What does jihad mean?: the cards as text

Islam 101. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

1. Card 1

   One of the most misunderstood words about Islam simply means struggle.

2. Card 2

   A word that means effort

   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.

3. Card 3

   Lesson: Jihad means struggle, and much of that struggle is inward.

4. Card 4

   When struggle means fighting

   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.

5. Card 5

   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.

6. Card 6

   Lesson: Even in war, the Qur'an's rule is: do not transgress.

7. Card 7

   The rules extremists ignore

   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.

8. Card 8

   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.

9. Card 9

   Lesson: The Qur'an likens killing one innocent person to killing all humanity.

10. Card 10

    Reflect: What does the word jihad literally mean?

    Answer: Striving or struggle. Striving or struggle. Armed defence under strict rules is one kind of it.

11. Card 11

    The end of What does jihad mean?.

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