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Reply Debate/DIscuss Islam
Jihad?

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Aspen 2010

PostPosted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 1:56 pm


I am not 100% sure what Jihad is, but I have learned that it is "holy war", but does anyone really have the authority to wage war on behalf of God , or Allah.
PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:53 pm


Alright, I happen to know this one!

Jihad isn't inherently war as you are thinking. Though considered by some to be important to Islam as a whole, it is meant to be an internal struggle and not a full scale war. It is supposed to be a self centered struggle to have religious devotion and discipline.

Yes, some people do take it further than that. Yes there are terrorists who claim that their war on democracy is their Jihad. But it is neither unique to Muslims nor is it only as old as them. By the definition of a holy struggle, the 3 Crusades (Of the Christians against the Jewish and the Muslims for Jerusalem) are a Christan equivalent of Jihad taken too far. Then again, the devotion of a Christian to attend Sunday masses and other important masses (Easter and Christmas for examples) is also Christian forms of Jihad.

As to the second part, whether anyone has the authority, this is up to debate and there isn't really an answer. To some, the very tip tops of religious positions have the authority, as they are closest to God or Allah or whoever they believe in. To many others as well no one has it. And neither side will convince the other.

Also, as a final note, I myself an not Muslim, so I may be wrong in the details. But I DO know Jihad isn't normally a material war, nor is it really meant to be. If anyone knows more feel free to correct anything I've said. I've gotten my say in. ^^

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Bella Regina

PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:15 pm


Jihad means "struggle", and that could be anything from defending your home against invaders to getting up early. NOT a holy war as the media likes to claim.
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Debate/DIscuss Islam

 
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