Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 01/16/07 06:21:46 PM |
Age 17, WA |
Funny Qu'ran this guy's reading. The one my friend has says this:
[9:123] O you who believe, you shall fight the disbelievers who attack you - let them find you stern - and know that GOD is with the righteous.
Important omission, the whole WHO ATTACK YOU part, wouldn't you say?
|
Re: Re: Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 09/30/06 07:19:03 PM |
Age 44, NJ |
From Patrick Burwell of OnlyJesusSaves.com:
The crusades were clearly begun to quell the mass murdering of "Jihadists" of the Islamic faith killing off everyone but those who profess their false God.
Were the Crusades turned into a mass murdering rampage as well? There is indication some atrocities were carried out in Christ's name.
Do these atrocities stand as examples of what the leader of the Christian faith claimed should be done? Unequivocally no
Jesus never said to go and kill people if they did not trust in Him. One's own violations of the Law, the Ten Commandments, "kill" you enough.
No, Jesus came into the world so that all who repent and trust in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. But Jesus did not come into the world to bring peace among men, only peace with God for men.
The false god of Islam cannot do this. The false god of Mohamed doesn't even exist.
But Islam has been used for centuries to further the aims of unscrupulous men. Christianity also has been used for centuries to further the aims of unscrupulous men.
But neither is what Yahweh, the God who does exist, requires of men.
So what is the difference between Christianity and Islam?
RESULTS...
There are many professing Christianity today who will hear the horrifying words of Jesus to depart from Him, that He never knew them. Why? They lived a lie. They will then be judged as Muslims will be judged. Those who trust in Islam will be judged by their works.
And what is the works of God? To believe in Jesus, the one whom God has sent. Those who repent of their sins, forsake all known violation of God's Laws, and entrust themselves and trust in Jesus as the One who God sent to save them, the only One who CAN save them, then they will hear the words of Jesus, "Well done you good and faithful servant..."
Now, you may ask yourself how you could make sure you hear the right words from Jesus.
Here is how:
Test yourself by God's Law and see where you stand and at the end of this test you will get your answer: http://NeedGod.com.
You can point all you want to the atrocities made in someones name, but it has no reflection on them unless they have advocated such atrocity. Jesus never did. Jesus gave His own life to save anyone who will repent and trust in His sacrifice.
Mohamed just talked and advocated exactly what Muslims do - murder all who will not bend the knee to their false god.
|
Re: Re: Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 09/30/06 06:53:54 PM |
Age 29, IA |
Well, I take issue with your "Christians-killed-Muslims-in-the-Crusades-so-now-it's-the-Muslims'-turn-to-kill-us mentality. During the Crusades, and Inquisiton for that matter, very few people read the Bible and the church was filled with paganism and papal legalism. Yes they did happen and yes they were bad. How can anyone justify either atrocity with Scripture? This article contained several references to the Koran. I'm not saying that those who call themselves Muslim can't be kind and gentle (indeed, many westerners who claim to be Christian show no regard for Christian principles). Can you use the Koran to back up the idea that Muslims must strive to coexist with non-Muslims, even when the majority of the population is Muslim, without forcing the non-Muslims to submit to the Muslims?
|
Re: Re: Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 09/30/06 12:09:58 PM |
Age 37, GA |
You also fail to realize that, as in all of history, there is more than just one interpretation. At the launch of the Crusades, societies of the west were conducted with a feudal system which required land. Prior to 1096, the Northmen had come into these European coutries conquering and now the muslems from the south. As the Europeans (Catholics) Christians if you could say, were continuously being pushed from both directions now and losing the much needed land, set forth on the Crusades. Christianity was used to propagate but was in no means entirely what the wars were about. Now, you must consider this; earlier I stated, "Christians if you could say." This meaning that they did not hold true to their book! There are fundemental Christians who hold to the Book! and they live right because of the love of Jesus Christ (boy it feels good to say that name) in their hearts. There are also comprimisors of the faith and extremist; these cannot hold (such as during the Crusades) their teachings by the Word of God. But, when you here of peace loving muslems, I'm afraid that they are the comprimisors of their faith...they have gotten away from the book. i.e. in a university class room just recently, the prof. teased with a young muslem because he was eating before the sun went down, his response "I never fast." This is what I'm speaking of. Christians who go on violent Crusades in the name of God for the cause of advancing the Gospel (they say), are in error!, According to the Book! But, on the otherhand, muslems who spread their faith by the sword are fundementally following their book! This is my understanding: I don't say it out of hatred, but, there is only one way to the Father, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). God Bless you with wisdom and knowledge, and please...don't be deceived.
|
Re: Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 09/29/06 01:44:25 AM |
Age 20, NA |
Great feedback post! I'm a Westerner who's lived in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur where many and the majority of the population respectively are Islamic, and I think the only real way to fairly "judge" Islamic people is if you've actually lived in such places. The Muslims here are warm, friendly people who are appalled at the way fundamentalists are killing in the name of their religion, it brings some I see to tears. I wonder how many people on the Christian Worldview Network have actually ever been to an Islamic part of the world; many seem to certainly have some definitive opinions. Cheers - Ruben Schade in Singapore
|
Re: Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 09/29/06 01:40:19 AM |
Age 20, NA |
I take issue with people such as yourself when you claim that Islam is spread by a sword and Christinaity is not. Are you denying the crusades ever happened? Christianity also has much blood on it's hands, and denying this is like certain Japanese textbooks conveniently ignoring World War II. - Ruben Schade, Singapore
|
Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 09/28/06 07:40:22 AM |
Age 40, FL |
If you want to see what the meaning of jihad is, from a middle-east perspective, check out the materials at http://www.memrifilms.org/ (9-11 info) or http://www.memri.org/ (middle east media research institute). Good article, BTW.
