Greater and Lesser Jihad

Question 1

What does Jihad mean?

Answer 1

To struggle

Question 2

What does Greater Jihad mean?

Answer 2

To struggle to enjoin good and avoid evil; within oneself.

Question 3

Who introduced Greater Jihad?

Answer 3

Averroes - spoke of greater jihad of the heart, to struggle against the temptations of the devil.

Question 4

What is Greater Jihad for Muslims?

Answer 4

The personal, inner, spiritual struggle or effort of every Muslim to follow the teachings of Allah in their own lives e.g. overcoming things such as anger, greed, pride and hatred.

Question 5

What does Sarwar say?

Answer 5

“A Muslim learns to control his own bad desires and actions”

Question 6

What is Huquq Allah? Why is it important?

Answer 6

Fulfilling the rights of God e.g. the Five Pillars. Muslims must be aware of it

Question 7

What else can the struggle of the greater jihad include?

Answer 7

Struggling with the practices of Islam which can be difficult for all Muslims including young Muslims living in non Muslim countries today - drinking, doing drugs etc.

Question 8

Why do Sufis encourage Greater Jihad?

Answer 8

The Sufis wanted to fight against selfishness. Sufis wanted to develop their inner relationship with God and wanted to develop modesty, compassion and from this freedom. They fight against selfishness, hypocrisy and self pit.

Question 9

What does the Qur’an say about hypocrisy?

Answer 9

“Why do you say that which you do not? Grievously odious it is in the sight of God that you say that which you do not”

Question 10

How does Vardy define Lesser Jihad?

Answer 10

Refers to the struggle to remove evil from society.

Question 11

What are the 3 types of Lesser Jihad?

Answer 11

Social Jihad, Political Jihad and violent lesser Jihad.

Question 12

What do social and political Jihad invovle?

Answer 12

Involves campaigning by individuals or groups on behalf of others e.g. social Jihad - Amina Wadud - campaigns for women’s rights giving the the right to not have to wear the hijab.

Question 13

What is violent lesser jihad?

Answer 13

Refers to the struggle in warfare, so a struggle using violence through holy war.

Question 14

When did the Prophet permit lesser jihad?

Answer 14

Self defence, to protect Muslim from oppression, if their freedom to practise their faith was threatened.

Question 15

What is social Jihad?

Answer 15

The struggle to remove social evil - can be seen through examples of Muslim Aid to remove the evil of inequality between the rich and the poor

Question 16

What is political Jihad?

Answer 16

Means to remove an evil authority. - uprising during the Arab Spring of December 2010 saw a wave of civilian protests against corruption and dictatorships in North Africa and Middle East.

Question 17

Give some examples of violent lesser jihad from the time of the Prophet.

Answer 17

Miraculous victory at Badr and subsequent battles that restore freedom of conscience - the Battle of Badr was regarded as a Just war and fulfilled the conditions required for Jihad.

Question 18

What are the conditions for a war to be declared as Jihad?

Answer 18

All other ways of trying to settle a dispute have failed. Must be a last resort.
They are not being allowed to practice their religion freely and pray
The community is suffering under a tyrant. It is under attack and needs faith to restore its freedom
It has been declared by a religious leader.
Every effort has been made to protect civilian life and animals
The war is in self defence
They are oppressed.

Question 19

Give Qur’an 2:190

Answer 19

“Fight in the way of God those who fight you but do not begin hostilities. God does not like the aggressor”

Question 20

Give Qur’an 22:39

Answer 20

“Permission to fight has been given only to those who are oppressed…who have been driven from their homes for saying God is our Lord”

Question 21

Give Surah 3:103

Answer 21

“And hold Fast all together by the rope which Allah stretches out. And be not divided among yourselves”

Question 22

How do social and political jihad lead to justice and liberation?

Answer 22

Justice is brought about through - freeing the poor i.e. Muslim Aid, Zakat, freeing women - Amina Wadud, white Wednesday, Barlas. Setting up the welfare state.

Question 23

How are social and political jihad driven by individual conscience or communal responsibility?

Answer 23

Sadaqah - just giving is individual. Women’s rights often led by individual conscience e.g. Amina Wadud. Wadud’s work affects women across the whole Islamic community, in this sense it is a community obligation.

Question 24

How does Lesser violent Jihad lead to justice and liberation?

Answer 24

Justice - removes oppression from dictatorships, from forced religion, from persecution from homes. Liberation from oppression from a dictator, frees people from this. Only justice though if it is for a just cause.

Question 25

How is Lesser violent Jihad a form of Fard Kifaya?

Answer 25

It is considered a community obligation to fight for lesser violent jihad on behalf of other Muslims in the community.

Question 26

How does Greater jihad lead to justice and liberation?

Answer 26

If a Muslim develops virtues then this also brings about justice in the community e.g. overcoming greed will lead to social justice for the poor. However, it is an internal struggle and could lead to self-conceit. Also a difficult thing to achieve - you will never get real justice.

Question 27

How is Greater Jihad a collective obligation?

Answer 27

Yet there is also a collective obligation to discipline the nafs - it makes a community stronger and stops extremist groups developing - these groups are borne out of insecure leaders who do not have sound faith and heart.

Question 28

What are the issues with lesser Jihad?

Answer 28

Could lead to intolerance
Not everyone can take part in social Jihad
Different countries have different social customs - social jihad
Could misunderstand whether a leader is actually corrupt - political
Could be motivated by the wrong reasons - political