Jihad, Holy War of Purification.

Objective. I have set myself one objective for this post, to explain why Muslims engage in Terrorism. I believe this is not possible without understanding Jihad. The readers should be able to gain a basic understanding of Islamic terrorism from this page, little if any of this is relevant to other forms of terrorism.

Background. This was originally written by myself in 2005 as a page for my personal web site.

Poverty is often said to be the root cause of terrorism, however Mohammad said that the rich will refuse to go to Jihad because they are content with what they have and that Allah has sealed their hearts so they do not understand (Sura 9:86-89).¹ Therefore financial and material contentment is seen by Mohammad as the source of disobedience to the Qur'anic teachings.

It is not surprising that the Islamic world has caught the fever of nationalism, Muslims throughout the world are feeling that the purposes of Allah have not been served as they have a right to expect.² Unlike other religions the Shari'a, (law) regulates every aspect of life, this is mainly true of Sunni Islam.³ Although there is no authoritative translation of the Qur'an from the original Arabic to any other language.⁴ I will however, use translations into English to aid my understanding of Islam.

Jihad. What is known as Islamic terrorism or simply terrorism in the west is known to Muslims as Jihad: “An internal struggle or striving for personal purity. An incumbent religious duty to wage holy war continuously against all non-Muslims to advance Islam.”.⁵ Holy warriors are described as superior to other Muslims, with a higher rank (Sura 4:95).⁶ The believers are told to think of Allah much in Jihad so t hey will be successful (Sura 8:45).

Israel is cursed by Allah for failing to pay for Holy War (Sura 7:140).⁷ Because Christians have not used their money to finance Jihad Allah will use their (red hot) gold to brand them with, on their faces, sides and backs (Sura 9:34-35).⁸

Jihad requires that when the situation arises men will go to war to spread Islam or defend it against the infidels. The test of a true believer is the willingness to fight for Allah, against unbelievers, who are said to be fighting for Satan (Sura 4:76-77).⁹ True Muslims will fight for Allah in holy war with their wealth and lives without seeking leave from Jihad, only disbelievers do this (Sura 9:42-45).¹⁰ This holy war is to continue until everybody becomes a Muslim people will be converted out of fear of Muhammad and his followers, and because they can not run away or hide (Sura 9:2-5, 33).¹¹ Holy warriors are to plunder only non Muslims (Sura 4:94).¹² Jews and Christians are allowed to pay a tribute and be humiliated in order to avoid becoming the victims of Jihad (Sura 9:29).¹³ The Qur'an says to deal gently with those who are afraid of Jihad to prevent them breaking away from Islam (Sura 3:159), but if you return alive you are not to permit them to go on an easy campaign nor should you pray for them at their death (Sura 9:81-84).¹⁴ The teaching is that whoever dies in Jihad is guaranteed eternal life in Paradise (heaven).¹⁵ According to the Qur'an the believer is only accepted by Allah after dying willingly in Jihad, Muslims are not assured of Allah's acceptance until death (Sura 3:142-143).¹⁶ Those who are slain in Jihad will be admitted to paradise (Sura 22:58-59).¹⁷ Those who refused to go to Jihad will make excuses, but the returning holy warriors are instructed not to believe them and that those who refused to go to Jihad will go to hell (Sura 9:94-96).¹⁸ Believers are to make war on the infidels who live around them. “It is not right that all the faithful should go to war at once.”¹⁹ This would go some way toward explaining why not all Muslims are actively engaging in Jihad.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year and the time when Mohammad is believed to have received the Qur'an from heaven.²⁰ Ramadan is a time for closer adherence to the teachings of the Koran, for jihad with the objective of toppling the enemy of Islam: the West.²¹

Although there is no doubt that Muhammad was kindly in his disposition, he could be cruel and vindicative towards his enemies and would stoop to assassination.²² Muslims are commanded to strike fear into the hearts of the disbelievers before striking their heads off. The believers are further instructed to dismember the opponents of Allah starting at the last joint of the fingers and working up the arms one joint at a time finishing by cutting the head off. True Muslims punish their enemies according to the commandments of Allah (Sura 8:12-13).²³ By contrast Christians are instructed by Jesus Christ (who is recognised as a prophet by Mohammad in the Qur'an) to love their enemies, this is recorded in two Gospels.²⁴

See also: Jihad Watch: www.jihadwatch.org The Islamic Legitimacy of “Martyrdom Operations”: www.islam.org.au/articles/16/martyrdom.htm “Usamah Bin Mohammad Bin Laden 'The New Powder Keg in the Middle East' ”: www.islam.org.au/articles/15/LADIN.HTM “The Termination of 'israel' a Qur'anic Fact”: www.islam.org.au/articles/20/termination.htm

© Ken Glasgow 2010

This post was written using Open Office 3.2.1, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

1Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 45), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

2McDowell, J. & Stewart, D. 1983, Concise Guide to Today's Religions (page 369), Scripture Press Foundation, United Kingdom

3McDowell, J. & Stewart, D. 1983, Concise Guide to Today's Religions (page 371), Scripture Press Foundation, United Kingdom

4McDowell, J. & Stewart, D. 1983, Concise Guide to Today's Religions (page 374), Scripture Press Foundation, United Kingdom

5Robinson, Stuart, 2004, Mosques & Miracles Revised Edition (page 340), Queensland, Australia.

6Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 21), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

7Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 35), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

8Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 43), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

9Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 20), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

10Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 43), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

11Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 41 & 43), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

12Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 21), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

13Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 42), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

14Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 14 & 44), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

15McDowell, J. & Stewart, D. 1983, Concise Guide to Today's Religions (page 377), Scripture Press Foundation, United Kingdom

16Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 13), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

17Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 70), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

18Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 45), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

19McDowell, J. & Stewart, D. 1983, Concise Guide to Today's Religions (page 370), Scripture Press Foundation, United Kingdom

20McDowell, J. & Stewart, D. 1983, Concise Guide to Today's Religions (page 384), Scripture Press Foundation, United Kingdom

21“A call to hate and to prayer”, http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17131122%255E28737,00.html

22McDowell, J. & Stewart, D. 1983, Concise Guide to Today's Religions (page 364), Scripture Press Foundation, United Kingdom

23Scot, D, 2004, A Summary of the Qur'an (page 38), Ibrahim Ministries International, Stafford City, Queensland, Australia.

24Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:35 (checked in the Message paraphrase of the Bible).