Jihad means "striving or struggling in the way of God.

" It is a central concept in Islam.

Muslims should strive to know and do the will of God. Historically, the "Greater
jihad” refers to the struggle each person has within him or herself to do “what is
right”. Because of human pride, selfishness and sinfulness, people of faith must constantly
wrestle with themselves and strive to do what is right and good.
 
The "Lesser jihad” involves the defense of Islam. Muslims should be prepared to defend
Islam, including military defense, when the community of faith is under attack. The concept of
Jihad is stated in the Qur'an.  The Qur’an supports fighting to defend the faith, but only when
it is attacked. Muhammad allowed religious war when his community was being threatened by
extermination (When the Meccans made attacks, for instance).
 
“And fight for the cause of God against those who fight against you; but commit not
the injustice of attacking first; God loveth not such injustice; and kill them wherever
ye shall find them [this is still when they attack you, look for them, find them and kill
them and convert them this is how they can be good] , and eject them from
whatever place they have ejected you; for civil discord is worse than carnage…But if
they desist, then verily God is Gracious, Merciful. Fight therefore against them until
there be no more civil discord, and the only worship be that of God [this seems to still
include when the pagans attack first;] but if they desist, then let there be no hostility.”
                                                                                      (Qur’an 2:186-189)
 
Islam permits fighting in self-defense, and in defense of religion. It lays down strict rules of
combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops,
trees and livestock. Jihad is not to be undertaken for personal gain. Muslim leaders have,
however, often used the concept of Jihad to justify their actions.  (for instance, Sadam Hussain’s
attempt to justify Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait as a “holy war”).
 
“The fact that Muhammad tolerated war has already given rise to sharp criticism.
But one should not forget that he lived in a world where to a great extent, the law
of jungle ruled and where robbery was considered an honest trade. At that time in
Arabia there was no state which guaranteed through its institutions a secure
existence to its citizens and which would have protected them against injustice
within the country by its laws and against the outside world by its army. Under
such circumstances Muhammad could not renounce the right of self-defence if

He did not want to abandon to certain destruction the fruit of his efforts.”

                                                          (Light of Guidance, PP.152-153)

 
Historically, Muslim nations waged war to spread Muslim rule, as well as for
more clearly political and economic reasons. Pagans may have been forced to
convert to Islam; but Jews, Christians, and other conquered peoples were allowed to continue to
worship as they chose.
 
          Islam and Suicide bombers

There are some Muslims, most notably during the last several decades, who have engaged in suicidal
military missions such as the truck bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 and the Sept.
11 attacks in New York and Washington. The extremists cite passages in the Koran thatpromise
paradise to those who die "struggling in the way of God." (2:154) They see what they are doing as
active armed struggle in defense of Islam. Their death is thus viewed as martyrdom not as suicide. The
overwhelming majority of Muslims view this as a misinterpretation of the Koran and Islamic tradition.
Following is some information on the subject from the Qur’an and hadith.
There is only one verse in the Qur’an that contains a phrase related to suicide:
"O you who believe! Do not consume your wealth in the wrong way-rather through trade mutually agreed
to, and do not kill yourselves. Surely God is Merciful toward you." (4:29)

In Islam the taking of one’s life is a great sin. Likewise, the taking of other’ lives is forbidden, as human
life is indeed precious:
 
"...If anyone killed a person not in retaliation for murder or to spread mischief in the land, it
would be as if he killed the whole of mankind. And (likewise) if anyone saved a life, it would
be as if he saved the whole of mankind"
(Surah Al-Maaida 5:32)
 

"He who kills himself with anything, Allah will torment him with that in the fire of Hell"

Reported by Muslim - Eng. Trans, Vol. 1, p.62, No.203

 

“The Prophet said: Whoever kills himself with a blade, will be tormented with that

blade in the fires of Hell. The Prophet also said: He who strangles himself will

strangle himself in Hell, and he who stabs himself will stab himself in Hell…He who

throws himself off a mountain and kills himself will throw himself downward into the

fires of Hell for ever and ever. He who drinks poison and kills himself will carry his

poison in his hand and drink it in Hell for ever and ever…Whoever kills himself in

any way will be tormented in that way in Hell…”

Hadith - Bukhari 7:670, Narrated Abu Huraira

 
 
 Great information:
 
Fighting for God in the Bible:
In biblical times to fight was a religious duty. During this period there was
no regular army, and there was only negligible training and very few weapons. It is
clear that the Jews believed that God was on their side. He was the God of the
armies of Israel (1 Samuel 17:26).
 
In defence of Islam in SAQ:
 
“If Christ himself had been place in such circumstances among such tyrannical and
barbarous tribes, and if for 13 years He with His disciples had endured all these trials
with patience, culminating in flight from His native land-if in spite of these lawless
tribes continued to pursue Him, to slaughter the men, to pillage their property, and
to capture their women and children, how would Chirst have acted towards them?If
this oppression had fallen only upon Himself, He would have forgiven them, and such
an act of forgiveness would have been most praiseworthy; but if He had seen that
these cruel and bloodthirsty murderers wished to kill, to pillage and to injure all
these oppressed ones, and to take captive the women and children, it is certain
that He would have protected them and would have resisted the tyrants. What
objection then, can be taken to Muhammad’s action? Is it this, that He did not
with His followers, and their women and children, submit to these savage tribes?
To free these tribes from their bloodthirstiness was the greatest kindness, and
to coerce and restrain them was a true mercy.”             SAQ
 
No coercion in religion
Islam rules out the use of coercion in spreading the message:
“Let there be no compulsion
In religion: Truth stands out
Clear from Error…”
 
 
Killing pagans is all right

Qur`an suggests active opposition to people who do not believe in the supremacy
of the one God:

 
“Fight them on
Until there is no more tumult or oppression
And there prevail justice and faith in God.”
                                      (Qur'an 2:193)