Dr. Ramadan: Jihad is more than war, it is the defense of justice, resistance to violence and human nature

Spread peace, defend justice and resist oppressors in the best way you can, that is, among other things, the meaning of jihad, says Dr. Tarik Ramadan in the 18th installment of Ramadan Chronicles, reports the BiH news agency Patria (NAP). On the occasion of the commemoration of Laylat al-Badr, when believers remember the first and most important battle in the history of Islam, the Battle of Badr, Dr. Ramadan spoke about the true understanding of jihad.

- That word and term is often subject to misunderstanding, not only by non-Muslims and orientalists, but often by Muslims as well. There is a narrow understanding that jihad means war. But, in Islam, there is a precise term for war or conflict – "qital". But, jihad is much broader. In fact, it has nothing to do with holy war, which does not exist as such in Islam – explains Dr. Ramadan.  

According to him, the true and genuine meaning of jihad is resistance.

- You resist your nature to change in an attempt to achieve higher spirituality. Here we have two steps, resistance and change. That is the meaning of jihad, which has many dimensions. In fact, many dimensions have nothing to do with fighting and war – he adds.  

The first dimension of jihad, as he points out, mentioned in the Quran, is a form of intellectual jihad.

- Allah (SWT) says: Do not obey the disbelievers, and fight them with the Quran. So, resist, answer them with the meaning of the Quran. Here, the Quran is an intellectual and spiritual weapon, which will also give you the strength to resist your nature in the desire to be better – says Dr. Ramadan.

While believers are fasting, they are also, he states, in jihad, because they are fighting against their nature, which craves food, drink, and has other needs.

- We control ourselves to achieve something higher, to become people with an awareness of the principles of life – he emphasizes. 

Dr. Ramadan says that jihad has a central meaning in Islam and has nothing to do with war or with a simple understanding of making an effort.

- It is a dynamic process and is mostly non-violent. But, sometimes you have people who want to kill you, who want to oppress you. Resisting them is protecting human dignity. You have no choice if someone wants to kill you, if they attack you with weapons, you retaliate with weapons, and that is the last option. But even then, resistance is a matter of protecting human dignity and life. In the name of that protection, you declare war on the oppressors who want to kill you, and you want to live with dignity. May Allah help us, and do not forget to tell those you love that you love them – concludes Dr. Ramadan.