Misconception about Islam (Jihad )

The first No.1 misconception regarding Islam, the top of charts is, regarding “Jihad”. Today Jihad is the most misunderstood word regarding Islam. It is not only misunderstood by non muslim , it is even misunderstood by many of us muslim ass well.

Non muslim and many muslim think that Jihad means any war fought by any muslim for any reason whether be for power, whether be for wealth, whether be for land. whether be for language,  any war fought by muslim for any reason call as Jihad.

In fact Jihad does not mean any war fought by any muslim for any reason whether be for money, whether be for power or whether be land or language. 

Jihad is an Arabic words which come from “Jahada” which means to strive and struggle . In the Islamic context Jihad means to strive and struggle against one’s own intention. Jihad also means to make the society better.  Jihad also means to fight against oppression. Jihad also means to fight in self defense in the battle field. So Jihad basically to strive and struggle.

For example a student is striving and struggling to pass in the examination, in arabic we say the student is doing jihad.many people have misconception and they think , that jihad can only be done by muslim. There are many verses in the Quran which say, even non muslim did jihad.

Quran says in Surah Luqman Ch 31 verse 14.

And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), “Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal.

Quran says in Surah Luqman Ch 31 verse 15. 

But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.

Here the Quran is talking about non muslim parents, doing Jihad striving and struggling to make their children do shirk (Shirk mean worship some body beside Allah )

A Similar message is given in Surah Ankaboot Ch 29 verse 8

And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.

So this type of Jihad we say it in arabic ” Jihad in the way of Satan. What we muslim do , Jihad in the way of almighty Allah and when ever the word is mentioned individually about Jihad, In the Islamic context, It is understood Jihad in the way of Almighty Allah. 

Most of the non muslim including the muslim so called scholar, they translate the Jihad as “The Holy War ”  Holy War if you translate in in arabic, It means “Harbu Muqadasa”

If you read the Quran and If you read the Hadith of the Prophet , there is no such word exist in the complete Quran and Hadith of the Prophet.  The Holy war does not exist in Quran neither in Hadith.  Jihad as i mentioned It means to strive to struggle, and one type of Jihad is also fighting in the way of Almighty God Allah, but Jihad doesn’t basically means ” A WAR “

If we see the history of Prophet Muhammad SAW, the first thirteen month he lives in Makkah, there were many quranic verses that were revealed in all the Maki Surah Many of the time in the verses the word Jihad was used. and never did the muslim ever fight (Physically fight ).