Jihad and the Quran
Jihad is commonly translated as holy war, but it literally means striving. It is striving with regards to your religion, which in this case is Islam. Muslims have been fighting a jihad on the world for fourteen centuries. Jihad has been used over the centuries to describe numerous conflicts. It has been used to describe wars against other Muslims, wars against the infidel, and just about any other war in Muslim history. The idea of jihad is deeply rooted in Muslim thought, because of its prominence throughout the Quran.
Jihad is a fight for the cause of Allah, as is evident in the passage, “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you” (2:196). The Quran also says that this fight should not transgress certain limits. The Quran states that Muslims should “slay them wherever ye catch them and turn them out from where they have turned you out” (2:191). This seems as if the Quran is encouraging fighting on all fronts. In promoting the cause of Jihad, the Quran also states that this fight should not cross over into the religious sector; it states that Muslims should not start a fight at the sacred mosque, unless they are fought there first. It goes on to say that if they do try and fight at the mosque, they should be slain because this is the reward of suppressors of faith (2:191).
All fighting done in the Muslim faith is for the benefit of Allah and for the betterment of the Muslim religion. If the unfaithful taunt those of faith for their beliefs, they are to fight those of no faith. Those who violate their oaths and denounce Muhammad should be struck down by the true believers. Muslims are taught that they should fear no man, for Allah is the only one whom they should ever fear. If they truly believe, then when they fight Allah will protect them and help them to a victory over their oppressors, in his name (9:12-14).
A reoccurring theme throughout the Quran is that of the Jihad against the non-believer. The Quran teaches that Muslims...