The word jihad, together with its derivatives, is mentioned 31 times in the Qur’an, while the word harb, meaning “war”, appears 4 times only. It could be noted that the meaning of jihad in the Qur’an and Sunnah is much broader than the meaning of fighting. Fighting typically implies armed …

In the Islamic philosophy, jihad has not been legislated for purpose of state expansion, imperialism, seizure of others’ resources, exercise of oppression or persecution against other peoples or any other materialistic purposes that have given rise to the motives of war in well-known modern and ancient civilizations.  

In Islam, the command to perform jihad does not necessarily mean killing. Instead, it means fighting back as a means to resist and deter aggressors.

The obligation of Jihad that some people continuously attempt to distort is only a means to defend one’s self, belief and homeland.  

Jihad is a defensive war fought for the sake of Allah. As such, it is logical that this war becomes a duty in cases where necessary Jihad is a defensive war fought for the sake of Allah. As such, it is logical that this war becomes a duty in cases …

Being obligatory in Islam, jihad, nonetheless, does not mean that every Muslim should carry a weapon to fight against others; this is illogical! Being obligatory in Islam, jihad, nonetheless, does not mean that every Muslim should carry a weapon to fight against others; this is illogical!    

Performing Jihad with one’s soul, i.e. (fighting) is not obligatory upon every individual Muslim. Rather, it is the duty of the army, which acts on behalf of all Muslims. Consequently, Muslims, as a community, become exemptedfrom this obligation and shall not be held accountable for iton the Day of Judgment. …

Fighting may become an individual obligation only in cases where an enemy attacks a Muslim country and the Muslim army becomes in need of additional recruitment. In such a case, every Muslim in the country under the attackshall be obliged to resist the enemy with whatever means he has, be …

The First verses revealed in the Qur’an to permit fighting are “Permission [to take up arms] has been given to those who are being fought, because they have been wronged. And indeed, Allah is Able to give them victory. [They are] those who have been driven unjustly from their homes …

Allah says, “Permission [to take up arms] has been given to those who are being fought, because they have been wronged. And indeed, Allah is Able to give them victory.” This verse reveals that Muslims did not take the initiative to fight against the disbelievers. On the contrary, it was …

Should Muslims fight non-Muslims on grounds of their aggression or their disbelief? The view held by the majority of Muslim scholars, depending on the Quran and Prophet’s traditions in this regard, is that the aggression committed by non-Muslims is the main reason for fighting them. Being peaceful followers of another …

There are some deviated ideologies that deem disbelief as grounds for fighting non-Muslims, and urge Muslims to fight the others to make them convert to Islam, or else continue to adhere to their religions provided that they pay Jizyah (tribute). One thing that proves the deviation of these ideologies is …

Killing of the non-combatant children, women, elderly people, priests and rabbis, the blind, the handicapped, the hired workers and those who take refuge in places of worship is prohibited in Islam. Although they are not Muslims, their killing is prohibited. Had disbelief been the reason for killing, killing of those …