Perfect Definition

Submitted by RD (United States), Nov 1, 2002 at 19:25

Thanks for going to the lengths you've gone to in clarifying the proper definition of jihad. No one in the Moslem world can swerve from that definition (ie jihad as actual violent physical war for islam) without being rebuked in the least or even punished harshly for attempting to redefine such a well known, frequently used word.

Jihad as used in a religious sense means only war. A few Arabic speaking users occasionally use the word as English language speakers use the word crusade (in the modern sense).

However if a religious Moslem uses the word jihad , then it's war. and it is neither war against inner demons nor the lesser war of the Sufis (in fact Sufis were all but exterminated by "straight" Moslems for being soft and spiritual, thus swerving from the true path)

...


The future may be somewhat bleak, as Islam does not allow for important reformative interpretations by religious councils or in fact by anyone. However barring an all out war or outright yielding to blackmail, such as Europe has done for the last few decades, policies need to be developed to reduce everyday tensions on Moslems such as severe poverty and illiteracy and to somehow devise a way to "reform" the religion, ...

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