In this episode, we are going to touch upon the true definition of jihad in Islam. We will also refer to the statements of Ayatollah Khamenei in this regard.

Jihad has different ramifications. The word jihad derives from the root “jahada” in Arabic meaning making effort and exerting one’s utmost. When an individual makes his utmost effort and strength and tolerates all difficulties to reach a definite goal; this is called jihad in Islam. Ayatollah Khamenei says, “Jihad exists in every domain of life. Jihad is the incessant effort coupled with risking, progress and hope in the future.”

The word jihad, contrary to what is propagated by politicians and Islamophobes, does not mean war and bloodshed. Jihad naturally is aimed either for repelling aggression or salvaging the oppressed from the oppressors. Once the oppressed seek help it is forbidden to ignore them. Hence, jihad is very valuable in Islam.

Unfortunately, today jihad has been the plaything at the hand of the mercenaries such as the terrorist groups. They are engaged in genocide and massacre of innocent people in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere while calling their acts as jihad. Wahhabis have dealt heavy blows to the meaning of jihad. Their terrorist offspring Daesh commits the most heinous crimes in the sacred name of jihad. Indeed the Wahhabi rulers of Riyadh have generated countless terrorist groups to tarnish the bright image of Islam and hinder its freedom-seeking efforts in the region in a bid to serve the interests of their masters in Washington and Tel Aviv.

The inexhaustible efforts of scientists and discoverers can be called jihad in the field of science and research. The leader of the Islamic Revolution opines, “As per the ordinary rules of the human communities, the dignity, power, reputation, prestige and identity of every society depend on struggle and effort.”

He continues, “What makes nations proud among other nations both in the history and their own era is struggle and effort.”

Jihad has various fields: economic jihad, cultural jihad, construction jihad and so on. But one of the greatest forms of jihad in Islam is struggling against one’s self. Taking delight in material aspect of life and benefiting welfare in a moderate scale can be some of the examples of struggle against the self. Ignoring one’s desires and devoting oneself to the fulfillment of other people’s needs is another instance of struggle against the self. The sacred religion of Islam had not recommended isolation from the society, to walk on nails or any kind of harming one’s body in order to purify and build one’s self. Migration, moving, being among people and trying to solve their problems and remove their hardships are all manifestations of jihad. Of course, these services should be done merely for God’s sake and not with the aim of ostentation. Struggling against one’s self has been defined as the most difficult type of jihad. It has been highly recommended in the Qur’an and the words of the divine messengers and leaders.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says, “Jihad in Islam is not for the sake of imposition of belief. It is for the sake of struggling against those who have enslaved human beings. Jihad in Islam is not fighting with nations; it is rather fighting with oppressive powers. This is the history of Islam. This is the practice of the leaders of Islam. This is the recommendation of the leaders of Islam. The Commander of the Faithful (Peace upon him) addressing Malek Ashtar, issues his everlasting and unforgettable decree saying, ‘those whom you confront they are either the same as you in faith or share with you in being human. Even those who do not have the same faith as you; are human beings and human being should be revered.’ ‘Allah does not forbid you in regard to those who did not make war against you on account of religion and did not expel you from your homes, that you deal with them with kindness and justice. Indeed Allah loves the just.”

Leader of the Islamic Revolution believes that jihad is a sort of struggle. He explains it, “Struggle means strong effort against an obstacle or enemy. If there is no obstacle before human being there will be no struggle. If you drive on an asphalt road and push the accelerator with a full tank; this is not called struggle. Struggle is when one faces an obstacle: the obstacle in human fronts is called enemy and in the natural fronts is called natural hindrances. If one tackles with these obstacles and tries to remove them this is struggle. This is exactly the meaning of jihad in Arabic. Jihad in Qur’an and hadith means the same. It doesn’t always mean armed fight. The commander of the Faithful says that jihad has four branches: enjoining what is good, preventing what is evil, telling the truth and honesty of stances. This is exactly what we define in adopting stances; i.e. one should be honest in political and social stances. Thus, honesty of stances is jihad itself.”

In the view of Ayatollah Khamenei, jihad is in fact helping the nations which have been put behind the curtains of colonialism, arrogance and despotism so that the light of Islam and guidance would not reach them. He believes that jihad against the arrogant is aimed at tearing apart these curtains. Referring to ayah 75 of surah Nisa which reads, “Why should you not fight in the way of Allah, and the abased men, women and children”, the Leader explains, “This ayah says why don’t you fight in the way of God; and instantly it says in the way of the abased, for the sake of saving the abased? This is the sense of responsibility. It means you go and put your life at stake in the fields of danger to salvage the downtrodden. It means that Islam wants man to be responsible in this way; both toward himself, his near ones, his society and the humanity.”

Ayatollah Khamenei addressing the youth, says, “I invite dear youths to a real jihad. Jihad is not limited to fighting and going to the battle field. Striving in the field of knowledge, ethics, political cooperation and research are also considered as jihad. Creation of appropriate culture and thought in society is also jihad. These are all jihad in the way of God. The adversaries of this jihad are the arrogant, the enemies and those who are hostile toward Islam, Iran, identity, nationality, Islamism and Islamic characteristics. Qur’an says, ‘… they are hard against the faithless and merciful amongst themselves.’ According to this ayah of Qur’an, Muslims must be harsh toward the faithless. Where are these faithless. Not every disbeliever in Islam is the one who should be dealt harshly. Qur’an says those who do not struggle against you, do not plot against you and do not embark on genocide of you and your nation, even if they are in another religion; do good to them and behave well with them. These are not the faithless whom you should be harsh toward. ‘Indeed Allah forbids you only in regard to those who made war against you on account of religion and expelled you from your homes.’

You should be harsh with those who struggle against your identity, Islam, nationality, country, territorial integrity, independence, dignity, honour, traditions, culture and values.”

RM/MG