Stop Calling Terrorism Jihad
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 07:42PM Bottom Line Up Front: Iraqis know that terrorists are not martyrs when they die for their “faith” in acts of terrorism and and we can win the war on terror when we understand this concept, too.
Bassim al-Jabouri, brother of the fallen Iraqi police officer in Iraq who bravely gave his life to stop a suicide bomber, said this in the video:
I think my brother is a martyr, but the insurgents are not martyrs. They will go to hell; they are evil in this world.
That statement is absolutely true and most of us know it. What we don’t know, however, is that we do a disservice the war on terrorism when we refer to acts of terrorism as Jihad. It is not and in order to isolate the terrorists, we need to refer to what it is: Hirabah.
Jihad means to make an effort to overcome difficulty or to struggle. It includes an internal or personal, social and institutional struggle for justice and against oppression and sin. Jihad can not be used to force people to convert or kill non-Muslims. This is contrary to Islamic law.
Hirabah on the other hand is rebellion and terrorism, considered heresy within Islam. Acts of hirabah are capital crimes in Islam. It contains the principle of Jihad but carries out acts of “persuasion” to meet its objective.
According to Dr. Robert D. Crane of the Islamic Research Foundation International (IRFI),
There is no such thing as Islamic terrorism, but there have always been Muslim terrorists. Today there are many alienated extremists who rely on their own resort to violence in protest against perceived injustice, rather than relying on the jihads of akbar, saghrir, and kabir, with the help of Allah and ecumenical cooperation in peacefully building a better world. In effect, these extremists rely on and worship themselves. They are exhibiting the most serious crime condemned in the Qur’an, which is the root of almost all the other crimes, namely, arrogance. They are committing the crime of hirabah, which is the attack on the very roots of civilization, and justifying it in the name of Islam. There can be no greater evil and no greater sin. If there is to be a clash of civilizations, a major cause will be the muharibun, those who commit inter-civilizational hirabah.
There is only one effective cure for such hirabah. This is cooperation by the heretofore silent majority of both Muslims and those of other faiths in a jihad to marginalize extremism by putting their own houses in order through the pursuit of peace through justice.
In July 2006, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addressed the United States Congress in Washington, D.C. saying:
Thank you for your continued resolve in helping us fight the terrorists plaguing Iraq, which is a struggle to defend our nation’s democracy and our people who aspire to liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. All of those are not Western values; they are universal values for humanity.
I know that some of you here question whether Iraq is part of the war on terror. Let me be very clear: This is a battle between true Islam, for which a person’s liberty and rights constitute essential cornerstones, and terrorism, which wraps itself in a fake Islamic cloak; in reality, waging a war on Islam and Muslims and values.
The truth is that terrorism has no religion. Our faith says that who kills an innocent, as if they have killed all mankind.
We’ve seen Iraqis turn against al-Qaeda and insurgents particularly in Al Anbar Province, which include the cities of Haditha, Ramadi and Fallujah. They have turned toward Coalition forces only as we “win hearts and minds” by familiarizing ourselves with their religious customs and terminology, showing that we are not the enemy. Aside from that, Iraqis see the hopelessness of hirabah and are emboldened to turn against the movement and its participants as an act of religious devotion. WE NEED TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS.
When we properly call terrorism hirabah rather than jihad, we alienate terrorists like al-Qaeda from the Muslim population and marginalize their efforts. In doing so, we show consideration for the Muslim religion, no matter what our personal opinions may be on the religion itself, and persuade good Muslims to support the effort against apostates like Osama bin Laden and the rest.
Calling terrorists “jihadists” may be more en vogue than referring to it as hirabah, but we risk legitimizing the likes of Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah in the Islamic world if we refer to their terror as jihad. It’s murder, terrorism and hirabah. This is why the war on terror can be won; Muslims want to stop the assault on their religion as much as the rest of us do.
Killing innocent civilians in the name of Allah is not Jihad and Muslims know it… they’re simply waiting for us to understand this as well.
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Reader Comments (28)
Excellent point. I will take it to heart.
I gotta learn Arabic? jeez, I haven't got Spanish down yet! (sigh)
so, they're not jihadi's, but hirabi's?
Ha! No, you guys are good.
The Army is going through a huge change along these lines, shifting from purely military tactics to religious tactics. This is why these big provinces are being won over in Iraq. When we understand their religion and use it to our advantage... that is, not alienate them from us by using wrong terminology or misunderstanding the culture, we WIN.
The video pulled out a topic I've been meaning to post on for some time now. My husband is the subject matter expert; I'm just the student. I hope some of this was useful.
We're only going by what the Jihadist's themselves call Jihad. "Jihad is our way. Europe, your 9/11 is on its way." Etc.
Radical-Muslims refer to Jihad in the context of terrorism.
Traditionally Jihad meant struggle, true, however, it's safe to say the jihadists who've hijacked Islam have, among all their other successes, forever altered the original meaning of the WORD.
And that's why proclaiming oneself as a Anti-Jihadist is a credible term worth noting.
