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