where jihaad fits into islam?

there are 5 pillars:

shahada: there is one god and no other.

salat: prayer to god

zakat: charity

hajj: pilgrimage

sawm: fasting,self control

where jihaad (murder of non muslim) comes into play here?

also i think shahada is a state of realization that can only come through meditation.

ark200 said:

there are 5 pillars:

shahada: there is one god and no other.

salat: prayer to god

zakat: charity

hajj: pilgrimage

sawm: fasting,self control

where jihaad (murder of non muslim) comes into play here?

also i think shahada is a state of realization that can only come through meditation.

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I understand where you are coming from my friend , it is sad that a noble concept like Jihad is misued brutally by extermists . Here is for you a little discussion about the real meaning of Jihad :

'jihad' is a common Arabic word meaning to strive/struggle or exert effort, and is used in different ways depending on context in The Quran. We learn from The Quran that believers must be willing to exert effort in the cause of God, using their wealth and themselves. This effort/jihad may or may not include fighting. It does not have an exclusive meaning of 'holy war' or 'fighting', as shown below.


An example in The Quran where 'jihad' refers to giving 'effort' as charity as opposed to giving money/objects as charity:


It is these (hypocrites) who find fault with such of the believers who give generously in charity, and they find fault with such believers who have nothing to give but their effort, God disdains them, and they will have a painful retribution. [9:79]


An example in The Quran where 'jihad' can mean parents 'striving' to change the beliefs of their children. Please note, even in such circumstances believers are still asked to treat them amicably:


If they strive to make you set up any partners besides Me, then do not obey them. But continue to treat them amicably in this world. You shall follow only the path of those who have sought Me. Ultimately, you all return to Me, then I will inform you of everything you have done. [31:15]


In the following verses of The Quran, striving/jihad in God's cause leading to guidance is contrasted to turning away from the truth and fabricating lies about God:


Who is more evil than one who fabricates lies and attributes them to God, or denies the truth when it comes to him? Is there not a place in Hell for those who deny the truth? As for those who strive in Our cause, We will guide them to Our paths. For God is with the pious. [29:68-69]


The only time a 'great jihad' is mentioned in The Quran is in the following verse and it refers to striving against those who deny the truth with the message of truth:


And if We wish, We could send to every town a warner. So do not obey those who deny the truth, and strive against them with it (The Quran) in a great striving. [25:51-52]

Just want to clarify your point you said

where jihaad (murder of non muslim) comes into play here?

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Jihad does not mean Murder of Non Muslim, Islam does not even allow to destroy the crops of non-muslims and trees in war too (if that not necessary) so you can think how much islam repect each human life even if he is a non muslim.

I think these two verses of Quran calarifies you a lot

Quran says in Surah 60 , Verses

8. Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly andjustly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.

9. Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) indriving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). Itis such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong.

An example in The Quran where 'jihad' refers to giving 'effort' as charity as opposed to giving money/objects as charity:

Click to expand...

how one can give effort in charity?

An example in The Quran where 'jihad' can mean parents 'striving' to change the beliefs of their children. Please note, even in such circumstances believers are still asked to treat them amicably:

Click to expand...

but are the children being treated amicably in reality? or they are killed, beaten, stonned to death?

In the following verses of The Quran, striving/jihad in God's cause leading to guidance is contrasted to turning away from the truth and fabricating lies about God:


The only time a 'great jihad' is mentioned in The Quran is in the following verse and it refers to striving against those who deny the truth with the message of truth:

Click to expand...

this certainly amounts to violence and force as we witness here in iraq and syria done by isis.

the 5 pillars of islam certainly refers to peace. a violent jihaad certainly does not fit here. from the context and surrounding words there is only one meaning of the word jihaad that fits here is:

it is a battle againts one's own faults, loose character, anger, hatred, fear and division. it is an inner battle.

this ofcourse is not found in quran.

Salam and welcome to the forum. It is nice that you study Islam and ask Muslims queries.

And, if I may answers as well, firstly, Islam has pillars but is not limited to pillars. You build something on pillars, without them the building collapses, and with just them, the building might be incomplete. And in shia Islam, jihad, is one of the ten Furu ad-Din (Ancillaries of the Faith) and since it is a divine order in the Holy Quran, it is also accepted as a necessity of Islam in other denominations of Islam as well.

Thus, since it is a divine command, it is a part of Islam, but some Muslims may and some Muslims may not consider it a pillar, but still, a building does not exist of just pillars.

Secondly, as the brethren mentioned it above, jihad means struggle, it may include fighting, but it is not all about fighting the enemies and opressors. And even then, it is not commanded that Muslims go around and kill non-muslims. The commands are specific, which I believe have been discussed in other threads here. But if you do have questions on against whom-when, etc. Muslims are oredered to fight, please feel free to ask.

In any case, jihad is a more general word, which means struggling, fighting, etc. But, it is not just in a physical warfare, and it is not just against the oppressors and enemies. The concept you are looking for is defined as "JIHAD AL-AKBAR" (greatest jihad/stuggle/fight) in the tradition/saying of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp) which is recorded in both sunni and shia hadith sources.

You can study it online here:

Jihad al-Akbar, The Greatest Jihad: Combat with the Self | Books on Islam and Muslims | Al-Islam.org

or download the pdf file for the booklet here:

http://english.sahartv.ir/media/pdf/The Greatest Jihad.pdf

Thanks. ma salam

ark200 said:

where jihaad (murder of non muslim) comes into play here?

also i think shahada is a state of realization that can only come through meditation.

Click to expand...

hmm, who said that Jihad means Murder of non Muslims?

Jihad is not defined by what extremists claim it mean. Any fanatic can use any excuse to kill others. An American for instance can claim he is a patriot and then kill tons of people to *protect the constitution* but that doesn't make the American constitution itself bad and evil. I hope you got what i mean.

You can find out more about what Jihad mean below:
Jihad: A Misunderstood Concept from Islam - What Jihad is, and is not

ark200 said:

where jihaad (murder of non muslim) comes into play here?
also i think shahada is a state of realization that can only come through meditation.

Click to expand...

Well, Jihad is not about murdering non Muslims, it simply means to struggle against incoming harm. I believe member "islam means peace" took care of that.

Shahada is basically a belief in the most basic of Islam and the most important of all, a thing that even if every thing else is broken they can still be forgiven just for its sake. It is to believe that God is the only one worthy of worship, and Muhammad is his Prophet.