Jihad is one of the basic principles of Islamic way of life. In essence it means persistent struggle and striving, at individual as well as collective level against all forms of evil, oppression and exploitation. At an individual level it calls for right conduct, right approach and right direction or purification of mind, soul and body. At a collective level it exhorts Muslims, male and female, to organise all available resources for establishment of peace, justice, equality and observance of human rights. Thus an individual has to fight with his own soul as well as strive to improve the society in activities like education, health, economic development, alleviation of poverty, helping the needy and oppressed and of course propagating the right path of Islam and Allah’s grace. In fact he has to take up cudgels against all forms of tyranny and deprivation in the society.

This struggle to uphold Allah’s commandments and follow the righteous path laid down by Him, is JIHAD in the terms of the Holy Qur’an and as taught by the Holy Prophet (SUNNAH). The struggle may at first comprise of merely raising one’s voice against the tyrants, then by using of financial resources, and finally, if need be, through the use of physical force.

One important facet of Jihad is taking up arms against tyranny and oppressive forces, which deprive and deter people from observing a righteous and peaceful way of life. If human rights of a people, may they be Muslims or non-Muslims, are violated, Muslims as a community are required to wage a war against the oppressor. This is termed as Qital-fi-sabil-Allah in the Qur’an i.e. taking up arms in the name of Allah to protect human values and the way of life prescribed by Him, through Prophet Abraham, Moses, Christ and the last prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

Qital is not wanton killing for pleasure or snatching from others their rightful possessions. In fact killing an innocent man is considered a very heinous crime in Islam and is punishable in this world by death and far more severely in the next world. According to the Holy Qur’an killing a single person is tantamount to the killing of the whole humanity. Human life is greatly valued by the Qur’an and no one is given the right to violate it unjustly. This is why suicide is considered a blasphemous act in Islam, because the person committing suicide does so in utter despair of getting help from Allah. By taking his own life which was gift of Allah, he challenges His authority, because Allah alone has the authority to take back the gift of life.

Indeed self-control and self purification is a life long struggle for every person and a very difficult task, yet the Qur’an wants Muslims to live a life of peace within and without. While disciplining the individual lives it wants them to establish supremacy of law, peace, love, Allah consciousness (Taqwa), human dignity and honour. It calls for war against ignorance, illiteracy, drug culture, pornography, exploitation of the poor by the rich and the mighty, as well as organized struggle (Jihad- Qital) against those who rise up in arms to destroy the Islamic system, concepts and faith and threaten life, honour, property and peace of others. According to Qur’an spreading of violence, terrorism and disturbing peace and creating insecurity is worse than manslaughter.

The noble struggle for restoration of peace, justice and human rights and the Islamic values is considered an obligation on the whole Muslim community. It has nothing to do with terrorism and violence, which as explained earlier is against the Islamic injunctions and concepts. Jihad is a war waged to eliminate and destroy such terrorism, oppression, abuse and violence.