ALL praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, the Most Merciful, the Beneficent, and the

Master of the Day of Judgment. O Allah! Have Your Salat and Salam (peace) and blessing upon your slave and Messenger Muhammad and upon all of his companions. Jihad, an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihad translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God (al-jihad fi sabil Allah)". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahidin; the plural is mujahedeen. Jihad is an important religious duty for Muslims. It is a misconception among the non-Muslims and some ignorant Muslims that Jihad mean Holy War. According to the leading dictionary that the jihad means among Muslims that 'a war or struggle against unbelievers'. Both the meanings are wrong if we translate Holy War in Arabic it will Al-Harbu Al-Muqaddasah ( .)This word is not mentioned in any verse of Qur'an as well as in any Hadith of Rasulullah. If we look at the history we will find that this word i.e. Holy War was first used for the Christians Crusaders who have conquered many lands and have killed thousands of people. The meaning put up by the leading dictionary was also partially right and partially wrong because killing of innocent people whether Muslim or Non-Muslim is Haram in Islam. If we look at the following verses of Qur'an it will be clear that killing is Haram in Islam "do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice; this He has enjoined you with that you may understand."(6:151) whoever slays a soul, unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it is as though he slew all men; and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept alive all men; and certainly Our apostles came to them with clear arguments, but even after that many of them certainly act extravagantly in the land"(5:32)

If we simply analyse both the verses killing of Human Being is Haram whether he is Muslim or Non-Muslim. Killing of both have same punishment. Some people Quote 5th Verse of Surah At-Tawba to support their wrong allegation against the Religion of Peace(Islam). If we look at this verse it Says So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful"(9:5) This verse state that kill idolaters (i.e. Non-Muslim) but in the same verse there is also compromise between the two. Now a thought arises in the mind the Religion of Peace orders us to kill the Non-Muslim, this is wrong. Now let us read the Surah from the beginning (1) (This is a declaration of) immunity by Allah and His Messenger towards those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement. (2) So go about in the land for four months and know that you cannot weaken Allah and that Allah will bring disgrace to the unbelievers. (3) And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that Allah and His Messenger are free from liability to the idolaters; therefore if you repent, it will be better for you, and if you turn back, then know that you will not weaken Allah; and announce painful punishment to those who disbelieve. (4) Except those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement, then they have not failed you in anything and have not backed up any one against you, so fulfil their agreement to the end of their term; surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty).

(5) So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (6) And if one of the idolaters seek protection from you, grant him protection till he hears the word of Allah, then make him attain his place of safety; this is because they are a people who do not know. (7) How can there be an agreement for the idolaters with Allah and with His Messenger; except those with whom you made an agreement at the Sacred Mosque? So as long as they are true to you, be true to them; surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty). (9:1-7) From the quoted continuous verses of this Surah it is clear that the order of killing is for those idolaters whom have broken the agreement and not for each and every idolater. And when we look at the 7th Verse it is clear that the order is not for all because in this verse Allah states that 'except those with whom you made an agreement at the Sacred Mosque? So as long as they are true to you, be true to them; surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty)'(9:7). And if we look at the 6th verse of the same Surah, an example of peace is given. If we suppose the order is to Fight and slay the Idolaters wherever you find them then the verse no. 6 is totally converse of it this verse states that 'And if one of the idolaters seek protection from you, grant him protection till he hears the word of Allah, then make him attain his place of safety; this is because they are a people who do not know. '(9:6)

Then According to this verse it is clear that if the order is to kill each and every Non-Muslim then why Allah commanded grant protection to the idolater till he hears the word of Allah, then make him attain his place of safety. Suppose killing of Non-Muslim is Jihad then the following Ahadith are against this claim:1. Ibn Umar (R.A.) reported that the Prophet (S.A.W) said: "Jihad against one's own self in the Cause of Allah is the best Jihad" [at-Tabaraani] 2. The Prophet (S.A.W)said,:The mujahid is he who makes jihad against his nafs (ego) for the sake of obeying Allah.[Ibn Hibban, Tirmidhi, Ahmad,and atTabarani] 3. Aisha, Allah be well-pleased with her, asked: Messenger of Allah, we see jihad as the best of deeds, so shouldn't we join it?' He replied, 'but the best jihad is a perfect Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah).'" [Sahih Al-Bukhari] 4. On another occasion, a man asked: "Should I join the jihad?" The Prophet (S.A.W) asked, upon him peace, "Do you have parents?" The man said yes. The Prophet said: "Then do jihad by serving them!"[Sahih Al-Bukhari] 5. Another man asked: "What kind of jihad is better?" The Prophet (S.A.W.) replied, upon him peace: "A word of truth spoken in front of an oppressive ruler."[Sunan Al-Nasa'i]

All these evidences show us that killing of anyone whether Muslim or NonMuslim without a valid reason is Haram in Islam. The order given by Allah in Surah At-Tawba to kill idolaters was actually the order in the battle field, if we look at the 3rd verse of same Surah Allah ordered Muhammad (S.A.W.) to

announce the idolaters to stop worshipping idols otherwise some strong measures be taken against them. In other words it is a war call for all the Idolaters. Now a question arises how prior Muhammad (S.A.W.) announces this call before the actual war? The answer for this question was also given in the same Surah in the 2nd verse this call was given 4 months ago than the actual war?

Now let read the translation of another Surah of Quran Surah no. 109 Surah Al Kaafiroon:(1) Say: O disbelievers! (2) "I worship not that which you worship, (3) "Nor will you worship that which I worship. (4) "And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping. (5) "Nor will you worship that which I worship. (6) "To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism)."(109:1-6)

This Surah is also an example of peace. In this Surah Allah was directly referring to the disbelievers (i.e. Non-Muslims) I this Surah Allah Do commanded us to kill them but states in 6th verse for Non-Muslim ,their be their religion and for Muslims Islam.

The order from Allah to deal with Non-Muslim was to do Dawah with them, to invite them to the right path, to make them understand the peaceful orders and law of Deen E Haqq (Islam) .

Conclusion: According to Islam Jihad means to struggle against evil in the

sake of Allah. For Example 1. If someone is doing something wrong, stopping him from that thing is Jihad. 2. Stopping a robber from stealing goods is Jihad 3. If your nafs want you to do some evil, struggling against your nafs is jihad. 4. If it is time of studies and your nafs wants you to play , Stopping yourself from playing is Jihad 5. To struggle against the nafs for praying Salah, for keeping fast, for giving Zakat is Jihad 6. If a person whether Muslim or Non-Muslim is preaching something wrong, to stop him from preaching these things is jihad.

7. If someone is fighting with his neighbours, stopping him from fighting is Jihad 8. If someone is doing some cruel thing, stopping him from this thing is Jihad

Without Jihad life is not Possible, Jihad is essential and necessary for a good and Peaceful life.

And Allah Knows Best

Written by:-

Muhammad Zeeshan Qazi