The media nowadays deliberately portrays this word to cultivate hatred among the mass population. In this article, I attempt to focus on this mis-understood term 'Jihad' and show to the western world its real sense according to Islam.

It is impossible to discuss this term without explaining the objective of Islam and its mission, and its position in the historical context.

Allah created this universe so that man can worship Allah. Allah sent down messengers to remind people of this objective of creation. Since the very beginning, mankind divided into two groups: the group of Allah and the group of Satan. Clashes always occur between these two groups. In a particular point of time one might observe the advantage of the Satan's army, but the eventual result is historically proven: the army of Allah always wins, and the just is established on Earth and the people who worship Allah gets the upper hand over those who worship Satan.

Allah who controls the universe could grant victory to His army without any struggle from mankind. Allah could destroy all his enemies with a tsunami, or flood, or wind, or virus, or or or, but Allah does not want to do that. He wants to test the believers and lovers of Allah, so He may reward them on the day of judgment. This brings the important concept of the Day of Judgment. Those who does not believe in the hereafter finds it extremely difficult to comprehend so many concept of any divine religion, including the concept of Jihad. The fact that many contemporary thinkers and the official voice of mass media does not sponsor this concept made the life very difficult for the religious. Discussing this issue is beyond the scope of this article, so I will proceed with the assumption that the reader believes in the hereafter, where the righteous are rewarded in paradise and the wrong doers are punished in the hell fire.

So, Allah wants His army to struggle and put effort to establish just on this earth and create a suitable environment for the slaves of Allah to worship Him properly. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, all these are the greatest names in mankind history who proved with their love, struggle, and effort that they really love Allah. They have sacrificed their life for the sake of Allah. This very struggle and exercise of effort is called Jihad. The main target of Jihad is Satan and his army.

From this very high level discussion let us go one layer deeper and talk about Islam.

Islam is a continuation of the past divine religions with a difference. Islam came to spread the truth to the whole globe. So, the Prophet Muhammad was meant to be the final Prophet, and he was given a Book of Allah which is protected from any modification or loss of information. Prophets Moses and Jesus were sent to a particular tribe who was the most noble tribe at that time on earth because they branch from the most noble person before Muhammad, and that is Abraham and his grandson Israel. So, both Moses and Jesus came exclusively to the children of Israel. But those notorious children got corrupted and could not preserve the sanctity of the holy scriptures.

Then came the Prophet Muhammad with this noble religion and the noble Quran. Quran is considered to be the only official version of the holy scripture when the previous scriptures (i.e., Torah and Gospel) got corrupted. Mankind got so much pleased that they entered into this religion in thousands and millions. Prophet Muhammad and his true followers opened the heart of millions before they open their land. Undistorted history writes with golden ink the stories of those noble soldiers who took the trouble to spread just and humanity to the un-human population of earth. Millions of oppressed mankind by the then two super emperors (Roman and Persian dictators) were granted salvation within 5 years. No such magnificent spread of light has ever repeated in the history of mankind.

This process of human salvation did not proceed without resistance from the army of Satan, who found in Islam a danger against their tyranny and unjust actions. The agenda of Muslim army was very clear. They wanted to spread Islam among the population and show them the way of salvation. They never had any imperialistic agenda as the British had before and America has it now. Those people themselves chose to enter into Islam when they saw it's nobility and the moral behavior of it's followers.

Those who refused to enter into Islam are of two kinds: those who refused to let Islam rule on their land and those who refuse to embrace Islam personally but did not resist to let Muslims rule the land. In majority of cases, cities were opened peacefully. History still remembers that day when Caliph Omar received the key of Jerusalem peacefully and Islam took it's charge since then. Those non-Muslims who stayed among Muslims are guaranteed security from Muslim ruler. No one is supposed to frighten them or harm them if they abide by the conditions as detailed in Islamic fiqh. They are supposed to pay Zijyah (security money).

Fighting (or Qital) was the last option when the non-Muslims resist Islam to be the religion on the land. Since the land belongs to Allah, it must be ruled by Allah. This ruling is sponsored only by Islam. In such wars, there are lots of restriction for the Muslim army. For example, they are not supposed to kill woman, old and children, they are not to demolish churches or kill it's inhabitants. The battle is only with the active participants. And the objective is not to seize land or money or to kill, the objective is to establish the truth that Allah wants.

Jihad is -literally- any effort to satisfy Allah. It is a mistake to relate it with blood or killing. Me writing this article is a form of Jihad. It could be by hand, in writing, a lecture, or in heart. Allah has already guaranteed this religion to be established on earth. This establishment is achieved through the process of Jihad. When the Muslim army engages in Jihad, it never is loser. If they  achieve victory: then they thank Allah for His help and they spread Islam to the newly opened lands. If, they are defeated, then those who were killed has passed the exam and receives the wealthiest reward from Allah. And, here comes the concept of Paradise and the reward hereafter. The western media always makes fun out of the fact that martyrs get virgin girls in the Paradise. They always portrays practicing Muslims as sex seekers! One has to know that human beings work forward based on motivation. Incentives are the driving force that makes people work. The materialistic people work for worldly incentives. They work for good salary to spend it in their low lusts in some resorts or with girl/boy friends. Muslims are governed by the creator of heaven and earth. Others are governed by human beings like them. So, if others make Jihad to satisfy their human master, we -Muslims- feel proud that we make Jihad to satisfy Allah -the Exalted.

In summary, Jihad is a word that the Satan army among the western world does not want to hear. Jihad is a threatening for Satan slaves in the way of their freedom of un-just. Jihad's objective is to free human beings from the slavery of Human and honor him to be only slave of Allah. Jihad will continue till Doomsday. When the last mujahid dies the countdown of the dooms days starts!

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