1. WHAT IS JIHAD? UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS DOES ISLAM SANCTION THE USE OF VIOLENCE? WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SUICIDE BOMBERS WHO INVOKE ISLAM TO JUSTIFY THEIR ACTIONS?

Jihad in its wider sense means to struggle in the way of God. One possible way of doing Jihad is to fight against His enemies if a situation so demands. The possibility of doing Jihad could arise during the times of prophet Muhammad (the messenger of God) for three possible reasons: i) when the enemies of Muslims attacked them; ii) when some people were persecuted by tyrant, intolerant rulers or warriors in retribution for following a certain religion; and iii) when the nation that received the message of God directly from His messenger rejected it even after the deadline for accepting the message set forth by God had expired. While the last of the three reasons was specific to the era of the messenger, the other two are still valid for doing Jihad provided two other conditions are met: i) An Islamic ruler declares Jihad and ii) Muslims are at least half as strong militarily as their enemies.

Except for the two possible reasons of doing military Jihad along with the two conditions mentioned above for doing it, there is no other possibility of legitimately resorting to any military expedition for Muslims.If a private group of individuals which doesn't enjoy political authority to rule over Muslims resorts to violence, the punishment of it is severe in Islam.

Continue »