|
Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 09/28/06 02:22:45 AM |
Age 41, NA |
There are many different claims on the explanation of "Jihad". It is best to refer to the meaning as published by the Muslims themselves. This is because there are many Muslims out there who have a nice heart, but due to their bondage in their traditional background, they try to rationalize a belief which they hope they can embraced. However, the sad thing is that it is only an ideal that they have established but not the TRUE ISLAM which many TRUE ISLAMIC followers are teaching. In short, those fundamentalists are TRUE ISLAMIC followers in real sense while the rest are just luke-warm Islamic followers who prefers to call themselves Muslims.
In this Islamic publication, it is written that Al-Jihad is the Holy fighting for Allah's cause in the following means :
- With the heart (intentions/feelings)
- With the hand (weapons, etc)
- With the tongue (speeches, etc)
and Allah will reward these people who performs the above with lofty dwellings in Paradise.
In page 816, "Permission to fight is given to those who are fighting them...." that is to say, all Muslims are supposed to kill those who are killing other Muslims.
In page 817, Islamic followers are ordered to carry out Jihad on ALL UNBELIEVERS until they embraced Islam. However, those that are in a way connected with Islam (Jews and Christians), they (Jews and Christians) are supposed to pay a tax known as Jizyah to the Muslim or Jihad will be enforced on them.
In fact, there are many information you can gather about what TRUE ISLAMIC FOLLOWERS in this book (Read page 814 - 841)
Below is a publication by Islamic Followers :
Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Quran (In the English Language) by Dr. Muhammad Tqi-ud-Din-Al-Hilali and D. Muhammad Muhsin Khan.
I am not sure whether it can be found on the web for FREE. It is not worth to give your money for this publication to support these Islamic followers.
If you need to read the articles, I can try and get it typed out.
Patrick Stephen Oh
www.careventure.org
|
Just a couple of questions
| Posted On: 09/27/06 04:07:14 PM |
Age 64, TX |
If, as the article says, there are millions of Muslims who believe that Jihad (only) means a "striving for the path of allah", why is there not more effort being put forth to "explain" such? It seems to me that "all" the focus has been on the physically violent, murderous aspects of what is commonly understood to be "jihad".
Also, as I read sura 8:2 I did not get the same meaning from it as Kerby Anderson shares. I didn't see a justification of terrorism. Help me understand this interpretation. Here is the quote of sura 8:2 from the version I have: "They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when allah is mentioned, and when the revelations of allah are recited nto them they increase their faith, and who trust in their lord."
Thanks and may the God of Creation bless you all.
|
Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 09/27/06 03:26:22 PM |
Age 58, MS |
Mr. Anderson,
FINALLY a columnist that gets the word Jihad and its meaning correct. I work in the Middle East and have done so for many years. A Lebanonese friend of mine assures me as you say that jihad literally means to strive hard or work hard. Literally you could jihad digging a ditch.
Good work on your analysis.
Charles Graves
|
Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 09/27/06 03:22:36 PM |
Age 55, KS |
Kerby,
I think your analysis is fair.
The real underlying issue is that in Christianity, the nature of the change when converted is internal and spiritual such that it cannot be imposed from outside in any genuine sense. As it says (my paraphrase) in John, believers were not produced by the will of man or of the flesh but of the Spirit.
The problem in Islam is that at least some sources indicate that conversion is part and parcel of reciting the creed of belief in God and acknowledgement of his Prophet Muhammad. Some of my sources say that you don't even have to mean it when you say it to be a true Muslim. Hence, you could impose true belief with a sword because the sword can make a person say just about anything even if they don't mean it.
Therefore, the temptation is much greater in Islam to rely upon forced conversion than in Christianity. Hence, a much greater tendency to accept concrete interpretations of Jihad.
What do you think, Kerby??? I'd appreciate your feedback.
I am a professor of family studies at Kansas State University, have taught a course on Islam three times now. Have 17 publications on it, including in Islamic Studies, American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, and Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations.
|
Re: What Does Jihad Mean?
| Posted On: 09/27/06 01:18:50 PM |
Age 74, AL |
According to all my sources Jihad means an act of Holy War waged on behalf of Islam which to me means people that believe in Jihad do whatever it is they do for the benefit of their religion Islam. Regardless of what Jihad means I think it would behoove us to wary of all Muslim's no matter if they confess to being of Sunni or other tribes that make up their groups. I think we forget those folks are still living in tribes and usually have a tribal chief that dictates what they believe and can and can't do. I do know they are a very closed group and forbid outsiders attempting to convert them to other beliefs. If Christianity was one tenth as evangelical as they seem to be this world would be an entirely different place to live and if we as Christians were an nth degree as faithful to our faith as they are to theirs all problems of world would be solved.
The main difference I see between Islam and Christianity is they convert by the sword, we convert by way we live our lives and with help of Jesus Christ
|
|
|
|
|
