Just War and Jihad - Essay Sample

Introduction

The term 'jihad' is a religious connotation that often sends the wrong message to many non-Muslim scholars. It is a misunderstood term that is used in different ways to justify terror committed by Islamic terrorists. Generally, jihad is the religious path every Muslim has to undertake (Kelsay and James 21). They have to cleanse themselves, fight evil and impure thoughts as well as promote the spread of Islam. It includes different concepts such as the pilgrimage to Mecca as well as the common religious undertakings such as fasting, giving to the needy and setting aside different occasions to talk to non-believers about the Islamic faith to dispel their 'confusion' and teach them the right way (Kelsay and James 16). This essay explores the concept of jihad from theoretical and historical perspectives. It develops an understanding of the modern misconceptions as well as the past applications of the term and its much-distorted meanings over time.

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Modern Perspective of Jihad

The modern understanding of jihad is commonly distorted as being the religious conviction that Islam is the only religion and that the rest of the world should be a congregation of followers. Efforts by terror groups to establish a caliphate often go hand in hand with the modern teachings that there should be a single nation that falls under Islamic rule. Islam is viewed as a culture that can dictate laws and establish political order (Kelsay and James 18). The war to create this caliphate is the jihad. Terror groups have been very vocal in the advancement of a modern ideology. The al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and the Islamic State (ISIS) have all shared common beliefs about a caliphate nation for the spread and growth of the Islamic faith (Kelsay and James 25). Modern non-Muslims thus understand jihad as the forceful conversion and persecution of non-Muslims. Jihad has therefore been a confusing concept that both Muslim and Christian scholars disagree on continuously.

Historical Perspective of Jihad

In the ancient era of Prophet Muhamad, jihad was physical and psychological warfare as well. Religious scholars in the past would wage war on non-Muslims using ideological differences. The success of jihad in such a nature was also promulgated by the fact that the spread of Islam around the world had already taken root by 1400 BC. Many Christian converts had yet been born. Indeed, Islam is among the oldest faiths in the world, and the concept of religious war had been used by armies to take over new territories as well (Kelsay and James 14). Dynasties and kingdoms waged war in the name of God and took up arms to fight what they believed was their God-given right to reign over the 'infidels.' Jihad then involved many conversions and liberties given to scholars to spread the understanding and practice of Islam as both a way of life and as a religion (Kelsay and James 6). Modern changes in the historical meaning have been affected by the religious differences that Islam has often had with other religions such as Christianity and Hinduism.

Discussion

Many ancient perspectives of jihad had war. The only difference between the war that was fought in ancient times in the name of jihad and the modern understanding of the war is the ideological underpinning. For many non-believers, jihad is when Muslims are willing to die for their religion. Faiths such as Christianity and Judaism understand jihad as the Islamic commitment to suicide such as through suicide bombers or sacrificial death (Kelsay and James 17). While this form of action has been seen with different factions proclaiming the Islamic faith, it is at the very least a contorted meaning of the word. Military action was waged in ancient times as often, both sides of the war fought for their cultural and religious beliefs. In modern times, however, the ideology is based on hate and not support for a pure nation of Islamic believers (Kelsay and James 22). Many Islamic scholars view their understanding of jihad as the religious faith that makes one an Islamic believer. It is however not a certain concept as to the level of conviction and action that constitutes jihad in modern times.

Conclusion

The Arabic meaning of jihad calls on Muslims to strive to have a praiseworthy existence by practicing and living a life that would please God (Kelsay and James 13). The understanding of the term has nonetheless changed from one generation to the next. Not only has the word been used to explain peaceful Islamic teaching campaigns, but it has also been used to imply an ancient war between kingdoms and more recently, acts of terror against non-Muslims. It is quite difficult to understand the word unless one ascribes to religious faith, especially Islam. Nevertheless, it is critical to note that the establishment of caliphates and the annihilation of Christians is a concept that many Islamic religious scholars condemn. Jihad is a purely religious concept that should be used in the context to imply a positive approach to being a committed Muslim (Kelsay and James 19). Jihad should thus be encouraged as a path to religious sanctity and praiseworthy life, which should not discriminate other religious or disrespect their beliefs.

Works Cited

Kelsay, John, and James T. Johnson. Just War and Jihad: Historical and Theoretical Perspectives on War and Peace in Western and Islamic Traditions, Georgetown University Press, 1991, https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/843252. Accessed 9 April 2019.