Lesser Jihad
Introduction
Jihad, or "holy war", though a new concept to the western world has a long-standing
tradition in Arabia predating the foundation of Islam as a religion but incorporated into it
as a primary tenet of the religion. The concept served a legitimate purpose in the
Jahiliyya period of Arabic history and perhaps even in Muhammad's time, but has
become a dangerous force in the present day world, presenting an increasing threat to the
developed world just as national animosities are cooling down among the larger powers.
Definition
The term jihad stems from the root J.H.D. meaning to strive, exert oneself, or take
extraordinary pains (R. Firestone, p. 16). Considered a sixth pillar of Islam, jihad
actually takes two forms within Islam, lesser jihad and greater jihad. Greater jihad refers
to a personal struggle within oneself, a struggle to remain pure of heart, to attempt to
keep one's base instincts at......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 3179
Approximate Pages: 13 (260 words per double-spaced page) |