Islam 101
Struggle, war and its limits
One of the most misunderstood words about Islam simply means struggle.
5 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
Jihad is one of the most misunderstood words about Islam. Its Arabic root, j-h-d, means to strive or exert effort. The Qur'an uses it for striving with wealth and self in God's cause, which includes fighting but is far wider.
Lesson
Jihad means struggle, and much of that struggle is inward.
Part 2 of 3
The Qur'an first permitted fighting for those attacked and driven from their homes. It says fight those who fight you, and do not transgress. The Prophet forbade killing women and children.
Qur'an 2:190
وَقَٰتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمۡ وَلَا تَعۡتَدُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ ١٩٠
190 Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight you, but do not transgress, for Allah does not like transgressors.
Lesson
Even in war, the Qur'an's rule is: do not transgress.
Part 3 of 3
Classical law says only a legitimate authority declares war, and it never permits targeting civilians. Extremists ignore this. In 2014, over 120 Muslim scholars wrote an open letter to the leader of ISIS, rejecting his claims point by point from Islamic law.
Qur'an 5:32
مِنۡ أَجۡلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبۡنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفۡسَۢا بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٍ أَوۡ فَسَادࣲ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعࣱا وَمَنۡ أَحۡيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحۡيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعࣱاۚ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡهُمۡ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرࣱا مِّنۡهُم بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَمُسۡرِفُونَ ٣٢
32 For this reason, We ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever kills a person – unless in retribution for murder or corruption in the land – it is as if he killed all mankind; and whoever saves a life, it is as if he saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came to them with clear signs, yet many of them continued to exceed the limits afterward in the land.
A long ayah: scroll within the card.
Lesson
The Qur'an likens killing one innocent person to killing all humanity.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
One of the most misunderstood words about Islam simply means struggle.