Ramadan 2013 – Day 5 – Jihad, the Strong Arm of Political Islam

Yesterday we reviewed how Islam is primarily a political system seeking to control kafirs (non-Muslims) rather than actually a religion. Let’s now look at jihad, the technique Islam uses for accomplishing its goal.

Jihad can mean, “an individual’s striving for spiritual self-perfection or a Muslim holy war or spiritual struggle against infidels.” In the United States, there is currently a battle over the meaning of the word “jihad.” The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has launched a campaign called “My Jihad” which presents jihad as an individual spiritual struggle. CAIR claims Muslim extremists, Islamophobes and a sensationalized media have misrepresented the word “jihad,” and says jihad is “a positive, peaceful, and constructive practice in the lives of everyday Muslims.” However, the trilogy of Islamic texts (Qur’an, Sira and Hadith) contradicts this assertion.

Islam recognizes two types of jihad – the lesser and greater jihads. The greater jihad is the soul’s struggle with evil – basically striving to become a better person. The lesser jihad is about holy war. Interestingly only about 3% of the Bukhari Hadith is about the greater jihad, the remaining 97% is about the lesser jihad or holy war. Bat Ye’or, author of Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis, said, “[the jihad] is the normal and permanent state of war between the Muslims and the [infidels], a war that can only end with the final domination over unbelievers and the absolute supremacy of Islam throughout the world.”

The Qur’an and other texts teach that Islam is the perfect political system and is destined to rule the entire world. All other governments and systems must submit to Islam. If they do not submit then jihad can be used.  Since Muslims consider refusing to submit to Islam an offense against Allah, all jihad is defensive, allowing Islam to portray itself as a victim.

Although many westerners may think of terror attacks when they think of jihad, jihad actually takes various and less identifiable forms such as jihad through the pen, jihad through the mouth, jihad through charity, jihad through marriage, jihad through immigration and even jihad through interfaith meetings. Jihad uses every aspect of civilization as a war machine. Military force and terror are actually are the smallest components in jihad.

Violent jihad has brought about the deaths of roughly 270 million of people in Islam’s 1400-year history. It is estimated that through Jihad – Islam has killed 120 million Africans, 60 million Christians, 80 million Hindus, and 10 million Buddhists.

Prayer Points:

Pray that western Christians will insist their governments demand an end to the current rampant Christian persecution around the world by radical Islamists.

Pray for the leaders of your nation (government, church, education, media, etc.) – that they will have a more clear and truthful understanding of Islamic jihad and have God’s wisdom to recognize it in their midst, and take a godly stand for truth.

Pray that Muslims will begin to question why their religion must use jihad in order to advance, and pray God will soften their hearts and give opportunity to hear the message of the gospel of Christ.