?What does the Jihad word mean

Jihad

Jihad is a word that has become familiar to many non-Muslims because the media has often associated it with terrorist activities. Dr. Jamilah Kolocotronis, an American-born convert to Islam, in her doctoral dissertation, explored this Islamic concept, which came out of the Arabic language, meaning struggle or exertion. In the time of Muhammad, it took on new meaning as this young new religion began its growth. In her book, Islamic Jihad: An Historical Perspective, Dr. Kolocotronis states:

"Now it took on the meaning of "struggle in the cause of Allah." After the period of Muhammad, historians began to translate jihad as "holy war ', but this definition does not account for the full meaning of the term. Jihad should always be defined as struggle in the Cause of Allah," for this definition alone encompasses all the nuances of the term."

In this sense, any activity related to Islamic practice may be a struggle such as waking up for the dawn prayer if one is not an early riser. Negative connotations of jihad have developed for Westerns as radical groups (representing a small minority of people) have used the term extensively.

During the time of Muhammad, this term was applied individually, especially in the first few years as Muslim converts joined the small movement and struggled to leave the old traditions and way of life and, in spite of family members and other difficulties, take on what they had come to believe. Their personal existence was jihad as they struggle in the cause of Allah. Americans who have chosen Islam are in the struggle themselves as they leave old traditions and live out their new beliefs.

Islam is an unknown to most of us. Even through we may have read a book on Islam or Muslims, studied it in a class at church, or had a unit on it at school, the content didn't have much meaning or really stay with us. Now, however, however, there is a walking, taking loved one who has become Muslim. Now we need to find out about that which is so important to her, to understand the journey she is on.

Islam is the name of the religion. It is an Arabic word that means "acceptance of God as Supreme" and calls for submission to the One God. The literal meaning of the word is peace – to live in peace with the creator, within one's self, and with other people.

The followers of Islam are called Muslim. They do not like to be referred to as Mohammedans or Islamites or Islam. The people are called Muslims.

Muslims believe that Muhammad was chosen by God to be a prophet to receive God's message from the angel Gabriel. This was in Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula in the seventh century. The Qur'an (Koran) is the book of the divine messages that came through Muhammad over a period of twenty-three years. Muslims believe that the Qur'an contains the literal and final word of God to the world.

In review, the religion is Islam, the people are Muslims, the prophet is Muhammad, and the sacred book of god's revelations through Muhammad is the Qur'an.

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