For goodness sakes! Don't you people know that the literal translation of jihad means struggle. You guys are having a jihad with other languages.
Aura, that's the point. Terrorists use the term Jihad to validate their terrorism. The way to defeat them is to point out the obvious, that it is NOT a jihad they are conducting, but hirabah. This will help moderate Muslims to join the war on terror as they are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan (and many other places).
Yes, I think that is the whole point, mudkitty, jihad vs. hirabah. And a good point it is. Surely by now we’ve all seen, heard, read all the angst surrounding the term. Which now makes me wonder WHY the terrorists and their supporters insist on calling their deadly mission ‘Jihad,’ since they would know better than most the difference between the two.
It’s also curious to me why so many American-Muslims (present company excluded since I don’t know who you all are) choose to put so much energy into defending the term Jihad to non-Muslims rather than speaking out against . . . in effect condemning the actions of the self-named Jihadists rather than caring so much about how Non-Muslims misuse the term in accordance with the terrorists (and, oh yes, their many supporters) themselves.
Amy, If the misuse of the term Jihad is enough to make moderate Muslims support terrorism, or at the very least not speak out against the terrorists, well then we are all getting too hung up on the word itself. Aren’t we? Since actions speak louder than words, jihad vs.hirabah hardly seems to matter.
But . . . by all means, if calling the ‘thing’ hirabah gains Muslim support . . . I will use the term in addition to the commonly referred to Jihad.
Signed,
Aura
(Anti-Hirabahist)
You are right, this is a VERY important piece for people to read. Thank you for writing it.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18612770/
Great post Amy! (As always)
I believe you are absolutely right, we need to learn more about their religion in order for us to fight back appropriately.
I am with Mark, I don't think I am ready to learn another language since I haven't mastered Spanish, yet...hee
What Jihad means literally and what it means in context of history are two different things.
Evidence in prime sources of history.
Today, I agree with the army, meanings of words are changing and people want to see the Qu'ran in a different light. Say, to take the meaning of literal struggle ' to better ones' self' as an ethical model, there is nothing wrong with that. Most Muslims are decent hard working people.
"For goodness sakes! Don't you people know that the literal translation of jihad means struggle. You guys are having a jihad with other languages."
mudkitty, do you know how to do anything but denigrate people you don't like or those you disagree with? Is there no such thing as debate in the leftists' world? I've seen you here and other blogs always doing the same thing... making a snarky comment but never really engaging in discussions with anyone with whom you disagree.
Amy, I'm happy to know that piece of information. I hadn't come across that before although I've been studying the subject. Your blog is, as always, informative. Thank you.
Aura, that's a neat perspective and one I've wondered about myself. No matter how I look at the Muslim community, no matter how much leeway I try to give them, they seem awfully awfully touchy about everything. How does one tell which are peaceful and which are not when they all look alike? Under the circumstances I think it would behoove them to show us they are to be trusted rather than demand that we give trust blindly. I don't see it happening anytime soon though.
Sorry I haven't been around much, have been fighting the immigration fight, following the campaigners, and other assorted nightmares. Have gotten some progress on the immigration issue... the others are still works in progress.
The #1 way our forces can win a counterinsurgency (COIN) fight is by building relationships with the locals. I have studied this intensely since I returned from a year in Baghdad in 2004. COIN operations require us to provide security for local communities while encouraging them to turn against terrorists and insurgents and to support the fledgling government.
We cannot win the trust of those we continue to refuse to understand out of cultural ignorance. Our troops are patrolling the streets of Baghdad asking for information about 'taqfirists' - false Muslims. I think most people would be shocked at how deeply into Iraqi/Afghan culture we are required to penetrate in order to win the trust and support of the locals. Its is very, very difficult. It is even more difficult when you you are stupid. Fortunately, a handful of influential leaders get it and are spreading their lessons learned around the Coalition Forces. It is appalling that at the state department level we are still referring to hirabists as "jihadists". Jihad is a sacred struggle for self-mastery, social justice and legitimate defense of Islam. We do nothing but elevate the status of wicked terrorists when we refer to them as 'jihadists'.
Great entry Amy, I hope the word spreads quickly through the blogosphere...
Mud Kitty is simply an inane loonbat mud slinger and internet bombthrower,I know from other sites, not worth engaging in rational discussion and definately not worth the typing time. Just ignore them is the best policy or flat call the trolls out and take them on. They don't visit the Barnyard anymore because I challenged them to reply.I doupt that Mud kitty has the courage to enter the Barnyard. Dirty cats get shot around here as an invasive species to the native fauna.. .
Goat, I thought the screen name looked familiar and now that you've mentioned it, yes, he or she has been on other blogs doing the same thing. I'll debate anything and am usually pretty openminded about matters but when somebody does nothing but denigrate, name call, or try to browbeat someone into changing their mind, that's not debating anything; that's bullying.
Another perfect example of the hate-America crowd showing their complete ignorance. Thanks for the example Kev, We need reminding how much the loonbats hate America.
