Straightening out meaning of jihad

Straightening out meaning of jihad

From Rakyat Merdeka

Western countries such as the United States are still propagating their view that Islamic holy war (jihad) is similar to terror. They regard mujahideen as a group of terrorists or extremists that must be eliminated.

They are afraid that Muslims' spirits can demolish their hegemony. Orientalists and their followers have given a comprehensive connotation to jihad and divided it into several categories, like jihad for economic improvement, jihad for making a living, jihad for development and jihad for the mastery of sciences. That connotation obscures the real meaning of jihad.

Jihad is derived from the word yujahidu, which means to make an all-out effort together. In bahasa Indonesia, jihad connotes maximum efforts, which may involve physical activities, with or without weapons, wealth or words, to pursue a goal. Thus based on bahasa jihad means to work hard.

The Koran has given a more specific meaning to jihad. Based on the sacred book of the Muslims, jihad means to direct all available resources to winning a war in the way of Allah (God), by directly or indirectly contributing views and contributing logistic support.

LUKMAN SYAKIR

Sukabumi, West Java