Can someone please tell me the real meaning of this word. I always thought it was a holy war, but recently was told it really meant an internal struggle with the soul. What is the right answer
The PBS documentary on Osama Bin Laden said it means “Holy War”
Actually Arabic has no literal term corresponding to “Holy War”. The word for war is harb, the word for holy ( or one of them ) is muqaddas.
Jihad means “effort”, “striving”, or “struggle” ( and the holy part is presumed in Islam, but not explicitly stated ). It has been used in two ways, one of which is analogous to “Holy War” in the sense of a military struggle ordained by God. i.e. violent acts that are supported by religious mandate. The Koran sanctions violence against those that would wage war against Muslims for religious reasons or drive them from their homes.
The other way in which it is used, particularly by modern theologians ( and apparently some classical Shi’ite theologians as well ), is in the sense of a internal moral and spiritual struggle.
Apparently the Koran can be interpreted to support both views.
- Tamerlane