Good point Amy, I will remember it but howcome I have not heard this from Dr.Spencer, Walid Phares or any other experts? This a new term for me and I keep an eye on the Islamists and terminology. I also know what the Qu'ran says.
Amy, great post, as usual, and some great comments (minus mudkitty's usual "snarky" comment, for no apparent reason other than that this is a conservative blog). Language holds power, and I will try to start incorporating the distinction.
The fact is, you guys should have known this info years ago, especially if you want to now expound about matters of life and death, war and peace. I knew what jihad meant before 9/11. Why not you guys?
You guys are like Resident Bush, who admits he didn't know the difference between a Sunni and a Shia untill 3 years into the Occupation of Iraq.
I was almost sure I recall you saying we needed to go in there and just get it overwith. No one with an understanding of the war or Islam would suggest such a thing.
Um, I'm sure the administration and particularly the military knew long ago about Sunni and Shia.... we're not discussing that. We're talking about bad theology within Islam that creates apostates who cloak themselves in the religion to justify their violence. Everyone knows that jihad refers to struggle, but you haven't said anything in your comments but "I knew that" to convince me otherwise.
You might want to try looking up "military occupation", mudkitty, instead of inaccurately flinging it around to make a point that doesn't even apply. The Iraqi Parliament adopted a renewable resolution that requires a SOVEREIGN Iraq to request coalition forces stay or we must leave. This request is renewed (or not) every six months. (I did a post on this). Iraq has its own elections, constitution, representatives.....You cannot spin this into an occupation, but you keep trying, girl!
I never said go in there and get it over with. Amy, you are mistaken as usual.
It IS an occupation, and the "elections" you speak of were Potemkin Elections (look it up.) The "representitives" you mention keep resigning, or getting killed. And the Constitution you refer to enshrines Sharia Law. Proud of yourself?
I listened to you on My Point, and I have to say, that caller, Nikki, I th ink her name was: she wiped the floor with you.
mudd, no, I'm very ashamed that we haven't turned Iraq into a Middle Eastern America. We all know that abortion on demand and lax criminal laws, pornography and release of child abusers makes us MUCH more superior to the way Iraq has determined to govern itself.
Um, we've had politicians killed in this country, too, mudd. Assassinations, a civil war, resignations, even duels. I guess American are.... occupying.... the United States, too, then??
Yes, Nikki's inability to define OCCUPATION, just as you are unable to, really got me. As for the rest, I'll have to listen. All she did was toss around unsupportable rhetoric. I'm not sure that's "wiping the floor with" me, but you're welcomed to your opinion.
As for her assertion that she was so turned off when she saw Iraqis hitting their shoes on a U.S. tank, I might suggest she look to the U.S. Senate and House... we have people here that do that to our soldiers as well, called PELOSI and REID, et al.
You're wrong about occupation; I've laid out the case. But it's a free country and you're free to be wrong. I'm stating a fact about terminology, mudd.
Occupation? Thats rich considering the PM AND the President of Iraq both state they need us there.
Maybe some of your commenters Amy should get a dictionary, they obviously never learned the meaning of the "big" words they use to try to sound educated.
Military Occupation is different from simply having bases in other countries.
Since you seem to need every thing explained to you...
Occupation: The seizure and control of an area by military forces, esp. foreign territory.
Hello!!!!
Quibble over the definition of jihad all you like. Islam means submission.
Literally, and without exception, the koran calls for the world to submit to allah. The moslems have a rather novel solution for resolving this precept with the the idea of there being no compulsion in religion. It would be a shame to strain at the gnat for the sake of moslems who still claim 'islam' means 'peace'.
That may be some term you got out of a dictionary, mud, but it isn't the military terminology. We are assisting, not occupying.
Great article. I believe most people know Islamic terrorists are merely using the term "Jihad" to excuse their criminal behavior, but didn’t know the authoritative difference. Thanks for posting it. While my videos use the term “Jihad” as well, it's followed by the word "This," giving “Jihad” (as used by terrorists) an entirely different overtone too. (grin).
Kilcullen and others have made this point about terminology. But I've always felt a bit of resistence to it, probably for a couple of reasons. First, it immediately ups the standard of use of Arabic terms to the point that all kinds of nit-picking disputes arise, and can distract from the core issues. Second, there is a value to allowing the enemy to identify with "jihad", which is that it forces the Islamic community to look to its own abuse of the concept and term historically. It is a concept just begging for misuse and abuse, since it mandates total dedication and submission to whatever program or project the religious "authorities" attach it to. It is worth remembering that in the end the calls for Crusades contributed significantly to the dethroning of the papal authorities in Europe, where their right to bypass and overrule the secular governments had been taken as given for so many centuries. It became part of the background of learning that massive temporal power in the hands of churches is a very bad idea for all concerned. This is a lesson that is only partially understood by Islam; for example, Sistani represents the main thrust of traditional Shia teaching in this regard, but nevertheless continues to accept and exert considerable political influence, which has not worked out all that well.
So perhaps it's better if the terrorists successfully hijack the "jihad" term and end up discrediting it. Better for all concerned, Moslems especially.