least of your faith’s obligations.

Even though Muslims are encouraged to forgive and forget (as the reward of such a deed is much greater), self-defense remains permitted and is often obligatory when assaulted. It is however very important to note how rigid the rules of self-defense in Islam are. For instance, taking from the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh & hf) and of Imam Ali (pbuh), we have a very strict set of rules with regards to our behavior during warfare (in cases where all peaceful means have been exhausted):

1. Prohibition in drawing first blood.

2. Desirability of accepting or working towards a peace treaty.

3. Prohibition in harming children, women, or the elderly in any way.

4. Prohibition in killing any injured warrior.

5. Prohibition in pursuing a fleeing combatant (enemy).

6. Granting amnesty to those who surrender.

7. Prohibition in destroying trees or any of the natural resources.

8. Prohibition in destroying ANY place of Worship.

9. Prohibition in entering and violating the sanctity of any house.

10.Prohibition in taking the life of any innocent civilian or bystander.

Just as Jihad is never about personal gain or territorial expansion, it is neither meant to spread Islam for the Almighty Allah (Holy be His Name) says: “There is no compulsion in religion” [Holy Quran 2:256]

A Famous Prophetic tradition on Jihad states that: Allah (Holy be His Name) and His Holy Prophet (pbuh & hf) knew the diabolical trap the Ummah (Islamic Nation) was likely to fall into if they failed to grasp the meaning of Jihad in its entirety (and unfortunately such is the case today with the resurgence of some of the aggressive so-called Muslims). During the return from one of the defensive battles the Holy Prophet (pbuh & hf) addressed the Muslims as follows: "You have now returned from Jihad Al-Asghar (lesser Jihad). The Jihad Al-Akbar (Greater Jihad) continues to remain a duty with you."

We hope that this was a quick but useful summary of the often misunderstood rich concept of Jihad. As we have mentioned, those who misinterpret it (Wahabbi/Salafi movement) are doing it only for their selfish aims and Islam and Muslims should be dissociated from them. We condemn them in every regard to their malicious and devious actions especially in the recent bombings of a 1200 year old holy Shrine in Sammarra (Iraq) in which the leaders of the world called it “an attack on humanity.

Muslim Students Federation - MSF

www.msfuo.commsf_ottawa@yahoo.commsf_o@yahoogroups.com

“Those who believe fight in

the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the Shaytan [devil]. Fight therefore against the friends of the Shaytan; surely the strategy of the Shaytan is weak.” [Holy Quran 4:76]

One of the obligatory branches of Islam, Jihad is a word derived from the Arabic root jhd; which means to exert utmost effort, to strive, to struggle - which in turn connotes a wide range of meanings ranging from an inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith, to an outward political or military struggle to defend one’s own existence, land, religion, etc. In much of the Occident, Jihad is associated with the terms “Holy War” even though the concept of Jihad is much deeper than that. Moreover, a more accurate translation would be "holy struggle", "righteous struggle", or "holy endeavor" as Islam is not about War but rather Peace and when no other alternatives are given: self-defense is that answer. The two types of Jihad

A - The Greater Jihad (Al-Jihad Al-Akbar): Disciplining one’s own soul

A human’s soul is the scene of a struggle of two competing powers. Divine power attracts him towards heavenly spheres, and inspires him to acts of goodness.

Satanic power tempts him towards realms of darkness and shame, and invites him to acts of evil. When the divine forces are victorious, a person emerges as a virtuous and blessed being, in the company of prophets, saints, and the pious. When, however, the satanic forces dominate, the person becomes rebellious and vicious and is grouped with infidels, oppressors, wrongdoers and those who are cursed.

Jihad al-nafs is the struggle against evil ideas, desires and powers of lust, anger, and insatiable imagination, placing all of them under the dictates of reason and faith in obedience to God's commands, and finally, purging all satanic ideas and influences from one’s soul. This struggle is considered as the major struggle (Al-Jihad Al-Akbar) as it is much more difficult than fighting in the battlefield, for in the struggle against the self, one has to constantly battle enemies that are hosted inside his own existence. Islamic ethical teachings indicate that the one who succeeds in this struggle can rise above and beyond the level of angels, and one who fails in this struggle will descend to a level lower than the level of animals, and may even be grouped among the legions of the devil; as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh & hf) said: “the worst of enemies is your self between the two extremities of your body.”

The struggle against one’s inner self (Jihad Al-Nafs) to subjugate and control one’s passions and carnal desires is what every Muslim must strive for. At all time, a Muslim must be conscious of Allah (Holy be His Name)’s Omnipresence and he must remain obedient to his Creator; thereby shunning the footsteps of Satan (Shaytan). The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh & hf) has reminded the believers of that by saying that even though one does not see Allah (Holy be His Name), Allah (Holy be His Name) does see him. The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (pbuh) has also narrated that he (pbuh) does not see anything except with God in front of it, within it, and behind it.

This form of Jihad is essentially a never-ending battle between a person and his self to achieve perfection of his soul, as is stated in the Holy Quran: And the soul and Him Who made perfected it, Then He inspired it to understand what is right and wrong for it; He will indeed be successful who purifies it, And he will indeed fail who corrupts it. [Holy Quran 91:7-10]

The base or carnal self must be controlled by the conscience, and only when one succeeds in this struggle does one attain the perfect self: wherein, the self is at peace with itself and tranquility prevails the mind, body and soul. The fact that we are in a constant state (at every moment of every day in our

life) of internal struggle – choosing between right and wrong, morality and immorality, truth and falsehood, becomes a difficult task which requires from us that we spend our entire lives in attempting to please God. We can sum up this explanation with a very nice narration by Imam Ali (pbuh) in which he says: “One who struggles against himself so as to obey God, in the eyes of God, his station is that of a pious martyr”.

B - The Lesser Jihad (Al-Jihad Al-Asghar): Political/Military resistance

This is what is commonly known as self-defense. The lesser Jihad is one which struggles to protect one’s existence, family, land, religion, values; and not for the expansion of one’s territorial boundary, personal glory, etc… and such a struggle can take many different forms as is narrated by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh & hf): “If you ever come across a wrongdoer strive to change him by your hand. If you fail, try the tongue and if once again your efforts are unsuccessful, try with your heart and that would be the