Jihad: The Story of Jihad Against Israel

The true Jihad (Holy war) is a call to fight against the evil within us. Taking innocent lives is not Jihad; it is an act of cowardice that goes against its true spirit. Therefore, Muslims may consider reflecting on interpretations of Jihad and strive to serve all humans. “God will never want to kill all the Jews just because they are Jews.” In Mohammad's time, certain Jewish individuals had conflicts with him. In my view, any commands at that time were specific to those circumstances, not a directive for today. Reflecting on this may provide perspective on contemporary events and encourage thoughtful consideration about supporting Jihadi groups. Those who support the radical versions of Jihad need to rethink their actions. They are doing exactly what Hitler did many years ago. We must try not to become like Hitler.

 

Some groups –Hamas, Houthis, and Hezbollah– interpret Muhammad's teachings literally and have engaged in ongoing conflict with Israel.  They scheme the genocide of Israel. In contrast, Israel never had any such plan. On October 7th, 2023, Hamas, supported by Iran, attacked Israel, which they presented as part of their agenda regarding Palestinian territory. According to the UN's two-state solution, land allotted to Israel is considered to belong to Israel, not to Arab Muslims. The question of whether it is appropriate to request that Israel vacate the entire area raises a debate about justice and historical claims. The mission called 'Free Palestine', which is intended to remove all Israelis from the entire area, is a genocidal mission.

 

If Hamas had released Israeli hostages, the war would have ended then. But they did not do it. Why? Ego! or perhaps, a desire to recapture Jerusalem? Or, maybe, they wanted Israel to continue the war so that they could continue to play the victim card by using their women and children as a human shield. Some terrorist groups have used similar tactics. First, they commit a crime –kidnap people or do a terror attack. Then, they hide among civilians so that the civilian casualty rate may increase. They do it to draw international attention. After this, they send their refugees everywhere in the West. Some of these individuals may pose a threat. If Hamas had stopped the war, there would be no war, but they kept fighting to capture Israel.

 

Israel fought to defend its people and rescue captives, which is a natural response. In contrast, the actions of Hamas aimed to seize Israel and expel Jews, claiming it as a holy mission. For this reason, Israel’s fight is a defensive one, seeking to neutralize threats from groups like Hamas, Houthis, and Hezbollah. Iran’s support for these organizations and its nuclear ambitions pose further danger, making it essential to limit Iran’s influence. Lord, I pray for a peaceful resolution to the conflicts in the Middle East. I pray you will open Iran’s eyes to see that they need not fear or attack Israel, and that all the Jews are not their enemies. I pray that Iran would listen to America, give up this arms race, and work to develop its infrastructure and people. I pray for a deal of peace between Israel and Iran.

 

To sum up, true Jihad is a personal struggle against the evil within oneself, not the taking of innocent lives. Acts such as killing innocents contradict the core principles of Jihad and show cowardice, not courage. Muslims need to reflect on the diverse interpretations of Jihad. It is difficult to claim that divine will justifies harm toward entire groups. If Hamas had released Israeli hostages, the war would have ended then. Possible reasons for not doing so include ego, a desire to recapture Jerusalem, or gaining international sympathy. Israel's actions seem defensive, aimed at protecting its citizens and rescuing hostages. Conversely, Hamas's stated goal is to claim Israel by expelling Jews, presenting this as a religious mission. Iran’s support for Hamas and its nuclear ambitions make it necessary to limit Iran’s influence.


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