Jihad in the Koran

Paper Summary:

The paper reveals that, in principle, the Koran emphasizes peaceful relations and righteous intentions among people and societies and sanctions the use of violent warfare only as a last resort. The paper further relates that the Koran does not promote the use of warfare to convert believers in false faiths to acceptance of Allah. The paper therefore shows how the true spirit of the Prophet Mohammad expressed in the Koran requires much greater restraint and forgiveness than many of the uninformed suggest.

Outline:
The Quran
Jihad
Jihad, War and Peace in the Koran
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In the late 20th century, particularly after September 11, 2001, the Western world publicized a very narrow interpretation of one particular concept explained in much greater detail with very specific limits for its declaration than the singular, one-dimensional meaning in conjunction with which it is generally misunderstood in the West. In Arabic, jihad means "to struggle" and the Koran refers repeatedly to jihads in defense of Islam, including the use of military campaigns of violence. However, violent jihads must meet strict criteria to justify their use, in much the same way that Christians define "just" wars."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ajami, Fouad. (1999) The Dream Palace of the Arabs: A Generation's Odyssey. New York: Vintage
• Friedman, Thomas, L. (1995) From Beirut to Jerusalem. New York: Anchor
• Lewis, Bernard. (2004) From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting the Middle East. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Scheuer, Michael. (2004) Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror. Washington, DC: Brassey's
• Smith, Wilfred, C. (1997) Islam in Modern History. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

More papers on Jihad in the Koran:

• Essay # 30287 : "Divisions in the Muslim World"
• Analytical Essay # 28368 : "Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam"
• Term Paper # 1761 : "Islamic Jihad"

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