Holy War or Holy Struggle?

Western peoples fear the word “Jihad.” They learned to fear it because it has historically been characterized by fanaticism and war. It appears to be irrational and unstoppable save by any means but total military defeat. It is the perception of the Western mind that Islam is militant and relentless. Modern Islamic terrorists give much credence to this perception, and a careful examination of history will show that this perception is a valid one.

Never the less, Muslims today attempt to alleviate this fear of Islam by saying that westerners do not really understand the Islamic concept of Jihad. They will assert that Jihad is really the personal and individual struggle to overcome those things in one’s life that Allah would have eliminated from their life. This assertion is true, but it is not the exclusive use of the term Jihad.

In the Qur’an, Jihad is used to describe the personal struggle to purify one’s own nature.

Surah 29:68-69, (Al-Ankabut) introduces the idea that the Muslim will encounter many who are practitioners of error, and it is their duty to be alert to error and not succumb to it.

29:68 And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against God or rejects the Truth when it reaches Him? Is there not a home in Hell for those who reject Faith? 29:69 And those who strive (Jihad, NR) in Our (Cause), We will certainly guide them to Our Paths: for verily God is with those who do right.