The Changing Definition of Jihad Essay -- Jihad, Terrorism, Terrorists

Jihad and the Crusades Every great historical moment, leader and religion is focused around a uniting influence. Saladin, a great Kurdish Muslim warrior during the time of the Crusades, and the Muslim armies employed the lesser, or violent jihad to fortify support and power in the Holy Lands. Throughout the eleventh and twelfth centuries the term â€Å"jihad† was used in several different contexts with varying meanings and intentions. Saladin used a favorable definition and interpretation of Jihad in order to unite the Muslims and create a massive army to defend Islam from the Christian Crusaders. In order to completely understand the word, its origins, and its uses, the original passages from the Qur’an must be analyzed and interpreted. Islam, as a faith, is supposed to be peaceful and preaches inner strength. Violence of any kind is in direct contradiction to the teachings of Mohammad and the Islamic faith. The only exception in using violence is in the case of a declared jihad, or holy war for the protection of Islam. The reasons for this exception for violence and its proper uses are controversial in that there is little reassurance that Allah would support or deny support for a war. However it is clear that the meaning and use of jihad was manipulated during the Crusades for the benefit of Islam, as it can be argued that Saladin fought not for Allah, but out of anger towards the Christians and to protect and grow his own wealth and lands. In the present day the term jihad is used more and more in the press however the meaning of the word has gained an increasingly violent connotation over time. While jihad has been bastardized over time it’s origins appear to be pure and devout to the Islamic faith. The history and origins of jihad are found in the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad who died in 632 AD. Throughout the Qur’an there are several references to jihad as a personal and inner struggle to become a better person. The Islamic faith is based upon striving for a life that is worthy in God’s eyes. A personal jihad is basically the struggle to avoid temptations and stay on the right path to salvation and for God, which is what the prophet Mohammed preached throughout his life. One scholar writes, â€Å"Muslims for centuries have engaged themselves and the world in pursuit of inner jihad. This has been their way of ... ...an inner struggle to follow the teachings of Islam remains a core value in Muslim faith. While Saladin’s interpretation of Jihad changed the religion of Islam, it was not nearly as radical as the present day alterations. Works Cited Gabrieli, Francesco and E. J. Costello, trans. Arab Historians of the Crusades. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1969. "History of Jihad." News on Terror. News on Terror, 04/15/2010. Web. 15 Apr 2010. . Ibn Al-Qalanisi. The Damascus Chronicle of the Crusades. Trans. H. A. R. Gibb. London: University of London Historical Series V, 1932. "Inner Jihad". The Canadian Society of Muslims. 3/29/10 canada.org/jihadshahid.html>. "Jihad: Holy Struggle or Holy War". CARM. 3/29/10 holy-war>. The Hoy Bible. Revised Standard Version. New York, NY: Meridian, 1962. The Qur'an (Oxford World's Edition, revised 2008 paperback edition) Usamah ibn Munqidh. An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades. Trans. P. K. Hitti. New York: Columbia University Press, 1929. The Changing Definition of Jihad Essay -- Jihad, Terrorism, Terrorists Jihad and the Crusades Every great historical moment, leader and religion is focused around a uniting influence. Saladin, a great Kurdish Muslim warrior during the time of the Crusades, and the Muslim armies employed the lesser, or violent jihad to fortify support and power in the Holy Lands. Throughout the eleventh and twelfth centuries the term â€Å"jihad† was used in several different contexts with varying meanings and intentions. Saladin used a favorable definition and interpretation of Jihad in order to unite the Muslims and create a massive army to defend Islam from the Christian Crusaders. In order to completely understand the word, its origins, and its uses, the original passages from the Qur’an must be analyzed and interpreted. Islam, as a faith, is supposed to be peaceful and preaches inner strength. Violence of any kind is in direct contradiction to the teachings of Mohammad and the Islamic faith. The only exception in using violence is in the case of a declared jihad, or holy war for the protection of Islam. The reasons for this exception for violence and its proper uses are controversial in that there is little reassurance that Allah would support or deny support for a war. However it is clear that the meaning and use of jihad was manipulated during the Crusades for the benefit of Islam, as it can be argued that Saladin fought not for Allah, but out of anger towards the Christians and to protect and grow his own wealth and lands. In the present day the term jihad is used more and more in the press however the meaning of the word has gained an increasingly violent connotation over time. While jihad has been bastardized over time it’s origins appear to be pure and devout to the Islamic faith. The history and origins of jihad are found in the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad who died in 632 AD. Throughout the Qur’an there are several references to jihad as a personal and inner struggle to become a better person. The Islamic faith is based upon striving for a life that is worthy in God’s eyes. A personal jihad is basically the struggle to avoid temptations and stay on the right path to salvation and for God, which is what the prophet Mohammed preached throughout his life. One scholar writes, â€Å"Muslims for centuries have engaged themselves and the world in pursuit of inner jihad. This has been their way of ... ...an inner struggle to follow the teachings of Islam remains a core value in Muslim faith. While Saladin’s interpretation of Jihad changed the religion of Islam, it was not nearly as radical as the present day alterations. Works Cited Gabrieli, Francesco and E. J. Costello, trans. Arab Historians of the Crusades. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1969. "History of Jihad." News on Terror. News on Terror, 04/15/2010. Web. 15 Apr 2010. . Ibn Al-Qalanisi. The Damascus Chronicle of the Crusades. Trans. H. A. R. Gibb. London: University of London Historical Series V, 1932. "Inner Jihad". The Canadian Society of Muslims. 3/29/10 canada.org/jihadshahid.html>. "Jihad: Holy Struggle or Holy War". CARM. 3/29/10 holy-war>. The Hoy Bible. Revised Standard Version. New York, NY: Meridian, 1962. The Qur'an (Oxford World's Edition, revised 2008 paperback edition) Usamah ibn Munqidh. An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades. Trans. P. K. Hitti. New York: Columbia University Press, 1929.