to jihad, it’s perfectly acceptable if it takes that long for other muzzies to come around and learn and accept jihad. Coupled with the doctrine of taqiya, it’s also perfectly acceptable for imams to deceive their own congregations about how “peaceful” islam supposedly is, until he feels the time is right for them to accept the truth.
When the caliphate is revived, look out. This is one of the things that makes ISIS so threatening: they claim they are the revived caliphate, with appropriately qualified caliphs (the we keep assassinating). As some point, the worm will turn, and a new worldwide jihad will be declared. And with millions of military-age males now occupying the West, it will be a bloodbath.
gravenimage says
Of course, almost any act of Jihad terror can be characterized as “defensive”, even when the targets are civilians and children.
Walter Sieruk says
One thing many people just don’t understand to that the God of the Christians and likewise the Bible is not acataly the same God as the god of Islam which is the god of the Qu ‘ran.
To help explain the difference the Christian pastor and scholar, Michael Youssef, who is also an Arab in his book entitled JESUS, JIHAD AND PEACE on page 69 informs the reader that “The name Allah comes from pre-Islamic times, and it corresponds to the Babylonian mane Bel or Baal. According to the Middle East scholar E.M. Wherry, pre-Islamic Arabs worshiped gods they called Allah. Both pre-Islamic Allah-worship and Baal –worship involved worship of the sun, the moon and the stars, which is why they are called astral religions. The crescent moon, the symbol of pagan moon worship, is also the symbol of Islam. It is printed on flags of many Islamic countries and placed atop minarets and mosques.”
Likewise, a former Muslim who is now a Christian, Dr. Daniel Shayesteh, who used to live in the Middle East but now he lives in America . In his book ISLAM AND THE SON OF GOD. On pages 7,8. Reads “Allah is the generic term for God in many Middle –Eastern cultures. Allah is identified as one of the 360 or so idols worshiped by the Arabian people for centuries before Muhammad was born. Many do not know that Allah was the good god of the Arabians. This explains the crescent moon found on minarets and mosques and the flags of Muslim nations. .. .Historic writings also identify Allah with Baal.” It’s also worth mentioning that the Bible condemns such astral religions. As in, for example, Second Kings 23:5.
Therefore , all dear Muslims are to invited to accept the one true God of the Bible and the Christians and reject the false pagan god Baal/Allah of Islam.
gregbeetham says
Yes I discovered the crescent moon symbol was actually pagan idolatry inherited from a prior religion and incorporated into Islam to ease the transition most likely, so much for Muslim complaints about Christians worshipping idols of Jesus on the cross and Mary when they were never regarded as idols or effigies but stupid people didn’t understand the connection was a gesture of affection for the sacrifices they made.
The other mystery is the pagan Kaaba and the black stone worship both of those belonged to a previous pagan religion also but Muslims don’t seem to be bothered about that pagan inheritance either, but when you are as dumb as a pile of rocks and don’t know any history at all it is easy to be hoodwinked I guess.
gregbeetham says
Yes, Islam was designed to appeal to desert bandits because it talks of booty and plunder in the here and now and reward in Jannah for conducting Jihad in the cause of Allah. Back in the day of Muhammad away from the more civilized areas desert banditry was their lifestyle which is why Christianity preaching peace and tolerance was not going to work long term in such an environment because the separate small bands of desert bandits would be defeated eventually by more powerful empires.
Islam’s focus on fighting in a Jihad religious war of dominance over all other religions is not only what gave the desert bandits a purpose to unite in the cause of an Allah sanctioned aggressive plunder and booty but a guaranteed reward in Jannah should they get killed doing it; calling it a death cult is a pretty good description Mortimer.
The mystery is why it persisted after the arrival of great wealth after the discovery of oil, one would think there was no longer any reason to be a desert bandit but I guess Islam was already embedded by that stage and self reinforced through the next generation of brainwashed infants doomed to mental stagnation, Islam became a culture of creating submissive retards whose lifelong function was to practice Islam.
Walter Sieruk says
Many Muslims claim that they “Love Jesus, too.” Nevertheless, it’s very important for Christians to understand that “jesus” of Islam is not the Jesus of the Bible and Christianity. For the “jesus ” of Islam and the Qu ‘ran is not God.
By strong contrast the Jesus of Christianity and the Bible is God. Meaning God the Son of God the Father. Matthew 3:16. Hebrews 1:6-8.
That Jesus is God many be seen in John 1:1-3. 20:28 Romans 9:6. First John 5:20.
Furthermore, by comparing John 5:22 with Romans 14:12. Reveals that Jesus is God.
.
In addition, by comparing the Old Testament with the New Testament shows that Jesus is God. As in comparing Psalm 89:8,9. with Matthew 8:23-27. Proves Jesus is God.
Likewise by comparing Isaiah 46:22,23. With Philippians 2::5-11 shows that Jesus is God. Also
Daniel 7:13,14. Compared with John 5:25, 26 clearly reveals Jesus to be God.
In conclusion, .the “jesus” that Muslims love is not the same Jesus Who Christians love.
gregbeetham says
There appears to be a semantic problem with blandly claiming Jesus was God because Jesus was a human being physically so in large part he was not God except for the spirit of God which was obviously from God because Jesus could perform miracles, many impossible feats were witnessed by those present at the time. The part I’m not sure about is whether the human involvement made Jesus an independent divine entity separate from God? apparently he was such a separate entity in the biblical account and according to popular interpretations Jesus made appearances in the biblical story previously assuming the identity of various prophets. I think we are overdue for another visit; actually we are in desperate need of another visit, or divine intervention at the least.
When it comes to Islam and Muhammad I think it’s pretty obvious that Muhammad was deceived by Satan because most of his teachings appear to be something that Satan would admire.
H North says
Another point that is constantly misunderstood is that the koran supposedly calls Jesus by the name “Isa”–except Isa is not “Jesus” in Arabic, it’s Isaiah. That puts it all into a different twist entirely.
gravenimage says
Also true.
Shema says
In addition, by comparing the Old Testament with the New Testament shows that Jesus is God. As in comparing Psalm 89:8,9. with Matthew 8:23-27. Proves Jesus is God.
I read psalm 89. I honestly don’t see how any of it, in particular 8:9 “prove” anything in regards to the Matthew quote.
Then you stated
Likewise by comparing Isaiah 46:22,23. With Philippians 2::5-11 shows that Jesus is God.
Now I feel like i was being trolled haha.
I can’t even find that Isaiah quote, as far as I can tell it doesn’t exist. But if does please let me know. I could have made a mistake.
But if you want absolute proof Jesus was not God, and that Allah is explicitly mentioned in the Old testament, see Habakkuk 4:12 and 7:6.
gravenimage says
Shema wrote, replying to Walter Sieruk:
Likewise by comparing Isaiah 46:22,23. With Philippians 2::5-11 shows that Jesus is God.
Now I feel like i was being trolled haha.
I can’t even find that Isaiah quote, as far as I can tell it doesn’t exist. But if does please let me know. I could have made a mistake.
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Shema, Isaiah 46:22-23 do indeed exist. You can find those verses here:
https://biblia.com/bible/esv/jeremiah/46/22-23
gravenimage says
Good points, Walter. The Muslim “prophet Isa” is *nothing* like the Jesus of the Gospels.
Victor says
Do you hate Hindus.
gravenimage says
Actually, leaving Islam is not an indication of hating Hindus.
gravenimage says
From Muslim to Christian: My Journey (Part 4)
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Thank you, Mr. Anwar–it is quite true that Jihad, meaning violent warfare, is a key tenet of Islam.