It is a brief outline of the jihad according to the Quranic teachings concerning the real meaning of jihad.
Nowadays, there are different pseudo jihadi groups, in the Islamic world, who fight against certain governments or states claiming that they are representing Islam and protecting Muslims against their enemies. Because of this claim many of the young Muslims join them fighting against both Islamic and non-Islamic states killing thousands of innocent Muslim civilians in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The result of these wars, waged against Muslims in the Islamic territory, is the destruction of Islamic countries and weakness of Islam and Muslims.
But now let's see what does the holy Quran say about jihad? Almighty Allah (J) in the holy Quran tells Muslims that “Prepare against them (i.e., the enemy) with whatever force and trained horses you can in order to frighten thereby Allah’s enemy, your enemy, and others besides them whom you do not know but Allah knows them.” [1] The first point that must be taken into consideration while speaking of jihad is that In this verse, the talk is about responding to a war by defending Islam and Muslims not to initiate aggression at all.
The most important fact about jihad, which is mentioned in this verse of the holy Quran, is that Muslims should be strong in order to defend themselves. Quran teaches Muslims to be strong while fighting their enemies not to weaken Muslims or Islamic states by killing Muslims and destroying all things in the Islamic cities. Right now if we look at the cities of Syria, Iraq and Yemen we see nothings except for the destructed buildings, roads, and bridges.
After providing Muslims with this divine instruction on how to be strong and prepared, the verse goes on: “But if they (the enemies) incline to peace, then you (also) incline to it, and put your trust in Allah…” [2] Quran gives Muslims this guidance to be strong so that others would not bully them; but then they have to extend the hand of peace even towards their enemies if there is an inclination of peace on the enemy’s part.
Finally, it should be mentioned that the so called jihad in the aforementioned countries by the Takfiri and terrorist groups, under the name of Islam, would never empower Islam and Muslims. Rather, it weakens Islam and Muslims as a result the enemies of Islam become more powerful.
Notes:
[1] Chapter 8, verse 60. وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدْوَّ اللّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَآخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ اللّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَيْءٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تُظْلَمُونَ
[2] Chapter 8, verse 61. وَإِن جَنَحُواْ لِلسَّلْمِ فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