Published on Feb 20 2010 by Atif Mehmood - Nottingham

The 3 part documentary “Generation Jihad” being shown on BBC 2 shows how atrocities are being planned and committed in the name of Jihad.  However it fails to tackle how the concept of Jihad has been misunderstood by these  'jihadis'.

 

It is a great tragedy in the history of Islam that the concept of Jihad was distorted by over-zealous preachers and radical Muslim scholars. The Holy Qur'an describes true concept of Jihad as;

 

“And as for those who strive in Our path-We will surely guide them in Our ways. And verily Allah is with those who do good.” (29:70)

 

In fact the Holy Qur'an describes true Muslims as those who:

"…walk on the earth in a dignified manner, and when the ignorant address them, they say, Peace!" [Holy Qur'an Ch.25: V.64]

 

Jihad does not mean “Holy War.” It means striving, contention and taking action dedicated to a noble cause. As a matter of fact, Jihad in Islam is of different kinds. The greatest Jihad in Islam is remaining firm in faith, and to overcome sinful temptations of one’s own self.

 

The next form of Jihad is the struggle to improve the quality of social life by removing societal evils and establishing good moral values. This is Jihad against poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger, immorality and crime.

 

The last and the least important form of Jihad is to repel an armed aggression in self-defense for maintaining religious freedom. Putting political disputes over land and resources aside, the Western world is at the forefront of society in terms of maintaining and promoting religious freedom.

So in such an environment where we are free to build mosques and worship throughout the western world, the following Quranic Verse applies:

"O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey His Messenger and those who are in authority among you." (4:60)

 

The worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that the doctrine of Jihad has been entirely perverted by the so-called “fundamentalists” and has been rescued by the Community's founder, the Promised Messiah (as), Reformer of the Age.